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Time to end that annoying "Biker Wave"

Apr 9, 2004
516
8
Mount Carmel,PA
Who else thinks it is time to stop that annoying wave that motorcyclist do to each other? Now I am a Bike rider. I have been Probably longer than most of you are alive. When I first started riding street bikes that little wave meant a lot. bike riders were few in numbers. We shared a common desire for the freedom Motorcycling gave us.It was a sign of brotherhood. I do not consider myself a "Biker".I never refer to myself as a biker. I feel the only true bikers are the hardcore color wearing guys. The ones with roots going back to wwII.

I ride my bike rain or shine, hot or cold. and short of snow and ice on the ground i prefer my bike. Well this being a holiday weekend the roads were full of harley riding Doctors, Dentists, lawyers, and all other poser types. All of them dressed uo in their chaps and leather, despite being in the 80's, waving like a bunch of freaking robots. All I wanted to do was flip them the bird. I don't feel the wave means the same thing anymore as it did. Now it feels like the wave means look at me, i got good credit, I can afford a Harley. I see a lot of hard core guys feel the same way. In fact now, making eye contact and not waving is the whole new sign of respect.

Anyway, ride if you want to whatever you want to,for whatever reason you choose. Biking is a lot of fun, but please stop the wave. It only makes us long time riders laugh at you. it is ridiculous to see soccer mom Mary on the back of Dr Mikes Harley raising her fist as a salute to a passing fellow cyclist.

Sorry for the rant. I just fee the wave has out lived its time.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Any other lame complaints you'd like to get off your chest while you've got us here?

Tired of the leaves falling off the trees, or of Rosie O'donnell being ugly or anything else?
 
Apr 9, 2004
516
8
Mount Carmel,PA
I believe you were already here, and this being the Lounge forum on Ridemonkey,and from past experiences, lame complaints are pretty much expected if not actually encouraged, no?
 

eaterofdog

ass grabber
Sep 8, 2006
8,187
1,428
Central Florida
Aww come on, wave at the dermatologist. He got a real tattoo to be authentic.

It kind of the same thing that happened to track bikes. In with the douchbags, out with the cool
 

trailrider1

Monkey
Jun 2, 2009
151
0
while were all here id like to complain that ALMOST EVERY TIME I FALL OFF MY BIKE IT HURTS!!! its so annoying.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
i'm tired of people whining about how they are the only authentic, "core" people out there. i'll wave back if someone waves at me but in general i'd rather concentrate on being proficient and safe instead of on group-hug fuzziness.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
i'm tired of people whining about how they are the only authentic, "core" people out there.
It's all a ridiculous, manufactured joke anyway. I mean, honestly, even if you were the 2nd guy in the entire universe to don the black leather and jump on a Harley, you're just as unoriginal a bastard as the orthodontists being complained about here....but at least they contribute to society.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
i always wave and i think youre a douche if you dont

ps i dont ride places or times where there are full dressers or guys on magmas.
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
If you dont like it, dont wave. Its like the Jeep owner "wave", just the over the steering wheel howdy sign...

Personally, I like it when the soccer mom on the back shows me her store bought boobies!
 

Pesqueeb

bicycle in airplane hangar
Feb 2, 2007
40,138
16,536
Riding the baggage carousel.
If you dont like it, dont wave. Its like the Jeep owner "wave", just the over the steering wheel howdy sign...

Personally, I like it when the soccer mom on the back shows me her store bought boobies!
I've driven a Wrangler for eight years now and it still catches me off gaurd when some one does that, but then again, I'm kind of an anti-social asshole.
 
