Do you wave ?

[tris]

Noddies primarily because I'm in the UK and that's what we do, but not if midway through a corner or my motorcycling bandwidth might be exceeded 

HD anything tend to ignore me or look confused/embarrassed like FK1
Learners and small bikes tend to be nonplussed when a big bike acknowledges them
Coppers on bikes but not in cars wave/nod

[twowheeladdict]

In the southeast I have experienced that majority wave, but we also say hello when walking past someone coming the other way, and lift a finger when driving past someone coming the other way.

I am currently in the New England and most people don't wave, don't say hello, and don't lift the same finger we do in the south.   

[Zenermaniac]

I wave at everybody. Don’t care if they don’t wave back. No biggie. Get more return waves from Harleys than BMWs - snooty bunch.

[Ramsaye]

UK so nod (slight head tip to the side), most bikes, most of the time.

[flower_king001]

In the southeast I have experienced that majority wave, but we also say hello when walking past someone coming the other way, and lift a finger when driving past someone coming the other way.

That's the way it used to be round these parts 30 + years ago but these times are a changing.

[/quote]I am currently in the New England and most people don't wave, don't say hello, and don't lift the same finger we do in the south.    [/quote]

IMHO, most of us New Englanders keep to ourselves. The same finger you are referring to is widely used round the small Southern town where I live.

[johnwesley]

Opening myself up to ridicule here but, I wave at most. If they have a bunch of led lights that are blinding I reframe and don’t wave back, same with headlight modulators and the like. Outside of that I typically wave at all the bikes I see. Same thing in my little community we all speak, hold the door open for people, and typical are cordial to one another. Those that don’t wave back I figure are trying to see what I’m riding so they don’t and I catch several guys out that’s  just in their own world and notice last minute, I’m caught out like that often as well. 

[bad Chad]

Most times I don’t wave first,  but I do wave back mostly, unless I don’t have the resources available.  I generally patriot however they wave, but within my comfort range.

[Huzo]

I think most of the riders coming towards me, are trying to figure out if I’m on a Norge or an FJR Yamaha.
When I see a cruiser Japanese or Harley coming towards me, I always have an acknowledgement at the ready just in case they do a late one.
I would not like to think that someone in that world, acknowledged me and they thought I ignored them.
When in Europe being passed by a biker, they almost always give a deep type of nod because they have seen the Australian plate.

[inditx]

Wave to all unless otherwise engaged and then just a nod if safe to.
Don’t care what they’re riding and some don’t wave back but that doesn’t matter to me.
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing.

[egschade]

Wave to all unless otherwise engaged and then just a nod if safe to.
Don’t care what they’re riding and some don’t wave back but that doesn’t matter to me.
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing.

My sentiments exactly.

[Scout63]

I wave at everyone. Exaggerated waves to young kids.  Sometimes bikes don’t wave back. I don’t care unless I’ve skipped lunch or a HD looks right at me and doesn’t wave. Still not a biggie.

[MMRanch]

Sure , wink the headlight and/or wave.

Same thing to the caged people who are respecting the friendly rules of the road , as fellow motorist enjoying a drive.

Life is short , be friendly , wave and smile a lot ! 

[bnucci24]

I try to be generally friendly in life (to the point where I stop and help the many lost tourists in my town with directions, or pull over and help folks change tires or push a vehicle off the road), but I dont wave when I'm riding and I have no idea why anyone would? Maybe if I pass a Guzzi I will wave.. but that happens so infrequently that I cant ever remember doing it.

Sometimes people wave at me and I reciprocate on reflex, but I'm always like, 'Why?'

Do you beep and wave at other drivers if they are driving the same car?

Don't get me started on the Jeep drivers trying to get a Jeep wave going now...

I thought its not so much as a wave but more of a two finger down meaning "keep both wheels on the road and stay safe. the cagers are lunatics..like an acknowledgement of a shared risk and reward, or the short version, they haven't killed me yet, glad you made it also.. Maybe you have to live in Central New Jersey to celebrate not getting run down with our abundance of retirement villages and crowded roads with angry people paying tolls and sitting in the shore traffic.
I'm down three friends in my years of riding here in NJ.
B

[chuck peterson]

Peace sign, like it’s always been since 1968…

[johnwesley]

Don't get me started on the Jeep drivers trying to get a Jeep wave going now...

I thought its not so much as a wave but more of a two finger down meaning "keep both wheels on the road and stay safe. the cagers are lunatics..like an acknowledgement of a shared risk and reward, or the short version, they haven't killed me yet, glad you made it also.. Maybe you have to live in Central New Jersey to celebrate not getting run down with our abundance of retirement villages and crowded roads with angry people paying tolls and sitting in the shore traffic.
I'm down three friends in my years of riding here in NJ.
B

Same here the thought is shared risk for a chosen lifestyle. It’s like the bond between people who share the same occupation that involves risk. We understand the desire to ride on something that is not as safe as other forms of transportation. While many do not understand it nor even agree with it. I believe it’s more common in the USA because motorcycles in other countries seem more acceptable for of transport. I wave because I believe they get it, we are sharing the same form of risk and reaping the same for of reward. 

