SquidBusters Archive

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waving
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Posted by: toezter

so i've been actively riding on a motorcycle for this season only. before was a scooter for two years, i'd get occasional waves from motorists, and i would wave back.

typically i do so whomever it is, as long as they have near proper attire; helmet, pants, shoes. give or take some exceptions for neighbors.

today i was at a traffic light with another guy in the oncoming lane. VERY typical, red SS bike, wife beater, sunglasses, gym shorts, and flip flops. the university that i left from a bit ago had many riders who have the same 'dress code.' well the light turned green and i saw his arm motion out into a wave. just then i turned my head away, blatantly ignoring his gesture.

was i too harsh? i sometimes come up to stops with other riders and jokingly say, "wheres your helmet?"

anyone else do something similar?

Posted by: dar

I wave (if it's safe) regardless of whether the other biker is a naked squid, cruiser, or whatever. To me, it's just a gesture to acknowledge another rider, regardless of your opinion of what or how he/she rides.

Posted by: Wingspan

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar

I wave (if it's safe) regardless of whether the other biker is a naked squid, cruiser, or whatever. To me, it's just a gesture to acknowledge another rider, regardless of your opinion of what or how he/she rides.

to all of the above, and I don't take offense if I don't get one in return. I think a lot of people put way too much into the whole waiving thing.

As for ignoring others or making cracks at them while at lights because they aren't geared they way you think they should be...that's your prerogative but it's not how I choose to act. If you really care about what other riders wear it'd be much better to be friendly and lead by example. Acting like some kind of elitist and looking down your nose is the fastest way to turn people off to whatever you have to say.

Posted by: toezter

ha, seems fair.

i guess its their body, not mine.

Posted by: neebelung

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar

+1 Yup, me too. We all share the same passion, and while we may choose to not RIDE with those in flipflops and shades, there's still no need to be a snob to them.

Posted by: VonKujo

If I see a Squid being a squid I tend to ride by with out a wave. But if they are just riding and following traffic laws I will give "the wave". It is their choice if they like their skin or not. I did an experiment last season and said I would not wave to any motorcyclist that was not geared up and I found in a day or two that if you follow that rule you only wave to 3 people a day and look like an arse.

Posted by: natrona848

typically, if i see someone on a sportbike with no gear (meaing wife beater, shorts, no helmet) i just stare straight and don't wave, more like pretending that they are not even there or I didn't see them. if they have a lid on, then i'll usually give a small "hello" wave.

Posted by: not_an_R6

I wave to everybody, but what really pisses me off is when cruiser-types dont want to wave back because of my lime green ZX6RR. I have respect for all sport and cruiser classes alike, what gives? Maybe if i bought them a beer they would reconsider the whole waving thing.

Posted by: natrona848

real crusier guys wave

Posted by: Wingspan

As I posted earlier that I don't get offended if my waives aren't returned. That's true, with one exception. That exception is motorcycle mounted police officers. I have never gotten a waive, nod, or approving look back from those guys. One would think that with as much whining as cops do about not being appreciated they'd return a kind gesture when they get one.

I see bike cops in my area at least once a week. I've waived while riding, stopped at lights, even when a group of them and I were parked in the same lot. Not once has the waive been returned.

Posted by: Jason C

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingspan

As I posted earlier that I don't get offended if my waives aren't returned. That's true, with one exception. That exception is motorcycle mounted police officers. I have never gotten a waive, nod, or approving look back from those guys. One would think that with as much whining as cops do about not being appreciated they'd return a kind gesture when they get one.

I see bike cops in my area at least once a week. I've waived while riding, stopped at lights, even when a group of them and I were parked in the same lot. Not once has the waive been returned.

I am with you, I wave if they are on 2 wheels, and don't expect anything in return.

Now, about motorcycle police, I have had a complete 180 degree experience than you. They have always aknowledged my wave, whether it be a short wave or a nod...always.

just the other morning, I was pulling out of my condo complex, and there was 5 mounted Sherrifs just sitting on their Kawis, talking (not setting a speed trap). One of the Sherrifs nodded at me before I could wave, and the others aknowledged me in turn...must have been that fine Italian bike between my legs, and all of that protective leather, too........