Apr 9, 2004
516
8
Mount Carmel,PA
I guess I am a major minority here. So why do the wave? you dont wave at everyone who drives the same brand of car or truck you drive do you? Except for jeeps and big rigs I doubt it. Do you initiate the wave, or just recpricate it? Is it that important to have the fact you are a fellow motorcycle rider acknowledged? Why is it that most Harley riders wont wave to Crotch Rocket riders?
 

drt_jumper

Monkey
May 20, 2003
590
0
Manassas Va
Why is it that most Harley riders wont wave to Crotch Rocket riders?
Its actually two fold, one it is a lack of respect, (I ride a sportbike but know a lot of harley riders from doing the Rolling Thunder thing) The older harley riders (when I say older I mean the guys that have been riding a long time, work on their own bikes, and know what being a rider is about) will usually wave IF you initiate the wave or nod. Its the newer Harley riders, and Metric riders that think each is better than the other. To me if you are on two wheels and its not a scooter you got my respect. I dont give a damn what you ride as long as you are riding and know how to ride. Being a rider (at least to me) is not about what type of bike it is, what new chrome you have on it, or how far you can wheelie, its about the feeling you get when everything is clicking you have no worries at all in the world and for those few moments/minutes (because inevitably some dumbass cager will pull out in front of you, ruining your zen moment) that you truly realize what riding is. You could be doing 45mph on a backroad somewhere or be dragging knees through the mountains and have that same feeling....that is what is so cool about riding. I wave to all riders, and if they dont wave back well then I guess they are too cool for me. The wave is not to say "hi" at least not to me, it is about respect...its hard to explain but it is deeper than just some dumbass hey look at me!
Sorry for the rant
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
... so what is it about throwing your leg over a Harley that makes every overweight, middle aged dumbass think he's all of a sudden the baddest dude on the planet?
 

narlus

Eastcoast Softcore
Staff member
Nov 7, 2001
24,658
63
behind the viewfinder
It's all a ridiculous, manufactured joke anyway. I mean, honestly, even if you were the 2nd guy in the entire universe to don the black leather and jump on a Harley, you're just as unoriginal a bastard as the orthodontists being complained about here....but at least they contribute to society.
:rofl::rofl:
 

X3pilot

Texans fan - LOL
Aug 13, 2007
5,860
1
SoMD
... so what is it about throwing your leg over a Harley that makes every overweight, middle aged dumbass think he's all of a sudden the baddest dude on the planet?
Probably the same gene that makes every middle aged dumbass that buys a fixie think PBR is "cool" beer...
 
Apr 9, 2004
516
8
Mount Carmel,PA
... so what is it about throwing your leg over a Harley that makes every overweight, middle aged dumbass think he's all of a sudden the baddest dude on the planet?
Another good point. Just because you can afford a Harley don't make you Brando. I just don't understand. I have a guy at work like that. Ass kissin and suckin up during the week, ( I work in an office) then going to some bike night at a local bar and acting all badass. I know for a fac , in High school he was afraid of his own shadow. On a recent trip him and his buddies were going to a bike night about an hour and a half away. They trailered their bikes up and unloaded them a couple miles from the bar and then rode them in like they actually rode the entire way. We are not talking show rides here, normal bikes

Like I said to each their own, riding and enjoying it are all that really matter to me. I just feel the wave, for what it represented and started out as, has outlived its time. I wont initiate it, but most of the time I will reciprocate, although I would rather just keep riding without it.
 

ultraNoob

Yoshinoya Destroyer
Jan 20, 2007
4,504
1
Hills of Paradise
... I wont initiate it, but most of the time I will reciprocate, although I would rather just keep riding without it.
you should start a new gesture... how bout the angry fist :shakefist:... I use that everytime I get cut off or when someone makes a bonehead maneuver like signalling left and then going right
 

BigMike

BrokenbikeMike
Jul 29, 2003
8,931
0
Montgomery county MD
Another good point. Just because you can afford a Harley don't make you Brando. I just don't understand. I have a guy at work like that. Ass kissin and suckin up during the week, ( I work in an office) then going to some bike night at a local bar and acting all badass. I know for a fac , in High school he was afraid of his own shadow. On a recent trip him and his buddies were going to a bike night about an hour and a half away. They trailered their bikes up and unloaded them a couple miles from the bar and then rode them in like they actually rode the entire way. We are not talking show rides here, normal bikes

