I wave at everyone. The only times I don't wave are if I'm in heavy traffic and need to keep focused, or if I didn't see the other rider until it's too late. I also don't wave much if I'm at a big rally; like Daytona, or Laconia. Sometimes, if someone is being a snob and won't wave back, I'll wave a second time using the ancient and mystical mono-digital fertility gesture.
another waver here...though I have to admit a few weeks back on the BRP, bike traffic was soo heavy I kinda wish I had one of those foam hands strapped to the helmet....
(I'd bet she gets 100% return waves )
Locally about half the chrome brigade reciprocate but heck half the time I miss it myself ...especially on the superslab. The nasty weather does bring out some camaraderie as I got full hearted waves when I passed a dozen Harleys when we ALL looked like drowned rats. Bicyclists get a nod too as I can respect anyone willing to take a bicycle on the open road these days.
Come to think of it, it almost seems like the return wave biker seems to vary depending on which bike I'm on .....
I love this string. Some of you know that I can be a little wordy. This will be no exception - hope you can take a little time and read.
Also, Clement Salvadori's book "101 Road Tales" has a good essay from May 1995 called "The Wave Debate", reprinted from Rider magazine. Very funny! I swear that I had not read his essay before I wrote mine.
I took an 8-day solo ride around Scotland back in October 2005 as a novice rider (dumb, I know, but what a life adventure!)and wrote a huge trip journal about it. The following is a little clip from it about "The Wave":
"So, many of you might be wondering, “Hooper! What about the wave? Do they do the wave in Scotland?” This refers to the tradition among bikers of waving at each other upon passing. This is not flapping one’s hand wildly like a kindergartener at a bus stop, but coolly extending a couple fingers of the left hand or hanging low the open left hand as you pass the other biker. There are many ways to do it. Some just extend the hand a couple inches off the left grip (frankly, my most common wave – because, since you never know who will wave back at you, this offers the least humiliation if you’re hanging out there by yourself – you can snap back to the grip as if nothing happened). Some drop their open left hand down to their side as if they were doing a rolling low-five with the oncoming rider (one of my favorites – I should switch to this one, even though it requires more effort and really leaves you exposed for being left hanging). Some don’t even lift their hands off the grip and simply lift a couple fingers (certainly the safest method). Some don’t do it all. I got the feeling that the very impressive, helmetless, long-haired Harley riders in New Hampshire and Maine could see, as I approached them on my rented Harley Road King, that I was wearing a full-face helmet and an armored nylon riding jacket, and therefore decided to withhold their wave from what was clearly a non-biker (I am a rider – I am not a biker – being a “biker” involves living a particular lifestyle that probably 2% of all “riders” actually live…or maybe 1%.).
One afternoon on a ride east on Route 55 through northern Virginia (it is a gorgeous road that parallels Route 66 from Front Royal into the greater DC area and provides a much more enjoyable ride back home from wine country than the 66 freeway does), two guys on Harleys approached. The lead man with wild hair and a goatee practically stood up on his pegs and stuck his left hand way up in the air. With a grand flourish, he dipped it like a swan would dip its neck into a pond to snag some sort of underwater root, way down to the side of his bike, fingers together like he was dunking a strawberry into warm melted chocolate (exactly what he was trying to re-enact, I’m sure). He had an insane smile on his face – and I felt great after they passed. I need to do that from time to time…maybe when I pass my five-year anniversary of riding.
Personally, I’d been doing more of the side flick, but I’d like to get back to the low-five method. I found, up in New Hampshire and Maine, that the more serious recreational riders are the more eager wavers. They’re similar to me, but they have more money, full riding suits, massive/expensive bikes, wives on the back, and 20+ years to mine. Almost all of them wear full-face helmets even though the weather is perfect for an open-faced model. They don’t screw around. They’re probably lawyers, accountants, military, foremen, managers, retirees, responsible parents, cool grandparents, and other types who have a belief that they have responsibilities for which they must stay alive. They don’t wear the cannonball helmets. They keep both hands on the grips at all times. They usually wear full armored suits. These folks always and enthusiastically give "the wave", including the chick on the back. My guess is that they’re just so happy to be touring on a bike and to see other people enjoying themselves – it gives them a sense of belonging to a club, which is what it’s really all about. They’re not riding as part of their attitude – they’re riding for the fun of it, so they don’t have to front one bit.
Cruiser riders almost always wave at each other. Sport bike riders almost always wave at each other. Cruiser riders and sport bike riders don’t always wave at each other (though most of the time they do). There might be a bit of disdain for the other’s choice of ride and/or lifestyle, but it usually only lasts a second or two until they remember that they’re both on two wheels and loving it, and have a vested interest in supporting each other (well, usually). And then there are people like I who have a cruiser AND a sport bike/dual sport. When I’m on one of them, I’m wishing the riders of the other type knew that I do own that other type, and vice versa. Both are a blast and have their different uses and provide their different inspirations.
