The wave experiment

[TechTMW]

Some people don't ride for a sense of community. Some ride for Solitude.

[iwannadie]

on my maurader id always get waves from any other cruiser out there and scooters and id always return. on my katana i dont get any waves really. once in a while an older guy on a big bike will wave at me and ill return. sometimes ill wave first and often get an odd look like 'why are you waving at me'. its shocking the type of bike effects what other riders think of you.

[Macka]

I wave pretty much every time, unless I am doing something that precludes me from removing my hands from the grips.

I wave to all motorcycles regardless of type. And most wave back!

Little kids are the best, whether they are on schoolbuses, bicycles, or the sidewalk. They ALL wave at me in an exaggerated fashion, desperatley seeking my attention. I love it. I'll usually give a "beep beep" from the horn, or occasionally clutch in and rev it a little, they LOVE that.

[varenka]

I'll second it on the kids - the best is when a youngster, say 5 to 10, is in the back seat and I pull up next to them at a light. You wave, and their eyes get big like, 'MOM, IT SAW ME!'

[Nibblet99]

My personal findings (on a standard, with learner plates) are

Most cruiser riders will return a wave

70% of sports bikers return a wave, but the ones which don't appear to be terrified

If it's raining, more people will wave

No-one in a 3/4 helmet ever waves??? (maybe because it's an older style, associated with older people)

harley riders maybe 30% will wave (more often if they're going slower)

If I don't start the wave, practically nobody will wave ( but then I suppose I'm on "L" plates, and hence potentially an arogant little kid - even though I'm not)

[vulcanman500]

I get big waves, I wish I had an ocean to put them in.

[keysman]

I wave when I can or when I feel like it. If it's a two lane road I'll wave if it's flat and straight. It there is a divider, I don't always wave. I wave at the Harley Riders or BMW riders it dosn't matter to me. If I don't get a wave back I know there could be a number of reasons for that and I don't really care if I get the wave back. Other BMW riders almost always wave to me.

What about passengers?

I find that if there is a passenger especially on a big bike they almost always wave.

[MetalliCrusader]

This is how it goes down in California.

Most everyone I wave to waves back. I'd say 90%. THere are a few exceptions. Of course the macho Harley riders with skull caps don't wave. The cool normal Harley riders, like my uncle, wave to everyone. I DO NOT wave to scooters. I HATE SCOOTERS! They aren't motorcycles. And the only other time I don't get waved at is if I pass someone during a tight corner, where they just can't take thier hands off the bike, or they will loose control.

[Relsek]

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

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.

Now I'm getting the idea you've never ridden a sportbike if you think taking your hands off the bars causes some distress. I've ridden all types and the sportbike is by far the easiest to handle although the first time I rode my busa I had a tendency to put my weight on my wrists, but once you learn how to ride it that desire goes away.

Kev

[iwannadie]

i ride hunched over and i try to keep my weight off my wrist the best i can, most of the time im riding one handed anyways. i just try to grip the tank with my knees and put more weight on my legs and keep my arms more relaxed. not sure if thats good riding style or not though ha.

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

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.

Now I'm getting the idea you've never ridden a sportbike if you think taking your hands off the bars causes some distress. I've ridden all types and the sportbike is by far the easiest to handle although the first time I rode my busa I had a tendency to put my weight on my wrists, but once you learn how to ride it that desire goes away.

Kev