Why riders don't wave back

[Savago]

Saw this in another group, had to re-post:

Why Riders Don’t Wave Back

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don’t Wave

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don’t Wave

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

Top Ten Reasons Why Sport Bike Riders Don’t Wave

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-Kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don’t Wave

10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, and talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wires from Gerbings are too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

[Serk]

I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community—a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When I pass them on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets—$Deity, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. $Deity, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old *******s on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys—I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at—those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet–like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

[hubcapsc]

They don't wave because they're not having as much fun as I am 



-Mike "around here it seems like people wave even mid-countersteer at the risk of going off the side of the mountain..."

[Chrisj CMA]

Must be s California thing. Must riders wave in Florida unless you’re near Daytona during bike week. We don’t wave there because you would never stop waving.

[Willow]

I will generally render the greeting, two wheeled salute.  I do not "wave".  Usually I don't even bother to look and see whether the greeting is returned.  It probably wouldn't do any good anyway.  My vision isn't good enough to tell across the median which and how many fingers are extended.

It's something I do.  It's something I express.  It's not dependent on how the receiver reacts.

Yes, it is an old piece and based upon some of the sentences, it was not originally written by someone who rides much if at all.  

[scooperhsd]

Yes , I'll wave and wave back, depending on conditions (safety considerations). If I don't get a wave back - so what ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Brenda is a very enthusiastic waver.

[Patrick]

Maybe we now know why Brenda prefers Harleys.

[John Schmidt]

Brenda is a very enthusiastic waver.

That's a riot and it reminds me of.......well, never mind. But thanks! 

[0leman]

It makes no difference what bikes they area on.  I wave at them, actually don't wave actually.  I point my index/middle finger at them.   I quest that is what some consider a wave.

I even wave at bicycles, most don't wave back.  Sometimes in heavy traffic two lanes going the same direction, one has a hard time to see every vehicle in on coming lines.   Miss a bike or three n those conditions.

Not sure I can say that BMW riders don't wave back, seems like on our lonely roads that 95% or more bikers do wave back.  Though one's arm can get a bit tired when a group goes by.

[3fan4life]

I wave at every rider that I see.

I'm sure that sometimes someone may wave and I don't return it because my attention was elsewhere.

It does seem that Harley riders are much less prone to wave back when they are in groups.

Goldwing and BMW riders rarely seem to wave back when in groups or riding solo.


It does Irk me when another rider makes eye contact and still fails to return the wave (greeting).

To me that's the same as ignoring a casual hello or similar greeting from a passerby (which if you were raised in the South you never do).

If there's any question as to whether the other rider may have saw me or not, they receive the benefit of the doubt.

But, it's just plain rude and uncalled for to purposely not return a simple wave (greeting) from a passing stranger.

Especially, when it's from someone that shares a kindred spirit.  

[Oss]

I have noticed that the colder it gets the more likely the other biker will wave    especially when it is below 40.  Heck I may only see one or two (usually a bmw or older harley rider) during a winter day ride into Harriman Park or Bear Mountain

When stopped at a light in the city a head nod suffices as a wave especially when to a crotch rocket rider

Also the rear most riders in harley groups seem to wave back more than the leaders

Just my observations

[cookiedough]

I try to waive most of the time, but sometimes if going into a corner or other road condition I feel a little uncomfy doing it taking 1 hand off the handlebars so I do a head bob, not so sure that is a waive or not nor not sure they can see me do a head bob up/down either?

I do not care much either way if they waive back or not, but most do, even HD riders which is 90% on the road around me.

[Wizzard]

I wave no matter what. Makes no diff to what they do.

[3fan4life]

With this thread in mind I did a little experiment while out riding yesterday.

I made sure that I visibly waved at every bike that I saw.

86 riders returned the wave.

17 riders did not.

Of the 17 that did not return my greeting,

3 were on BMW's

3 were on crotch rockets

The rest were on Harleys.


The majority  of the Harley riders that didn't wave back were in groups of 3 or more.

Much to my surprise every Goldwing Rider that I waved to yesterday, did return my wave.

This is not my usual experience with Goldwing riders.

I also didn't count any riders that I couldn't be certain had seen me nor any that were in a turn and obviously couldn't let go of the handlebars.


I was surprised at the high number of riders who waved back.

Most days it doesn't feel like the numbers are that high.


Maybe it had something to do me waving a little more enthusiastically than I normally do.

Or maybe, I stew more over the ones that don't wave back more than I realized and let them skew my perception of things.

