# Motorcyclists, do you wave? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737 "2003-06-18T17:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/21 "2003-06-19T12:42:25Z")
Sorry about the hijack y’all…but you wanna freak (some) folks out? Try starting a conversation in an elevator! Man what’s the deal. People act like I’m a …\ I guess it’s just the east/Tex good ol’ boy coming outta me. Hell I still open doors for womenfolk and say “Yes ma’am & sir, thankyou and please”. 🙂 Thanks for tolerating me. Gotta go to work now, y’all have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/22 "2003-06-19T13:00:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Sorry about the hijack y’all…but you wanna freak (some) folks out? Try starting a conversation in an elevator! Okay… [Elevator tricks](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=191899)! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/23 "2003-06-19T13:02:50Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve been riding most of my life, and it’s been my experience that Harley drivers only wave to other Harley drivers. I’ve waved to them, but I can only remember two or three ever waving back. Just so ya know, when we ride the Harley, my husband and I are equal opportunity wavers- sport bikes, Harleys, scooters- if it’s got two wheels, we wave. ::waves at Johnny:: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/24 "2003-06-19T13:06:37Z")
> [@](#): > > ::waves at Johnny:: ::waves back:: ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/25 "2003-06-19T13:34:20Z")
I wave. Most riders I encounter wave, although probably a majority of Harley riders won’t wave to anyone riding anything other than a Harley (I’m on a BMW, so that includes me). I live in NYC, do a lot of riding in the Catskills, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, all around the area. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/26 "2003-06-19T13:41:52Z")
My husband waves back, but I don’t think he ever initiates a wave. When he was still here in Florida, I rode with him a few times, and it seemed everyone waved. I haven’t ridden with him since he moved to Baltimore, so I don’t know how it goes there. He rides a Royal Star, but I dont know enough about bikes to know whether Harley riders ever wave at him or not. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/27 "2003-06-19T13:46:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > I’ve never had a cop wave back. > > Small children will often stare at my bike, so I’ll give them a wave and they’ll wave back. It seems to make them happy. I have had cops wave back, usually when they are passing me, but they sometimes do. I feel kinda stupid when I wave at them though for some reason but it’s just such a normal reaction. I also sometimes wave at kids in cars if they wave first. Re the Harley’s, I would say it’s 50/50 on those who wave and don’t. It seems to me that the ones that don’t are the ones who are wannabes and not guys who really like to ride. ---
**Author:** ![Aglet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Aglet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglet)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/28 "2003-06-19T14:42:23Z")
Riding through Connecticut, New York State, and surrounding areas, this is what I have noticed from the back of a Harley: Almost all Harley riders either wave or wave back or at least nod (if they are unable to wave). With very few exceptions, other bikers do not wave. I always wave to children and adults who notice us, whether they are in their yards or if we are pulled up next to them at a light. I also like the low-arm wave. ---
**Author:** ![Kakkerlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@Kakkerlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakkerlak)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/29 "2003-06-19T17:44:15Z")
I gotta chime in that one of the things about urban motorcycling that makes me grin is when little kids crane their necks around in the back seat of the minivan to get a look at your bike. I was one of those kids three decades ago. I had a great moment years ago when I strode in full riding armor into the local supermarket and a five-year-old tugged on his mother’s arm and asked in a stage whisper “Mommy ! Is that a _motorcycle man_?!” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/30 "2003-06-19T18:39:02Z")
When I started riding, early 80’s ('72 Honda 750), you gave the one arm salute (fist in air). That seemed to change into a wave. Then it was only the hardcore bikers that waved. Now it seems that the Harley riders that are still hardcore wave. But the noob-yuppie-just got the bike, only wave to other Harley dudes or not at all. And yes you can tell the difference. The noobs are all decked out, trying to look hardcore. The hardcores don’t need to tell anyone that they are. Goldwing riders wave to everyone:). I lived in NW Ohio and now live in NW Indiana. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/31 "2003-06-19T19:11:34Z")