Posted by: Wondertwin

I say waving is a no-no, as it could cause you to lose control of your bike and veer into a pedestrian, mailbox, etc. You can probably wave at other bikers while driving your car pretty safely though...

Posted by: Meg

I wave unless they're riding recklessly...

Posted by: JohnC

I wave to pretty much anyone on two. I've also had good experience with bike cops, I find that they pretty much universally wave back to me.

Here's an odd one from this morning's commute. I was riding in this morning, as usual. As I'm sitting at a light, two guys on cruisers pull up in the lane beside me. Guy closest to me is on a mid-90s Virago, guy farthest on a Harley dresser. It's a long light, so I start talking 'em up. The guy on the Harley looks at me, and very deliberately then looks away. The Virago guy and I talked it up a minute, and then we all took off.

Look, I understand that we fought the Japanese at one time. I understand that your bike choice and mine are very different. But get over yourself, man!

I'm not saying this is universal amongst the HD riders, but I will say they are the only group that I seem to get it from.

Posted by: Racinjasan

I wave at anyone on 2 wheels (even the growing number of scooters out there).
Don't really care if they wave back or not.
Common courtesy should be given freely, not expected.
Thats just me though.

Posted by: Wondertwin

Quote:

The guy on the Harley looks at me, and very deliberately then looks away.

That's when you say, "Hey! Nice dork-mobile! My little sister is into the Rocky Horror Picture Show too!". Of course, through a full-face helmet, It sounds like, "MMM! MmmmMmmmm! HmmmMmmmMmmm!"

Harley riders tend to have this sheep-like mentality where they're more into participating in some prefabricated lifestyle/ethic than having a good motorcycling experience. I wouldn't let it keep me up at night, that's for sure! Not that I think it will you either...

Posted by: JohnC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondertwin

That's when you say, "Hey! Nice dork-mobile! My little sister is into the Rocky Horror Picture Show too!". Of course, through a full-face helmet, It sounds like, "MMM! MmmmMmmmm! HmmmMmmmMmmm!"

I don't know why, but I'm still chuckling about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondertwin

I wouldn't let it keep me up at night, that's for sure! Not that I think it will you either...

Me? Nah! I stopped giving a crap about what people think about my biking habits a long time ago.

Posted by: HarleyJohn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meg

I wave unless they're riding recklessly...

Dang, THAT explains why I never get waved at.

Posted by: Booman

I wave regardless of whether I get one back in return. While some are quick to claim cruiser guys don't often return waves, I've found that more often than not I won't get a return wave from a Goldwing rider (must be because they didn't purchase the "auto-hand-wave" feature for their bike...and for all you 'Wing riders, I'm just messin' with ya! I know it's really because you don't want to let go of those heated grips!!)

BTW, don't believe the hype about natronazx6r waving...he hasn't waved to me once! Oh wait, he's on the other side of the country. Um, never mind then. He's still cool in my books...

Posted by: natrona848

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booman

I wave regardless of whether I get one back in return. While some are quick to claim cruiser guys don't often return waves, I've found that more often than not I won't get a return wave from a Goldwing rider (must be because they didn't purchase the "auto-hand-wave" feature for their bike...and for all you 'Wing riders, I'm just messin' with ya! I know it's really because you don't want to let go of those heated grips!!)

BTW, don't believe the hype about natronazx6r waving...he hasn't waved to me once! Oh wait, he's on the other side of the country. Um, never mind then. He's still cool in my books...

Posted by: Rob Hephner

I wave to everyone and generally get waved back at....including police officers both in cages and bikes.

RUBs don't seem to ever wave back....not sure if the don't know how or are too worried about riding?

Posted by: katrider

Wave. What kinda message you sending by not?? Dressed like you described, might be the last time anyone sees 'em alive...

Posted by: mangeldbug

I wave to everyone but since I started commuting Ive noticed that I get MAYBE 2 waves/head nods a day. And Im not counting riders who are in stop-n-go situations where they dont have a free hand or need to pay attention to what they are doing.

