Waving Etiquette

[Blwnblue]

Ok so I've read the article below but um where to mopeds fit in?? Now w/ gas so high they're everywhere here in Austin..it's a hippy town ya know...I've tried to wave a couple of times but w/ no response..but I don't wanna be a D!ck cuz I'm not waving at these people...do they need a motorcycle license?








"One of the phenomena you encounter while a new motorcyclist is the motorcycle wave. If you’re a rider, you know what I mean, if not, perhaps you’ve seen it in action out on the roads.

It’s really a simple concept to start with - wave at other motorcycles, because, well, they get it, they’re in that brotherhood of all motorcyclists. We have to look out for each other after all, god knows the cage drivers aren’t. Funny how the simple things never are.

Now I have to think twice, because it turns out, just like high school, there are cliques within the motorcycle waving world, and you soon learn who to wave at and who not to. You would think that all us two-wheeled brothers could share something as simple as the motorcycle wave universally, but sadly, it’s not so.

Here’s my quick chart of when it is appropriate and expected to wave:

Scenario 1: You ride a japanese motorcycle and you’re just a regular dude.

In this scenario, you are expected to wave at all other japanese motorcycles. They will almost universally wave back. Sometimes the guys on Japanese cruisers won’t wave back, if they think they’re tough. Wave at harley-Davidson riders only if they’re wearing a helmet. Those are the Harley dudes that don’t think riding a Harley makes them tough. They usually wave back. Waving at a Harley-Davidson rider without a helmet on is a complete waste of time. Don’t bother. They won’t wave back. These are the guys who think riding a Harley makes them tough. They don’t wave at no Jap-bike riders, and safety gear is for pussies anyway. Thankfully, these folks are likely to excuse themselves from the gene pool in the case of even a small wreck, because, well, I guess safety gear is for pussies.

Scenario 2: You ride a japanese bike, and you think it makes you a tough guy.

Never wave at a crome-cruiser, after all, those boats are lame. Sometimes wave at other sportbikes, if you happen to be in the mood.

Scenario 3: You ride a BMW

These guys love driving and almost always wave and wave back. They usually know not to wave at the tough-guy Harley types, since few buy a BMW for their first bike they’re usually experienced riders.

Scenario 4: You ride a Harley-Davidson and you’re a regular dude

This is a high-wave situation. These guys wave at everyone. The Harley guys will wave back, since they only really wave at Harleys, and the Jap bikes will generally wave back to anyone who is a waver. Sport a helmet and make sure you can drive with one hand, since you’ll be waving with the other one half the time.

Scenario 5: You ride a Harley-Davidson, and you really think it makes you a tough guy.

Don’t wave at anyone. The other “tough” bikers won’t wave back, so you don’t wave at them (wouldn’t want them to think you’re one of those waving n00bs). You want everyone else to think you’re tough, so you don’t wave. Simple. Also, when you’re tough enough to think you can drink and ride your Harley, you probably need both hands on the grips anyway.

So, there’s my motorcycle waving guide, born of 12,000 miles on the roadways. There are few exceptions, so keep your eyes open and spread the wave!"

[Shifty1]

Anymore, I only wave if I feel like it. If I am already one-handing it down a 35mph road, I will throw it out there. If I am negotiating some traffic, ehh, if I can. You really can't make generalizations of who will or will not wave back so do what you want. I've had the hardest looking Harley riders initiate the wave and other sportbike riders blow me off soo...whatever. Anyway, I've had the list below from an old email I sent out. I thought it was funny, figured you guys might too.

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don’t Wave

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

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 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

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 are 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.

[hotdemongel]

hahahahaha both of those had me nodding and agreeing, alot of it is true and farking funny. ill nod to any other rider, i hate it when i get a wave or nod and then dont have enough time to respond somehow. i also hate it when i nod and i get no response. its funny tho, ill nod to a cuiser/harley type, theyll be looking ahead in their all black sunnies, and still manage to respond back. obviously they were looking over outa the corner of their eyes. and again obviously they werent the too "tough" rider. id even nod to a scooter if they put it out there, but sadly im not going to do it first cos, honestly, they wouldnt know what youre on about(same as how if you ride a scooter you dont need to wear any gear other than a helmt...der). and for some bizarre reason when i nod, turn the head or whatever, i always say or think "hey mate".....weird hey? anyone else do this? or is it just me and my over friendly nature? pfffft

[ShinRay805]

I nod most of the time as I sorta got this heavy foot problem from driving my LT1 camaro around, apparently when I got my bike it moved to my right hand and for some reason I cant keep it below 50 wherever I may be parking lots, out of drive ways, intersections, and dont get me started about next to "fast" cars... but if I see the wave I usually nod or wave back as well if I for some reason am riding slow enough to acknowledge and respond.

