Harley Riders and the "motorcycle wave"

[FLSTFI_E46]

i wave at everyone I can.  If my hands are busy they get a nod.
If they don't acknowledge back that's their problem, not mine.  Maybe they didn't see, maybe they're not comfortable one-handing.. etc etc.

+1 i believe one truly does not know the other riders state of mind at that moment in time.  All one knows is one's own reaction to a non-waver.  From my experience, I get and don't get waves from all types of riders during any given day.  

[psycledelic]

I live about 10 minutes from the second biggest HD dealership in the US, so my territory is flooded with both Harley riders and "Harley riders".  Most of the guys that really ride wave and wave back.  Hey, they will even stir up conversations at the gas station or around town.  As for the "Harley riders" (a.k.a. my neighbor). You know, the guys that ride two days out of the year but wear full riding gear (including leather bandana) on a daily basis just in case they lay their Tahoe down in a corner. They wouldn't dare wave at anything but another Harley.  So what.  I have no use for them anyway.  If they turn their nose up to many times, they are bound to catch a bug sooner or later.  I just wave and keep going. 

On a side note, for better clarification on my idea of a "Harley Rider" (again, my neighbor).  I was heading to work one pretty cold morning last January and he was outside also.  He made his usual comment, " Why don't you go and get you a real bike."  I replied, "I prefer bikes that will crank in the cold."  He said," My Harley cranks just fine in the cold."  Then I said, "Then why don't you ride it?"  His final comment is one of the most thought provoking phrases I have ever heard.  "You know, riding your bike doesn't make you a biker!"  I thought for a second, but had nothing to say to that.   I learned that day that what really makes you a biker, is your willingness to plaster the largest, orange, Harley Davidson Motor Company sign that could possibly fit on the back window of both your's and your wife's car.   I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't drop his hand out of the window of his car and try to wave at the Harley's as they pass.  Unless he just hangs out of the window and yells, "Hey, I ride too!".  (Man, did I get off topic - Sorry)

[lawbreaker]

I wave to everyone but weekend warriors......... and theyre on ALL types of bikes

[booger]

I pretty much think all HD riders are douchebags and not worth noticing. I don't care whether they wave or not I ignore them by default. HDs are silly, outdated, and ugly. The waving thing is gay.

[baski696]

His final comment is one of the most thought provoking phrases I have ever heard.  "You know, riding your bike doesn't make you a biker!" 

Thought provoking indeed.

I personally like that camaraderie, and I wave to all bikes, at least raise two fingers/nod if can't take my hand off. If I don't get a response, I make a mental note to talk to his/her mother 

[the ron]

I have a question for you. does your state have a helmet law? if it does, don't wave to the people without helmets. the chances of them waiving to you are slim. if you do have a helmet law, wave to the guys with 3/4 helmets, they will wave back 3/4's of the time. if they wear a full face helmet they will wave back almost all of the time. if they are wearing those small brain buckets, don't bother. they hate you.......

the ron

[Ducatiloo]

I have a question for you. does your state have a helmet law? if it does, don't wave to the people without helmets. the chances of them waiving to you are slim. if you do have a helmet law, wave to the guys with 3/4 helmets, they will wave back 3/4's of the time. if they wear a full face helmet they will wave back almost all of the time. if they are wearing those small brain buckets, don't bother. they hate you.......

the ron

Sad but true, no helmet, no sleeves = no wave

[XTR]

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 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 Ten Reasons Why Sportbikers Riders Riders Don't Wave Back

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 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 acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, and 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.

I'm sure we could come up with 10 for Duc riders too

[red baron]

3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.

[silentbob]

It was funny when I would ride the Yamaha Warrior because it looked like a Harley from a short distance.  I would get the Harley guys starting to wave, then as they got closer they would realize it wasn't a Harley and they would yank their hand back like they did something wrong.

[mikecu]

I always let on to other bikers regardless of what they are riding but I have to say where I live in the UK, I am often ignored....I go home and my wife, mockingly, asks me if anybody waved back today. She knows how to hurt a guy. Perhaps all the other riders just think I am a posing bastard on my S4rs like others think Harley owners are. Anyway, I'll keep waving.

[Travman]

This sounds like a conversation women would have. 

[Old-Duckman]

This sounds like a conversation women would have. 

Now That's funny!! As Homer Simpson once said. "It's funny 'cause it's true."

What amazed me reading through all of these posts is how so many of you think you know something about the person on the other bike just 'cause they wave or not...Wow! you guys are really perceptive...or maybe psychic?

As for me I seldom wave first, though I will always wave at someone on a Ducati if I notice them first (guess that makes me as elitist as the Harley only wavers...Oh well). I will return a wave from anyone unless I am trying to stay alive or doing something else of importance.

I agree with those who think it is pretty silly. "Back in the day"...there were fewer riders and it was a more difficult task to ride and wrench and actually get somewhere via motorcycle. I think it was more a sign of "Brother I know what you are dealing with and I'm with you there too." Hey, talk about knowing someone else's mind from a wave, huh?

Anyway...just too many riders to wave to them all and for me it is more of a distraction than that I am trying to dis someone.

To each his own. So ride on (or wave on) brothers.

[Massinova]

I live in Tulsa Oklahoma, and the vast majority of bikes on the road are Harleys.  ...and for the most part, I'd say they wave as much as anyone else on other bikes.   

The only ones that never wave are those damn eco-riders on their scooters ...yeesh talk about a bunch of stuck up panty-wads 

[somegirl]

I wave to everyone and don't let it bother me if they don't wave back.