new rider question

[abekittyhawk]

Do I have to wave at every bike that is going the other way? I dont any way (g/L riders all ways get a wave) If I don't wave sorry.

[WingAdmin]

You don't have to wave at anyone if you don't want. It's just a friendly display.

I notice in Canada, virtually everyone waves to everyone.

Down here in Ohio, where 75% of the riders are on Harleys, you get a wave maybe a third of the time. A lot of the time I won't bother waving at the Harley riders, because chances are they won't wave back. Same goes for the crotch rockets. Older bikes, Goldwings, BMW's or other adventure/touring bikes I wave at, because they usually wave back.

[virgilmobile]

I'll tell ya...iffin U don't wave and you break down up the road..don't spect me to turn around and help ya.

Na...not really....Sometimes I can't wave...using the clutch and buttons and all....Then all your gonna get is a nod in your general direction....

Generally I try to acknowledge every passing bike,just sometimes I'm just too distracted from the ride...

I do tend to notice the other riders tho....even if they don't wave...It's not a big deal.

Now to the important question.....Do you use 2 fingers or 3.......
I always use 3 to indicate that I'm on a Wing....I adopted this because I see the Harley riders using 2 fingers...I suspect because they have only 2 cylinders....

I use 3 mainly because I don't have 6 fingers on my left hand. ...I ride a 1500...
Maybe you could use 4 fingers...Oh so many choices.....

[harvey01]

I started riding more than a few years ago and have been waving to all motorcyclists ever since. Back then there were not a lot of us on the road and thankfully that has changed. Not every motorcyclist waves back and that is okay because I know I waved.

I try to wave with my total hand, thus no signals or special communication except saying "Hi" to my fellow riders.

[Viking]

Now to the important question.....Do you use 2 fingers or 3.......
I always use 3 to indicate that I'm on a Wing....I adopted this because I see the Harley riders using 2 fingers...I suspect because they have only 2 cylinders....

I don't care if folks wave or not. If I notice a motorcycle, I "acknowledge" the motorcycle rider. Only thing upsets me is the one finger waves. I will not stop and help them when they break down, and I got a long long memory. I stopped on my way home one time when three Harley boys were stopped on the side of the road, and was told to F%^k off, so I went back home, got on one of my Harleys and rode back and asked if I could help. Then when they agreed, I explained that I had just been there on my Wing and had been told no. Talk about red faces. Then I got the one guy back on the road and left while they were trying to thank me. I dunno if the mouthy guy felt bad at all, and I do not really care. I took care of me when I helped them, and I showed them for who they were. Also, Virgil, I have a friend who could properly wave from your bike. He has a thumb and five fingers on his left hand.

[wally]

I usually wave to all bikes when I can do so safely and it's normally a two finger wave but maybe I should be using a four finger wave, do you think they will know it's cause I have four cylinders.

[Sally]

If you don't wave You get the bird

[redial]

Bird or turd, it doesnt matter to me, so I wave anyway. The only time I dont, is when I nod if I have my hands full, as Virgilmobile says. Anyone on two wheels or three, gets the same treatment, even if it is a scooter - we are all part of the road fellowship.

Travelling in a car on some of the highways in Oz, you will get waved at even if you are in a car/truck/bus/motorcycle, mainly because some of the roads do not have many vehicles, and to actually see someone is good to know that you are not alone. This is especially true when there are approx 600Km between settlements/fuel stops that can occur in this big land, so when on the bike, and sometimes in the car, I wave or nod. Be happy.

[dingdong]

I wave to anyone if I see them in time. I have wondered many times what goes through a riders mind when he looks you in the eye and doesn't return the wave. What is he thinking? What is his justification to himself?

[rescue1042]

same thing here I noticed that about 25 percent of Harley riders wont wave but most of the big touring bikes and usually the older and dirt bikes will wave here! I go to the same water holes as the Harley bikes and see the ones on the Harleys are usually the more well to do people that have them or the ones that they put all there money into there bike and most of them ya do think there crap don't stink! Kind of sad I love going out and waving to people and chatting and meeting new people>
My best friend I ride with has a Harley! and they are the two two best people in the world and they are friendly and wave.... but lately I have seen them not wave as much as they use too and he says to me that's cause all these Harley guys don't wave anymore so he has stopped too But I will tell you the best time I ever had is I pulled into this little town I saw 7 brand new wings sitting in the parking lot... well I had a 82 1100 which I was I guess little intimidated cause of my older bike.. any way I parked away from them and went in and had dinner and good conversation with my love and friends. well as we were going outside to leave I was getting ready and the guys on the new wings were getting ready to leave all seven of them started walking over to me. well one of the guys came up and said I just had to come over and see your bike... he started to tell me about his first wing was just like this one and then the flood gates open and all the older gentlemen started talking about there older wings and how much fun they had.... well as they started to leave the one gentlemen turned to me and said, that is one nice looking bike and how nice it was to see a young man like me starting out that bike and how well I have kept it, really thought he was going to tear.. anyway I just thought about how nice the GL riders are and can be just thought I would share

[OnPapasWing]

I wave to anyone if I see them in time. I have wondered many times what goes through a riders mind when he looks you in the eye and doesn't return the wave. What is he thinking? What is his justification to himself?

I wouldn't take it personal. Even when they "look you in the eye" their mind may be elsewhere. Something serious on their mind or just totally distracted and looking through you. Who knows. It's happened to me before. I only hope that if they are riding with that much weight on their mind that they can still focus on the task at hand.
BTW, I try to wave as much as possible. It's a nice gesture.

Steve

[dingdong]

I wave to anyone if I see them in time. I have wondered many times what goes through a riders mind when he looks you in the eye and doesn't return the wave. What is he thinking? What is his justification to himself?

