Not This Again: Waving

[Papa Lazarou]

I nod. Sometimes ironically.

[Scottybones]

   It's about camaraderie and I feel offended if I give a wave or nod and the person doesn't nod back.  It's like a tradition and people are breaking that tradition because they feel above it, ie snobs.  The only people I don't wave to are chicks on cruisers.  I've tried a few times and have gotten snubbed everytime, so no more.  There's something about a chick on a sportbike and they can snub me all day long, lol.

[misanthropist]

I nearly always wave, unless I'm working the clutch.  I wave at guys on harleys and guys on sportbikes.  I don't care.

I usually give a two-finger wave because my gloves are naturally curled, and my first two fingers are habitually extended to cover the levers, so a two finger wave is the most comfortable gesture in gauntlets.

I don't discriminate in who I wave to because I think waving between motorcyclists is nice, and I'm not going to let someone else's take on whether it's worth doing determine whether I do the thing that I think is right.

The overwhelming majority wave back.  Those who don't wave back are usually fully-suited sportbike riders from China (there is a city here that is primarily chinese so it's a reasonable guess that most of the guys riding in that town are also chinese), pseudo-thugs on Harleys, or expensively-attired-in-brand-new-nylon-suits BMW riders.  Even in those groups, many wave back.  

The people who wave most are always guys on beaters or oddballs.

One guy I waved at on the road yesterday on a customed-out HD , wearing a full-on Screamin' Eagle catalogue instead of normal clothes, blued-out tattoos up and down his arms, the whole bit, pulled in next to me by a Starbucks yesterday, and proceeded to chat about bikes for 20 minutes.  He was interested in the Guzzi's suspension and had a bunch of technical questions about the dampening effect and how the CARC worked, none of which I could answer.  He was really interested in the bike and compared the system to something BMW apparently used to build...his technical knowledge was clearly out of my league and I could barely follow what he said.

I am WAY too old to still believe you can tell much about a guy by the brand of motorcycle he's riding.  So that's why I pretty much always wave.

[dm_gsxr]

You know it's the cool thing to do if they show it in a Can-Am Sypder commercial.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HUyK2gI0jw

Ok, that was funny. "Two wheels only" wave while on a 3 wheeled reverse trike  

Carl

[dm_gsxr]

As per always, I started off with a difference between the 'old days' and today and a pondering about the meaning of the two finger wave and of course it degenerated into a "why I wave" thread.

SSDD

As with the Can-Am one, I'm thinking the two fingers is related to the number of wheels. So they should be showing three fingers?    

Carl

[misanthropist]

As per always, I started off with a difference between the 'old days' and today and a pondering about the meaning of the two finger wave and of course it degenerated into a "why I wave" thread.

I would guess that's because there is no significance to the two-finger wave.  If there was, this thread would be full of people talking about why they use that particular gesture.  Instead, virtually nobody has a particular reason to use two fingers.

My belief is that it is a byproduct of increasingly armoured gloves.

[Scottybones]

  Must be something in the air because it seems like more people are waving today than usual.  There were only 2 groups today (Hogs of course) that didn't wave.  One group I didn't initiate like I usualy do, and the other one snubbed me.  Is there hope?

[CosmicCowboy]

Ok, that was funny. "Two wheels only" wave while on a 3 wheeled reverse trike  

Carl

I really dig how the bad asses at the biker bar respect the Spyder.

[2RR2NV]

I nearly always wave, unless I'm working the clutch.  I wave at guys on harleys and guys on sportbikes.  I don't care.

I usually give a two-finger wave because my gloves are naturally curled, and my first two fingers are habitually extended to cover the levers, so a two finger wave is the most comfortable gesture in gauntlets.

I don't discriminate in who I wave to because I think waving between motorcyclists is nice, and I'm not going to let someone else's take on whether it's worth doing determine whether I do the thing that I think is right.

The overwhelming majority wave back.  Those who don't wave back are usually fully-suited sportbike riders from China (there is a city here that is primarily chinese so it's a reasonable guess that most of the guys riding in that town are also chinese), pseudo-thugs on Harleys, or expensively-attired-in-brand-new-nylon-suits BMW riders.  Even in those groups, many wave back.  

The people who wave most are always guys on beaters or oddballs.

