Waving Experiment
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas, NV
Yes, top of head tap means cop up ahead.
I wave at anyone on my bike. I just got back on a bike after 20 years. So I have a question I'm hoping someone can take the time to answer. The other day a few riders tapped on the top of their helmets as I went in the other direction. I assumed that meant their may be a cop up ahead and a few minutes later I ran across one. I just want to get some confirmation this is what it meant. Thanks for the help.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 4
From: Province of Ontario
When I am riding I wave to anyone on two wheels. I wave at bicylce riders as well. I drive a para transit bus as a volunteer and I have noticed that bus drivers, especially school bus drivers (the big yellow ones) wave a lot to one another - except of course, those that own and ride Harleys - just kidding! Not even the doldrums of winter and we have a wave thread - priceless!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
I ride my bicycle in the Westlake Village,TO, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Calabasas, Malibu area all the time and do get waves sometimes from other cyclists. I get far less waves when I am riding my motorcycle. I will say however I am very pleased and proud to say that when riding my bicycle on the canyon roads by far the most considerate vehicle operators that I have encountered are on motorcycles, they give me room and usually don't gun their engines or honk when passing, Bravo and Thanks to all of you that have given cyclists room on the road as when I am pedaling the C-Dale I am usually at about 180 Heart Rate!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,886
Likes: 3
I went for a bicycle ride today and I was bored (the battery in my mp3 player being dead didn't help) so I decided to give the low 2 finger wave to everybody I saw on 2 wheels. Yes, I am an avid cyclist and ride 2,000 to 5,000 miles per year. And you think a stock harley seat can get uncomfortable...
anywho...
I saw a bunch of kids on bmx bicycles, not one wave returned. Didn't expect any really. I dont think any of them even noticed.
About 12 older people on bicycles, not one wave returned.
I stopped counting motorcycles at 20 (but kept waving) only one wave returned.
That one was a middle aged man on a
. He wobbled pretty bad when he waved back. I thought he was gonna crash. Was probably the fist wave he's gotten on that thing and wasn't going to pass up the chance to wave back. 
None of the cyclists seemed to know what I was doing. I did get some "strange" looks from some of the motorcyclists tho. A few head shakes like they couldn't believe that I was actually doing that.
Have any of you ever waved at a cyclist? Or had a cyclist wave at you? That could've been me.
Yes I know I just started another waving thread.
anywho...
I saw a bunch of kids on bmx bicycles, not one wave returned. Didn't expect any really. I dont think any of them even noticed.
About 12 older people on bicycles, not one wave returned.
I stopped counting motorcycles at 20 (but kept waving) only one wave returned.
That one was a middle aged man on a
. He wobbled pretty bad when he waved back. I thought he was gonna crash. Was probably the fist wave he's gotten on that thing and wasn't going to pass up the chance to wave back. None of the cyclists seemed to know what I was doing. I did get some "strange" looks from some of the motorcyclists tho. A few head shakes like they couldn't believe that I was actually doing that.
Have any of you ever waved at a cyclist? Or had a cyclist wave at you? That could've been me.
Yes I know I just started another waving thread.
Long distance bicyclists (who often call themselves 'cyclotourists') tend to be loners (it's tough finding people who will subject themselves to that kind of misery). Their motivations, though they too travel on two wheels, are generally totally different than those of motorcyclists. Frankly, while I'm not wildly gregarious, while traveling on a bicycle I always enjoyed talking to motorcyclists much more than talking to cyclotourists....bikers were always far more varied in their perspectives, friendlier, and just less 'full of themselves'.
That being said...I make an effort to wave at every damn vehicle on two wheels....scooters, bicycles...whatever....and it always makes me feel good when I get a wave (and especially a grin) from some cyclist struggling up a big pass on bicycle...because I've been there.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
From: Boston, PR of MA
A friend of mine waves at cows because he thinks it's good Karma. But he lives in Vermont: I don't see many cows in Boston.
If I see a hot girl on a scooter, I wave. They usually wave back because I'm old enough to be their father and thus, no threat.
I always wave at this guy, as I think this rig is all kinds of awesome. He lives down the street.
When I'm in NH and see some accountant on the way to work in his new leather jacket and store-bought chopper, I blow them kisses. Their heads explode.
Harley riders do not wave to me, because I wear a hi-viz jacket and white full-face helmet. When I stop, the Roadster is politely ignored by "Big" Harley riders, but the sport bike kids are all over it. Go figure.
BMW riders do wave to me, because since I'm wearing a hi-viz jacket, they think I'm one of them. When they see it's a Roadster, their heads explode.
Many V-Strom riders wave to Harleys, as Harleys also have V-twins, and even if they are not DOHC four valve water cooled fuel injected twins, they like twins.
I always wave to kids in cars or on the street.
If I see a hot girl on a scooter, I wave. They usually wave back because I'm old enough to be their father and thus, no threat.
I always wave at this guy, as I think this rig is all kinds of awesome. He lives down the street.
