WAVE OR DON'T WAVE?

[KW]

Maybe I’m wrong, but this whole ‘waving thing’ came about because of the rarity of seeing another bike on the road. . .  At least that’s my recollection of it. I remember riding my Yamaha 360 and later my CB 750 in the early 70’s around the back country in my home county and NEVER seeing another bike. Ever! I could literally go out all day on a Saturday and not see one . .  . . unless you count my buddies I may have been riding with.  So, when I saw another bike, we both would immediately give a hearty, friendly wave. There was no ‘figure wagging’ or the cool ‘low point wave.’ It was a hardy acknowledgment of “Oh cool, look another guy on the road with a bike!”

Today. . . the times are so different. I still think it’s ‘cool’ seeing another biker on the road, but bikes on the road in the summer in central Michigan are more common than Ford pickups. So, why do we still wave? I think it’s because - as corny as it may sound – we still see a kindred spirit coming toward us.  Call it a ‘brotherhood’ if you want, but I’m not that deep thinking of a person. I just see a guy, who like me, at some point in his life realized how cool it is to feel the wind in his face. I don’t care what he’s riding and he doesn’t have to wave back. I wave for myself. It makes me smile seeing another bike on the road because I remember when I was the only one. 

That’s’ my take. . . .

[SANDMAN5]

I think that's pretty much it...waving at people enjoying the same "hobby"
that you do. I always wave at Jeeps when driving my Wrangler, and most
of them wave back. Never waved at another F-150 though. But there are
so many of them around that it could become tiresome!

P.S. The only times I don't wave at another rider is when I feel it would be
unsafe to do so....traffic, road conditions, etc.

[Chiefy]

The whole waving thing has turned into such a silly game.  2 wheelers won't wave at trikes, harley guys won't wave at Jap bike riders.  Cruiser riders won't wave at young guys on crotch rockets.

In the 1980s when I started riding, there was no wave.  Just a fist shaking in the air with a semi coherent "Eyyyy!!!" yelled at the other rider.

[solo1]

The 'wave' existed way back when I started riding in 1947.

As I recall, even back then, Harley riders didn't much wave at riders on 'limey' bikes. 

Most certainly there was a brotherhood of riders then. 

Today, I don't try to figure out who to wave to, I wave at all. The Harley wave is the easiest to do. If they don't wave back, that's their problem.

I'm trying to get over my prejudice about some Harley riders and their "Jap Crap" mentality. Life is too short to make a big deal about it, so I wave to all two and three wheelers, even scooters.

Riding and waving is still better than most anything that I see posted on this board sometimes.

[czuch]

Its a game. I wave at all of the bikes and Cops too.
( Cops are gonna be the ones to get you off the 180 degree pavement)
Thats a reality in Tucson, son.
When _____ dosent wave back the wife and I laugh and talk about how stuck-up they are or poser.
We're shallow haters.   HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[~ Timbrwolf]

. ...I been in the wind since 1963....started out on the back of my ol man,s Harleys...no helmet laws in jersey back then...used to wear a black cap with a white brim...like the old motorcycle cops used to wear...had a wheel embroidered in the middle of it with a set of wings on it......when I first started riding my own bike....1977....1977 Honda 750F...when you passed another bike, the thing to do was.....raise a clenched fist.....the ol "Right on". ....now a daze I usually wave to almost anyone... 

[9Ball]

Here in Jersey it's usually the one finger wave...

[JP in SC]

I still think it’s ‘cool’ seeing another biker on the road, but bikes on the road in the summer in central Michigan are more common than Ford pickups. 

  So what you're saying is that we should wave at Ford pickups and other bikes?

 That works for me, I drive/ride both.

[~ Timbrwolf]

. ....how bout dem Eagles John !! .. 

[ricoman]

Gotta agree about the "kindred spirit"
he11, I wave at scooter riders-you should see the shocked smile, and then they wave back.
2 wheels, or 3-it's a special place.

[Duckwheat]

I have wanted to go to a salute, but have not done it yet. Those with a military background, anything against a left hand salute?

DW

[RP#62]

I pretty much wave at everybody.  Hell, I've been know to wave at cars with one headlight out.
-RP

[Lil D]

I wave to all......a kinfvred spirit in the wind

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Maybe I’m wrong, but this whole ‘waving thing’ came about because of the rarity of seeing another bike on the road. . .  At least that’s my recollection of it. I remember riding my Yamaha 360 and later my CB 750 in the early 70’s around the back country in my home county and NEVER seeing another bike. Ever! I could literally go out all day on a Saturday and not see one . .  . . unless you count my buddies I may have been riding with.  So, when I saw another bike, we both would immediately give a hearty, friendly wave. There was no ‘figure wagging’ or the cool ‘low point wave.’ It was a hardy acknowledgment of “Oh cool, look another guy on the road with a bike!”

