Why I kissed Waiving goodbye

[Bulldog9]

Like many of you, I've been riding and waiving while riding for well over 30+ years. The whole "Two wheeled Brotherhood thing" 

Well, I'm over it. Not sure how it happend, but it started on my 3K run out to Arkansas. At about day 10, I got tired of waiving. And it got me thinking. Do I wave at scooters? Monkeys? Trikes? Those gastly 3 wheeled spaceship looking things with bright LEDs everywhere and blasting stereo's? Not really...... And what about brands? Styles? It got me thinking, do I wave to every muscle car or vintage sports car? Every pickup Truck? Its like the whole Jeep thing. Do they waive when passing a 4Runner? Even if it is amore serious off road rig?  NOPE.

So maybe I am just old and cranky, but I'm mostly done waving. Even the low side two finger thing I've been doing unenthusiastically and out of obligation to the 'brotherhood' the last few years.

Anybody else where I am?

[kingoffleece]

Yes. 

[moto]

No. I wave usually, but never did that two finger secret code thing; just waved.

It really is a brotherhood, as I keep relearning when I need help. Good luck.

[Tkelly]

When I am on a trip I wave except in a tight turn,locally not as much.It is a sight of respect and friendship toward  the few riders who travel away from home.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I usually wait a while to see if anyones going to wave, if they do I start waving, If I see a sidecar coming towards me I give a Left hand salute.

Roy

[Mwether]

Great thread.

I am an inveterate waver. If you're on two or three wheels, without a roof and doors, you're getting a wave from me.

To be specific, it's not actually a wave but "the low side two finger thing." On rare occasions, it's the "direct one-finger point," as in, "You, there. I see how cool you are."

Where I am in Western NC, it's not always reciprocated, but I'd say about 90% of riders signal back. This COULD be due to the fact that I'm often on a scooter around home, and non-wavers may think scooters are not part of the club.

On my recent trip through MO, IL, KY, and TN, on the Guzzi, the Midwest won for wavers. It was essentially 100%. Could have been the people, could have been the Cali...

I find where it gets dicey is on the highway. In the Heartland, we were waving at each other on opposite sides of the interstate. Nearly dislocated my shoulder a few times in the windblast.

[bad Chad]

If somebody waves at me, in any form, I try and wave back.  For me, it just seems like the polite thing to do.  I wave first sometimes.  The only times I don't wave back is if it's a huge group ride type thing.   To each his own.

[smsw]

I almost always wave.  Again, seems like the polite thing to do to wave back.  The two finger thing always struck me as some kind of childish secret wave, so I just do a full palm wave (with fingers attached, of course ).  I rarely wave to riders on the other side of a boulevard or divided highway.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I’m finding more riders waving than in the past, especially Harley riders. 54 years of riding and waving. I’m not old and cranky yet.

[Kev m]

Ugh I hate myself for responding.

But here I go.

I wave a lot.

If I'm walking (for exercise), or hiking, or running, I wave to pretty much everyone I pass. If they have a dog I also say "beautiful pup".

If I'm on a bike I wave to everything that is remotely bike oriented, and often even the pedal pushers. I also wave to anyone who remotely is interested, friendly, kids, landscapers who get out of the way, old people on porches, etc.

When I owned boats I waved to every boater I passed.

If I'm in one of my Jeeps I wave to Wranglers, Gladiators, and most other models if they look remotely "enthusiast" owned.

And that last one explains the common element, "enthusiast".

I mean I have to qualify it some way or I could wind up waving to everyone 24/7. I wave to anyone I feel remotely connected to in some way, even if it's just good vibes.

But here's the really REALLY important point.

I wave because of what it says about me.

It's nice to get a wave back or a smile or whatever.

But it doesn't matter what I get in return.

As I tell my kids, my wave only says something about me. The reaction I get only says something about them.

So do as you will, it doesn't really matter to me.

Imma gonna wave anyway.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Ugh I hate myself for responding.

But here I go.

I wave a lot.

If I'm walking (for exercise), or hiking, or running, I wave to pretty much everyone I pass. If they have a dog I also say "beautiful pup".

If I'm on a bike I wave to everything that is remotely bike oriented, and often even the pedal pushers. I also wave to anyone who remotely is interested, friendly, kids, landscapers who get out of the way, old people on porches, etc.

When I owned boats I waved to every boater I passed.

If I'm in one of my Jeeps I wave to Wranglers, Gladiators, and most other models of they look remotely "enthusiast" owned.

