Interesting Observation

[GPM]

Now that I've been riding the Rocket for a couple of weeks I've noticed something that I'd always thought was just a bad rap.

BMW riders, as a group, are snobs. I've always been one to wave at just about anything on two wheels. Hell, I even wave (not a big wave ya know) at scooter riders. Since I've been riding the cruiser I have to guess that only about 1 in 5 BMW riders even acknowledge your existence. The first time it happened I just figured the guy was busy, but it really seems to be endemic to the breed.

The upside is that most Harley riders wave, and then kind of do a double take. Must be something about a Road King with a Buick radiator that seems somehow unusual to them....

[jamming]

I generally wave at all bikes. NOW the Sportbike riders wave back, go figure? Most HD guys don't wave back.

Harry if ya wave at me, big fella....I'll wave back:pftroest:.

I'll be installing my bags next weekend. They are supposed to be in..I hope and doing the 600 mile service. If you want to ride by, come on. Us RATS have to stick together. Another Triumph guy lives next street over, and another just up the road are going to come by.

[Biff's R]

I generally wave at all bikes. NOW the Sportbike riders wave back, go figure? Most HD guys don't wave back.


That is usually what I encounter.

I don't wave in corners, or while shifting.

[Deans BMW]

Heck, the only other bikes that I have ever seen on the roads are Beemers....guess I will have to look harder....:pot:..:linzi:

I always wave.....................:028:

[Steve Carlton]

Are you saying only 1 in 5 BMW riders wave in return? If that's true, I'd be surprised, and would think the rate would be higher with more attempts. I frequently don't wave at cruisers, as they often don't wave back. I think they would if I was on a cruiser, though. They usually don't wave if I don't, either. I wave when I can when waved to, though.

All in all, I'm not big on the waving thing. To do it every time gets a little old, and motorcyclists aren't that big of a rarity on the road to justify it, IMO.

Always got a kick out of this essay:

To Wave or Not to Wave

By Shalom Auslander

I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community—a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets—God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys—I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at—those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet–like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

[DarthRider]

Now that I've been riding the Rocket for a couple of weeks I've noticed something that I'd always thought was just a bad rap.

BMW riders, as a group, are snobs. I've always been one to wave at just about anything on two wheels. Hell, I even wave (not a big wave ya know) at scooter riders. Since I've been riding the cruiser I have to guess that only about 1 in 5 BMW riders even acknowledge your existence. The first time it happened I just figured the guy was busy, but it really seems to be endemic to the breed.

The upside is that most Harley riders wave, and then kind of do a double take. Must be something about a Road King with a Buick radiator that seems somehow unusual to them....


I totally agree, although it seems to vary with cities & regions.
In general, my guess is also 1 in 5 BMW riders wave if you're on something other than BMW.
Also, only about 3-4 in 5 if you *are* on a BMW. My personal belief is that is largely a function of which model you are riding & what kind of riding gear you have ! How ridiculous is that ?

Maybe 4 in 5 HD riders wave, regardless of what you're riding. The super-yuppie "Rolex Rangers" type seem to be cursed with broken left arms, almost never waving, even to other HDs. Snobbery has a home there, as well as in BMW...another of several distinct similarities between those two marques.

Here in the Texas Panhandle it's probably 99.9 in 100, regardless of what you're riding or waving at...but we're a friendly bunch around here.

When I started riding there weren't many bikes out there and we always waved, and were always given the courtesy of a return wave. It's an old habit I will never give up...to me it is a genuine sign of respect, for various reasons. And a bit of a "secret handshake" for those of us lucky enough to be "in the club" limited only to people who ride motorcycles. Except for the little "double-dip" high beam flash of the Porsche guys, do you see it very often amongst car drivers ? Of course not, cars are primarily transportation appliances. Motorcycles are primarily for fun and are extensions of ourselves, sometimes even of our souls. They are special, as are the people who ride them, most anyway.

Today with a LOT of bikes out there, there seems to be a growing sentiment like in the great To Wave or Not to Wave essay that Steve posted..."I only wave at other riders who are *just like me*. Particularly in the BMW community. Certainly there can be other reasons for not waving, but snobbery sucks in all it's forms, and seems to be increasing.

[mnnden]

I wave at them all, some wave back, others do not, It's not the bike, but the rider, I find most "old schoolers" wave, (no matter what they are ridding) and the sport bike crowd is getting into it also. (although I'm sure they do not know why) One thing to remember is that "back in the day" (my day) motorcycle camaraderie was much more intense than it is now, back then biking was a real brotherhood, and the "wave" was sort of a fellowship, a secret handshake, it meant solidarity (or something). Back then there were far fewer riding bikes, now days a person could wear out an elbow in an afternoon of riding. I still wave, and get waves, but I know the meaning is gone, for all but a few.
My early days of biking had to be experenced, I don't think the feeling can be expressed in words. and the wave was part of that. JMOP, Den

[DarthRider]

Den...:eusa_clap::020:

Just as most teenagers think rock & roll was invented on their fourteenth birthday, so do far too many riders think the relationships between riders & machines, and even between riders, all came about when they first threw a leg over a bike and stalled the motor with too much clutch.

I guess that's why I've always been interested in history in general, and motorcycling history in particular, and hold older riders in such high regard. I can see how much things have changed, and yet how much they stay precisely the same over time.

To me, the waving thing has always been a symbol of not only that brotherhood you mentioned, but also the *continuity* of that brotherhood, and sisterhood too, of course.

It used to tick me off when a wave wasn't returned...I missed the quick little feeling of happiness, brotherhood, camaraderie. And resented it. I took it like a mini-insult and usually shot them the bird.

