The things that divide the sport

[Liber]

So I'm beginning to see some of the divisions in the sport now. At first it was all cool, but I've run into some confusion lately. I did a quick search and turned this site up:

http://www.viewfromthecloud.com/2006...greetings.html

It's pretty funny because it seems to hold fairly true in my neck of the woods. I used to greet every motorcycle, but after being ignored by so many cruisers I've given up. Cruisers are by far the most popular bike in this area. I see the occasional sport bike, but the ratio has to be like 20:1.

Sport bikes are quick to greet, usually beating me to the punch, especially because they usually have ATG on. If they have ATG on or even Some of the gear, I've never had anyone on another sportbike refuse a greeting because we were on different brands of bike. Squids ignore me or rev their engines at stop lights.

It's one thing to read about it, but something else to experience for yourself.

Are there any other factors that affect the social morays of riding?

[Bosgarage57]

In my neck of the woods, theres not a WHOLE lotta sportbikes, more harleys then cruisers. Its really about an even percentage that I get a wave. I'd say about 70-75%. I ALWAYS wave (if I can) even to scooters, pedestrians out working, or bicyclists. I just wanna be friendly and say Hey, if they're in their own world, being a snob, or their bikes vibrate so much they cant remove their hands then thats fine as well. Times are a chancing boys!

[coondog]

I don't personally believe in any social mores involving true motorcyclists. Maybe within the gangs there are (were). I sort of nod or wave or let my PIAA horns burp to one and all, even scooters and workers checking me out. Your right about the "no return" policy of so many riders, I think it's their ego due to being on a harley or mv augusta or the like, i mean we know it's not us. Just love it either way, which i'm sure we both do.

[Murtasma]

Pretty much on board with Lucas. I always wave when I'm able to and notice another rider. I could care less if the other person waves back; more often then not most people wave back. I think the ones who don't probably didn't notice or was occupied with something else. There have been times when someone waved to me but I didn't catch them in time.

I've even had people in hot rods wave to me. When I'm riding my car I wave to motorcyclists but they can't see my hand inside the car so I have to stick my whole body out of the drivers side window while I stick the car in cruise control. I wave both arms wildly in the air when I do this and scream. They always seem to slow down like there is a cop around the corner.

[almost40]

Mostly Harleys here. 90% of them wave.
Everyone on 2 wheels is pretty cool here in the midwest.

[kkim]

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51496&

[clintalmighty]

I did "the geek" wave to a Harley rider when i first got my bike. I was so excited .

Now I just wave to sport/standard riders who are wearing gear; I will only wave to helmet-less posers on Harleys if they wave first. Most of them (around here) are pricks anyway, and we ride for completely opposite reasons.

[miss_syn]

People around here seem pretty friendly and I feel bad because I'm not confident enough to take my hand off the handle bar yet.

[Mizono]

I make every effort to wave to anyone regardless of bike. For me personally riding a motorcycle is a club and brotherhood period. Now i have had a few not wave back but the majority have returned the favor. I don't take it personally. I mean who knows they may have genuinely not seen me or weren't able to let go at the moment. Ive had a few cruisers talk to me at stop lights before.

[kkim]

I wave pretty much at any motorcycle. if they don't wave back, I look at it as their loss... not mine.

[reaubideux]

I'm with Mizono. I pretty much wave at everyone if possible and most of the time I get a wave back. I usually end up being the one to wave first I've noticed. The only common group of riders I see that typically don't wave back are younger guys on cruisers or HDs, beyond that then it's the old guys on the Goldwings who I think just don't see me or just don't care. Not sure about other parts of the country but our "wave" is pretty subtle around here, pretty much just stickin' your hand down and out to the side. There's been a few times I've gotten the wave and just didn't notice it until they were already past me.

[thurt88]

I usually wave if I can or see someone. Im guilty of riding 50% squid as well. I do wear a jacket, gloves and helmet tho.

[Green Streak]

I wave at every motorcycle I come across. Most return the wave. Sometimes I don't get one back(most times it is Harley rider), but I don't take it personal. Maybe they didn't see me, maybe they aren't comfortable taking their hands off the grips, maybe they are new and still thinking like a cager, maybe they just waved at a sportbike and didn't get a return wave or had a bad day, or whatever. But I personally like the tradition/practice and will continue to perpetuate it.

[Havok]

Two wheels and a motor and ill wave, Some wave back some dont, If a cruiser doesn't wave back i don't assume its because he hates sport bikes could be he was concentration on riding, If a sport bike rider doesn't wave its not because he is a squid or thinks he is better then me, he may be more focused on traffic or just enjoying his ride.

