Quote from: StrikeJollyRoger on May 29, 2008, 01:22:56 AM
I'm a new rider as of last Friday.  Like a male rabbit mistakingly placed with the females, after I straddled my Monster they had a hard time prying me off.  Over the long weekend I logged about 18-20 hours of riding and about four tanks of fuel.   

Welcome but are you NOT aware that we are in the middle of a gas crisis?!   

i have noticed a big difference based on the bike im riding.  i have the monster, and a ktm supermoto.  i get a wider range of riders that wave to me on the duc, but on the ktm its like im not even riding a bike half the time.  i dont know what it is with the harley crowd, but when they see someone in a roadrace leather jacket riding a dirtbike, they tend to flash me a "im better than you" look when i pass them. 

ive had more stoplight conversations while on the duc, especially with the harley riders.  they tend to notice that its not a "rice rocket" and can tell its a v-twin (if they can hear it). 

i get tons of complements on the duc, but on my ktm the most popular are questions like "is that thing street legal?" or "i didnt know they made those street legal?" to which i have to reply "they didnt!!" and flash a mischievous smile or wink.

i make it a point to wave at damn near everyone on a bike, unless i just cant or didnt see them until its too late because of the traffic.  i love the look scooter guys give me when i wave, its like they have never had anyone on a bike wave to them before.  and i will expect the same once i get a scooter.  thats right, i want a scooter and there is nothing you can do about it!!

In Hawaii most people will wave, regardless of what kind of bike you are on.  But motorcyclists definetly have their cliques here too.  Harley riders only ride with Harley riders (which I think is just plain gay) and guys on Japanese bikes seem to stick together, but not as exclusively as the Harley guys.  Who would think that the "counter-culture" could be so elitist?

I wave to everybody I can, but will feel bad if I am shifting or in a corner and can't wave back to somebody.   

Forgot to mention that in San Francisco itself, nobody waves...there are way too many bikes.  It would be like waving to other pedestrians in Manhattan.

Quote from: msincredible on May 29, 2008, 12:55:11 PM
It would be like waving to other pedestrians in Manhattan.

Which, by the way, is one of my favorite things to do in the Big Apple 

Whenever I don't get the return wave I just assume that the other rider is too scared to take a hand of  the handlebars.  [moto]

Quote from: StrikeJollyRoger on May 29, 2008, 01:22:56 AMI began to understand that it was a recognition of sorts, of the fun but also the danger that you share with the similar experience.  I felt happy to be a part of this so when I saw another rider, lacking the cool composure of other riders, I began excitedly thrusting my opened palm down and away from me with a straight face but a huge smile inside eagerly awaiting a salute in return.  Within the first hour of the first ride on my bike, when the only fellow Monster I saw that weekend passed by, I instinctively sat upright on my bike, gushed a huge smile and waved exuberantly like a small child would wave while watching a parade.  The older more experienced rider smiled back pleasantly, a bit amused at my gawking and returned my unrefined wave in a far more mature fashion.  I instantly felt as if he were a good friend.

Great post.

I come from bicycles, where the nod/wave isn't nearly as common, so it was interesting to notice how nearly universal the wave becomes while on a motorcycle. It's fun.

Quote from: AndrewNS on May 29, 2008, 10:43:22 AM
I even wave back to little kids on the side of the road when they stop to stare! 

That's when I wheelie 

In my corner of New Hampshire, Harleys nearly always wave to me. Even when I'm on the Vespa.

I waved at a scooter yesterday and I could tell he seemed confused 
I take it he does not see many waves.

I started to Wave at Motorcycle cops. The funny thing is the only wave I got back ever was one I did not initiate. Go figure.

Quote from: Drunken Monkey on May 29, 2008, 12:59:26 PM
Which, by the way, is one of my favorite things to do in the Big Apple 

I prefer to hug - more personal 

Thanks to those who enjoyed the post and to those who have responded.  I'm glad I had the time to write it while the feeling was still fresh in memory and it was a pleasure to write.

Quote from: roy-nexus-6However, I can't help but noticing there are NO pics in the thread? I searched on your name - couldn't find a post with a pic of your bike in it!

I wanted the topic to be more about a generic beginners discovery of the salutes and any meaning that people might place behind them, less about me personally.  My bike isn't a customized work of art like some of the other bikes on the forum but I love her and I'd be happy to post her in an appropriate thread as soon as I get one where my poor camera phone hasn't turned the striking yellow paint to an elderly cream.    I stopped by my mom's to introduce her to Sarah even though our conversations of late have consisted of, "Hey Mom, my motorcycle...," to which she interjects,  "your head injury," and she snapped a couple pics of Sarah and I together.

Quote from: JohnsterPM me and we can meet up, go for a ride, and maybe practice some techniques and whatnot...

PM soon to be on its way!

Quote from: IZWelcome but are you NOT aware that we are in the middle of a gas crisis?!

It hadn't come up yet but I also wipe my ass with only the finest French silk.     These days I fill up my car's tank about once every two weeks or more.  $60 bucks on fuel for 18 hours of fun seemed like a good ratio to me.  I was loving the freedom of riding wherever the road took me with no destination in mind and the ability to go very far for the price of a hamburger, fries and a coke.  With the ability to go further sitting in the form of plastic in my back pocket there was no thought involved when the gas light would flash.

Quote from: psycledelic on May 29, 2008, 05:19:29 AM
...My reply was, "I can't help you bought a bike that won't crank under 65 degrees, why don't you trailer it to work and push over (to the motorcycle parking)".  Talk about stirring up the Wild Hogs... 

Your whole post was right on the money, this line in particular is freakin' awesome.  Talk about OWNED!

Sometime's the wave is fun, sometime's I find it bothersome.   Riding is sometimes dangerous enough without worrying about silly cultural obligations!  I'll admit, I've gotten to the point where only certain bikes excite me enough to wave.  I'll always return a wave if I can, but initiating has become tiresome.

How lame would it be to get in an accident because of the wave?  Anyone??? 

I wave to anyone on 2 wheels with a motor, sometimes even scooters 

best wave video ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYXy9QSBoFs

i have a very good friend buying a bike this weekend.  last weekend we went and got him geared up.  he's taken the MSF already.  In the car on the way home from the gear shop, I had to give him the run down on 'the wave' so he wouldn't be surprised when it happened the first time.

Great OP and good links, thank you.  I'm forwarding the links to him now.

Me, i wave to everyone if I have time and see them and aren't otherwise engaged.  Sometimes a nod if I can't get the hand up.  The only exception are Police.  Nothing against them as riders, but I have a buddy who waved to a motor officer and promptly received a fixit ticket (integrated tail light) for his trouble.  I figure it's just bad luck.  If I get a look from them, they'll get a nod, but I won't initiate.

If people don't wave back, that's their problem.  I don't let it ruin my day if they're going to be sour.  Most HD riders around here are doctors and dentists and crap like that so not like they're going to pull over and start a rumble.


andy