What happened to "the wave"

[RandyO]

used to be every time you met a motorcyclist on the road, you'd get a wave or nod.

I'm just not seeing a return wave much at all these days, and when I do, most often a Harley, or cruiser rider

or maybe it's cause I'm riding a lowly K-Pipe

quite honestly, I've had more cage drivers rolling down their window to give me a thumbs up (winter below zero rides)

what has happened to the camaraderie

[xrocket21]

I wave. I got sick of "hardass" mid 50s harley riders mean mugging me so I stopped for a while. But then, I said fuck it, and fuck them. I wave to everyone, even scooters. Sportbikes are pretty rare up here.

[Tricky Mike]

I wave to mopeds.

[MUZ720]

I wave don't care if they return one...

[motoarch]

I never waved. Never waved when I had wranglers either.

[Chippertheripper]

I sometimes stick my foot out if someone waves at me. Otherwise, I’m just riding.

[Garandman]

I wave. I got sick of "hardass" mid 50s harley riders mean mugging me so I stopped for a while. But then, I said fuck it, and fuck them. I wave to everyone, even scooters. Sportbikes are pretty rare up here.

If I see Harley scowl dudes, I blow them kisses.

Or I wave like a five year old when a fire truck goes by.

I’m easily entertained....

[Kurlon]

I've almost never seen the wave while riding in NH, on the flip side if it's moving under it's own power and two wheeled in Maine, you get a wave.

[MHenry600]

I've almost never seen the wave while riding in NH, on the flip side if it's moving under it's own power and two wheeled in Maine, you get a wave.

Mostly this. When I lived in mass, everyone waved, and I'd wave back. Probably the turning point was going to bike week one year. There's just so many people, you don't bother. Then when I moved to NH, I found people just don't bother in general.

Even now, if someone waves, it seems like someone out on a cruise from mass or maine.

[tsorfas]

It’s kinda hard for me to notice your little wave when I’m flying down the road.
JK. I haven’t ridden street in a while but I think I’ll wave again.

[aldend123]

Seems in the spring, it's more common for the wave and right about now, maybe early June, especially on a nice weekend, people get sick of the wave. I get it. It can get old when there's a lot of bikes out.

I wave at scooters. I'm pretty sure 70% of them don't know what the wave even is. And it's fun to see which cruisers will return the wave when I'm on my dirtbike.

[RandyO]

I've almost never seen the wave while riding in NH, on the flip side if it's moving under it's own power and two wheeled in Maine, you get a wave.

I didn't notice a difference. Just a big lit sign that said "All non essential travel to Maine requires 14 days quarantine" but nothing like that when I came back into NH. I was taking the shortcut to Rollinsford, that puts me in Berwick for about a mile, I did meet bikes in that mile, the Harley guy waved, the others didn't

[Tekime]

I was just talking about this today.. I always wave, whatever the bike. Mopeds... even wave at pedal bikes sometimes and they usually look confused lol.

BUT.. in the summer when you pass 500 other bikes it gets crazy at some point. I have sort of a 10-wave threshold when I stop initiating the wave. But I'll still try to return them all.

Not sure about other places, but Mainers usually wave. Especially outside the city

[Stoneman]

I couldn't care less what you're doing in your lane as long as you're not drifting into mine. Harley or not, I've never been a fan of waving. That said, I've noticed more waving this year than previous. Big Shirl likes to wave back when she's tagging along.

I've also noticed if you don't wave back while on a sportbike no body seems to give a shit. Don't wave back on the Harley and the other guy loses his shit.

Although I do participate in the Corvette wave.

[obsolete]

Hello stranger! I too share your hobby!

[feralchimp]

I'm a waver, especially to:

- people also riding in inclement weather
- folks who seem like newer riders
- street legal dirt bikes
- cops I didn't see until I was passing them a little too quickly
- old folks on two or three wheels
- old folks driving their bucket-list classic or hot convertible

...so I'm probably over-waving by a wide margin. Fuck it.

[01xj]

I'm a waver, especially to:

- people also riding in inclement weather
- folks who seem like newer riders
- street legal dirt bikes
- cops I didn't see until I was passing them a little too quickly
- old folks on two or three wheels
- old folks driving their bucket-list classic or hot convertible

...so I'm probably over-waving by a wide margin. Fuck it.

Same. Riding puts me in a good mood and i always take notice of other people who are out enjoying a nice day.

[maxim_X]

My riding on the street is very limited. That said, I feel no kinship with someone else who rides a motorcycle, Just because they ride a motorcycle, and I don’t understand why I would wave to a stranger.

[butcher bergs]

Picked up my father-in-law's Goldwang from winter storage a few weeks ago. I was surprised by the amount of waves on my ride, to be quite honest. Haven't been doing any real street riding to speak of in the last few years but I noticed that I wave if I see another rider's wave or if there's something exceptional with the riding environment. Otherwise, I'm in my own place in time, enjoying.


Anyone up for a group ride to go wave to Randy?

[Stoneman]

And what the fuck is with the hand-down-by-the-ankle wave?!? As little as I wave, there's no way in hell I wave back to ankle wavers.

[RandyO]

Picked up my father-in-law's Goldwang from winter storage a few weeks ago. I was surprised by the amount of waves on my ride, to be quite honest. Haven't been doing any real street riding to speak of in the last few years but I noticed that I wave if I see another rider's wave or if there's something exceptional with the riding environment. Otherwise, I'm in my own place in time, enjoying.


Anyone up for a group ride to go wave to Randy?

I'm gonna want to see wheelies, and maybe a smiley face burnout

[oVTo]

And what the fuck is with the hand-down-by-the-ankle wave?!? As little as I wave, there's no way in hell I wave back to ankle wavers.

That seems to be mostly the 2-finger wave for "2 wheels down". Sort of a non-verbal "keep the rubber side down".

[SRTie4k]

That seems to be mostly the 2-finger wave for "2 wheels down". Sort of a non-verbal "keep the rubber side down".

I always assumed it meant "I'm too much of a bad ass to perform a sissy open hand wave, but I'm insecure enough that I need to show everyone I belong to a special fraternity of mostly men who prefer leather and chains."

Silly me.

[Stoneman]

And what the fuck is with the hand-down-by-the-ankle wave?!? As little as I wave, there's no way in hell I wave back to ankle wavers.

That seems to be mostly the 2-finger wave for "2 wheels down". Sort of a non-verbal "keep the rubber side down".

I always assumed it meant "I'm too much of a bad ass to perform a sissy open hand wave, but I'm insecure enough that I need to show everyone I belong to a special fraternity of mostly men who prefer leather and chains."

Silly me.

Call it what you want. But as little as I wave, those types definitely don't get the nod back with that bullshit.

[tbonehedge]

I usually don't initiate the wave, but I will wave back if waved at.