The Motorcyclist's "Wave":

[Robb]

Poll question: The Motorcyclist's "Wave":

I dig this. As a guy on a bike, I now get that little clutch-hand "wave" from motorcycle riders passing the other way. :thumbsup:

But what are they communicating? :D

[ForrestGump]

1. Third one -- everyone's trying to kill motorcyclists

Solidarity. But maybe not with everybody. Look on Web fora and you'll see much made of who waves to who.

I ride a Japanese sport bike and find that most riders of sport bikes or 'standard' bikes (especially Japanese but also Italian and least of all German, the BMWs) will wave but that Harley riders usually don't return a wave (especially the new generation of poseurs) and that Gold Wing riders, at least when it's a couple on a fully dressed Wing and both are wearing the requisite open-face helmet and communication device, are almost as bad.

I've had a few waves from Harley dudes, usually the kind who you can tell don't have a whole wardrobe of brank, spanking new Harley-logo clothing and also from the rare Harley riders that wear full-face helmets instead of those ridiculous plastic beanies that so many mistakenly believe look manly and cool. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if the waving caste system is more based on helmet type than the motorcycle brand divisions along which it's usually said to exist.

[democracyindanger]

2. That's because Harleys aren't motorcycles.

But I disagree with you about Gold Wings. Gold Wings wave at everybody.

[ForrestGump]

3. Hey, it can still be a motorcycle even if it does have a Soviet-style

tractor engine powering it. :-)

I remember the universal wave of the Gold Wingers, but it's been so long since I received one that I'd forgotten all about it. Maybe they've gotten less friendly over the years, or more immersed in watching the DVD player mounted on the console. Maybe it's just me...maybe I've become as invisible to Gold Wing riders and their passengers as we all are to most cagers.


Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.

9. Leather and studs make it too hard to raise arm.

8. Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.

7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.

6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.

5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.

4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by those rice-burner manufacturers.

3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.

2. Remember the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.

1. They're jealous that after spending $30,000, they still don't own a Gold Wing.


Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.

9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.

8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.

7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.

6. The espresso machine just finished.

5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.

4. Was in a three-way conference call with stock broker and accessories dealer.

3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.

2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.

1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

[democracyindanger]

4. Hilarious

Thumbs up. :)

[BikeWriter]

5. Harleys aren't motorcycles?

What criteria do you base that, uh, erroneous opinion on?

[democracyindanger]

6. Years of observation

reinforced by this website: :evilgrin:

http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/

Start with the FAQ. It pretty much lays it all out there.

[BikeWriter]

7. That's some funny shit, but...

I've put around 300,000 miles on Harleys and enjoyed most of them.

[democracyindanger]

8. I know, I know: Look, don't take it personally,

but he sorta nails it with this:

Harley Davidson seems to have forgotten what motorcycling is all about. There was a time when Harley Davidson was a good bike. They built the best and the the fastest motorcycles in the world, but they became stagnant. The rest of the world started building better mousetraps than Milwaukee could. Milwaukee refused to change with the times. The rest of the world left Milwaukee behind, it happened sometime in the late '60s when Harley Davidson started losing races to British and Japanese motorcycles. What did Harley do? Did they jump into research and catch up to the foreign invaders? Did they pick up the down trodden American flag and raise it high into the air again, waving it proudly in victory? When the chips were down, did they muster all that they had, pick up the pieces, and come from behind to capture the winner's cup in grand American tradition.

No.

Harley did what no American would ever consider doing... They quit.

Harley gave up. They quit racing. When their bubble was burst, and new and faster motorcycles were entering the market, Harley simply walked away and never went racing again. Harley left the real world and gave the go ahead to European and Japanese manufacturers that America was out of the performance circle and that America was out of the game. Soon what the British and Japanese engineers were learning at the race tracks, they were applying to their brands of motorcycles, making them faster, better handlers, lighter, more durable, more reliable. Their technology was advancing by the year, with each victory, with each innovation, each design breakthrough.
...
The American V-twin. What a overweight, underpowered waste of good material and metal. Freedom. Power. Blah. Blah. Blah. All canned pure marketing bullshit from Milwaukee's own spin doctors. The American V-Twin. The American embarrassment is more like it. This thing is a clunker, a boat anchor. It takes 1203ccs of American V-Twin to even come close to what 600ccs of Japanese in-line four can pump out for performance, and even then the 600cc 'rice rocket' will always blow the chrome off of the Harley. We don't build anything else, just twins. No straight fours, no V-fours, no singles, nothing. Just old, outdated twins that have been around since before World War II.

A Harley's a motorcycle like a Model-T's a car. It is...but these days...well, it really isn't.

And read the whole thing, forgetting about the Harley thing for a sec. Because it's actually a great, honest expression of what patriotism really is. Seriously. It's a good read.

[BikeWriter]

9. Well... Okay...

I do enjoy them. I happen to like that big V-Twin roar. Those big tractor engines you're laughing at run forever, too. :-)

[ForrestGump]

10. It's true: 95% of the Harleys ever made are still on the road...

Oh, come on...you know the punchline... :-)

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. Yeah, and keep dropping those parts guys!

Soon all I will need is a frame to build a new one.

[BikeWriter]

15. Okay, I'll turn that around...

The Honda Goldwing motorcycle came out in October 1974, as the flat-four cylinder, 999cc GL1000 Gold Wing. How many 1970 era GoldWings are still on the road?

[petronius]

11. Thanks for the link

I've only read a paragraph, and I've already learned two excellent new insults!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. Years and years back, it was everybody waved

then the hemeted ones only waved at helmets, now... who the fuck knows.

I wave at everyone... I could care less.

I will ALWAYS stop to help another biker, even wheelie-pulling shitheads.

[BikeWriter]

14. I have pictures here somewhere of a dozen or so of us...

and our Ladies standing beside the road pouring a beer can full of gas into a new Honda's tank. I always thought that was the coolest picture. That kid sure looked scared when we pulled over.

[In_The_Wind]

16. May we together live one more day ~ I ride, I wave ... I wish you

smooth roads, beautiful curves, fair weather ~ ~ ~