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Its about the Image!

9K views 83 replies 45 participants last post by  Chazzmichaels 
#1 ·
Went for a ride tonight with with another couple. Around here there are few enough bikes that most everyone wave.
We had a rider on a bike with ape hangers and forward pegs. He was wearing a vest and jeans and had a helmet that looked like a large human skull. When he went by his arm was pointed down with two fingers pointed down.
He obviously wanted to project a certain image. Is it ego? Is it something he thinks is cool? I don't get it!
Can someone splain it to me?


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#10 ·
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#14 ·
No this guys wave was more of an upside down Nazi salute with the two fingers. I mean he had thought about it and planned and maybe practiced in the mirror kind of wave. Not casual at all.


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It means two wheels down. Standard Harley, I have to do it like all my brethren, sign. I refuse to give the two wheels down sign. I may be a lemming but I'm not a Harley lemming.


Mine is kind of a cross between Hippie/Catholic. Two fingers out to the side. Peace be with you my brother. Comes in Handy when you don't want to take your hand to far of the grip or with a slight modification can be much more effusive.
 
#13 ·
I have noticed since getting back on a motorcycle in 2012 that most folks now (in Kentucky and Alabama, anyways) do some form of the hand down wave. Personally, I find it irritating because it is not always visible. But this apparently is the new "cool".

Me? Expect a hand high wave. You will know I am waving.
 
#15 ·
You guys are really cool, but I've got you all beat. I'm so hip that sometimes I just nod my head. Deliberate tip of the hat type of thing. Hands never leave the bars. In the very early or very late season I may actually give a hand wave that just comes off the bar a bit, enough to show some finger.
 
#23 ·
When we wave here its usually a left handed thing. Both riders pass each other left hand to left hand. So a wave is given and a wave is returned on both rider's left hand side. Being the clutch hand you can let go of the bar easily. If you were truly crazy you could even brush fingertips. Riding for a week in the UK a few years back I found it really hard because I was on the other side of the road. With oncoming riders passing me on the right and not the left, I was getting all caught up crossing my left arm out of habit trying to wave over my right side. I quickly found out that if you let get go of the throttle to wave with your right hand bad things were bound to happen...like sudden deceleration and loss of control. Then I realized that nobody waves in the UK. They nod their heads at each other because everyone is afraid to let go of an unlocked throttle at speed. So...in keeping with the Britishness of an old American guy living out some kind of Rocker fantasy I now nod more than wave. No one gets it...but eventually they will.
 
#57 ·
Then I realized that nobody waves in the UK. They nod their heads at each other because everyone is afraid to let go of an unlocked throttle at speed. So...in keeping with the Britishness of an old American guy living out some kind of Rocker fantasy I now nod more than wave. No one gets it...but eventually they will.
Never really thought about before, but it is throttle side, so yes. Most people nod, but just at weekends, don't want to wear it out. If they don't nod back...............tosser or newbee!

Nothing wrong in living the Rocker fantasy, I still get to embarrass my kids!

Right off to Kempton Park racecourse to lose a wedge! Happy bank holiday suckers:wink2:
Biggsy
 
#31 ·
What I really don't get is the occasional cruiser rider...and it's ALWAYS a cruiser rider, who will give me the 'helmet-tap-there's-a-cop-ahead' sign when the last 45 riders, and the next 27 riders do not.....is there a cop ahead who is being systematically beamed down just to get me??

Or was that guy just a total douchebag??

I still can't decide, but I'm leaning towards the beam-down theory, just 'cos it would be so frickin' cool, and we could do a Star Wars vs Star Trek duel....a Jedi like me never lets down his guard.
 
#35 ·
I wave with two fingers down but sometimes I just flash a wave without taking my hands from the bar. Sometimes I just nod. Sometimes, I don't wave at all. All depends on the situation. I don't see it as a Harley thing but rather just acknowlement that were both out enjoying two wheels.
 
#36 ·
If I do return a wave, it's 3 fingers up. After all, I'm on a triple. If they happen to think it's the yeoman's salute, that's their problem.
 
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