Why I kissed Waiving goodbye

[Moparnut72]

I generally wave to every bike except Harleys unless they wave first. It mainly comes from when I had my Audace. Once when out riding it a group of Harleys was approaching, the lead rider started to wave but when he realized I wasn't riding a Harley he quickly jerked his hand back. So I adjust my behavior accordingly. I now ride with my bright yellow air bag vest so they don't generally wave at me much anymore anyway.
kk

[SIR REAL ED]

If everybody who rides a street bike reads this thread, there would be a lot less riders waving to each other.

Mike the imaginary motorcyclist:  "I used to wave to other riders, out of a sense of camaraderie.  But after spending time on the internet, it seems a lot of them are miserable SOB's.  So I stopped waving!  I used to think that riding a motorcycle made people happy.  Apparently not.  Since they are not as happy as me, screw em!"

This would make a great Southpark episode!

Maybe there is a market for little yellow signs to put on motorcycles, "Misanthrope on board!"

[Huzo]

I signed a waver waiver and I’ll never waver…

[sdcr]

I signed a wave waiver…

Huzo,
 Do riders generally wave at each other in Oz?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Yesterday I went on my best ever 6 hour ride in south central Pennsylvania. Glorious! When I waved, every rider waved back, even Harley riders, which seems to be an improving phenomenon.

 A sad state of affairs when you hear grown adults say… “I’m not waving unless they wave first”.

[Rocket Rod]

Hungover and late for morning muster, I tried to dodge saluting the Sub Group Admiral as I stumbled towards my boat. It did not go unnoticed.

I tend to wave even when it gets monotonous.

[kingoffleece]

"Us vs Them" waving protocol.
Fascinating stuff.  Who would have thought it was part of adulthood.  I must be getting to be of "those old men".
I wave at little sisters and brothers at my bus stops.  Does that count?

[SIR REAL ED]

"Us vs Them" waving protocol.
Fascinating stuff.  Who would have thought is was part of adulthood.  I must be getting to be of "those old men".
I wave at little sisters and brothers at my bus stops.  Does that count?

t
Amen.  Few things are more curious than the concept of group identity.

The minutia of being socially acceptable prejudiced is a complex web of subtleties......

[SIR REAL ED]

I signed a wave waiver…

Are you required by law to prominently display that on your motorcycle?

To what ministry does one apply to get one of those?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

One of my buddies got tired of waving years ago too... solved it with a hand cut-out on a spring that bounces back and forth. Now he can wave to everyone at bike week.

[PJPR01]

In those countries where they drive on the left instead of the right, does sticking a foot or knee out "count" as a valid "wave"...so you don't have to take your hand off the throttle?

 

[Cam3512]

I’m with you Steve.  It gets old.

[bad Chad]

It gets old, or you get old?

[Bulldog9]

I’m with you Steve.  It gets old.

Yeah brother that's the point.

[SIR REAL ED]

Yeah brother that's the point.

I hear ya.

I gave up initiating waves about 20 years ago.  I'll wave back if there is enough time.

Motorcyclists waving seems more like a northern thing.  Due to less nice weather I guess.

People, they're all like that!

 

[Huzo]

Huzo,
 Do riders generally wave at each other in Oz?

More of a knowing tilt of the head.

[kballowe]

Motorcyclists waving seems more like a northern thing.  Due to less nice weather I guess.


 

I always wave when I'm riding in 30 degree weather because I feel a kindred spirit.  At least one other idiot riding and freezing his *** off.

[aklawok]

 I wave at bikes, trikes, snowmachiners, moose, muskox and cute Eskimo chicks!



And sometimes....they wave back! Not the moose or muskox!!
"On twos, we show the deuce!"

[MGrego]

I wave, unless sometimes I don't.

The best is when you pass a group of 15 riders and just keep your hand out for the whole procession 

Interesting to see how each one reacts 

[Bulldog9]

Interesting thoughts...... So other than Kev who waves at anything living (or dead) how do you approach other 'enthusiast' activities?

BTW, if you think the Harley guys are bad at not waiving, you should see how the GT 350/Cobra crowd treat the rest of the Mustang Community, especially the Eco Boost..... THe Bullitt gets some cred, but it is hysterical. And let's not forget how the 911 crowd is between air and water cooled versions of the worlds finest automobile ever made....

My point is, I could care less if someone waves back. Never have, never will. If I waved and the other rider/driver doesn't wave back, I just chuckle.  I'm just a bit tired of it as an obligation, and freed myself from the obligation. One point that stuck out, maybe made by SIr Real Ed is the encouragement it gives younger riders.  I'm just glad we as riders dont have to put those stupid rubber ducks on someone's motorcycle, or I don't find them on mine. Cigars?  Yeah man.......... In fact, If I ever see a Guzzi in the wild, I'm gonna leave a CIgar from now on, or give it to its rider............ THATS community. 

[SIR REAL ED]

good thread.  Community, loners, offense, acceptance, nonchalance, warm fuzzys, butthurt, etc.

Makes me think the discussion about inkblots have very little to do with the inkblots themselves, which is why the discussions are so interesting.

The discussions remind me of an old co-worker quoting his father.

"My Dad used to say there are two kinds of people in the world.  Those for whom no explanation is necessary, and those for whom no explanation is possible."

[SIR REAL ED]

Quick tip for those who want to be waved at.

I used to ride up to a friends land that I groomed for trials.  He let me keep an ATV and some tools in his barn, so I could ride my street bike up there and back.

On the way home, I stopped several times to buy two cantaloupes at a road side produce stand.

The best way to carry them of course was to slip them inside my jacket.  Most of the time they were a lot bigger than a softball, almost soccer ball size.

Apparently, if you have melons other people are friendlier...... who knew?

[cliffrod]

Quick tip for those who want to be waved at……

Apparently, if you have melons other people are friendlier...... who knew?

Ummm..  it’s funny now but let’s just say I didn’t seem to make any friends when I hit that bump & lost a giant watermelon off the back of my shovelhead doing 80 on the interstate. 

[SIR REAL ED]

Ummm..  it’s funny now but let’s just say I didn’t seem to make any friends when I hit that bump & lost a giant watermelon off the back of my shovelhead doing 80 on the interstate.

That would have been a great video, and an awesome weapon to deploy against tailgaters.....

[Stretch]

I'm with Kev - I wave at everybody.

Mostly they wave back, too! 

Harley riders are the most snobbish, methinks.
They frequently don't wave.

                         -Stretch

[kballowe]

Harley riders are the most snobbish, methinks.
They frequently don't wave.

                         -Stretch

The Beemer guys have them beat. 

[sdcr]

The Beemer guys have them beat.

In all fairness, they are usually busy programming their GPS, or fine tuning the Teutonic TCS. Not to mention making sure that all 18 roundels are perfectly aligned…

[Moparnut72]

The Beemer guys are usually standing on the pegs so they don't have a free hand.
kk

[Scott Carpenter]

I do "The Nod" and it can be quite subtle, after all I am an Aussie and lived in the Central West for 7 years.  If someone waves I'll wave back. If someone is stopped at the side of the road and looks like they are having trouble, I'll stop and say "Orright mate?"

[SIR REAL ED]

to date, no one has mutated this thread into "Why I waved kissing goodbye."

Old men losing their game maybe.......