[gammac]

I give a wave or a nod. You missed one for the Harley Riders. If they take a hand of the handle bar they would move of the white line and get lost.
gammac

[JBearSVT]

LOL... those are awesome! As for scooters, no. Just- no. Fuel is WAY over $4 a gallon here, diesel is about $5, so scooters are popping up friggin everywhere. I don't resent it, because it seems like they've made car and truck drivers more aware that there are lots of people on two wheels to watch out for on the roads, which is nice. That being said, for the most part I ignore them. I just can't respect a scooter. At least in this state you don't require a license to ride them, don't have to register them, don't require any experience at all to motor off on them, and yet some of these people think they're in the brotherhood? No. These people are too cheap to do what it takes to get a real bike and too lazy to ride a bicycle. In the rare event I get a wave from one, I try to be looking somewhere else. Otherwise, I wave at anyone who waves first. Harleys, enduros, I don't discriminate. Sportbikes I'll drop a hand for whether they wave first or not.

[dand600]

I wave or nod(if in corner or otherwise using both hands) at everyone on two wheels even Harleys (one finger wave).

[Jaywheel]

In defense of Harley riders, I've heard they have a very valid reason not to wave. If they do, they might drop their wrenches.

[Blwnblue]

Originally Posted by JBearSVT

LOL... those are awesome! As for scooters, no. Just- no. Fuel is WAY over $4 a gallon here, diesel is about $5, so scooters are popping up friggin everywhere. I don't resent it, because it seems like they've made car and truck drivers more aware that there are lots of people on two wheels to watch out for on the roads, which is nice. That being said, for the most part I ignore them. I just can't respect a scooter. At least in this state you don't require a license to ride them, don't have to register them, don't require any experience at all to motor off on them, and yet some of these people think they're in the brotherhood? No. These people are too cheap to do what it takes to get a real bike and too lazy to ride a bicycle. In the rare event I get a wave from one, I try to be looking somewhere else. Otherwise, I wave at anyone who waves first. Harleys, enduros, I don't discriminate. Sportbikes I'll drop a hand for whether they wave first or not.

I kinda feel exactly like you do...Even more so now bc I didn't know all that stuff about not having to register them or even get a license to ride one...dayum...plus it annoys me that they wear NO gear at all...flip flops/shorts and such..

[SamW]

Hey, I'm from Austin too, I see mopeds but I have to say I don't wave to them unless they wave to me first, because most of them are oblivious-- most who wave probably own a motorcycle as well, or have owned one in the past.

As for motorcyclists, I wave at everyone- and I've never not had a wave returned.

[JBearSVT]

In defense of some scooters: if they're over a certain cc (not sure what it is, but it's up there) then a license and registration is required, but they look so much like a motorcycle that I can't tell it's a scooter until we've already exchanged waves and are on our ways. In which case, I don't have nearly as big of an elitist attitude towards them as the gay little "100mpg for $1000" pooters.

[Jaywheel]

Originally Posted by SamW

Hey, I'm from Austin too, I see mopeds but I have to say I don't wave to them unless they wave to me first, because most of them are oblivious-- most who wave probably own a motorcycle as well, or have owned one in the past.

As for motorcyclists, I wave at everyone- and I've never not had a wave returned.

Sam, you must be doing "the wave" like at the superbowl to have never not had one returned. But, keep riding, some snob will snub their nose at you one day. Don't take offense when it happens. They are just jealous of you.

[Joe88ZX10]

Funny thing happened today on the ride . A line of bicyclists in the oncoming lane waved to me as I went by them . I guess they figure that we were two-wheeled cousins and are connected in some primitive , ancestral way ! I waved back and laughed !

[185EZ]

Originally Posted by gammac

I give a wave or a nod. You missed one for the Harley Riders. If they take a hand of the handle bar they would move of the white line and get lost.
gammac

perfect!
why do they do that? Sometimes I want to drive my truck on the white line and peel their toenails off those hwy bars.

[185EZ]

I wave at everyone. Must say Harleys are the most stuck up. We're all riders. Can't we all just get along?
My neighbor just bought a yami tmax 500. CRAP! it costs almost as much as my zx! I want to wave to him but it looks so gay, I mean, feminine.

[the_gunslinger]

i wave. a subtle low peace sign.
chicks get the shocker.

[Joe88ZX10]

Originally Posted by the_gunslinger

i wave. a subtle low peace sign.
chicks get the shocker.

This is too funny man ! THE SHOCKER !