It's the comraderie of being a rider. I always initiate a wave. Don't care if I get one back. I think you'll find most will wave back. If you see the same ones daily, you'll almost certainly get a wave. As for sport bike riders, watch for the (non-middle) finger point or the slight head nod. They tend to like to have their hands on the bars.
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Giving a wave or other type of acknowledgement doesn't only pertain to bikers.
I drive a Mustang and occasionally get waved at by other Mustang drivers. You will see this between other people driving similar sports cars, especially for those driving the same year and model as the other guy.
The wave just seems more common with bikers than with cars. Probably because you can see the guy on the bike waving at you much easier than a guy behind a tinted window.
Funny thing though. I was driving my Mustang and was waved at by a guy riding, a Honda VTX cruiser, I believe it was. I didn't know him so I assumed maybe he drove a Mustang like mine.
I drive a Mustang and occasionally get waved at by other Mustang drivers. You will see this between other people driving similar sports cars, especially for those driving the same year and model as the other guy.
The wave just seems more common with bikers than with cars. Probably because you can see the guy on the bike waving at you much easier than a guy behind a tinted window.
Funny thing though. I was driving my Mustang and was waved at by a guy riding, a Honda VTX cruiser, I believe it was. I didn't know him so I assumed maybe he drove a Mustang like mine.
Back in the early 80's, bikers weren't all that friendly, especially if you didn't ride a Harley. I pulled into a rest area back then with my 550 Suzuki, and there were 8 or 10 guys on their Harleys. They were all driving choppers and looked like they had just crawled out of the garbage. One of them made a smartass remark about what I was riding. Don't know what got into me, but it made me really angry. I walked over to the guy and told him, "If you think you're the meanest one here, get off that candidate for a junkyard, and I'll show you who's the meanest SOB on this highway!" He immediately said, "Oh sir, I was just kidding around. I didn't mean anything by it!" I stared at him for a moment, and then walked away. After starting down the road, I thought to myself, "You stupid old fool! You could have gotten yourself killed back there!" Now, I just ignore people who make smart remarks or don't wave. It's not worth it, and now I'm REALLY OLD!
Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new
Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is
partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their
ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his
hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to
lift their arms.
Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back
10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene
gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise
arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories
dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height,
programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.
Top 10 Reasons Sport Bike Riders Don't Wave:
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement
and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the
socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want
to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits
prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgment.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to i-pod,
XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.
Yup...I'm an "equal opportunity offender"
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new
Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is
partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their
ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his
hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to
lift their arms.
Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back
10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene
gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise
arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories
dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height,
programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.
Top 10 Reasons Sport Bike Riders Don't Wave:
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement
and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the
socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want
to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits
prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgment.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to i-pod,
XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.
Yup...I'm an "equal opportunity offender" I laugh the loudest over the Harley Rider reasons. I ride a 2005 RK Custom with some loud aftermarket pipes, and have an ink addiction, so #6 & #3 make me laugh...at ME!!
YF, if ya can't laugh at work, get a new job bro! LOL!
I'm sort of a one-man operation, so I'm the only one here at my office most of the time. I can laugh my butt off, crank the tunes, work on the Harley, make dumb noises, and post funny stuff on forums all day long.
I'm sort of a one-man operation, so I'm the only one here at my office most of the time. I can laugh my butt off, crank the tunes, work on the Harley, make dumb noises, and post funny stuff on forums all day long.
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