A while back I remember reading in a national motorcycle publication that one of the subjects that they get the most letters about is whether bikers wave to each other…or not.

In my experience most do, but there is no rule of thumb. We get less waves when out on the Harley, we get more waves when out on the Ural sidecar outfit.

As a generalisation sports bike riders nod, but most don’t offer anything in the way of recognising they have passed a fellow motorcyclist on the road.

In Europe most everyone waves, er kicks their leg out/offers a downward pointing hand with two fingers pointing downwards in a sort of victory sign. Very friendly the Europeans.

So what is the biker wave all about then?

To me it is the recognition that we are all part of a unique group of people that choose the freedom of the road on two (or three) wheels. By waving/nodding/leg kicking etc, we are acknowledging that fact, almost saying to each other “hey, great isn’t it this motorcycling lark”.

Whether you do or whether you don’t, wave that is, what follows are some funny reasons why motorcyclists who favour certain marques don’t wave back.

I found this on the View From The Cloud blog – it was an anonymous comment from one of their readers:

Buy a sidecar, everybody waves!

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don’t Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too hard to raise arm.
8. Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate
off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax
on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner’s manual and realized
H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can’t tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to
cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled
his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They’re jealous that after spending $30,000, they still don’t
own a Gold Wing.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don’t Wave Back

10. Wasn’t sure whether other rider was waving or making an
obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated
grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult
to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and
accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height,
programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation
system.
1. Couldn’t find the “auto wave back” button on dashboard.

Top Ten Reasons Why Dual Sport Riders Don’t Wave Back

10. Vibration of knobby tires prevented the rider from taking
his hand off the bars.
9. MX style safety gear was too bright to see you wave.
8. His front fender prevents you seeing him wave back.
7. Was too busy configuring his GPS/Enduro Roll/FishFinder.
6. His rain/wind/thorn/bug/bird proof thousand-dollar jacket
won’t allow it.
5. Was too busy re-arranging his 500 pounds of soft-sided
luggage.
4. Doesn’t recognize a wave in any language other than German.
3. Too busy splitting lanes/filtering through traffic.
2. One handed wheelies are not easy.
1. On single-track trails you stop, not wave.

Top Ten Reasons Why Sport Bike Riders Don’t Wave Back

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they are
supposed to.
9. If they took one hand off the bars they would break their
teeth.
8. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars.
7. It’s hard to put their hand in the air doing 175.
6. Their skin tight-kevlar-balistic-nylon-goose-leather suits
prevent any position other than fetal.
5. One handed stoppies are ill advised.
4. They are waving, but you can’t see it behind the neon green
speed screen.
3. They were slipping their flip-flop back on.
2. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank
tops.
1. They don’t know how.

Of course on a sidecar outfit everyone waves no matter what brand we have.

With thanks to:

http://www.viewfromthecloud.com/2006/08/secret-motorcycle-hand-greetings.html

So do you wave? Who have you noticed who doesn’t?
Tell us below

Take part in our Facebook Poll On This Very Subject Click Here