Today. . . the times are so different. I still think it’s ‘cool’ seeing another biker on the road, but bikes on the road in the summer in central Michigan are more common than Ford pickups. So, why do we still wave? I think it’s because - as corny as it may sound – we still see a kindred spirit coming toward us.  Call it a ‘brotherhood’ if you want, but I’m not that deep thinking of a person. I just see a guy, who like me, at some point in his life realized how cool it is to feel the wind in his face. I don’t care what he’s riding and he doesn’t have to wave back. I wave for myself. It makes me smile seeing another bike on the road because I remember when I was the only one. 

That’s’ my take. . . .

Very well said and pretty much my feelings exactly. I'm sometimes amused by those who don't wave back but I'm not pissed.

[BF]

Video Competition - Motorcycle Wave Harley Cruiser Sportbike Goldwing	powered by Aeva

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[f-Stop]

I always wave to other bikes.  

Here in Texas there is the two finger wave off the top of steering wheel while driving in the country.  Been doing this since I was driving at 14.

[alph]

i don't wave anymore.  maybe this spring i'll start up again, but people don't seem to get the understanding when i wave to them from your truck.  i'm not too keen on opening up the window and freezing my butt off, just to be friendly.......  plus, you kinda look like an idiot when you do that.  now, when i'm riding my cycle, i usually wave to anyone.  if they don't wave back, my hand usually goes up into the "finger" position......  yeah, i'm kind of a dink that way....... 

[MacDragon]

I think that's pretty much it...waving at people enjoying the same "hobby"
that you do. I always wave at Jeeps when driving my Wrangler, and most
of them wave back. Never waved at another F-150 though. But there are
so many of them around that it could become tiresome!

P.S. The only times I don't wave at another rider is when I feel it would be
unsafe to do so....traffic, road conditions, etc.

Wranglers are about the only other vehicle that has a kindred spirit involving the 2 finger wave from the steering wheel...  Almost every other Wrangler waves first or waves back.  It's a Wrangler thing. 

As far as bikes go... I wave when it is safe and usually get the respected wave back... If it seems to be unsafe, or I'm in the middle of clutching... there might be 2 fingers from the clutch lever or a respectable nod of the head...

[SANDMAN5]

I have wanted to go to a salute, but have not done it yet. Those with a military background, anything against a left hand salute?

When I was in basic training, I was standing outside the barracks in the smoking area,
cig in my right hand, glove on my left. A Major came my way and I KNEW not to salute
with a cig in my hand, so I popped up my left hand in what I thought was a pretty
good salute..... I never did it again!! I don't remember how many pushups I had to
do that day, but seems like it was a world record. All the time having my intelligence
and my family history questioned by the aforementioned Major.

[Jess from VA]

I have wanted to go to a salute, but have not done it yet. Those with a military background, anything against a left hand salute?

When I was in basic training, I was standing outside the barracks in the smoking area,
cig in my right hand, glove on my left. A Major came my way and I KNEW not to salute
with a cig in my hand, so I popped up my left hand in what I thought was a pretty
good salute..... I never did it again!! I don't remember how many pushups I had to
do that day, but seems like it was a world record. All the time having my intelligence
and my family history questioned by the aforementioned Major.

Yeah, technically speaking, a salute is right handed, and there are rules allowing you to skip it with a busy right hand (and a left hand salute will bring trouble on-base).

However, out riding is not on-base.  I generally wave to everyone, and not the stupid point-at-the-ground I'm-cooler-than-dirt Harley move, but a happy open handed wave out at 90*.  But every so often, if I feel an extra effort is warranted, I give a perfect left hand salute (with right on the throttle).  It is never returned, but often appreciated.

Finally, as a variation on a salute, I often will reach up my left hand and tip the bill of my helmet (like a hat brim) in thanks (with a nod)...mostly to soccer moms in minivans on side streets who began to cut me off, then thought better of it and stopped for me to pass.  I often get smiles, and rewarding good behavior often gets good behavior repeated. 

[Spirited-6]

I wave at all on two or three wheels.  Normanly a two finger @ 8:00. I don`t care if I get a return wave or not.  But it is nice to get one. 

[Big Rig]

I have wanted to go to a salute, but have not done it yet. Those with a military background, anything against a left hand salute?

DW

I salute, (non-military) when i started riding the guys i rode with WWII vets mostly saluted (they were Navy). I have read and researched. The proper salute techique is right handed,(in the Navy) left handed salutes are accepted at times.

I still salute to this day....riding 26 years and it goes out to every rider and the police. I have not saluted f-150's as I drive one of those also...

 

[Sonny]

I try to wave at evryone. Sometimes I don't see them in time, to busy watching traffic or looking for those who don't pay attention. But I try not to miss another rider of anykind.  I used to get a little tic'd when a fellow rider would not wave back but not anymore.  Some years back I was talking to a fellow rider about waving at other riders and them not waving back, you know thinking they were stuckup or particular about what you might be riding. He said I get waved at a lot but I never wave back. I said why?  He told me I've never been comfortable about taking my hand off the handlebars.
I guess everyone has their own reasons, I still like to wave it makes me feel good. Kind of a unspoken communication.

Keep up the tradition... 

[fudgie]

I wave. Lotta times i'll hold up my beer/whiskey and say 'Hey!' as they ride by.
100 miles outta Sturgis I dont wave anymore. I get tired of waving.