Triumphrat

urbanspaceman · 07-01-2006

Having just been back on two wheels for a week after too many years on 4 I've noticed that motorcyclists in my part of the world seem more pre-occupied with themselves than to give a wave or some acknowledgement to a fellow 2 wheeler. When I first starting riding back in the early 80's on my Yamaha single gerbil power 125 other motorcyclists would almost always give a wave in passing (except the HD riders of course). Now it seems exactly the opposite is true. Curious if this is just a local thing or common to others as well. :???:

loudmouth · 07-01-2006

Why wouldn't you wave to Harley riders???.........sounds to me like you are part of the same problem you're complaining about. Just a thought. We're all on 2 wheels, no matter what brand we ride.

By the way, I've seen HD riders wave to scooters. :wink:

mkchev · 07-01-2006

Down here is the same. my own rules are- return every wave I get ,initiate wave to other bears bikes. but H.D riders don't wave often.I owned a 1200 sportster for 7 years. big block riders never waved to me . Jap riders don't seem to wave to any H.D's.I had a V8 trike for 5 years most all trike riders did wave. This same type of thing cames up in bike mags all the time but I don't lose any sleep over it. We might all ride bikes but we are not all members of the same club. P/s I don't actually wave ,I nod.I do ride a Triumph after all. but I do stop and offer help to any bike broken down.

[ This message was edited by: mkchev on 2006-07-01 03:21 ]

mecscc · 07-01-2006

Loud: he was saying Harley riders didn't wave, not that he didn't wave at them

Urban: It must be a local thing. Here everybody usually waves, harley riders included. When people don't wave I just figure that they are preoccupied and don't make anything of it. Many times I have at the last minute seen somebody wave to me and it was too late for me to wave back, and I certainly know that I have "missed" waving at others when busy with a turn or just looking the other way when they passed, etc. Hope they didn't think I was stuck up or something, but there really isn't any accounting for what people think.

I wave. If they don't thats OK too. I still wave.

Monte

07-01-2006

When I'm out on bikes I wave. When I used to drive VW Westphalias we'd wave at each other. In my experience wherever I ride in the States or Canada, most riders are waving. At rallys you get lots of practise riding with one hand :-)

cobra935o · 07-01-2006

I didnt think this really mattered that much but it keeps coming up in different topics every few months so some people must feel pretty strongly about it.

Nathan

dawgfan · 07-01-2006

I can't resist.
Most folks here in my part of Atlanta will wave. Sportbikes, cruisers, mopeds, etc.

From my experience, it is the (newer) HD riders that give the poker face and no wave. I have run into several old-timers (you can tell) at lights and what not and they at least give a smirk and a nod or wave.

Just yesterday I pulled up (at first, NOT quite next to) a pickup with HD and biker stickers all over the back. When I got next to him and saw that he looked like and old-school hard core rider (HD), my first thought is that we would not even look. To my amazement, he looked down at the Bonnie and got a big $hit eatin' grin on his face and gave me the big thumbs up.

I swear it is the weekend CEO, exec, HD riders that are giving the true HD riders a bad rap in this area. The weekend HD guys must feel that they have to look the part...or something..

JMO

[ This message was edited by: dawgfan on 2006-07-01 10:34 ]

Ridge · 07-01-2006

Quote:

On 2006-07-01 02:10, loudmouth wrote:
Why wouldn't you wave to Harley riders???.......

Maybe because most don't wave back to non-HD riders.

In chapter ten of the 'The New Owners Guide to How to Look Like a Toughguy Harley Rider ", it states that anything other than a Harley is not a real motorcycle and therefore not worth acknowledging. You can find it right after the chapter entitled "Your first Dew Rag" and right before the one entitled "Fake it Til Ya Make - Shaking the Investment Banker Image".

The funny thing is that, it's the guys that didn't need to read the 'handbook' that chat it up at the stoplights, parking lots, and 'Harley Bars". You know...the real hardasses.

By the way, I'm about halfway through "The Triumph Owner's Guide - So You Wannabe a Hooligan". It's pretty good. I just finished the section on the the difficulties of finding the proper costume when your a middle aged fat guy. That one really hit home. :wink:

Anchorbend · 07-01-2006

I could care less about waving. Years ago riders acknowledged each other because seeing another bike was not common. Today there are so many bikes out on the road it doesn't really feel necessary. I'll return a wave if it is not in traffic but more often than not I just raise my hand a little off the grip or nod my head. Getting lazy.

silverfox · 07-01-2006

I get waves from HD guys all the time. I don't, however, get waves from sports bike riders. Although I don't tend to wave to them either. I think it's because I just can't identify with them. It bothers me to see a guy in a full-face wearing shorts, sleeveless t-shirt and sandals.