And that last one explains the common element, "enthusiast".

I mean I have to qualify it some way or I could wind up waving to everyone 24/7. I wave to anyone I feel remotely connected to in some way, even if it's just good vibes.

But here's the really REALLY important point.

I wave because of what it says about me.

It's nice to get a wave back or a smile or whatever.

But it doesn't matter what I get in return.

As I tell my kids, my wave only says something about me. The reaction I get only says something about them.

So do as you will, it doesn't really matter to me.

Imma gonna wave anyway.

Wonderfully said Kev! The world needs more people like that!

[PJPR01]

I've noticed a trend that riders who don't wear helmets are typically the ones that don't wave back to me when I wave as I'm always wearing a helmet.  I'm not part of their brotherhood, and that's OK with me...no biggie.  I won’t see them again anyway.

[yrunvs]

I wave. I also say please and thank you. I hold doors for strangers. I'm considerate in roundabouts. I'm not old and cranky.

[Bulldog9]

Ugh I hate myself for responding.

But here I go.

I wave a lot.

If I'm walking (for exercise), or hiking, or running, I wave to pretty much everyone I pass. If they have a dog I also say "beautiful pup".

If I'm on a bike I wave to everything that is remotely bike oriented, and often even the pedal pushers. I also wave to anyone who remotely is interested, friendly, kids, landscapers who get out of the way, old people on porches, etc.

When I owned boats I waved to every boater I passed.

If I'm in one of my Jeeps I wave to Wranglers, Gladiators, and most other models of they look remotely "enthusiast" owned.

And that last one explains the common element, "enthusiast".

I mean I have to qualify it some way or I could wind up waving to everyone 24/7. I wave to anyone I feel remotely connected to in some way, even if it's just good vibes.

But here's the really REALLY important point.

I wave because of what it says about me.

It's nice to get a wave back or a smile or whatever.

But it doesn't matter what I get in return.

As I tell my kids, my wave only says something about me. The reaction I get only says something about them.

So do as you will, it doesn't really matter to me.

Imma gonna wave anyway.

Great convicting and needed punch in the throat from my NY Brother from another mother. 

This WAS exactly how I felt for years, and acted, but something shifted the last couple years, mainly this year or two.

But as for the 'brotherhood' I stop and help anyone who needs it  regardless of 2-4-3 wheels and do what I can to help. Thats a given.

Went to a local bikes & breakfast event today, probably over 200 bikes. Really impressed with the turn out, but super impressed with the young guys. I left with a group of 3 20 somethings after talking for a bit to show them a couple of my favorite routes. All Sportish bikes, a Triumph Speed Triple, BMW1000, and a Yamaha FZ900(?) was a great day.

[Bulldog9]

I wave. I also say please and thank you. I hold doors for strangers. I'm considerate in roundabouts. I'm not old and cranky.

LOL, yes, me too, its just when riding lately I find myself not wanting to wave back. I'm NOT that bad 

[Kev m]

LOL, yes, me too, its just when riding lately I find myself not wanting to wave back. I'm NOT that bad 

And to be clear, I'm NOT calling my Paumanok brother a bad person. It's ok to not want to reach out, sometimes constantly. You know how dam many Jeeps there are where I live, lol. It's even worse when we head to the OBX.

All good man, all good.

[bacongrease]

Well.....one week riding in the Black Hills, Sturgis......not one wave.  Me or others.

[slowmover]

They got to wave first.Too many Harley riders here won’t even look at you if you wear a helmet or ain’t riding their brand. “If’n it ain’t a Harley it ain’t a bike”

[chuck peterson]

Peace sign..70’s style

[SIR REAL ED]

Ugh I hate myself for responding.

But here I go.

I wave a lot.

If I'm walking (for exercise), or hiking, or running, I wave to pretty much everyone I pass. If they have a dog I also say "beautiful pup".

If I'm on a bike I wave to everything that is remotely bike oriented, and often even the pedal pushers. I also wave to anyone who remotely is interested, friendly, kids, landscapers who get out of the way, old people on porches, etc.

When I owned boats I waved to every boater I passed.

If I'm in one of my Jeeps I wave to Wranglers, Gladiators, and most other models of they look remotely "enthusiast" owned.

And that last one explains the common element, "enthusiast".

I mean I have to qualify it some way or I could wind up waving to everyone 24/7. I wave to anyone I feel remotely connected to in some way, even if it's just good vibes.

