The wave

[Grey Thumper]

I don't wave to scooters out of concern for their riders. I'm not sure they have the skill to drop a hand and still maintain control of their vehicle.

I know it's a joke, but you do have a point. I've ridden a few scooters and I've found the experience a bit terrifying (mostly because there's no tank to grab with your knees). I can even ride a motorcycle no handed (for extremely short periods of time) because you're so connected to the bike (through your legs). That would be impossible on a scooter.

[Hanson]

I don't wave to scooters out of concern for their riders. I'm not sure they have the skill to drop a hand and still maintain control of their vehicle.

Thanks for the smiles.


One day I think I will purchase a massive H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic, dress up like a nasty pirate, and then wave enthusiastically at every scooter I pass just to see their reaction.

Seriously, scooters have two weals and a motor. Respect.

[JackoftheGreen]

Joking aside...

I have respect for scooter riders. They're doing something that's ecologically sound and financially responsible. I absolutely can't fault an individual for moving to a mode of transportation that's three times more fuel efficient than the average econobox, takes up a ridiculously small amount of space, requires nothing more grandiose than a shed to store and would be a breeze to work on if anything broke. Kudos to those people. I'll bet those tyres run $40.00 apiece.

But...

They're just not doing what I'm doing out there on two wheels, which is what 'the wave' represents to me.

I've never seen a guy on a scooter tucked low under his windshield and leaned into the wind while crossing 80 miles of arid desert. I've never seen a scooter parked at a rest stop 100 miles from anywhere with a pound of bug guts on the headlight. Hell, I've almost never seen a scooter even on the freeway. I see scooters in town, almost exclusively, being ridden by men in suits and patent leather or women in dresses and sandals. Dresses crissakes! These people aren't motorcycle enthusiasts, they're the kings and queens of the hypermiling set.

Try and get one of those guys to bring their scooter with you to Deadhorse, Richard. (-:

[Hanson]

Ed Otto rode a Honda Helix scooter to a 22nd place finish in the 1995 Iron Butt Rally.

It is true that most scooters will never leave their urban biome, but the more I have learned about motorcycling the more I have become accepting of people who ride motorcycles for an extraordinarily broad range of personal reasons. I don't care that much for cruisers, American iron or metric, but cruiser riders love their bikes. I think the same is likely true for those on scooters and even people on those three legged monstrosities from the frozen north. I am just happy to have wind in my face. Perhaps this will change in a few years, but I hope not.

Just think about it... 9,361 miles in 11 days on a 13.2 hp, 250cc scooter.

I can only dream of becoming as accomplished a rider as Ed Otto.

Deadhorse? Check out Trackpete's ride report rode a Genuine Rattler 110 scooter 16k miles from Washington DC to Deadhorse AK and back.

Safe Travels,
Richard

p.s. I am not trying to say anything bad about you Jack, I am just trying to understand. I can be obtuse at times and I certainly have no pretensions of being much of a motorcyclist.

[JackoftheGreen]

Obviously there are going to be exceptions to every rule, and I'm sure examples abound. If someone started a thread about cruisers not being any good at flat tracking, someone would immediately post a link to some guy that rode a Goldwing and placed the #20th fastest lap at Laguna Seca. For every 100 people who rode an adventure bike to the top of some remote craggy mountain top in Belize, one guy did it on a Ninja 250. And when I was motorcycle shopping a few years ago, there was a guy on our local classifieds selling an early 90's Zuke Intruder 1400 with 1/4 mile slips from the local drag strip in the mid 7s. It was British racing green.

It's certainly not my intention to come across as elitist. I ride in a helmet that was less than $30, a jacket that was less than $70 and boots that were somewhere in between. I'm positive I could find dozens of people who's helmet, jacket, boots, Kevlar pants and gloves combined are worth more than my entire bike. I mean that in the literal definition of literally. I'm the last person who should be excluding others.

And I don't. I wave at every other motorcyclist I pass on the road, whether they're on a Rebel 250, a Ninja 650, a custom bobber, some totally outrageous chopper or a great big BMW adventure bike. EVERY motorcyclist (again, as long as I can't see their knees, ankles or toes).

But scooters aren't motorcycles and scooterists aren't motorcyclists. Any more than bicyclers are joggers or skateboarders are skiers or bus drivers are train engineers.

[Hanson]

I have a significant investment in riding gear and when it gets cold I plan to spend more for electrics and winter gloves. I hope that does not make me an elitist. It is my intention to moto-commute without regard to the weather.

I like what Ted Simon said in an interview for the documentary Why We Ride, but this is not a perfect quote, "I am neither brave or strong", but Ted was determined.

I wish I had more time to ride, a lot more time. I want to be on the road. I envy those who can just pack up and go, free from the fetters of responsibility, and I admire those determined spirits who do exactly that on any bit of Spartan equipment they just happen to own. What makes an adventure rider? They ride.

Jack, you are clearly not an elitist. Instead, you are one of the most welcoming people on this forum and I thank you for that. Some day we will pass in the wind and I will wave.

Safe Travels,
Richard

[Grey Thumper]

But...

They're just not doing what I'm doing out there on two wheels, which is what 'the wave' represents to me.

I've never seen a guy on a scooter tucked low under his windshield and leaned into the wind while crossing 80 miles of arid desert. I've never seen a scooter parked at a rest stop 100 miles from anywhere with a pound of bug guts on the headlight. Hell, I've almost never seen a scooter even on the freeway. I see scooters in town, almost exclusively, being ridden by men in suits and patent leather or women in dresses and sandals. Dresses crissakes! These people aren't motorcycle enthusiasts, they're the kings and queens of the hypermiling set.

Come to think of it, do scooter riders wave at each other? Inquiring minds want to know

I don't mind waving at scooter riders, it's just that where I'm from, there are so many of them on the road, and like Jack, I assume the vast majority of them aren't enthusiasts, but commuters. Sometimes, if get some indication that the scooter rider is an enthusiast or riding for recreation (wearing ATGATT, riding a nice vintage scooter, riding in a group, riding in the middle of nowhere, riding in poor weather, etc.), I'll give a wave, what the heck. I know loads of people with both a scooter and a large motorcycle; different tools for different tasks after all.

[jstark47]

Mrs. Stark and I spent the afternoon riding yesterday, lots of bikes were out, and I was waving to everyone. Including two scooters. You know what? With a closing speed of 100 mph or more on a typical two-lane road, I can't really tell they're scooters from the front until I'm right on top of them. Moral of the story? If it's got two wheels and a motor (or is closely related, trike, hack, Spyder, etc)......... wave to it.

[zombiekatzu]

Well I found it very useful that a helmet tap indicates a speed trap ahead. I had been wondering about that.

But after reading through this thread, I've got my own opinion, and a question.

I wave to every bike, trike, and scooter I see. minus busy driving conditions (gear change, etc), course I also wave at a few of the classic convertibles around town, pretty girls, and kids that wave (but not the same wave). I think I may steal the page of not waving to those riders with exposed knees, ankles, or toes.

Is there a way to wave to a motorcyclist traveling in same direction?

[dr_bar]

Thumbs up as you pass the rider...