Here in the South, they mostly wave, but I have to say sometimes on the 4 lane I don't always catch them till it's too late for me to wave. Could be the same with them...just not seeing 'cause of traffic, etc.

may sound corny........but if they got their "knees in the breeze" i figure they are dodging the same cages and dealing with the same stuff i am.  i wave as kind of my own "be safe brother" blessing of sorts.

i don't think any of us want to see someone take a lick at an intersection from a teen blonde with a cell phone addiction or high side one in a turn.....even a lowly squid.  

if they wave back that's fine......if not......i still am wishing them a safe ride.....all of them.

Speaking of waving in cars, around here, people in Jeep Wranglers often wave at each other.  I have a Liberty now, and don't get the waves, but always did in either of my Wranglers.  Is that local or has anyone else experienced that?

Starlifter wrote on 06/18/12 at 20:12:19:


Just wait a while and the no helmet riders will diminish via the natural selection process.    However, you're right about your govenator, but that's another topic...

Now hang on a minute folks!!!! Let's not turn this into a nasty by dragging the helmet/no helmet discussion into the thread. I don't question any ones decision to wear or not( I do sometimes and don't sometimes) but I'm a firm believer it's no ones business but the individual rider. To snub another rider because they don't have a helmet on is the same as snubbing a rider because they are on a Beemer/sportbike/Harley/bobber....just pick one.

Just for the record...I started fighting for bikers rights way back in 1978 and was one of the early members of ABATE of Indiana. That was also when we started working for Rider Education laws and the MSF was developing their courses.

Back to normal programming   I wave at all riders when I can. Sometimes in traffic/at shift points etc I at least nod.

About a year ago...

I waved at a dude on a MX bike in my buddies neighbourhood... As he went by he waved back, and I noticed he wasn't wearing... anything...
When me and my buddy pulled up at the stop sign, my buddy flipped up his faceshield and said,...
"Was that guy,....???"....
I said,.. "yes,.. I think so"...
"Did you wave?"...
"Yes,... I did"...
"Did he wave back?"...
"Uh,..huh"...
"Okay,.... just checkin'"...
...

Sometimes I'll wave back, usually I don't. Depends on my mood, how cute the girl on the pillion is (the other bike's pillion, I don't carry passengers on a Savage), whether or not I like the bike they are on... Heck, even the bacon bits (motorcycle cops) wave here.

Over done to the point of nauseating.

Was the same way with Jeep. I had a CJ5, got lots of waves from other CJ owners but completely ignored by the drivers of less capable TJ , YJ and XJ rigs. Until they started building their rigs, suddenly I was cool enough to wave at... I guess.

Wave, don't wave, whatever.

With my current set ups, waving is inherently dangerous... high bars on one bike, track bars on the other. Got better things to worry about (like getting up on the curb when Ditzarella in her Plastang yammering on her cell phone decides to use me for target practice)...

I used to be all about waving, now i can take it or leave it. It used to be about respect for fellow riders, now its about being cool. The guys I see commuting everyday with a backpack and safety gear on I'll wave back at out of respect. The guys who dress up like pirates to take their Harleys out on weekends I don't make a point to wave to. It all depends on my mood. And big custom choppers, spending $50k on a garage queen does not make you my friend. I have definitely had Harley guys withdrawl the wave once they got close enough to see that one of my cylinders fell off. I have a cafed Honda Goldwing with clip-ons too. I get more sport bike waves and much less Harley waves on that.
Idiots on Hybusas that just want the attention I ignore.

The wave differs too. I just give a little flick off the end on my bars Weekenders will usually throw their whole arm down like they're pulling a gun on you.

I have an e30 BMW beater and have gotten a wave or nod from other e30 owners.