The wave experiment

[isaac]

So I decided based on my less formal research that the general population's waving coefficient may drop significantly in absense of an initial stimulus - me.

I've been a big time waver since hopping on a bike for the first time in late May of last year. I really got off on it since the very first time I got to do it. I was part of something, almost like a secret society. It was awesome!

I'd say I do the motorcycle wave about 20 times a day, all initiated by myself. Most of the time I get a wave back, sometimes I don't. I'd say the ratio is about 3:1.

So yesterday out of curiosity I stopped waving. The results were shocking, yet somewhat expected nonetheless. I passed 12 bikers that day, and one waved. One. I was actually caught off guard and had to rush the return wave because this was bike #10, so I'd already become jaded by the issue.

This gives me cause to WTF. I mean, c'mon "Donut Holes", it's just a wave.

Anybody else done this to see what happens? How much do you wave?

[Skier]

Around campus, there's a lot of squids and they don't seem to wave back at all. Most of the time I try to make eye contact and an exaggerated nod so they can see my full-face move. I don't wave much around town because the drivers are insane (sorostitute in Daddy's SUV of Doom), but I'll always return some kind of gesture to another biker if they wave.

[emperorjordan]

My findings are this:

- ALL dirt/dual sport riders wave to me, no matter what. We have something in common.

- No Harley Riders with Skid Lid type helmets EVER wave. its just a no no, and because of this, I have stopped waving to them.

- MOST harley riders with helmets more substantial than the skid lid wave, I find that these are more out to have fun, not be hardcore and badass.

- EVERYBODY on a BMW waves, because they are happy.

- Commuters NEVER wave.

- Everybody else waves most of the time, and if I am out on a weekend, even more people wave. I wave to everybody except badass harley leather dudes, and sportbikers that are obviously posers.

[varenka]

I try to always wave - oddly, I don't wave at scooters, and they don't wave at me. Perhaps I should enlarge my circle of fellow flirters-with-death to include the vespas and such.

[ronboskz650sr]

I even wave at kids on bicycles and skateboards. I agree, wave first, increases your chances of getting one and you present a friendly image the drivers notice, too.

[polarelf2003]

You're not alone Issac, there are "O-rings" up here in MD also. If I initiate the wave, then I have a 75 % chance of getting a return wave. If I don’t initiate, I have about 1 in 10 will wave first. I'm not picky about who I wave to either. Such is life, the people that need the lesson in courtesy aint on the forum - the sense of community is beyond them.

[Relsek]

My findings are this:

- ALL dirt/dual sport riders wave to me, no matter what. We have something in common.

- No Harley Riders with Skid Lid type helmets EVER wave. its just a no no, and because of this, I have stopped waving to them.

- MOST harley riders with helmets more substantial than the skid lid wave, I find that these are more out to have fun, not be hardcore and badass.

- EVERYBODY on a BMW waves, because they are happy.

- Commuters NEVER wave.

- Everybody else waves most of the time, and if I am out on a weekend, even more people wave. I wave to everybody except badass harley leather dudes, and sportbikers that are obviously posers.

I understand how you can tell the Harley leather dudes, but how can you tell by looking who is a sprotbiker poser?

[old-n-slow]

I understand how you can tell the Harley leather dudes, but how can you tell by looking who is a sprotbiker poser?

I don't even understand how you can tell the Harley leather dudes. We have so many up here that are wannabie Harley riders that they strip the decals off their roadstars or whatever it is they are riding, buy the saddle bags with studs all over and do their best to pose as someone riding a harley, at least to a casual glance. I can't tell them coming down the road until it is too late to decide to wave or not, Mind you I even wave at the crotch rockets. It's their problem if they can't take their weight off the handlebar because of riding position, in order to wave back. And of course I won't want them to. I'd hate to think I might have caused a moment of distress by forcing them to wave.

[Optimusprime]

I must preface this by saying Im from NH. I dont know if its like a different world out here but I almost always get a wave. I admit that I initiate the wave probably 90% of the time or more, but al most always there is a response, unless there is some riding that does not allow for the wave such as starting and stopping. I ride a 81 maxim 650 and I get waves from supersport bikes and big bad harley bikes alike.
The only time I remember a day when I didnt get waved from a significant number of riders was the day there was some kind of a biker gathering, and that day I have to say my arm was to tired fromt he up and down that I had trouble keeping it up.
Anyhow, I have made it my point to wave at everything on two wheels that has an engine. except maybe scooters, but I havent come across one yet. SO, don't give up, we are all part of that great brotherhood of two wheelers, and even though some choose to not see it that way we must non-the-less not deny them that same token.



Shawn

[DivideOverflow]

Maybe some of them are new riders and dont feel comfortable taking their hands of the bars?

I know that on my first street ride, I was paying so much attention to cars and traffic and my clutch control, that I didnt notice someone waving at me until they were almost past me. I just need practice to get comfortable with riding though

I got a wave from an old guy on a bicycle in my neighborhood though... does that count?