The lady and I were out riding around on Sunday, and when we stopped to empty one tank and fill the other, she asked me:
"Why don't you give the wave for trikes?"
I didn't really have a valid answer. I mean, Trikers are just trying to enjoy the wind as much as anyone on two wheels. Slingshot riders too, although there may or may not be a cheeseburger in one hand at any given time.
So, do you give the wave for trikes and slingshots?
Yep....absolutely wave to them...many are bikers who have become disabled...and yet they still do what they can to ride, albeit on 3 wheels instead of 2.
I say more power to them.
Plus I've down the racing sidecar "outfit" thing for a few sessions at a trackday, once as a 'driver' and once as the 'monkey'....both are incredible fun, and if you are me, the only way I will ever get my knee down other than when it's shortly followed by my arse, head, legs, etc.
When I'm riding in the winter or in the rain, I'll wave at anyone who is also out in the weather not surrounded by a cage. That would include tricycles of any configuration. In the spring, I'll wave at everyone for the first few weeks. I'll always wave at those I know or that see all the time.
When it's a Harley sort of day when there are motorcycles everywhere, not so much.
When I'm riding in the winter or in the rain, I'll wave at anyone who is also out in the weather not surrounded by a cage. That would include tricycles of any configuration. In the spring, I'll wave at everyone for the first few weeks. I'll definitely wave at those I know or that see all the time.
When it's a Harley sort of day when there are motorcycles everywhere, not so much.
I only wave at the more unique bikes I happen to cross paths with. The odd Guzzi, Ducati, etc. As for the ubiquitous Harley, you could get carpal tunnel syndrome from waving at all of them. :grin2:
Ton of slingshots around here, we have a dealer pretty close that is into them pretty big and selling a bunch. They are a car and eventually the govt will catch on and ruin their day I expect. They won't be fun if they have to conform to the automobile safety rules. Hope I'm wrong.
I used to roll my eyes at the trikes. But I saw a guy had his wheelchair on board, and then I realized that a lot of folks are on them because they have to be. Chatted with a lady Sunday who said her husband died, and soon after she went to the HD shop. He never would have allowed her a bike. She started on two wheels, but her spine when to pot so now she can only ride a Trike. Whatever, a widow out there socializing on three wheels. Good stuff.
I wave to them. We should all try to make everyone feel welcome in the biker community. If you don't wave because you don't feel the trikes are "bike enough" to warrant it then you're no better than the Harley asshats that won't wave to anyone not on a Harley. I'm not saying all Harley riders are that way but while riding the Sprint I have about a 50/50 chance a HD rider is going to wave back. With other brands the rate is much higher. I wave to everybody, it's really not that much effort.
I wave to everything with less than 4 wheels. Even the BMW guy that took a year to finally wave back. I don't do it for them. It's for me. Keeps me humble and grateful that I'm able to still ride after all I've been through. Many disabled veterans here ride trikes. Most wave back on my bike, but on my scooter i get ignored by many. I get more respect from cars on my scooter. That's weird but true.
A few years back, during bike week in New Hampshire, we were at the hill climb event, corralled into a large gravel parking lot. A guy on a Can Am starts doing doughnuts and people start cheering for him. That's when I figured that if you're going to ride it like a biker, you should certainly be treated like a biker. For some unexplained reason, I have always enjoyed watching people misbehave on machinery. I blame Evel Kneivel. He was so entertaining to watch.
Well you are really missing out. Sometimes with Goldwings, you can get a perfectly synchronized double wave back from rider and pillion in matching one piece suits.
When I was young it was " a brotherhood of two wheels" and we waved, then Harley owners only waved at Harley owners, then you couldn't tell any more, and if you wave they don't and if you don't wave , they do. No, I'm not waving at three wheelers, sorry . They aren't bikes. I don't wave at scooters, I do wave at sidecar rigs. If I waved at everyone that just wanted to be in the wind, I'd have to wave at Miatas . My line is drawn. If you want me to wave at you, ride a motorcycle.
I especially make a point to give scooters the wave, because they never expect it and it's just awesome.
Bikes, they all get the wave from me. Doesn't matter what bike at all.
To be honest, until m'lady brought it up, I hadn't even considered trikes or spyders or slingshots waveable. I've since expanded the goodwill of the wave to include trikes and spyders but have made a willing decision to exclude slingshots and convertibles.
I'm sure all parties appreciate now having the obligation of waving back to me.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums
3.9M posts
167.7K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to Triumph Motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, racing, cafe racers, bobbers, riding, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!