You just can't predict people

**KATWYN** · 28th August 2004, 12:50

Originally Posted by jimbo750

, but when I did I could really see the point of it all. Plus those HOG groups are very well supported. .

I would probably give a Harley a go just to check out the difference.

I reakon your limbs are more vulnerable sticking out the way they do as opposed to crouched jockey style riding and the different COG.

**Uncle B** · 28th August 2004, 13:37

I wave to anybody on two wheels....except push bikes......if you choose not to wave back i'm not going to let that dampen my spirits for motorcycling.
Weither your into cruising, sport or commuting were all out there doing it experiencing the freedom and risks that come with riding.
There will probally always be a rivalry between HD riders and sport riders, but when it comes down to it we all put our preferences aside and help fellow riders in need....i can say that i have.
Ride on and enjoy.

**Bob** · 28th August 2004, 22:42

I nod to everyone, but it is apparant that scooter riders never nod back (exception being when I was out for a ride once and found myself in the middle of a scooter rally! Everyone was really friendly and grateful that I made space for them to all keep together). H-D riders? Well I did once get a really cheery wave from an 'Angel' on his heavily modified H-D chop. BMW riders? Bit hit and miss, but you do get some response.

Riding an SV, I suppose I fall into a slot between two camps - it looks sporty enough for sportbike riders to acknowledge, is middle of the road enough for anyone riding commuter bikes or general 'get you from A to B' bikes.

As for the 'cruiser thing', having been in charge of keeping the XV250 running until Laura passed her test, I have to say that I love it to bits. I'd quite happly have the SV650S for day to day work, or whenever I want to get out for a 'spirited' ride, and have the XV250 for general toodling about or when I'm happy to just take my time and see where the road takes me.

(That said, I've blown away some dork in a car going uphill at 75mph on it, so once you've got it under way - and you get your timing right - it can 'kick bottom' in it's own understated little way!)

I liked the baby Virago enough to try out a 650 Dragstar - which to a degree I liked, but I couldn't get on with it as a sole means of transport. If I lived somewhere with lots of fairly empty roads and wouldn't get caught up in town traffic? It'd be another story perhaps.

**Two Smoker** · 28th August 2004, 22:54

There is some awesome comments on this thread

if i pull up to a bike or scooter at the lights, i always lift my visor say hello, tell them they have a nice bike, and i never brag about my own bike..... I wave at everyone, unless i am blatting hard as i need both hands and one knee....

As for tailgating, some of you might know how i got hit by a tailgater, whilst doing the speed limit.... lesson learnt, speed everywhere

*joking* lol

**moko** · 28th August 2004, 23:08

You`ll find in Britain that in winter the diehard/thick/deicated/mentally unbalanced bikers are still "out there",and to be fair last year there were several sportsbikes out and about in sub-zero temperatures.These guys will return your wave almost without fail,it`s the fairweather types that have spent all winter fantasising about being a real biker that stick their noses up in Summer.These guys dont "get" the biker spirit,we all stick together,they`re from another world where you judge people by how expensive their vehicle is,how recent it is,how good they look in their riding gear.That`s why you get the riders of bikes with a percieved image being the worst offenders,too busy basking in the admiration they really thing their getting to acknowledge anybody else.
Worst ever case I`ve ever come across was an R6 rider a couple of years ago.Saw him stopped by the side of the road peering into his tank,me out on my XT600,turned around when it was safe to do so and headed back.Because it was a dual carriageway this involved a lot of pissing about on my part and a distance of 5 miles covered to get to the guy.By the time I did he was pushing his bike.He`d run out of petrol and luckily for him the garage was only about 400 metres up the road.I offered him a lift,offered him help pushing,offered to go and get him some juice,all of which he turned down with thanks.Now this guy had a nifty set of leathers and a matching lid which is why I know he was the same guy who I met again later in the day.Not only did he ignore me but the more dickheaded of sports riders will actually turn their heads away so you really get the point............just as this dork did,amazing.

