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TorontoBoy wrote:I've heard British riders have no tradition of waving, so expect them to not understand and don't expect one back.

We don't usually wave, but nod instead.... Nods are usually returned by everyone, but scooter riders.

Although If I get kids in the car infront waving, or similar, I always wave back.

Part of it may be a hesitation to wave. For example, when I see someone else I wait for them to wave first, after all I don't want to look like a jackass if they don't wave back. Likewise, they could be doing the same thing.

If you wave, and they don't wave back, they're the one that looks like a jackass.

i ride a sportbike and ive found the guys on cruisers always wave, but other sports waving is less frequent. a drop of the hand or a nod is always cool tho

Well I can say that in Edmonton, AB I have found everyone waves or nods to me as I wave to everyone, regardless of gear, bike, colour or race.

I ride a small cruiser and I wave to everybody. Most sportbikes and "small" cruisers wave back. Most large cruisers and tourers do not.

[quote="TorontoBoy"]I think waving is important, an outward sign of solidarity to all 2 wheelers. I wave to everyone unless at the time some cage is trying to kill me. Scooter riders wave back most of the time. Here in Toronto many people have their noses up their a$$es and think they're better than the rest, so about 20% of my waves are unanswered. That's life here. Those who don't wave are split pretty equally between sport riders and cruisers. The vast majority of those on old bikes seem to wave, though I don't know why.

quote]

I'm seeing the same thing in the Toronto area and its suburbs. I used to ride 10 years ago, took a break for 7, and am just now back on 2 wheels. Back in the mid 90s, everyone waved. Now, I wave to everyone; only about a third return it. Go figure. Perhaps because there are more bikes on the road not as many feel the need for such a sign of unity?

TorontoBoy wrote:I've heard British riders have no tradition of waving, so expect them to not understand and don't expect one back.

I think in UK if you're able to wave at another rider, you're not riding fast enough on the main roads.

Everybody and their brother usually waves down here in Georgia. Granted this is the south and we're friendly folk! Toss us on motorcycles and we've got our own private club and an excuse to wave at anything on two wheels.

There's only been a few instances where I haven't been given a return wave and I figure it was because I wasn't seen due to the traffic congestion. On the way home from work today, I saw about 7 people out on their bikes. 7/7 for waves. Everything from a Goldwing, a cruiser type, and few sporties. I had some dude on a sports bike (didn't catch what type it was) come up in the fast lane on the two lane highway we have that runs around the city. He beeped his horn twice and went flying past with his left arm raised up. Of course, I saw him approaching from way back and was making sure he caught up to me before I got off on my exit. I waved as he was starting to pass me. I'm going to file that use of the horn for the next time I pass a biker. It's about all it's good for, lol.