OK, can I say first that I drive a 1984 Vintage Honda Aero 80 Scooter. ::pause for laughs and pointing:: ::pause more:: And today a Harley rider, fully decked out- WAVED AT ME. And he was damned cute, to boot. I was so happy that if I waved and waved. WOO! I felt so validated! (I hope he didn’t go home and hang his head in shame for having waved at a scooter, thinking it was a big bike until he got closer) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/32 "2003-06-19T19:37:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I had a great moment years ago when I strode in full riding armor into the local supermarket and a five-year-old tugged on his mother’s arm and asked in a stage whisper “Mommy ! Is that a _motorcycle man_?!” I was wearing a one-piece white-and-blue leather suit, complete with the interior armor and the boots. When I came home, a neighbour said to her kid, “Look! It’s a Power Ranger!” ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/33 "2003-06-19T21:42:34Z")
I started riding in Arizona, and pretty much everyone waved there. Then I moved to Tampa, FL, and again, mostly wavers. Now, in oh-so-cosmopolitan South Florida, almost no one waves back. I kept it up for a while, but eventually I started feeling silly when the waves weren’t returned, so I don’t do it much anymore, unless the other rider does it first. ---
**Author:** ![cajela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cajela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cajela)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/34 "2003-06-20T02:06:21Z")
In my experience, generally no waving in big cities (Sydney, Melbourne); waving in bad weather or very quiet times, but not while commuting in Canberra; and waving definitely on country roads. And Harley riders and non-Harley riders generally don’t wave at each other. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/35 "2003-06-20T03:45:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*When I came home, a neighbour said to her kid, “Look! It’s a Power Ranger!” \*\* hahahahh… A couple of days ago in my usual Joe Rocket armor gear, a girl about 12 in a convertible next to me screamed “gibberish gibberish MAD MAX gibberish”. (if only her older sister had the same feeling). I still felt pretty freaking cool at the moment:) I initiate a wave or head nod to every bike I see when I’m off the freeway and return the same. Out here, everyone on a bike waves and/or returns a wave except for two basic types. #1, the redneck harley rider. I don’t mean the the nice Roadkings or Electraglides, but the idiots with the dogdish or chrome nazi helmet riding a flat black sportster or old beat to shit panhead. The posers. #2, BMW riders. A lot of harley riders out here are just rednecks and can’t help themselves when they see somebody on a ricer with a fairing, but BMW folks are just plain snots. I live a block away from the BMW riders club headquaters here and rode in there last year when they were having a “rally” and was actually asked to leave because I had the audacity to park a Honda in their midst. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wave or return from a BMW. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/36 "2003-06-20T08:12:30Z")
If my hand (or attention) isn’t engaged otherwise, I wave at all two-wheelers. Back in Yurp, where scooters & mopeds abound, I used to wave at motorcycles exclusively. Here in SoCal, however, those few brave enough to take their chances in traffic sure merit a wave. I initiate quite gladly. With **Shayna** riding pillion, I assign her waving duty - only to wave myself anyway. We’ve even caught ourselves waving when in our car :smack: I haven’t compiled any stats on who doesn’t wave back - it seems equally distributed to me. However, I ride a sportstourer (Honda Interceptor 2002) that’s probably considered a boring tourer by the sportsbikers and a silly crotchrocket by the Harley riders - IOW, I’m equally detested 😃 In Denmark, a motorcycle officer told me why they hardly ever wave back: They do not wish to strengthen the prejudice that they’re somehow easier on motorcyclists than on cardrivers. (Of course they are, but that’s another story.) ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/37 "2003-06-20T11:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*I was wearing a one-piece white-and-blue leather suit, complete with the interior armor and the boots. When I came home, a neighbour said to her kid, “Look! It’s a Power Ranger!” \*\* I wear an [Aerostitch](http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store) suit most of the time when I ride and get this all the time. I’ve also been asked if I’m an astornaut, parachutist and a few other things that I can’t remember off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/38 "2003-06-20T14:20:09Z")
From a BMW rider’s perspective: [HD vs BMW](http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ride&Number=201397&page=3&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1) ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/39 "2003-06-21T11:58:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*I was wearing a one-piece white-and-blue leather suit, complete with the interior armor and the boots. When I came home, a neighbour said to her kid, “Look! It’s a Power Ranger!” \*\* That suit doesn’t come with a big TCB belt buckle or a cape does it? 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737/40 "2003-06-21T12:49:04Z")
What’s a TCB buckle? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-do-you-wave/182737.md?page=3)