Another Harley Wave Thread

[Scout63]

I was riding home from work yesterday on my Combat Commando.  I had had kind of a crappy day and was a little grumpy.  Moving along at about 20 on a quiet town street,  I thought I was a legitimate member of the MC community with my hand-restored classic and genuine vintage Schott leather jacket. Coming the other way was a Harley with mid-high apes and a rider with a tiny helmet and Sons of Anarchy beard and threads.  I gave him a nice wave.  He looked at me and just kept riding.  Should I care? No.  Did I care? Yep.  I pulled a u-turn about three cars behind him and followed him.  I wanted to see his gold-plated Vincent and ask him about it.  Luckily for me I got caught behind one of those infuriatingly small and always empty County transit buses and he lost me. I still like Harleys and pretty much all riders, but that guy can kiss my aging backside. Just sayin.

[chuck peterson]

BTDT

Had the same feeling

I’ve rediscovered what we did in 1976. And I use it with gusto, reaction or not from my fellow bikers.

Peace sign, baby, ✌️, peace sign.

Some people “get it”, and change their response. Great fun.

[blu guzz]

sometimes i just do the helmet nod if i don't feel like a wave, is that ok?

[Perazzimx14]

I think we should start blowing and catching kisses.   

[twowheeladdict]

It is usually the BMW riders around here.  You know, the ones with the aerostich space suit with the bike looking like the are going "tho long way round" to the coffee shop.  I guess they are too busy with their gadgets to notice another rider.

[Scout63]

As long as Convert riders use their free left hand to wave we are all fine.

[Rough Edge racing]

 In my opinion, If not getting a return wave is reason for a public complaint you may need to just lay down and take a nap...

[Scout63]

In my opinion, If not getting a return wave is reason for a public complaint you may need to just lay down and take a nap...

It was a pretty trivial post. I’m sorry.  I just wanted to contribute so badly...  Also skipping lunch on Fridays is never smart.

[Tkelly]

When someone waves at me I feel good even if I was grumpy before.Itry to wave at everyone even the Harley riders.Most of the time I get a return low hand gesture and sometimes I am surprised when they beat me to it even tho I wear a helmet and riding suit.The outlaw posers probably get some reinforcement when they receive a friendly greeting and don’t respond,but most of us are riding because it makes us happy and are not looking for another reason to get mad.

[Huzo]

I think it’s more the case that we are wondering at the mentality, than actually getting mad.
The aloof 1,000 yard stare is part of their brand identification. You know, the “lone wolf” thing.

[Rough Edge racing]

It was a pretty trivial post. I’m sorry.  I just wanted to contribute so badly...  Also skipping lunch on Fridays is never smart.

My sarcasm often exceeds being courteous ....I just had to say it, lol.....To be honest I almost never wave first unless it's a vintage Brit bike...like you were riding

[Motormike]

I'd say 8 out of ten riders wave.  I do find the "I'm a tough dude, and tough dude's don't wave" mentality amusing. 

[oldbike54]

 I wave at everyone , farmers on tractors , fisherpeople in boats , folks out walking their dogs , bicycle riders , the old guys who sit on a porch almost everyday in nice weather just around the corner , cops , joggers , little kids , scooter riders , Ducati riders , Harley riders , people in convertibles , even a guy on some crazy looking contraption just yesterday . Waving is an act of joy , done because riding a motorbike is fun .

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

You ever think the guy riding with Apes might've been scared he'd fall off if he took his hands off the bars?

[Ncdan]

What Dusty said👍

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

I try to wave at everyone on two or three wheels. Or cool/unusual vehicles. Tbh waving back is how I identify what I call “real bikers” vs weekend warrior posers. I don’t discriminate. Harley (or any other make) guy or gal waves back, you’re a cool respectful rider. The riders who don’t wave back get mentally chalked up as stuck up anal cavities. Regardless of what they’re riding.

Another thing. If a Motorcycle club is worthwhile, they school their prospects in proper etiquette. Prospect don’t show respect, they get informed verbally. They keep it up they get disciplined. Sometimes harshly. That is proper teaching. A club that teaches aggressive, non respectful riding towards independents is part of the problem and I’m not having anything to do with them.

Don’t worry, I also will have words with those riders who don’t wave, especially when I’m hangry!

[s1120]

I normally wave at anyone.  Granted sometimes you get cought by surprise and miss it.. The scooter riders really seem to be happy about it. I dont think they get a lot of respect from a lot of the motorcycle community, and always seem pleased to be included.

[oldbike54]

 Best advice ever heard about riding motorbikes , spoken to a group of us over 50 years ago by a grizzled old Harley rider .

 "If you ain't happy on a motorsickle , time to park it" .

 Dusty

[Huzo]

I just wanted to contribute so badly...