Recently, my friend Carl and I were talking about riding. He had moved to San Francisco a few years ago and had bought an old Honda to learn on. San Francisco is a great two-wheel town…there is so much free parking for motorcycles and scooters (no such thing as a "moped" anymore, is there?) around that city. As compact and overpopulated as it is, it makes sense. So, Carl jumped on the bandwagon and lived up to his "urban independent city guy" image and learned to ride a low-power Japanese bike (though if you met him you’d swear he was a vintage Triumph guy all the way – he eventually became that). Carl moved back to DC so we then had bikes to talk about. He, in his usual way, told our mutual friend Alan about what he deemed was a bizarre, silly, and potentially "gay" thing that he noticed other bikers doing. They waved at him when he passed! I mean, what’s up with that?!?! I let him know that, indeed, "the wave" is a biker thing nationwide (and now I knew it to be worldwide). Carl, a noted scoffer, scoffed at the concept, thinking it “stupid” or “gay” or something like that. I told him that it has been going on for as long I as I knew. Maybe I’ll do some research and write a book about "the wave". I just found it really, really funny to hear someone who considers himself quite aware and quite hip say that he didn’t know about this old tradition among riders. Drivers of old Jeep CJs do it (my college friend Pony showed me that while riding in his 1979 Jeep CJ, dubbed "The Family Deathtrap" by our friend Mark). I understand vintage Corvette owners might do it as well. Anyway, Carl only got it as I described it. He’s a scoffer in general. I may end up selling him my cruiser, so if he starts riding around the East Coast, maybe he’ll get it. It’s a good thing.
Long story long: yes, they do "the wave" in Scotland. Not all of them, but most do. In Scotland, the wave is basically what you’d find in The States, but because the weather is so horrendous so often, riders need to keep both hands on the grips, hence the two-finger-lift style. Or, there’s the always reliable head nod (the cool and detached upward flick, or the traditional, austere, downward nod) – not as gratifying and a little cold, but certainly does the job and conveys the needed information. I might start the salute next weekend – that would look cool and really connect with the whole "helmeted knight on his steed" imagery that we bikers possess (unless you’re a renaissance faire reenactor) – I mean, we both have visors, and on steel horses we ride. We’re cowboys, wanted dead or alive. So cheezy.
Regardless, you’re riding on the left side of the road – it has to be different than an in North America. You have to reach up and across a little bit to be noticed.
Anyway, as the trip progressed, I learned a whole new way of "the wave" that really connected with the very serious style of riding that Scots do (what with all the bad weather and preponderance of sport, BMW, or dual-purpose bikes that tend to squelch the cruiser style of riding attitude (laid back, louder, a fair amount of attitude, and a bit frontiersmanlike). I noticed it particularly in bad weather, especially on large roads and highways. I would zip past a fellow rider in impressive leather, a dark visor (in the rain?!), and an aggressive image. He was across the divider in the other lane of the highway. It was neither safe nor practical to lift a hand to wave. He unmistakably tilted his head sideways toward me and then back straight. Very slick. I noticed it a lot as I went on in those last days. It makes a lot of sense. If you’re going to use your head, the downward nod is certainly the preferred acknowledgment – the upward head flick is cool but a little too cold. The sideways nod is special. It’s not a normal physical function – it feels a little awkward and unnatural. But when you see it, you know that it’s meant for you. A head nod could be misconstrued as "I’m checking my fuel gauge." or "Am I speeding?" The head flick could be seen as "Whatever, beyotch – I can definitely kick your ass, and I have a faster bike!" The sideways nod is "Hail, brother! Ride safely and perhaps our paths shall cross again! Good luck on that job interview next week! Definitely go with the braised lamb shank at the Mash Tun Restaurant in the quaint town of Aberlour, just ahead on your right!"
Or something like that.
It took some practice to get the sideways nod down (over), and now that I’m back in The States, I have to learn to do it on the right side. I don’t think anyone would know what I was doing. Plus, I avoid riding in any kind of foul weather over here, when I can help it.
I read a column by an old-school biker who lamented that The Wave was dying out, so I always get a little bit indignant if I’m the only one waving, but with ridership at record levels in the US, that’s a lot of waving to do. I love the fact that more people are on motorcycles, but pretty soon, when gas prices are at $4.50 a gallon and one out of three people are on a bike to save money, the wave could get a little tedious. Imagine being a Honda car driver and feeling compelled to wave at the other Honda car drivers. At that rate, you might as well just attach a fake left arm to your sled in the "wave" position of your choice. Bike makers could include options for electronic wave machines. And so on."