I wouldn't take it personal. Even when they "look you in the eye" their mind may be elsewhere. Something serious on their mind or just totally distracted and looking through you. Who knows. It's happened to me before. I only hope that if they are riding with that much weight on their mind that they can still focus on the task at hand.
BTW, I try to wave as much as possible. It's a nice gesture.

Steve

Doesn't bother me at all. Just wondering about those who won't wave. Is it actually because I'm on a Honda and they're on a ........????

[rono24]

When I started riding many years ago, it was not a wave it was the left fist in the air meaning ride on brother,I still like this gesture .

[bubbs]

Here in Wales bikers seem to have lost the will to wave, they ride in a world of their own. Only us older bikers regularly wave as we pass by each other. Wingers are the exception, they always give an enthusiastic wave.

Ride in France and don't be alarmed when a biker raises his leg as you pass by, no wave just his (or her) right leg acknowledges you.

[winger05]

When it comes to Harley's and Crotch Rockets, I only wave if they wave first. Most of the time they won't wave, but a lot do. The ones that I find usually won't wave are the Easy Rider and Hell's Angel wannabe's or the ones that look like Willie Nelson. Most of the what I call "Urban" Harley riders will wave for the most part. Personally, I don't really care one way or the other if I get a wave or not from those groups. When I pass a Goldwing with duel antennas, I always try to raise them on the CB just for grins, but for reasons unknown I don't have much luck most of the time. I just figure they are not monitoring the CB or they may be on a channel other then 19, but at the end of the day, its all good.

[tech1]

Hi Winger95

A biker is a biker I wave to all except scooters
Harley Honda Kwasaki ect some Harley riders wont BUT most do.
Tech1

[HawkeyeGL1200]

This is an interesting topic to me. It seems most are in the same "camp" as I am. If I'm not otherwise occupied, and I see another motorcycle rider approaching, I'll give some signal of acknowledgement... I usually "wave" my index and middle finger(s) ... kind of like pointing at the other rider in more or less a handlebar salute, if you will.

I generally save the single finger salute for those who cut me off in traffic. So far, none of them has been on just two wheels.

If I acknowledge another rider, and he/she (usually a He) is either distracted and doesn't notice, or too proud to wave at a Jap bike (Made in Marysville, Ohio BTW) then I figure it is their loss... anytime I stop and see other riders, it is always fun to talk with them about where they've been or where they're headed, if they're in the mood to chat some... Often times, I'll see Harley riders at a gas station or restaurant and if the bikes are nice looking, I make it a point to say so. I ride a rat, so I don't expect anyone to compliment me on anything other than the truth... I saved mine from becoming a parts bike, and I'm slowly returning it to a great running, reliable motorcycle... once the fundamentals are complete, we'll work on beautification as time passes...

[golden highway]

I noticed a lot of the younger riders don't wave. They seem to be into themselves. Oh well there loss

[garwil]

I always wave if I see them coming. (HD, Jap, Scooter, Trike, whatever) However, as I commute into work each day, I have noticed that the transition from country to city effects the response. Almost all bikers wave back in the rural and suburban settings. But many in the city setting do not. I do not take this personally because I find it much harder to wave in the city as I often do not see the approaching rider until it is to late (Freeway riding).

I have noticed the different waving styles and I attribute a lot of the difference to fairings, or the lack thereof. When I road a crotch rocket, I waved low in the slip stream. I see a lot of HD's do the same. Now that I ride a Gold wing, I wave full handed high. I can do that now without having my shoulder wrenched out of its socket. Most of the HD's and crotch rockets wave, but it is hard to see when they wave low, or even just raise a couple of fingers.

I have a brother who rides the same make and model ('99 GL1500) and lives close to where I work, and works close to where I come from, so we commute in opposite directions. I have occasionally seen him and waved to no avail. Later when I talk to him I find out he did not see me, or did not see me in time to wave. I expect this is because the stretch of road where we usually pass is very busy. But last week, for the first time, we both saw each other and we both waved. (I guess that means we are getting along better, or starting to respect each other, or something meaningful )

Someone mentioned calling out on the CB. I have tried that a few times and, like him, I have never been successful. I think it is because, like me, most do not ride with the radio on unless we are riding in a group. I generally leave my radio off because I don't need to listen to the trash that comes across the air on the common channels like 11 and 19.

Keep on riding friendly!

[chargincharlie]

most of the bikers these days that ride harleys are yuppies wana bee bad a$$'s cause they have a harley thats all it is i lived down the road from the pegans motorcycle club on long island and was friends with some of them they were bad a$$'s like the hells angels i wave if they wave but i ride with friends who have harleys yamahas hondas crotch rockets and we dont judge just enjoy riding together thats what its all about so dont worry if you miss a wave just stay safe and its not the destiny its the ride of enjoyment

[bstig60]

In California, most everyone waves, unless you are riding a new BMW. Sometimes I can't wave either, but I will acknowledge with a nod of my head. On the trip I took this summer and the one I just took down to LA and back, most everyone waved.

[tandem54]

I try to wave as much as possible. It's a nice gesture so just do what you are comfortable with!

[Mh434]

If I'm called on having not waved for some reason (rare - I ALWAYS try to wave), I just reply that I couldn't, as the bike's Cappacino machine was just finishing its cycle, and I was busy frothing the milk...(that one drives the Harley riders NUTS!).

[Mag]

Ha! Ok, that was a good one.

I try to wave, figure giving the respect to other 2-wheelers out there, just to spread the loyalty a bit.

[billbob]

I say it is up to you,i try to wave if I see a bike in time.