But here's the really REALLY important point.

I wave because of what it says about me.

It's nice to get a wave back or a smile or whatever.

But it doesn't matter what I get in return.

As I tell my kids, my wave only says something about me. The reaction I get only says something about them.

So do as you will, it doesn't really matter to me.

Imma gonna wave anyway.

Excellent post Kev! 

A lot more sanity than much of the world displays...

I believe the following is from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman(?)

"If I meet someone and they don't like me, it is a not a reflection on me, but on them!"

From Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl:

"Between stimulus and response, man has the ability to choose!"

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is full of similar great advice.

And of course the "reflection on them" is always subject to our current state of mind.  Offense is always in the receiver, not the transmitter.

Much of life is inkblots.  I think the key to sanity and happiness is determining what each and every inkblot means for yourself.  Letting others decide for you is surrendering agency!

[SIR REAL ED]

Like many of you, I've been riding and waiving while riding for well over 30+ years. The whole "Two wheeled Brotherhood thing" 

Well, I'm over it. Not sure how it happend, but it started on my 3K run out to Arkansas. At about day 10, I got tired of waiving. And it got me thinking. Do I wave at scooters? Monkeys? Trikes? Those gastly 3 wheeled spaceship looking things with bright LEDs everywhere and blasting stereo's? Not really...... And what about brands? Styles? It got me thinking, do I wave to every muscle car or vintage sports car? Every pickup Truck? Its like the whole Jeep thing. Do they waive when passing a 4Runner? Even if it is amore serious off road rig?  NOPE.

So maybe I am just old and cranky, but I'm mostly done waving. Even the low side two finger thing I've been doing unenthusiastically and out of obligation to the 'brotherhood' the last few years.

Anybody else where I am?

Be crusty Bro!

I miss the crusty old farts I grew up with in the 60's & 70's!!!!

One never had to guess what they were thinking!!

Some days before I leave the house, I put a little shaving cream in my ears!  Even if I have not shaved for days!  Just so others can see it!

[kballowe]

Just get a Honda.

The Gold Wing guys have it figured out.

[SIR REAL ED]

Just get a Honda.

The Gold Wing guys have it figured out.

It's easy to control the "to wave or not to wave function."

It's the interpretation that is glitchy.....

Lots of messed up BIOS out there.....

Who knows what software "they" are running?

[kballowe]

A guy buys his first motorcycle.

Year 1 -  Waves at everyone.  Motorcycles, scooters, trikes, hacks, bicycles, and kids on tricycles.  Even across four lanes of interstate highway and 200 feet of median.

Year 5 -   Waves at motorcycles, trikes, and hacks. 

Year 10 - Only occasionally waves at motorcycles, on 2 laned roads.

Year 20 - Develops "wave elbow" and stops waving.

[blackcat]

I wave except to Goldwing riders who almost never wave back and HD riders with unusually high ape hangers, mostly for fear that they will crash if they wave.

[sdcr]

I wave except to Goldwing riders who almost never wave back and HD riders with unusually high ape hangers, mostly for fear that they will crash if they wave.

 

[JJ]

I always wave to all motorcyclists passing me on the open road, especially on a long road trip

I figure, they are out there just like me..."In The Wind" and enjoying the moment, so why not?

...and in recent years, I notice three major types of motorcycles out on the open highways....

* Big Twin Harley's (many are rentals?)
* Gold Wings...
* BMW adventure bikes of all shapes and sizes...

[Frulk]

I don’t initiate the wave and rarely wave back. Most of my riding is in traffic around my local area. I’ve had some unforeseen instances were if I wouldn’t had my hands on the bars and close to the controls, I would’ve gone down. To me routinely waving is a bad habit.

If I’m on a traffic free backroad I’ll wave back. All safety dependent on what’s happening around me.

[PJPR01]

I wave except to Goldwing riders who almost never wave back and HD riders with unusually high ape hangers, mostly for fear that they will crash if they wave.

There are at least 3-4 of us Norge riders who are also Goldwing riders.  :)  I can't say that my personality changes when I switch bikes...but imagine that my Guzzi friends wouldn't wave to me if I was riding the Goldwing vs. the Norge...oh the horror, the drama!!

 

[blackcat]

Oh, I'll wave to Goldwing riders but they have to initiate the wave and I can count those times on one hand. Quite frankly I rarely see anyone riding a Goldwing nowadays.