My very first motorcycle ride as a brand new 40 year old rider I missed the first person that waved. It didn't register that he was waving at me and I was now part of the club. I felt a little bad about not returning the courtesy. After that moment I became a bit hyper vigilant about waving to anyone on two wheels. Motorcycles, bicycles, e-bikes.
After a few weeks of riding I figured out a few things. Most bicyclists look at us the same as a car, but the odd one will give a nod or a wave in two wheel comrade-ere. E-bikes around here anyhow tend to be ridden by people who have had DUI's and can't get insurance. There is even a work program that has these as part of the transportation solution. Most people on e-bikes do not wave or smile as they are not on ebikes for pleasure. I'm sure there are exceptions to this, and I'm sure every region has their own e-bike culture, I'm just commenting about what I observe around here.
So I've grown into the habit of not making eye contact or waving st bicyclists or e-bikes. It was quite strange today while turning left at an intersection that turning left in the opposite direction was a gentleman on an e-bike eager to give me a nod and a wave. His opportunity to turn left occurred just a tad before mine and I was surprised as his face on view turned to profile that his e-bike transformed into a Honda DN-01. So this begs the question, was I supposed to wave?
Wave if you want is the "rule" as I understand it.
I usually wave to other riders and frequently wave or nod to bicyclists in the countryside, in the urban environment I'm busy concentrating on the road and drivers all of whom I suspect are trying to run me down.
I wave to everyone, and so do others as well
However some BMW and Harley Davison riders will only wave if your on their own brand
On a group ride once, with a bunch of BMW riders coming towards us. We were on jap bikes, and they didn't wave back at the leading riders of our group. Guy in front of me stood up ramrod straight (not holding the bars) and snapped an arm straight out in German ww2 style..
Funny enough the BMW riders gestured back... I think it was 1/2 the peace with only one finger and they were holding their hands the wrong way
I try to wave to everyone- but find I am the initiator 99% of the time. Not going to lie- it gets tiresome and I am about to stop doing it.
Said it before when we have discussed it..I have become a "wave backer", perfectly willing to wave if you want to, but I have always taken it as an affront if I make the effort to acknowledge a fellow rider and for some reason they feel I'm not worthy of acknowledgment and blow me off by not waving back. If someone walks up to me on the street and says Hi, I say Hi back, I don't just ignore them. I expect the same courtesy while riding a motorcycle. So say hi to me (wave) and I will say hi back (wave). If you don't want to say hi, keep on walking (or riding as the case may be)
I was going to keep this as a surprise, but there will be a Wave Protocol seminar next Thursday at 3:30pm at the Eureka Springs rally. Considering a webinar for those unable to attend in person.
(btw, i'm joking)
Motorcyclists saluting each other with the peace sign (two-fingered V) started here in the 1960s during the flower power era. There were far fewer bikers and a lot less traffic. Motorcyclists always considered themselves part of a brotherhood. Which was great as motorcycles were not as reliable then. So stopping to help a brother at the side of the road was routine.
Fast forward half a century. Now there are lots of motorcyclists and horrible traffic with impatient and distracted drivers. I do not wave in those situations. I keep my hands on the bars and my eyes on the traffic.
When I ride on the back roads during on weekdays, the roads are quiet as there are few bikers and very little traffic except for locals in their pick-up trucks. I wave to fellow bikers, unless we are both hard over sweeping through a corner. Hands on the bars, eyes on the road. A quick nod will suffice.
The only time I find it tiresome is when I meet an oncoming cruiser club. That is usually on a weekend following a week of poor weather. I just have to get out there. I salute first couple of riders, and get back to the business at hand.
Lately I have noticed pick-up trucks flashing their headlamps at me. That use to be a warning of a police car in the vicinity, but I have yet to see one. So either my headlight need adjusting, or these are working bikers trapped in steel and glass wishing they were me.
(05-24-2017, 12:33 PM)Hondahawkrider_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I wave to everyone, and so do others as well
However some BMW and Harley Davison riders will only wave if your on their own brand
On a group ride once, with a bunch of BMW riders coming towards us. We were on jap bikes, and they didn't wave back at the leading riders of our group. Guy in front of me stood up ramrod straight (not holding the bars) and snapped an arm straight out in German ww2 style..
Funny enough the BMW riders gestured back... I think it was 1/2 the peace with only one finger and they were holding their hands the wrong way
Well, no hard feelings there. I have never seen or considered that - I think I would have laughed. Wow, that is strained.
I am glad nobody reciprocated by kamikaze'ing their ride into your pack.
(05-24-2017, 12:52 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Said it before when we have discussed it..I have become a "wave backer", perfectly willing to wave if you want to, but I have always taken it as an affront if I make the effort to acknowledge a fellow rider and for some reason they feel I'm not worthy of acknowledgment and blow me off by not waving back. If someone walks up to me on the street and says Hi, I say Hi back, I don't just ignore them. I expect the same courtesy while riding a motorcycle. So say hi to me (wave) and I will say hi back (wave). If you don't want to say hi, keep on walking (or riding as the case may be)
+1
I'm like "The Ferret"
Somebody once said they slightly raise their left eyebrow. That tickled me. Like Ferret I wave back. Mostly I cant even make out their brand of bike till they are gone. But I like to wave if easy to do.