[alex.s]

if i'm checking a bike out (as in- i'm not in traffic, or its on the other side of the road with good visibility) my hand goes out without me noticing. around here there are lots of seasonal "weekend warriors"... typically they don't wave, are wearing minimal gear, and aren't very good at riding bikes. you can tell the difference between the occasional riders and those who ride just to ride. people who ride just for the ride are checking out other bikes because they like them, not because they think they make the person riding them look cool.
any time i see a biker riding without a helmet, i have a very special hand signal for them. (giving all of us a bad name by breaking such an obvious law)

[Havok]

Originally Posted by alex.s

if i'm checking a bike out (as in- i'm not in traffic, or its on the other side of the road with good visibility) my hand goes out without me noticing. around here there are lots of seasonal "weekend warriors"... typically they don't wave, are wearing minimal gear, and aren't very good at riding bikes. you can tell the difference between the occasional riders and those who ride just to ride. people who ride just for the ride are checking out other bikes because they like them, not because they think they make the person riding them look cool.
any time i see a biker riding without a helmet, i have a very special hand signal for them. (giving all of us a bad name by breaking such an obvious law)

You ride EVE, How the hell can people not wave!

[aldenso]

I too wave to everyone, and in 2 months of waving only one person didn't wave back.

Funny story though, I was flying down a back road that was hilly but straight. It felt like I was on a roller coaster and was amazing (I'm sure many of you know the feeling). When I get about 300 metres from the end of the road I see a guy on a cruiser turning around to go for another run at it. He only had a helmet on, cut off sleeves and jeans. Must have been about 60 years old with grey hair and a grey mustache. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face and have me a HUGE wave like saying "isn't this the best thing in the world?" I returned with an equally massive wave. Put me in such a good mood knowing that I'll be enjoying bikes well into my old age just like him.

[Live2ride]

I wave to everyone as long as I see them in time. I haven't received a wave back from just about every kind of bike, whether it be an enduro, cruiser, sportbike, w/e. Generally I get a wave back, I'd say that maybe 2-3 out of every 10 don't wave back but that's also normally when I'm in town, so traffic, low speed, etc probably factor into the "I would wave but can't safely take my hand off the bar" syndrome. Some people are even kind enough to give the nod when it's unsafe to give a wave. I'm not going to lie; the first bike I waved to was a harley rider and I gave just about the geekiest wave I could with the biggest smile on my face. What a great day

[noobie]

My first time riding, I passed another green kawi. I noticed he waved to me, but I didn't wave back...The next bike I passed waved at me too, this time i realized that it must be some sort of tradition to wave to other bikers to show support or what you want to call it, so I waved back and have waved to every other biker out there since. So if you were that guy in that green kawi(zx6r), I wasn't being rude, I just didn't know.

[Reddoak]

I wave to just about every other bike I see, with a few exceptions:

1. I can't wave without risking life and limb. If I'm busy manuevering or braking... I'll nod if I can, or just ride on if I can't.
2. They have flip flops on. **** 'em. Morons. Sneakers? Fine, whatever. But flip flops? Really?
3. I'm at a biker rally such as Daytona Bike week, or Leesburg bike fest. Sometimes, it's just not practical.

I've been waved at by everything on two wheels (and occasionally three.) I've also been ignored by the same. Lots of bikes here year round. I'll wave at anything, and really don't mind if they don't wave back. Mostly, cruisers and cops don't wave back.

I figure the wave has got two reasons:

1. We're all on two wheels. There's a common ground.
2. It keeps me mentally active. I know I'm not paying attention when a biker waves before I've spotted them.

Funny thing, I get the same thing driving a Subaru. So no matter what I'm in or on, I wind up waving at other people.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

Funny thing, I get the same thing driving a Subaru. So no matter what I'm in or on, I wind up waving at other people.

Ever since i got my sti i've noticed that i get almost as many scooby waves as bike waves.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by reaubideux

Not sure about other parts of the country but our "wave" is pretty subtle around here, pretty much just stickin' your hand down and out to the side. There's been a few times I've gotten the wave and just didn't notice it until they were already past me.

That's usually how it works where I am as well. Two finger salute, low and off to the side. Sometimes you get the wave back, sometimes you don't. Same thing with boaters out on the water I find, although they tend to "notice" each other a bit more as it's not as busy.

Little kids though will waive at you all the time from their back seat when you're sitting there at lights and even from the side walk when you ride pass. A motorcycle is the coolest thing to them I waive back and give them a rev or two for their kicks.

[BISH]

Its all head nods this side of the pond!

[KELPHYN]

I wave to everyone. ESPECIALLY CRUISERS just to prove to themselves that they are snobs. lol. The funniest thing is when there is a group of cruisers and you give the low wave, and first couple riders don't wave back. Then I start wave more energeticly, still no wave? I stand on my pegs and wave with both arms like crazy. I can just imagine what the riders at the end thinking. I know I'm laughing my ass off.