You did mate..
You did contribute badly...

[LowRyter]

Best advice ever heard about riding motorbikes , spoken to a group of us over 50 years ago by a grizzled old Harley rider .

 "If you ain't happy on a motorsickle , time to park it" .

 Dusty

 

great  philosophy

[Moto Vita]

I wave at everyone , farmers on tractors , fisherpeople in boats , folks out walking their dogs , bicycle riders , the old guys who sit on a porch almost everyday in nice weather just around the corner , cops , joggers , little kids , scooter riders , Ducati riders , Harley riders , people in convertibles , even a guy on some crazy looking contraption just yesterday . Waving is an act of joy , done because riding a motorbike is fun .

 Dusty

 Worth repeating!

 How do you guys feel about waving at trikes? And is there a cutoff line between a sidehack,Tri Glide, Can Am, and slingshot where they are no longer wave worthy? And what about training wheel bikes?

[Kane]

My experience is that sport bike riders are pretty consistent with the two fingers to the ground, rubber on the road, wave, but they almost always wave. Harley and big dresser riders not so much, but not too bad. People get busy concentrating on other things or miss the opportunity, what ever, I’m guilty myself of missing a few waves. I also wave to bicyclists as I have a lot of respect for what some of those folks do. I wave to motorcycle officers, CHP, etc., but have yet to receive a wave back or even a nod. They seem even more aloof than the tough guy HD riders.

[oldbike54]

Worth repeating!

 How do you guys feel about waving at trikes? And is there a cutoff line between a sidehack,Tri Glide, Can Am, and slingshot where they are no longer wave worthy? And what about training wheel bikes?

  I wave at everyone .

 Dusty

[dxhall]

I posted this on ADVrider last year.  There were some interesting responses.  I didn’t know that people on ADVrider read Psychology Today.  Maybe someone gave them gift subscriptions.

Here’s the post (titled, “Sportster scorners”):



I bought a Sportster last year. It’s a “Roadster” model with dual front discs, etc., but it’s still a Sportster.

I have been riding my Guzzis this year and haven’t spent much time on the ol Sporty. So I’ve taken it out the last couple days.

Sportsters have got to be the Rodney Dangerfield of bikes. Most riders won’t wave when they go by. BMW riders look the other way, as though they aren’t seeing this orange thing with two wheels and “Sportster” on the tank. The do-rag crowd just looks straight ahead, I suppose because I’m wearing a helmet. The Vespa crowd ignores me because they think that HD riders will eat their children, or something.

So I’ve parked it. Everyone waves to the ‘90 Guzzi LeMans.

So — how many Sportster scorners are on advrider? Or, how many will admit to being one?

[Caffeineo]

Here in Idaho I would have to say that 99% of riders wave. Harley or not it makes no difference. Maybe the Bobber Sport looks a bit like a Harley from the front. 
One thing I did find odd was the arm out at a 45 degree angle pointing at the ground wave. Many years ago in Cali the wave was just lifting your hand above the bar palm forward.

[ozarquebus]

All the bikers around here are so wave happy, that I just stare at them and grin silly. Is that ok?

[Scout63]

You did mate..
You did contribute badly...

I’m still laughing Huzo - thanks.

[Moparnut72]

I ride an Audace, big bike. It's not uncommon for Harley riders to start to wave and then pull back. I guess when they see the cylinders sticking out they then know I am not one of them.
When I had my Sportster local Harley riders that I knew didn't really acknowledge me. When I got my Twin Cam I was instantly part of the group. Now I am traitor, and loving it.
kk

[Huzo]

Okaaaayyyyy....
So what about the Harley riders on Wildguzzi ?
Are we to believe that when they are out on their Harley Fergusons that they will wave ? They must be the only ones in creation that don’t ride the wave of popular culture and not wave.
Years ago when my Guzzi buddy bought his Harley, he insisted that the sales contract contained a non waver waiver.
I told him he would become assimilated, but he steadfastly refused to waver...

[pat80flh]

I was out today on the Bassa, and I experimented. I normally wave at everyone. I should add, at first glance, people assume I'm on a harley because I kind of look the part, bushy beard, open face helmet,etc.  I get the pulled back wave often from HD riders and the ignore from metric guys, not that I'm complaining. Today I gave every bike I passed a fully extended arm to the sky flashing the peace sign, great idea Chuck Peterson.  I went by a group of 8-10 hogs, trikes and other assorted barges and got at least a couple of waves and a total ignore from a pair of metric cruisers. It was 80 today but there was a chance of showers so not too many bikes out. I'm going to continue the peace sign for the rest of the season, and maybe reverse it for the haters.

   Maybe I should add it was so muggy I was, jacketless, in a bright white tee shirt that says  "Kiss Me I'm Irish" , only clean thing I had.