I am WAY too old to still believe you can tell much about a guy by the brand of motorcycle he's riding.  So that's why I pretty much always wave.

+100  same thoughts here. i wave if i know they are there. if they go flying by and don't see em til they are in my mirror....  oh well. now that i think of it, last Saturday, put about 300 miles on the bike and I "think" i saw every single rider i waved to, waved back. didn't matter.  as far as how i wave, it's whatever is workable. armored gloves influence it.

[ConPilot1]

Depending on the mood I'm in, many riders will get the "Up The Irons" horns instead of a salute.

[Redbandit14]

My belief is that it is a byproduct of increasingly armoured gloves.

Yup LOl.
Also the two wheel thing. I have no idea how i got into the habit but i always sort of point down at the road with two fingers.

And i'll wave at just about anybody but those assholes on electric scooters.

Who are starting to wave at me.  

[Powder Addict]

I almost waved at a scooter the other day.  Fortunately I caught myself before I went into full on wave!  That was close.

[Scottybones]

I almost waved at a scooter the other day.  Fortunately I caught myself before I went into full on wave!  That was close.

   I actually did once.  It was one of those big ones that look kind of like a touring bike.  Hung my head in shame for that one.

[bluefz1]

Seems like all the bikers around here do the  point down kind of wave.  Me......I do the point up, as in pointing to heaven, kinda my way of doing a high speed pass "can I talk to you bout jesus" thing.  All the benefits without the door slam in the face.


 

 

[coho]

I love to wave at the thcooterists, the baffled expressions they make in return are entertaining.

[Lawn Dart]

I tend to wave at pretty much everyone but of late I've taken to using the "GoldWing" wave on Harley guys.  

HI THERE!!!! /WAVE!  

I really ham it up when they don't wave back.  I mean, I may not get the first guy to wave but the rest of the 50+ bike-pack typically gives some kind of acknowledgement.

In other news I saw a few sport bikers giving the "Fist".  I returned the Fist with a Straight-armed FIST as high over my head as I could manage.  BIKE POWER!

I can't help myself some times...I rather like pushing buttons.  

[NoGear]

The Big Five
When a fellow biker is approaching, his left arm and hand will tell the story. Whether he is the initiator or the replier, the signals are the same. Following are the five main hand gestures you may encounter:

1. The Nothing - This is the "default" hand position of most cross-encounters. Simply leaving his left hand on the handle bar can mean anything from "not paying attention to the fact you're approaching" to "I see you but I'm not interested in exchanging a greeting" - to the harsher, "I see you but since we don't enjoy any 'equity,' I'm not going to acknowledge your existence." Of course since no words are ever exchanged to clarify, all the rider can do is simply speculate.

2. The Two-finger Flip - The most casual AND most common acknowledgement. Left hand still on the handgrip, but the index and middle fingers raised briefly. This one simply says "dude, how's it going?" Most of the time the receiver will respond just out of courtesy. Of course the whole issue of who goes first really boils down to nothing more than a game of greeting chicken - or whoever's in the better mood at time.

3. The Big One - This is the granddaddy of all greetings. Left hand down off of the handlebar and out to the side. Fingers may either show a "peace" sign or be spread open palm side out. Here, the initiator is sending a clear signal that he acknowledges you. Not replying to this blatant plea for hospitality may be considered rude - and could possibly be interpreted as a strong message of inequity.

4. The Dis - Left hand down and resting on the thigh. This could be viewed as a request to treat the opposing party as a hostile witness - ESPECIALLY if it is moved there while you are approaching. Dating back to the days when rival motorcycle gangs roamed the streets, this signal indicated disrespect to the other rider(s) and was clearly meant as negative and often times led to confrontation. Today, however, the old cultural significance has been lost, and could simply just mean your arm is tired and resting on your leg.

5. The Geek - Left hand raised high in the air as if to say, "Hi mom!" This one is specifically reserved for the new rider, who is "SO excited to be one of the gang!" Also may be seen being used by Moped or scooter riders. Recommendation: Just don't.



So there they are. All the secrets behind those mysterious motorcycle hand greetings revealed (not to be confused with the standard hand "turn" signals). So the next time you approach an oncoming rider, take note. He could be sending you a very intentional message!

[Spectre]

Stand on the pegs fist pump (usually coming out of a set of nice twisties)