Interesting story, made me think of my dad.
Why We Wave
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 941
Likes: 9
From: Denver, CO
I always wave. Exhuberantly. Arm held high in the air...not some cool two fingers fingering the asphault stuff (though I appreciate when they at least finger the ground at me). I wave at everyone on less than 4 wheels, even bicycles. I even wave when I'm in my car.
If I don't wave, it's because something else more immediate required my attention. And if someone doesn't wave back, I can usually tell if it's a snooty snub or because there was something more important requiring their attention and hands.
I really just don't understand the guys who completely ignore the wave. It's one thing if you live in a large area with lots of bikes passing every day, but otherwise, what kind of person just wouldn't wave? For most, in a day of riding, you might need to wave 20-30 times...even at 2 seconds per wave, that's less than a minute of effort for a day. That's low effort for high profits in positivity and joy. Spread the love.
If I don't wave, it's because something else more immediate required my attention. And if someone doesn't wave back, I can usually tell if it's a snooty snub or because there was something more important requiring their attention and hands.
I really just don't understand the guys who completely ignore the wave. It's one thing if you live in a large area with lots of bikes passing every day, but otherwise, what kind of person just wouldn't wave? For most, in a day of riding, you might need to wave 20-30 times...even at 2 seconds per wave, that's less than a minute of effort for a day. That's low effort for high profits in positivity and joy. Spread the love.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 12
From: Orlando
I'm afraid to wave sometimes because some of these scooters look more and more like motorcycles.
I don't want to waste a wave to some dork on a scooter.
I'll never get that wave back man.
Never get it back...
I don't want to waste a wave to some dork on a scooter.
I'll never get that wave back man.
Never get it back...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 2,055
From: Paradise (almost, Florida )
Nice job to the O.P.
Love the story but .....I'm not a breed apart. I'm no better than a homeless man. I'm a man. I love people and would stop always if I saw someone in trouble. But I don't wave.
I used to. It just became too much. Too many bikes all day long as I travel. Many times I'm highway riding and I just don't feel comfortable focusing on the other side of the highway and taking my other hand off the stick to wave 50 times during the day.
I'm not bad. I'm not a breed apart. I just don't generally wave. Slow roads, slow passings you'll probably get a wave. If a spouse on the back of some guys bike waves I'll wave back so she don't feel bad. But generally speaking I'd rather just keep it moving,
Love the story but .....I'm not a breed apart. I'm no better than a homeless man. I'm a man. I love people and would stop always if I saw someone in trouble. But I don't wave.
I used to. It just became too much. Too many bikes all day long as I travel. Many times I'm highway riding and I just don't feel comfortable focusing on the other side of the highway and taking my other hand off the stick to wave 50 times during the day.
I'm not bad. I'm not a breed apart. I just don't generally wave. Slow roads, slow passings you'll probably get a wave. If a spouse on the back of some guys bike waves I'll wave back so she don't feel bad. But generally speaking I'd rather just keep it moving,
I don't "wave", I quit about 5 years ago, just got to be a pain. Boaters do it, Jeep owners do it, Corvette owners do it. I don't.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 189
From: Louisiana
I used to own a Saab Sonett III. Sonett owners also wave at one another. There were so few Sonetts that I might wave at another one maybe once or twice a year.
Since then, riding bikes, I get to wave much more frequently. Guess its just all that pent up wave energy that I didn't get to use while driving the Sonett.
Since then, riding bikes, I get to wave much more frequently. Guess its just all that pent up wave energy that I didn't get to use while driving the Sonett.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,692
Likes: 7,259
From: Syracuse,NY
I always wave, but I wish it would go away. At first I thought it was kind of cool, but now I find it annoying. If I wave first and they don't I'm thinking "what a dick". If they wave and I don't, I know they're thinking "what a dick".
Yeah, I'm a grouch. Or a dick.
Yeah, I'm a grouch. Or a dick.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 941
Likes: 9
From: Denver, CO
Well said. I don't have time to read this entire wave thread, but in case no one else has given the explanation for the "wave",,,,it's not a wave at all........it's supposed to be your 2 fingers pointed to the ground in essence saying,, "keep your 2 wheels down" in other words be safe !
I don't "wave", I quit about 5 years ago, just got to be a pain. Boaters do it, Jeep owners do it, Corvette owners do it. I don't.
I don't "wave", I quit about 5 years ago, just got to be a pain. Boaters do it, Jeep owners do it, Corvette owners do it. I don't.
I think most know the explanation of the badass, cool, fingering the ground salute, but that's not THE "wave." In fact, the only guys that ever finger the ground to me are the pirate looking/HOG type of harley riders.
I wave at everything on two or three wheels and the only people who ever finger the ground at me are on Harleys, usually with no helmet, wearing assless chaps (at least, I'm pretty sure they are the assless version and not just chaps).
For the most part, everyone else waves like a normal human being, though some will hold up a peace sign, some give the horns, some wave like the Queen of England, and others will even give the 1 finger salute...though they are usually in cages and I always gratuitously return their salute...sometimes even with both hands off the bars.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 2,055
From: Paradise (almost, Florida )
I think most know the explanation of the badass, cool, fingering the ground salute, but that's not THE "wave." In fact, the only guys that ever finger the ground to me are the pirate looking/HOG type of harley riders.
I wave at everything on two or three wheels and the only people who ever finger the ground at me are on Harleys, usually with no helmet, wearing assless chaps (at least, I'm pretty sure they are the assless version and not just chaps).
For the most part, everyone else waves like a normal human being, though some will hold up a peace sign, some give the horns, some wave like the Queen of England, and others will even give the 1 finger salute...though they are usually in cages and I always gratuitously return their salute...sometimes even with both hands off the bars.
I wave at everything on two or three wheels and the only people who ever finger the ground at me are on Harleys, usually with no helmet, wearing assless chaps (at least, I'm pretty sure they are the assless version and not just chaps).
For the most part, everyone else waves like a normal human being, though some will hold up a peace sign, some give the horns, some wave like the Queen of England, and others will even give the 1 finger salute...though they are usually in cages and I always gratuitously return their salute...sometimes even with both hands off the bars.
I think you're way off if you think MOST riders know the 2 fingers down started "the wave". Most also don't know what it means when a rider pats the top of his helmet. Or how the Fatboy came to be named and so on...Todays Harley riders are much different than they were 20 years ago.. They are indeed the pirate looking, HOG members.
If you want to wave, go for it. But if I don't wave back, no need to be offended, I'm not offended if you waved at me.