Random thought on "Waving"...
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 30
From: Eastern Tennessee
I am glad to acknowledge someone who waits to pull out, instead of hammering the gas to advance ahead of me at an intersection. As mad as I get when cut off, I keep it to myself. An old friend who thought he was a tough guy ended up with a broken eye orbit and brain bleed over road rage. Carrying a pistol all the time makes one a gentleman !!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 3,072
From: South of Boston, MA
I usually nod, I will also wave someone else thru an intersection & then go
Many times on the road I will slow down (if peeps behind are not too close) & wave someone out from a side street
Can't usually let Road Rage take over on a bike - we lose
I did once, dude was tailgating me, sped up, he came up on my *** again, so I took off & left him in the dust
Way down the road suddenly the same idiot is flying down the road towards me...start switching lanes to take off again
and the blue lights go on...I pull over, and he was quite upset with me
Luckily they read it off in Court just like it happened, Judge looks at me, let's hear it.
I said at what point did I know it was the Police & what did I do ?
I thought it was some idiot trying to run me off the road
Judge looked at the State Trooper Rep (not the trooper that pulled me over), who shrugged....dismissed
Many times on the road I will slow down (if peeps behind are not too close) & wave someone out from a side street
Can't usually let Road Rage take over on a bike - we lose
I did once, dude was tailgating me, sped up, he came up on my *** again, so I took off & left him in the dust
Way down the road suddenly the same idiot is flying down the road towards me...start switching lanes to take off again
and the blue lights go on...I pull over, and he was quite upset with me
Luckily they read it off in Court just like it happened, Judge looks at me, let's hear it.
I said at what point did I know it was the Police & what did I do ?
I thought it was some idiot trying to run me off the road
Judge looked at the State Trooper Rep (not the trooper that pulled me over), who shrugged....dismissed
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 8,744
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I have done so many times myself, the most recent being yesterday.
I was riding on a narrow country road. A gravel truck had stopped at an adjoining road about 100 yards in front of me. He had plenty of time to pull onto my road, but no doubt would have slowed my progress. Instead he waited until I passed so I gave him a wave to show my appreciation.
I was riding on a narrow country road. A gravel truck had stopped at an adjoining road about 100 yards in front of me. He had plenty of time to pull onto my road, but no doubt would have slowed my progress. Instead he waited until I passed so I gave him a wave to show my appreciation.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,086
Likes: 19,247
From: The Wasteland
For you guys that get put off when a rider doesnt wave at you, did you ever think that maybe that person just didnt notice you?
As we all know, theres a billion things going on around us and taking your eyes off the road to focus on another rider could be a big mistake.
Maybe that person is just enjoying his day and minding his own business. Maybe he is making a turn and cant take his hand off the bars. Or maybe he just doesnt give a ****.
As we all know, theres a billion things going on around us and taking your eyes off the road to focus on another rider could be a big mistake.
Maybe that person is just enjoying his day and minding his own business. Maybe he is making a turn and cant take his hand off the bars. Or maybe he just doesnt give a ****.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 382
Likes: 217
From: Wisconsin
I get annoyed by people at Stop signs who try to let others go out of courtesy. If I am on the right I will go. If I get there first, I will go. If I have the right of way, I will go. If you are in the right of way, you should go. People who try to wave on someone who does not have the right of way may cause issues elsewhere and might cause an accident by others not knowing what is going on. If everyone just followed the simple rules of the road we would all get there about the same damned time.
I feel like I am in the minority on this one. Am I just a jack ***?
I feel like I am in the minority on this one. Am I just a jack ***?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2,753
From: England
I'll acknowledge anyone who shows me courtesy. Usually just stick my hand out if I'm passing someone who has pulled over to let me go. Always give cars I'm overtaking a wide berth as well and make sure I'm well over the centre line before I accelerate. I hate riders who pass far too close and strafe cars (or other bikes) when overtaking. Apart from the fact it's dangerous and really poor road craft, drivers hate it, which makes them hate bikes.