Oh, and the Harley with two headlights is the Fat Bob...pretty cool bike.
Here's a blurry wave out in rural MD: arm extended, fingers out. Nice.
I wave. Sometimes I wave with my arm up high like I'm on the closing credits of the Beverly Hillbilly's.
BUT... there is this DC that lives some place close to me that rides a HD Softail that I see once or twice a week. This pole smoker keeps his nose in the air, eyes front and has that look of "ME? wave at you? right" all over his face. Next time I see him I'm going to lock the throttle, stand up and wave with both hands in the air. That should freak him out....
here is a funny one, last year when I took my ST1100 (pre-Uly-aide) down the TOD, I received a two-hand salute from a fellow ST-er... almost distracting
I wave at anybody on 2 wheels. Even scooters. In fact it kind of startles a lot of scooter riders, especially if I am on my big ol' nasty '81 Shovelhead rat bike!
A buddy of mine always waved with two finger on his left hand. Only problem is the tip of his index finger is gone, so he usually looked like he was flipping them off.
Wow Hooper: I did not realize that people had put so much thought into this subject. When I started this thread I was just mainly curious if everyone else was seeing the same thing as me. Your post reminded me a little of the old analogy of asking for the time and being told how to build a clock! But I found that insight to be a very enjoyable read, thanks for posting!
I wave as often as possible but miss once and awhile. I think more cruisers ignore it unless you are on a cruiser> I get a kick seeing the big grins from the scooter crowd, which as grown exponentially around here, when i wave at them especially the kids. They just look so darned pleased someone waved at them. I actually love scooters so it's easy for ,e to wave at them also.
Love this topic as I am sure many of you do,I have ridden for years and one thing stays constant, most Harley riders are clones. When I ride a sportbike they hardly ever wave, but get on that cruiser and boy oh boy I am one of the crowd(SIC Clones) On the Ulysses, sport bike guys always wave, GS riders wave, hell even KTM riders wave, again the cruiser clones choose to ignore,that said one thing I have noticed though is if they are alone they almost always wave in a group (Clones) they seem to forget. So when I am on the sportbike, the dual sport or the Uly I always wave at them(The Clones) When I am on the cruiser I flip em off. Screw em if they can't take a joke, I laugh every time I do it.
i'm pretty much done waving to people. i think i have better things to pay attention to than some douchebag dawdling along on his cruiser. I mean, think about it... yeah, let me take a hand off the controls and look across five lanes of traffic? I will however, always flash my brights and tap my helmet if there is a cop/ speed trap. Otherwise a nod should suffice.
At last.... and whilst you are looking at the oncoming dude wondering if he is a bling rider, rice rocketeer, cruiser and whether or not you should wave.... a kid has just wandered out from between two parked cars or a woman on prozac has just pulled out of the next junction without looking. Not only is this waving thing a pain in the ass its dangerous. IMHO.. no offence.
Ya notice that guy on the vid must be Italian, he talks with his hands.....not a good thing when riding a bike. He even uses both hands.....interesting.
LAPD can be a little snooty and just look at me as I go by, but Ventura County Sheriff and CHP are pretty good about a nod and/or a slight lift of the left hand off the bar.
In fact last week coming down 330 from Big Bear Lake, on a long downhill sweeping left hander, we met a CHP coming up the hill. He initiated the wave with an out-to-the-side two-fingered wave, blew my wife and me away!
Even chopper guys with teeny little helmets will wave... if they're alone.
I do try and wave at all, but being stiffed by scooters usually means I only wave back instead of initiating it.
The last time I rode my bike, I made the mistake of waving to a cop. Suddenly and violently he pulled a U'ie and I was "going far over the speed limit." When I explained I was in the military and I was waiving, not giving him the finger like he thought, he let me go. Funny how my speed was a non-issue after he found out I didn't flip him off. (I was doing about 5 over)
Sometimes, the urge to share the riding brother/sisterhood is too much.
On Wednesday evening, I was riding home from work around the Capital Beltway in a steady downpour. Traffic was fairly heavy, but we were moving. I heard some yahoo in the distance honking frantically about something, so I looked around to spot the problem (or the yahoo). Turns out, it was a guy on a sportbike 7 lanes and a median barrier away from me on the opposite loop of the Beltway. He was nodding his head up and down at me, honking. I gave him a couple blips of the Stebel and kept going.
I guess he just REALLY wanted to say hi to another poor rider stuck in the rain. That's a little much.
) 
But I found that insight to be a very enjoyable read, thanks for posting!
