Snobbish MC riders

[BrianB]

I may attach a spring to a bar-end and put a glove on it so that it waves (like a bobblehead). That way I can wave to everyone and still maintain perfect control of the bike.

Awesome Idea!!!

I still like the personal touch but this would work when all else fails.

[fredintoon]

How can they tell?

Tell who not to wave at, that is. On the open road I mostly wave at oncoming bikes and sometimes they wave back & sometimes they don't but with a closing speed of perhaps 120mph damned if I can see what bike it is until the rider is just about level with me. That must also be true of those other riders; the ones not waving are simply not waving at anyone, rather than just not waving at me. I don't think the non-wavers have to be Harley riders.
Most likely they are new riders who have no grasp of etiquette. So wave, wave & wave again, perhaps they'll catch on.

[davestrike]

In my area some will wave back some will not. I have noticed more of the harley riders do not wave back than the others.

I kinda figure the other guy that does not wave is having a bad day and leave it at that. I am having a great day! I am riding my bike!!

[Erik the Red]

I'm in an area where we have a 98% rate of return waves (be it a return or simply mutual waves). I make it a point to wave to everyone. I seem to have adopted a three finger wave (pinky and ring curled in).

I was giving a friend a ride once and for those few I thought weren't waving back, she said that most of them were. I guess they just responded too late for my peripheral vision to catch it.

[malber]

Originally posted by Erik the Red
I was giving a friend a ride once and for those few I thought weren't waving back, she said that most of them were. I guess they just responded too late for my peripheral vision to catch it.

I think this happens to me a lot: I'm just going too fast to see them wave back.

[lakecountrydave]

I live in Milwaukee, and have found that sport bike riders are the least likely to wave. Although, the midlife crisis Hardly riders are a close second. I understand them not waving though as they are already having problems controlling way more bike than their experience should allow. Just imagine how many accidents they would have if Hardlys had any power. Both groups make me long for a graduated MC license.

Dave

[Wildkat]

In the zone

I try to wave at everyone... but if I happen to be glancing off in another direction or am focused on something else, I may not see them until it's too late to wave... Realizing this, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt... It's the few who look right at me and still don't wave that I figure are having a bad day or are just plain jerks.... just depends on my mood at the time as to what I think they are...

Most of the people around here wave... when it's warm... if it's cool, then not so many...

warm weather = friendly motorcyclists?

[fredintoon]

In the mood

"It's the few who look right at me and still don't wave that I figure are having a bad day or are just plain jerks.... just depends on my mood at the time as to what I think they are... "

Hi Wildkat,
simply think to yourself "That person is so awed by my good looks & my neat bike that he has lost the ability to wave."

[Axel]

WAVE!!!

I wave at scooters , dirt bikes in the ditch , bicycles , and everything two-wheeled on the road . Snubbed sometimes .yes .but by all kinds of riders . Leaning towards Harleys but sometimes the long time Harley guy gives the best wave . They have nothing to prove to anyone about how hard they are .Its just the 30-30 guys who sometimes snub I think .
Comraderie is important .Its what makes our sport the best . Here's a wave out to all XS11 riders .

[egsols]

Around here our return is pretty good. My boy (8 yr old riding on back) caught on real fast and I think that is one of his favourite things about riding with me. He loves to drop a low five when we pass another rider.

I'll wave at any fellow rider regardless of mount. Even if I have to work the clutch I'll at least provide an accentuated nod.

the midlife crisis Hardly riders are a close second

I also find the RUBS the least likely to wave. Just put it down to ingnorance and by waving at them perhaps it may get through to them in time.

[SanDiegoMike]

I try to give everyone a wave, and find that it is usually returned. Now that my daughter is beginning to ride on her own (no more 2 up w/ dear old dad ), she says she is looking forward to throwing the low 5 out there as well. She noticed right away that there was a camaraderie among bikers...

[manshack_one]

On my first ride the other night I was waving so much when I got back my arm was sore and I vaguely recall I must have driven 3/4 of the ride one-handed. But hey, I was a little excited at the time and every one was my friend! Would have been better if I had been waving to people that knew me!

[BrianB]

I am thinking like Wildcat said that cold weather makes for more unfriendly riders. Either that or the only people riding now are doing so because that is their main transportation and not joy riding and happy. Riding earlier this summer in hot weather, I got good responses back when throwing the wave but the last 2 days I have been out, I got back a wave from only about 2 out of 10 riders I passed. I was out for about two hours so thats not a lot of riders. A two hour ride when the weather is warmer I would pass too many other riders to keep track.

[Special Ed]

“I may attach a spring to a bar-end and put a glove on it so that it waves (like a bobblehead). That way I can wave to everyone and still maintain perfect control of the bike.” Pat.

Yea, Pat I thought of that too! Around here, on the weekend, or around any event, there are so many bikes on the road that I would be riding with one hand most of the time if I waved at every rider.

But I’ve found a compromise. Since it’s mostly Harley riders, (and yes, Japanese Harley wannabes,) who don’t return waves, I try to avoid waving at them first. Ever once in a while I slip up and wave, though, and… "D-o-u-gh! Ya got me!"
E.Liberty

[lakecountrydave]

I have never counted, figured percentages or conducted a scientific test on the matter. However, I feel that the worse the weather, the more likely the wave is returned. I had just assumed that poeple who ride in poor weather rode for the love of it. I do tend to wave early (I love the camaraderie) which might be influencing the behavior of the on coming riders. Just my $.02.

Dave