I had some ***** on a GS boxer overtake me last week. It was a clear open road, I was doing about 75/80 mph and he came past without crossing the centre line and near as damn it clipped my handlebars. He was just a dick waver and it wasn't as if he had much to wave because at the next twistie section he hadn't a clue and just got in my way.
One thing we do have in the UK - don't know if it's the same stateside - is elderly drivers who hate having bikes behind them, possibly because the aforementioned behaviour, and they will simply pull over and stop, usually without indicating, and a wizened claw will come out of the window and wave you by with a peevish gesture. And always, always without fail, they will pull over on a blind bend or the brow of a hill and just sit there, expecting you to pass playing Russian roulette with incoming traffic.
I had some ***** on a GS boxer overtake me last week. It was a clear open road, I was doing about 75/80 mph and he came past without crossing the centre line and near as damn it clipped my handlebars. He was just a dick waver and it wasn't as if he had much to wave because at the next twistie section he hadn't a clue and just got in my way.
One thing we do have in the UK - don't know if it's the same stateside - is elderly drivers who hate having bikes behind them, possibly because the aforementioned behaviour, and they will simply pull over and stop, usually without indicating, and a wizened claw will come out of the window and wave you by with a peevish gesture. And always, always without fail, they will pull over on a blind bend or the brow of a hill and just sit there, expecting you to pass playing Russian roulette with incoming traffic.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,186
Likes: 17,837
From: In a van down by the river
If I've got to control the clutch anyone who let's me in will get a the downward head nod, everyone else get's a wave and a thanks. I can't do either and I pull in front of the person who let's me in? I do a double blink on the hazards.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,737
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
I appreciate the thought, but don't wave me by. Just take your turn, because there's someone in your blind spot behind you in the next lane that isn't stopping and you're setting me up to get hit.
Yesterday, the car in front of me let somebody out of a restaurant by the stoplight. They wanted to cross two lanes to turn left. Our light turned green, and me and twelve cars behind me had to sit there while they blocked the two lanes waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
Yesterday, the car in front of me let somebody out of a restaurant by the stoplight. They wanted to cross two lanes to turn left. Our light turned green, and me and twelve cars behind me had to sit there while they blocked the two lanes waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,915
Likes: 5,929
From: NorCal
I too will give courtesy when courtesy is given. I feel some (ok a lot of) bikers have given all of us that ride a bad name, or conception that we're all law breaking maniacs that scare the crap out of old ladies and kids as we blast by them at high rate of speed with our loud pipes.
So yes, I will nod, or give a wave if someone is considerate enough to let me go first or pull over on a winding back road. In the latter case, I'll sometimes give a short double tap on the horn. Same as I do when driving my truck and someone is holding up traffic and they pull over.
Now sometimes in close quarters I'll even smile and mouth the words "Thank You". But usually they're good looking women that are smiling at me. LOL that's a no brainer. Also, if I'm stuck at a light and the cage next to me has small kids that are all wide eyed and mouths open with their faces pressed against the window, I'll smile and wave. And not rev the motor and flip them the finger! I know, it's not what most badass bikers are striving for.... Now lets all sing "We are the world..."
So yes, I will nod, or give a wave if someone is considerate enough to let me go first or pull over on a winding back road. In the latter case, I'll sometimes give a short double tap on the horn. Same as I do when driving my truck and someone is holding up traffic and they pull over.
Now sometimes in close quarters I'll even smile and mouth the words "Thank You". But usually they're good looking women that are smiling at me. LOL that's a no brainer. Also, if I'm stuck at a light and the cage next to me has small kids that are all wide eyed and mouths open with their faces pressed against the window, I'll smile and wave. And not rev the motor and flip them the finger! I know, it's not what most badass bikers are striving for.... Now lets all sing "We are the world..."
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,052
Likes: 5,159
From: Below the Gnat Line
I always acknowledge other drivers' courtesies (and lack thereof). I usually always wave when they've done something noteworthy. The message of that wave depends on what they did. I relish the opportunity to extend my appreciation for a kindness received and I'm not shy about the opposite (although I should quash that as often as I can).