Waving - the neverending saga (multiple threads merged into one)

**howdamnhard** · 5th February 2008, 22:28

Speak for yourself,I commute and always nod or wave.

Originally Posted by pyrocam

its commuters who are the worst for not nodding waving. out on the ride, everyone does it almost

**vonstringer** · 9th February 2008, 15:38

Today I went on a long ride in the countryside and tested different forms of salute. Nodding didn't seem to get noticed much and I got few responses. A little right-handed salute with the palm of the hand still on the throttle didn't fare much better. The best way to get a response seemed to be to take the left hand off the bars and raising it high, move the hand in a rotating left to right motion with the wrist remaining a stationary pivot point.

This is unmistakable as a friendly wave and I got the best responses. Doing this coming out of a corner I managed to get some Harley riders to wave back despite being on a 225cc commuter.

Back in town I waved at a scooter rider, but he started wobbling all around looking back at me wondering who I was.

Waving in such an obvious fashion does make one feel a bit cheesed off when there is no response however. If a small gesture is made and no response is forthcoming, you can almost pretend you didn't do it (a bit like coughing to cover up a fart).

**dmouse** · 9th February 2008, 15:57

Originally Posted by far queue

OK, so it's not just me then. Any Harley riders out there with a take on this ?:spudwhat:

i allways wave mate if ya got two wheels i wave nod or salute depends on what im doin at the moment, but i allways let you know ive seen you, i get some funny looks from these big dudes lookin like gorila`s on harleys but fuck em im havin fun and if they dont like they can go eat banana`s by the way my ride is a fatboy custom painted with a rebel theme if ya see me say hi take care and have fun regards

dave

**Pex Adams** · 9th February 2008, 16:37

Ahh if only we lived in a world where actually people didn't think that they were better than others, or better yet accepted others place in the world...

Then maybe even Harley riders wouldn't be such toffee noses...

**McJim** · 9th February 2008, 17:00

I wave to everyone on a bike....Nice guys & gals wave back...some of them are on sportbikes, some on cruisers, some on chook chasers and some on touring bikes...a few dickheads don't wave back....some of them are on sportbikes, some on cruisers, some on chook chasers and some on touring bikes......

So the upshot is it doesn't matter what kind of bike they ride. Anyway - is it a wave or a particle? you decide.

**Jantar** · 9th February 2008, 18:06

I feel very bad. Since I've been back on the bike this week I haven't waved to a a single rider. Its not that I don't want to wave, its simply that I can't lift my left hand off the handlebars.

So my apologies to all those riders I passed today. I wasn't being deliberately rude.

**Biggles2000** · 9th February 2008, 18:12

I also wave to every body on a bike.... I would say that the sports bikes and trail bikes are the worst for waving back, but what the hell they are probably thinking "say what, did that hog wave to me...... must be a overseas tourist" and by this stage i'm alredy gone.

**Trudes** · 9th February 2008, 18:18

I feel bad too, it seems the more I ride, the less I can be arsed waving. I wave when I can be bothered, don't wave when I can't or too busy holding on!!

**yod** · 9th February 2008, 18:20

Originally Posted by Biggles2000

.... I would say that the sports bikes and trail bikes are the worst for waving back

i'd say the complete opposite

it would seem that riders are less likely to wave at other riders if they are on a different flavour of machine

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 9th February 2008, 18:49

Originally Posted by Jantar

I feel very bad. Since I've been back on the bike this week I haven't waved to a a single rider. Its not that I don't want to wave, its simply that I can't lift my left hand off the handlebars.

So my apologies to all those riders I passed today. I wasn't being deliberately rude.

Hope you heal fast... just take it easy man...

Originally Posted by Biggles2000

I also wave to every body on a bike.... I would say that the sports bikes and trail bikes are the worst for waving back, but what the hell they are probably thinking "say what, did that hog wave to me...... must be a overseas tourist" and by this stage i'm alredy gone.

Originally Posted by yod

i'd say the complete opposite

it would seem that riders are less likely to wave at other riders if they are on a different flavour of machine

I would say its pretty even across the board... and is up to the rider whether he/or she waves back... theres not alot you can do if they don't don't take it personally...

The odd occasion I haven't waved is because I am halfway through a fastish cornering manouver and need all hands on the handle bars... (whether I get a quick nod is a different story)

**Blue Velvet** · 9th February 2008, 19:54

I wasn't waving, I was drowning.

**Littlewheels** · 9th February 2008, 21:03

perhaps they are trying to do too many things at once (GN250 riders), my question is do you nod upwards (slightly more cheeky) or downwards ( I doff my cap to you style?)

**Ixion** · 9th February 2008, 21:24

IME touriers are the best about waving, crusiers (Harleys especially, sorry) the worst. But riders of every description wave back, and riders of every description don't.

Incidentally, I can recall the time when the wave was not just a courtesy thing, but a real means of communication. Back when the roads were bad (you sprotsbikers who complaina bout them nowdays have no idea), the wave from on oncoming biker indicated that the road was OK ahead. (or, as OK as roads ever were then).

If not , he'd signal , either bad surface (same as now) , or , hand out front shoving , stop, it's impassable, or slow down (same as now), it's passable , but you'll need to take it real slow. Or, point to the road side ahead, stop, need to communicate something too complex for a signal.

Another one was pat the fuel tank , then side to side arm movement above it, meant "No petrol ahead".

Oddly enough I don't remember a signal for cops back then, I suppose cos there weren't many.

**Jantar** · 9th February 2008, 22:02

Originally Posted by Ixion

...Oddly enough I don't remember a signal for cops back then, I suppose cos there weren't many.

Maybe you remember that cops back then had to follow you to get an estimate of your speed off their own speedo, so cops ahead weren't an issue. Those cops who did have radar had that big dish that sat on to top of their boot, and couldn't chase even if they wanted to.

**R1madness** · 10th February 2008, 07:13

simce i get to ride a lot of different brands and styles i have noticed an interesting trend.
Wave, nod, flash, whatever - do it early and let the oncomming rider have a chance to recognise it as a greeting. Most will return the wave no matter what i am riding or what they are riding or what i am riding for that matter.

Took a HD out on Tuesday gave and got pleanty of responces. Took a BMW on wed gave none, got one or 2. Big jap multi on thurs gave and got pleanty in return. So it seems to be a bit of a "i will if you will" thing.

I get as many waves from HD riders when i am on a Jap multi as when i am on a HD. So its not a snob thing. If they dont wave to you it would not matter what you are riding they still wont wave. Must be too staunch. (club member or too scared to take one hand off the bars).