I did get a head nod from a Motorcycle Cop the other day. He's the first one Ive seen so far when Im on the bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by not_an_R6

I wave to everybody, but what really pisses me off is when cruiser-types dont want to wave back because of my lime green ZX6RR. I have respect for all sport and cruiser classes alike, what gives? Maybe if i bought them a beer they would reconsider the whole waving thing.

They dont wave because they dont see you! All that wind in their eyes makes it really hard to see much of anything... I know. We had to wear beanie helmets when we rented the Harley in Hawai'i. (Never again.)

Posted by: 87hurricane

I wave to everyone, almost always get a wave back, especially now that its getting colder. The only ones still out there are the true riders, and they're always good for a return wave.

Posted by: Bags

My co-worker (GoldWing guy)and I (kawi-ninja guy)were just discussing this very topic today. We live just outside of Milwaukee. Subjectively we agree that very, very few Harley guys ever wave at anything made outside of Milwaukee and PA. They consider anything other then their "buckets of crap" to be beneath them. Even beammer guys wave around here....but not the leather vested, short-sleeved, do rag crowd on their hogs. I even wave to squids, but have given up waving at the "dork-mobiles". (When I owned my Buell, the dork-mobiles wouldn't even wave...screw em).

Posted by: natrona848

i'm telling you, the real harley/cruiser guys wave, it's the posers that don't. i remember reading about on the main guys in hell's angels saying that they should have gotten into the jap bikes way back in the day but it didn't work out that way. just goes to show you, all is not what you might think it is.

Posted by: locomofo

Yeah "N", I believe you are right. My experience prior to feeding my bike to that SUV was that the "real" HD bikers wave and some of the "posers" think they gotta rep it hardcore and blow-off the "crotch-rocket" guy. I'll never forget one time about a month ago there was a gathering of HOG locally and bikes everywhere. Mainly HD's but others mixed in out on the roads as well. I passed a group of two-ups and got stiffed! NONE of them waved. There I was throwin it out there to them and NOTHIN back. Okay, I'm fine. They just didn't like my "type" so later, same road, few miles up here comes the hardest of harcore. He's got NO shirt and totaly tattooed and I mean COVERED. About 40-50 yrs old, long beard/hair, and those wacko handelbars about 40 inches tall on a vintage, primered, flathead. He waved first and even threw in a nod. Who woulda figured?

Posted by: Tomkeazy

Yeah, I wave to everyone, as long as they aren't doing something stupid or its unsafe for me to do so. I've gotten waves from all types, from ss bikes, to cruisers, to goldwings. Its the people who have to rep who don't wave, I've seen some grizzled ass chopper dudes wave to me, but get a poser on an 883 and he'll act too cool. Depends on the person I guess. I'm not offended if I don't get one, and if I miss someone, don't be offended by me. We all share the same passion, so IMO its only right to acknowledge when safely able too.

Posted by: LittleJoe

Hardly anyone waves to me on the Tard. I think most people I just trying to figure out what it is.

Posted by: HarleyJohn

That's funny, everyone waves to me on the DP. Even guys on their riding mowers (no, that's not a Harley reference

)

Posted by: JohnC

This thread reminds me of a ride I was on a couple years back. Me and my buddy and our wives had hit the mountains, and had stopped for lunch at TWO in Suches, Georgia. The four of us were sitting at one of the picnic tables in the back down by the creek, and at the next table were two of the most grizzled, tough-looking bikers I'd ever seen.

After we'd been there a few minutes, one of them asked me if we had snagged any extra ketchup. We all got talking, and the older of the two asks David and I about the bikes, and we ask them what they're on. The older guy looks at us and says "Well, I used to ride nothing but hogs, but I got me a BMW now, and I ain't looking back."

Posted by: CaptCrash

I believe some of them CAN'T wave. They are sooo focused on riding that they can't see other riders OR they flat don't want to take a hand OFF the bars.

(Of course some are just rude. I believe waving at everyone creates a feeling of fraternity we need so we can help each other be better riders...)