[larrys]

I wave at most everbody. Scooter folks usually don't wave. Most HD riders around here wave back. Beemer, Gold Thing, and rice rocket riders are spotty...
Larry

[Deno]

I wave to bikes and Alfa Romeo’s. Occasionally to Fiat’s. Really stuck on the macchine d’Italia.

[Bulldog9]

Don't get me started on the Jeep drivers trying to get a Jeep wave going now...

OlllllllO 

[Guzzistajohn]

Sometimes I do. Not something I really spend time contemplating.   <shrug>

[Kev m]

Some of you guys are weird....

Don't get me started on the Jeep drivers trying to get a Jeep wave going now...

Now? Jeeps have been waving at each other for decades?

I have no idea why anyone would?

<snip>

Do you beep and wave at other drivers if they are driving the same car?

I always heard the trope that southerners were friendly. That's reason enough.

But to answer the second - uhhhh, yeah.

* When I was a kid BMW drivers would flash/wave to other BMW drivers. Granted there a lot less of them back then (probably has something to do with it)
* Jeeps - have waved to each other as long as I can remember (but again there are a lot more these days)
* Mini Coopers - when the modern one debuted in 2003, again they were pretty rare - owners waved, hell they had rallies. (I see a pattern here)

When we picked up the Defender last year we didn't see any for a bit, once they started showing up we caught more than few waves.

To be honest, I wave at literally EVERYONE in my neighborhood.

I live in a tiny little part of NJ with small (like two cars have a problem passing each other) roads (they are actually all called "trails") which wind back and forth in a confusing non-pattern through a dozen or more lakes. The one square mile borough to which we are adjacent and physically, but not governmentally part of, doesn't even have school buses. Kids ride their bicycles everywhere and are outdoors all year fishing, swimming, boating, skating on the aforementioned lakes or playing ball in the fields. It very much feels like a community with activities all year and people gathering, on lawns, at fire pits, the beaches etc.

I mention all this because I realize I literally wave to EVERYONE in that one square mile or so - every car, every pedestrian, kids on those bicycles, the crossing guards, LEOs (yeah the one square mile even has its own PD).


I dunno -  I guess it boils down to this in my head:

The world is an ugly place. I figure the more strangers thoughtlessly express any degree of kindness or brotherhood to one another it's a good thing, don't much care the reason. I'm also not bothered if people don't wave. No skin lost.

 

[flower_king001]

Last time I waved was to a Harley rider passing me on a bypass while I was on my EV. He came real close and I almost got hit in the face with this leather whip he has fastened to his clutch  side of his handlebars. After he got by he placed his left middle finger behind his helmet. I also notice a patch on his leather vest..."SAINTS MC ALABAMA". 

[Dimitri_Harkov]

Wave to all unless otherwise engaged and then just a nod if safe to.
Don’t care what they’re riding and some don’t wave back but that doesn’t matter to me.
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing.

That's exactly how I do it too.

Cheers,
D.

[bigbikerrick]

I wave to all 2 wheelers and 3 wheelers ,out on the road. Almost always get a wave back. 
Rick.

[LowRyter]

I wave, I pull up to folks that burned out lights and signals, I call 911 when there is debris on the road.  This reminds of a story.

A couple of weeks ago I was rising on Interstate 44 in north Okla City.   I was heading north and saw a mattress in the south bound lane.  I rode 25 minutes to local bike hang out and decided as precaution to call it in.

me: "Hey 911 I want to call in a mattress on the road."

operator: "Yes, is this the one on I-44?"

me: "Right."

op: "That's I-44 and Southwest 15th."

me: "No.  It's on I-44 and crossing Northwest Highway."

Wow, there's two mattresses on I-44???

[Griso8V]

Yes, I always try to wave.  Most riders around here will wave and/or acknowledge each other including Harley riders at least in my experience.  Sometimes I am late in acknowledging but I always wave back...
T

[Milosh]

I always wave, unless I'm braking or going through a tricky intersection.

I don't care if folks wave back.

I've taken to waving at scooters. It's fun and puts a smile on my face.

Like someone said, Kindness don't cost nothin'

[Shorty]

We used to have a guy in Tulsa who loved to lead our monthly group Guzzi rides. He was definitely stuck in the 70s.  EVERY bike coming the other way , he gave them the "Power to the People" fist pump in the air. If there were 10 riders in a group. he threw 10 fists.     It got a little embarrassing. He greeted a LOT of riders who hadn't been riding long enough to know what he was trying to convey. 

[MotoG5]

Always wave at all bikes, scooters and any other two or three wheel machines. Vast majority wave back. Don't care about those who don't. 

[Muzz]

I do.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sure. Why not? In these times, any friendly gesture is a good thing..