[50001]

Ther are days I am too busy enjoying the ride to wave, busy watch cagers on the 101 triing to talk and eat breakfast, but times I am not I wave. It's a freedom, and hello to friend. An encourgement. Be friendly, get more out there on their affordable metrics, and scooters. save fuel. I don't care the reason. JUST RIDE MAN- RIDE.

 

[supecoop]

When I'm in a crowded metropolitan area sometimes I wave; and return a wave if traffic is not too bad. Its no big deal one way or the other. But on a long tour, far from home and in the middle of nowhere, the wave is a great gesture.

 

[sportbikebandit]

Dude, you're grumpy for 36. Are there that many motorcyclists where you are? I don't think folks expect you to wave if you are the busy freeway commuting. However, on side streets and two lane highways where its obvious you could wave and don't , that's a little rude in my opinion. I usually wave first to everyone that rides. 98% plus wave back. I don't get offended for those who don't. My internal counter says the 2% is mostly weekend Harley guys who don't wave but I don't care. To me it's a greeting of respect that says "Glad to see another rider and I repect you for riding". People are so rude these days to me it's one of the last traditions that go back to the days when folks were more polite and cared about each other. Man I sound like a conservative huh. I have noticed on my visits to Southern Cal folks are more rude, grumpy, and frearful of strangers than other parts of the county. Probably the result of the rapid urbanization.

 

[44510]

Please tell me you're not a TPS grad... Waving is tradition and, yes, we are doing something special. I know that working at Edwards can suck the life out of people (desert heat, desolate, dusty, demanding), but you gotta lighten up. Riding should clear the head (ok, "cranium" for all you pilot types) and waving should be a reminder that you're not alone enjoying yourself (STS).

 

[Fenton]

Hey grumpy pants, I think the problem is you are "too busy to wave." I personally don't care if you wave or not. But it is a shame that something that has brought you so much joy for the past 20 years has become part of the rush to get done rest of your day.

Too busy? At least the jerks and Harley posers have REAL problems.

You just need to remember why you ride, and relax.

 

[snark]

I have to laugh at these people who think that because they're 36 they've seen it all. Yeah Dude, you've been all they way from Victorville to Ridgecrest. You're too jaded to give a little wave to a fellow scooter rider. Okay, if conditions demand my attention and concentration I don't wave either, but for me waving at other riders is a part of enjoying the ride. BTW why did you think this decision of yours is important enough to write about?



Grumpy Fifty-Nine year old ;-)

 

[12217]

Guilt?

 

[cheapbastard]

When I'm on a long road trip and haven't seen another bike for a bunch of miles and someone comes over the crest and gives me the wave it makes me feel connected to a brotherhood of fellow riders that risk death on the highway to get the joy of spirit that comes from hooking up and becoming one with the power and dance of a motorcycle. Going down Santiago Canyon road on a Sunday I feel like a bobbleheaded dog in the back of a 64 Chevy nodding and waving every 3 seconds to the point of absurdity. I don't ride Santiago Canyon, Ortega Highway or Angeles Crest on Sunday.

 

[42232]

Yes you are a grumpy "old" 36 year old man. I don't wave if I am busy (heavy traffic, pulling in the clutch, turning), but other than that I wave every time. I like the comradery of the motorcycle community. The wave is by no means mandatory, so don’t do it if you don’t want to.

 

[oldtim]

I think its dumb. I recall when I used to have an Austin Healey, all the Brit sports car drivers would wave, but then again, you weren't waving ever damn block or so. I never wave first but I always wave back. As the responses here to fore posted would indicate, some folks put a lot of stock in it.

 

[40110]

I'll wave out of courtesy, if you don't wave back--no problemo...

At 37, after 20 years of street riding, I'm not a grumpy motorcyclist. In fact, I'm happiest and most relaxed when on the bike. I'll wave at Harley's, metric cruisers, sportbikes, dual sports, and anything on 2 wheels--even bicycles

I enjoy seeing others on bikes and don't consider it a brotherhood when I wave--just a kind gesture.

Ride safe,

Karl

 

[422]

See if you feel the same after riding for 35 years, or longer. Riding a motorcycle is one of the last pure viseral activities left in today's high pressure/high tech society. With safety in mind first, I'll always return another motorcyclist's wave.

 

[MOwings]

Depends on the situation. I always wave unless it just gets rediculous. For example, waving to every Harley at Sturgis or to every sportbike at the USGP is insane, but any other time I try to wave if I can. If someone doesn't wave though it certainly doesn't hurt my feelings and I'm sure it doesn't bother most people. So, if your arm is about to fall off from waving too much, and you want to stop, I'm sure it won't hurt anyone's feelings. Wer'e all grownups here Well, most of us.

 

[michaelpharvey]

Just nod your head to those who wave. Less distracting and requires less physical exertion!

 

[dmorga1]

I'm only 30 and maybe not grumpy yet. I've been riding for 3 years now, and have just recently gotten pretty comfortable on the bike (uh-oh). I always wave as long as I'm not pulling in the clutch or watching the cars in front of me intently, as necessitated by ridiculous Chicago traffic. I find the sportbike poseurs in shorts and t-shirts rarely wave nor return one, but the guys on the big sport-cruisers in aerostitch suits, old dudes on '84 Hondas, guys like me on standards, and often, even the Harley guys will wave. I find the really courteous guys are the guys who ride like pros, with a positive attitude and riding within their limits. I'd like to be in THAT brotherhood. If that takes a wave when I can, I'm all for it.



P.S., the word is clique.

 

[28945]

The wave tradition was a spontaneous recognition by 2 guys that in a sea of tedious and uninspired repetition, they were unique - out there tooling about in their 2-seaters or on their motorbikes. The rarity of it is what made it special back when. It has now become a physically tedious and uninspired repetition in itself and approaches spastic laughability in any major American city.

 

[ajohn505]

Your post is a reminder that in this ocean of repetitive message board repetition, we can count on someone to write tedious and wordy prose in spastic fits from major American cities.

 

[33987]

I enjoy the wave personally, but I don't do the whole hand off the handlebar thing. In my european riding experiences often I would wave and not get a wave back, but a two finger pointing gesture off the left grip while the ringman and pinky remained grasping the clutch for that emergency downshift if necessary! I find the hand gesture while still grasping the bars to be a good way to go. Takes no effort at all, and you can even do it while making complicated steep angle parking lot maneuvers, gunning through the fast stuff at mach 90 where the G-Forces would rip your arm from the bike otherwise, and it even works while riding with a beer in hand (though that does impede clutch actuation). Don't get unhappy when people smile, wave, or are otherwise nice and complimentary to you on the road... unless you really want to be a badass and not have any friends. I always think of it as good motorcyclist karma for the next time I run out of gas 200 miles from nowhere -- not that that has ever happened mind you.

 

[35614]

I guess that after all the comments, it is save to say that your are the problem

 

[Rottenruss]

It is true! In the 50's, every sportscar driver (and there were few) shared the 'brotherhood" by waving to one another. Enter Corvette and other pseudo sporting cars, and that ended forever. I cherish the tradition and feel only disgust toward the SoCal wannabees too cool to wave at #1Metrics or #2Sportbikes or #3 Anyone NOT trying to look tough. Where are all these bikes on my morning commute?