**marty** · 28th August 2004, 23:28

Originally Posted by wari

NOt really surprised by the HD fella ...

SOMe people just need to get over themselves ...

SOMEthing I've noticed is young boys checkin outhe bike as I ride past ...

YOung girls dont even notice ...

MUst be genetick ...

at least you HOPE the guys are checking out your bike.....

**Magua** · 28th August 2004, 23:36

My bike turned heads, as the gn aproaches it makes a wicked sound, a low grumble. People turn around as I climb the hill at 7,000rpm and the little bike starts to screem. Haha I can imagine them anticipating a cruiser and all they get is a 12BHP beast.

**Mr Skid** · 29th August 2004, 00:33

I try to wave/spread goodwill to everybody whenever I can.
Bikes, scooters, cyclists, I'll say hello to any and all of the above when waiting at the lights. Even had the occational "how about that weather eh?" chats with cagers at a red light.

Today I went for a ride to Whangamata on the way back to dorkland I stopped at Kopu Mobil. As I was filling up a chap standing to one side of the forcourt asks "Some good roads around here?" Get chatting and he's from the Wellington chapter of Ulysses up there on a job, have a yarn about life the universe and everything for a bit.

Next a bloke pulls up on a VTR1000. Say gidday and have a yarn, he's heading up to Whangaparoa.
I asked if he'd mind the company of my angry lawnmower, and he was keen, so we rode through to Auckland together.

This is one of the things I'm still comming to terms with riding, you'd never see this between cagers, but you'll always have common ground with another rider.

As CSL said, we're part of a family (of sorts)

**toads** · 29th August 2004, 13:15

Originally Posted by paparazzi

I try to wave/spread goodwill to everybody whenever I can.
Bikes, scooters, cyclists, I'll say hello to any and all of the above when waiting at the lights. Even had the occational "how about that weather eh?" chats with cagers at a red light.

Today I went for a ride to Whangamata on the way back to dorkland I stopped at Kopu Mobil. As I was filling up a chap standing to one side of the forcourt asks "Some good roads around here?" Get chatting and he's from the Wellington chapter of Ulysses up there on a job, have a yarn about life the universe and everything for a bit.

Next a bloke pulls up on a VTR1000. Say gidday and have a yarn, he's heading up to Whangaparoa.
I asked if he'd mind the company of my angry lawnmower, and he was keen, so we rode through to Auckland together.

This is one of the things I'm still comming to terms with riding, you'd never see this between cagers, but you'll always have common ground with another rider.

As CSL said, we're part of a family (of sorts)

yeah I can relate to this experience, Me and Pete went into town one time on our old beasties and decided to go to mc cafe for lunch when we got there there were hardly any places to park so squeezed our bikes into a park with someones large expensive bmw, got into the cafe and a delighted old guy( the owner of it) said "I'll go get us a table," we had a great chat about his adventures and we both learned a bit about bikes we hadn't known before, awesome instant camaraderie
It's disappointing when it doesn't happen with some bikers because of their ego with regard to the type of bike they ride. Takes allsorts to make a world eh!

**Mongoose** · 29th August 2004, 13:30

I'm a social lush, I just keep waving and waving and do not give a toss for those that do not wave back. More wave back than not.
As far as tha HD non-waving debate goes, this is my thoughts on that. EVERYONE knows a Hoggly, but how many can tell at a glimpse the make of a sports bike for example?
Makes it a lot harder to say Suzuki, or Honda for that matter, are snobby sods.

**EZAS** · 29th August 2004, 13:48

funny this topic, I was riding througha set of lights and noticed a fully chromed out cruiser (possibly a harley), on the perpendicular set of lights, i turned and nodded, but the guy pulls his visor up and starts waving his hand infront of his nose as if to say ---> your smelly.

what a sad guy, im only a newb on a 250 and i dont need that sh*t.