[Moonshot_1]

I don't wave while I'm texting. Too many people on the phones. 

Most times I'll wave. Not so much in city traffic. And I usually miss a few on the 4 lane. Too many trucks some times.

As far as folks waving back, I think the very small minority are just stuck up (insert appropriate word here). But most do wave back and those that don't usually are negotiating traffic, corners, etc.

Always wave at the LEOs. Never know when you'll need'em.

[hubcapsc]

I don't wave while I'm texting.

Thread winner 

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I think half or more who don't wave back don't see me (and aren't looking).

I live in and around big traffic, and that's part of it.

Every so often, I don't see them.  

I enjoy when the Hog rider sees me and doesn't wave, but his girl does.  

You can't see their faces in those full face helmets, but most rocket riders around here seem surprised when you wave at them.  Many (not all) return it.  

I wave at scooters from time to time, and they seemed confused by it.   (What, me?)

Beemer guys seem to return a wave more often if you are wearing gear.  In a tshirt, not so much.  Also true for some rocket riders.

I almost always wave at law enforcement (to show support).  Some return and some don't (cars and bikes).

I also grab my bill and nod at all those who were thinking about pulling out in front of me, but didn't.  

I always wave or hand straight out (never the uber cool two finger down thing).  I'm trying to be friendly, not cool.

[Big Rig]

I usually salute with left hand to helmet....very relaxed....

[98valk]

American biker wave where the left hand comes off the bar and the arm drops to 45 degrees and you extend two or three fingers pointing at the ground. It only works in countries where you ride on the right otherwise the passing rider won’t see it.  suppose to be Bikers Code wave and is what I do always.

https://motorbikewriter.com/tips-motorcycle-wavewhen-wave-wave-riders/

[Gryphon]

(never the uber cool two finger down thing).  I'm trying to be friendly, not cool.

When I started riding in the '70's, I was told that the two finger down wave was to signify "two wheels down: Safe Journey"  Wishing someone safe travels is friendly  .  I'm never concerned about the "cool" factor.  I'm too old and fat to be cool anymore.

[0leman]

I enjoy when the Hog rider sees me and doesn't wave, but his girl does.   

When my DW rode with me, she would do the wave for us.  Maybe that is what is going on.  I do see this a lot of any bike I see when they are riding two up.

I do find it easier to just point my hand/arm at the rider rather than putting it downward as some do.   My arm goes straight out about a foot of so off the bars.

also do see and also do the helmet tap when I have passed a LEO along the road.  even had seen a few riders do it for me.   

[DIGGER]

I enjoy when the Hog rider sees me and doesn't wave, but his girl does.   

When my DW rode with me, she would do the wave for us.  Maybe that is what is going on.  I do see this a lot of any bike I see when they are riding two up.

I do find it easier to just point my hand/arm at the rider rather than putting it downward as some do.   My arm goes straight out about a foot of so off the bars.

also do see and also do the helmet tap when I have passed a LEO along the road.  even had seen a few riders do it for me.   

Twice this weekend riding the Texas Hill Country I had oncoming riders pat the top of their helmets to let me know of LEO’s ahead.  I had never seen that before.... but it works.

[msb]

Frankly, I've never fully understood the wave thing - in terms of it being "mandatory" or a show of respect (or lack thereof if not given or returned). Personally I'm not a big waver, especially when riding locally or when on major highways, etc and certainly not when negotiating curves on a winding stretch of road which is often up here (I wonder about some of those riders trying to get a wave out while rounding a hairpin curve or negotiating busy traffic). I have a great amount of respect for most motorcycle riders and their rides and always take the time to chat when stopped at gas stations, cafe's, etc. but I don't think it's necessary for me to let every other rider I see on the road know that with a gesture and especially to think about which gesture is appropriate. When I started riding road bikes about 46 years ago, I don't recall the wave being a big thing...even though there were far fewer bikes on the road back then. I wonder if that was just up here, or in general?
I certainly have nothing against those who always do the wave, and I do usually acknowledge other riders when on a stretch of road removed from civilization with little traffic, when I come across another rider out and about in less than ideal conditions, or when I see another Valk , ...and the Mrs does return waves many times when we're two-up, but I really don't think it's disrespectful to not habitually wave to every single rider that passes by.

So...if you happen to pass by a fast Red & Black Interstate with BC plates being ridden by an old(er) guy with a big White beard, please know that I respect ya even though I may not give a "wave"