Like I said to each their own, riding and enjoying it are all that really matter to me. I just feel the wave, for what it represented and started out as, has outlived its time. I wont initiate it, but most of the time I will reciprocate, although I would rather just keep riding without it.
And just to ask, when was the last time you won a downhill race? You still show up to race and have fun right? Do you mind your own business and not talk to any other riders? No, you show up, have fun, ride, and enjoy doing it with the other people that are there, right? I'm not trying to be a dick here, but what's it to you if someone wants to go out and get a Harley because they can? So what if it is a rich doctor that rides it on only the most perfect days, or some poor guy who can only afford a bike and it's his sole mean of transportation?

I ride a cruiser, and I wave to everyone. Sport bike, touring bike, Harley riders, Trikes, moped, scooters, whoever the f&ck is out there on two wheels enjoying themselves. It's just an acknowledgment of being out riding.

When I worked for the county, when we saw a green truck rolling up toward us, we waved just to acknowledge we were all out there, putting in our 8 hours for the day, and knew the other guys were too. Is there something wrong with that too?
 

maddog17

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2008
2,815
105
Methuen, Mass. U.S.A.
i always thought the wave as some type of recognition of a fellow rider, be it on a motorbike or pedal bike. if you don't like it then don't do it. if someone gives you the wave and you don't wave back then they'll just think of you as some type of stuck up snob who can't give a simple little hand gesture.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Its actually two fold, one it is a lack of respect, (I ride a sportbike but know a lot of harley riders from doing the Rolling Thunder thing) The older harley riders (when I say older I mean the guys that have been riding a long time, work on their own bikes, and know what being a rider is about) will usually wave IF you initiate the wave or nod. Its the newer Harley riders, and Metric riders that think each is better than the other. To me if you are on two wheels and its not a scooter you got my respect. I dont give a damn what you ride as long as you are riding and know how to ride. Being a rider (at least to me) is not about what type of bike it is, what new chrome you have on it, or how far you can wheelie, its about the feeling you get when everything is clicking you have no worries at all in the world and for those few moments/minutes (because inevitably some dumbass cager will pull out in front of you, ruining your zen moment) that you truly realize what riding is. You could be doing 45mph on a backroad somewhere or be dragging knees through the mountains and have that same feeling....that is what is so cool about riding. I wave to all riders, and if they dont wave back well then I guess they are too cool for me. The wave is not to say "hi" at least not to me, it is about respect...its hard to explain but it is deeper than just some dumbass hey look at me!
Sorry for the rant
uh, what's to say that scooter riders can't "get when everything is clicking you have no worries at all in the world and for those few moments/minutes that you truly realize what riding is"?

scooter riders are the most hard-core of all in my mind, since we've dropped all pretense of being cool prior to swinging a leg through our bikes. heh. we're in it purely for the ride, not the image.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,131
Portland, OR
I wave, I don't expect a wave back. We covered the wave in the TEAM Oregon motorcycle class. It's also on the back of the Oregon motorcycle handbook.

Don't like it, don't wave. But to try and get others to stop is just being a dick.
 

Austin Bike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 26, 2003
1,558
0
Duh, Austin
In korea they were doing the full formal bow (from the waist). Pretty wild to see people do that as they are riding UP the hill and you are on your way down.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
uh, what's to say that scooter riders can't "get when everything is clicking you have no worries at all in the world and for those few moments/minutes that you truly realize what riding is"?

scooter riders are the most hard-core of all in my mind, since we've dropped all pretense of being cool prior to swinging a leg through our bikes. heh. we're in it purely for the ride, not the image.
I don't wave at scooter riders. They're gay.

Too lazy to pedal a bike, too pvssy to throttle on.
 

moff_quigley

Why don't you have a seat over there?
Jan 27, 2005
4,402
2
Poseurville
When I ride my road bike I give MC riders the two finger pointing at the ground wave. It makes me laugh (I'm easily entertained) and some of them actually "wave" back.