When I'm in NH and see some accountant on the way to work in his new leather jacket and store-bought chopper, I blow them kisses. Their heads explode.
Harley riders do not wave to me, because I wear a hi-viz jacket and white full-face helmet. When I stop, the Roadster is politely ignored by "Big" Harley riders, but the sport bike kids are all over it. Go figure.
BMW riders do wave to me, because since I'm wearing a hi-viz jacket, they think I'm one of them. When they see it's a Roadster, their heads explode.
Many V-Strom riders wave to Harleys, as Harleys also have V-twins, and even if they are not DOHC four valve water cooled fuel injected twins, they like twins.
I always wave to kids in cars or on the street.
Last edited by Garandman; May 24, 2011 at 11:05 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: DFW
I wave at anyone on my bike. I just got back on a bike after 20 years. So I have a question I'm hoping someone can take the time to answer. The other day a few riders tapped on the top of their helmets as I went in the other direction. I assumed that meant their may be a cop up ahead and a few minutes later I ran across one. I just want to get some confirmation this is what it meant. Thanks for the help.
Waving? Well, I am conflicted. I don't want to wave at scooters but I figure we are all sharing the danger of riding on two wheels (and a scooter rider has a greater chance of being in the AMA lobby than me) so I return the wave.
But, I also am known to pass a herd of cows and "MOOOOOOOO!" at the top of my lungs. Yes, I am a weirdo.
-Sin
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,886
Likes: 3
A friend of mine waves at cows because he thinks it's good Karma. But he lives in Vermont: I don't see many cows in Boston.
If I see a hot girl on a scooter, I wave. They usually wave back because I'm old enough to be their father and thus, no threat.
I always wave at this guy, as I think this rig is all kinds of awesome. He lives down the street.
When I'm in NH and see some accountant on the way to work in his new leather jacket and store-bought chopper, I blow them kisses. Their heads explode.
Harley riders do not wave to me, because I wear a hi-viz jacket and white full-face helmet. When I stop, the Roadster is politely ignored by "Big" Harley riders, but the sport bike kids are all over it. Go figure.
BMW riders do wave to me, because since I'm wearing a hi-viz jacket, they think I'm one of them. When they see it's a Roadster, their heads explode.
Many V-Strom riders wave to Harleys, as Harleys also have V-twins, and even if they are not DOHC four valve water cooled fuel injected twins, they like twins.
I always wave to kids in cars or on the street.
If I see a hot girl on a scooter, I wave. They usually wave back because I'm old enough to be their father and thus, no threat.
I always wave at this guy, as I think this rig is all kinds of awesome. He lives down the street.
When I'm in NH and see some accountant on the way to work in his new leather jacket and store-bought chopper, I blow them kisses. Their heads explode.
Harley riders do not wave to me, because I wear a hi-viz jacket and white full-face helmet. When I stop, the Roadster is politely ignored by "Big" Harley riders, but the sport bike kids are all over it. Go figure.
BMW riders do wave to me, because since I'm wearing a hi-viz jacket, they think I'm one of them. When they see it's a Roadster, their heads explode.
Many V-Strom riders wave to Harleys, as Harleys also have V-twins, and even if they are not DOHC four valve water cooled fuel injected twins, they like twins.
I always wave to kids in cars or on the street.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill, KS
Little bit off topic but since there are cyclists in here I'd like to hear an opinion on this.
Driving in the truck or riding the SG (doesnt matter, they still do the same thing) on 2 lane country roads or back roads and I come up on a group riding in the same direction. They seem to love the 2 lane narrow roads for some reason. First pack I get behind goes single file, hugging the right line in which I give them MORE than enough room (kind of a Thanks for moving over gesture).
Next pack I come up on, 3 of them slow out of the pack and immediatly go 3 wide in the lane! Mind you, this is a country road with double yellow "No passing" lines. One of the guys is actually riding that yellow line, WHY? Is it so I can pass by him so close my mirror almost hits him? I don't get it. This has happened probably 10 times this riding season alone. Its almost as if they are begging someone to hit them or retaliate in some way or another.
Sorry for the off topic rant, just wondered if there was a legit reason.
Driving in the truck or riding the SG (doesnt matter, they still do the same thing) on 2 lane country roads or back roads and I come up on a group riding in the same direction. They seem to love the 2 lane narrow roads for some reason. First pack I get behind goes single file, hugging the right line in which I give them MORE than enough room (kind of a Thanks for moving over gesture).
Next pack I come up on, 3 of them slow out of the pack and immediatly go 3 wide in the lane! Mind you, this is a country road with double yellow "No passing" lines. One of the guys is actually riding that yellow line, WHY? Is it so I can pass by him so close my mirror almost hits him? I don't get it. This has happened probably 10 times this riding season alone. Its almost as if they are begging someone to hit them or retaliate in some way or another.
Sorry for the off topic rant, just wondered if there was a legit reason.