Not so much now. Now, it's just a brief, fleeting, feeling of sadness. Sadness for someone I don't know, someone who either doesn't know or doesn't care about what so many of us do know, and do care about...a feeling of being a part of something much larger, much more important, much longer lasting than ourselves. Something good, something special.

Something that if I had to explain it, they wouldn't understand.

[BobFV1]

I don't wave back at everyone who waves at me. I size them up and if they are worthy, I wave. Worthiness has nothing to do with the brand or type of bike they are riding - if they are ATGATT, riding responsibly and are on a roadworthy bike (one that has not been modified to the extent that stability or safety has been compromised) then I will wave back. So I usually don't wave back at the long-haired, tank-topped HD dude, but I also don't wave back at the fat redneck in shorts and a tee shirt riding a Gold Wing, or the squid in sneakers.

So there. Harry - you would probably "make the grade" in your ATGATT, riding your Honda Civic.

[DarthRider]

I don't wave back at everyone who waves at me. I size them up and if they are worthy, I wave. .

See "To Wave or Not to Wave" essay above...

[BobFV1]

See "To Wave or Not to Wave" essay above...

Too many words :eusa_clap:

[fganger]

Well since I've been riding I've waved at every bike, scooter, or police officer I pass in either direction. Even at large gatherings I do it for the first few hours or so, but Daytona Beach at Bike Week or Sturgis is just to much even for me.

Of course when I lived on my parents farm we did the same thing with every vehicle going in the other direction. I was told it was a signal to the person going the other way that the road is good and sound. My older bike friends tell me a similar story for the reason bikers wave. :041:

Stinkin' Frank:041:

[Arby]

I wave at everybody, if I see them in time.

In the NC mountains, all the locals wave, especially pickup truck drivers.

RB

[AZBMWRIDER]

Now that I've been riding the Rocket for a couple of weeks I've noticed something that I'd always thought was just a bad rap.

BMW riders, as a group, are snobs. I've always been one to wave at just about anything on two wheels. Hell, I even wave (not a big wave ya know) at scooter riders. Since I've been riding the cruiser I have to guess that only about 1 in 5 BMW riders even acknowledge your existence. The first time it happened I just figured the guy was busy, but it really seems to be endemic to the breed.

The upside is that most Harley riders wave, and then kind of do a double take. Must be something about a Road King with a Buick radiator that seems somehow unusual to them....

Next time I ride my snobbish BMW, I’ll be sure to wave at all the cruisers on the road… :finger: :rofl:

Haaaaaaaaa........!!!! :lol8:

[Gord]

I wave to every rider, although I felt like a bit of a knob waving at an Angel (he was wearing the colours and I didn't even notice it!). To me it is a camaraderie thing, and like Dave, I feel a little sad when I encounter a rider who does not return a wave when they easily could have.

[Wild Will]

BMW riders, as a group, are snobs.

Yeah, it's true. At the big Christmas party last year, the riders of rare and exclusive machinery were milling about solo and in pairs, sort of keeping to themselves. No wonder they don't always wave. They don't even like each other.

HD riders around here wave half the time. Sometimes, when I'm committed in either a turn or a fantasy, I forego waving. Before we know it, Dean'll be charging for pie!

[DarthRider]

Next time I ride my snobbish BMW, I’ll be sure to wave at all the cruisers on the road… :finger: :rofl:

Haaaaaaaaa........!!!! :lol8:

I never met a snobbish motorcycle...

[Tassie Devil]

Well if I'm able to I'll either wave to all motorcycle riders or just nod my head in their direction. I find that the majority respond and I don't get upset if they don't. I think that showing good manners encourages good manners...
That's what I think anyway....:eusa_boohoo:

Cheers,

JQ.

[Dirty Doug]

I go with Den on this. Being old school ( ridding before ridding was cool ) we always waved at other motorcycles because they were few and far between. It's a habit I've gotten into and won't ever break. Some wave back others don't but why let someone else spoil it for me. I'll always give the wave to fellow riders.

Dirty Doug
a.k.a K-Rider

[supermotoC]

I wave at everybody, and there's 3 distinct waves that work: 1). the typical (always left hand) arm-out, below the bar, and I use the first two fingers in a V configuration (sounds important that way) ; 2). an upward nod of the head for people I'm acknowledging with respect & comraderie ; 3). the AdvRider salute for everyone else. If you look like you know what's up, you get 1 or 2, if not......

[GPM]

Right after I created the thread yesterday, I thought maybe the observation wasn't that 'Interesting' after all.

But, the responses certainly have been.

Thanks

[gypsyRR]

I'm not telling whether or not I wave, so there.!!!!

[DarthRider]

I'm not telling whether or not I wave, so there.!!!!

Chicken !

[JCsman]

Crap! I guess the BMW salesman forgot to tell me to quit waving.... so I didn't.

[socalrob]

I was riding the Hypermotard up the 2 freeway the other afternoon at a lazy 72mph in the slow lane. Not ticket territory (unless the LEO has a hardon for bikes) but I nonetheless normally keep an eye out for the CHP. I was surprized when I realized there was a fellow rider in the fast lane just about opposite me, and even more surpirsed when I realized he was a CHP motor officer, and he was waving to me, looked like he was waving me to go ahead of him (he was running about 80mph)

I was so dumbfounded, I did manage to give him a thumbs up, but hell if I was going zip up the freeway at 85mph ahead of him. I did pace him at 80 though. The few cars sharing the road fell back quickly.

I wave at pretty much everyone, especially scooters, as I like the kind of wide eyed response from them. I also wave at LEO's on bikes, as they are so vilified by other riders I like to give them a little love too.

Here in LA seems like just about everybody waves back, even most of the hardcore HD guys.

[Elsie Smith]

...But, the responses certainly have been.

yes, very and funny. I've always waved at everything on two-wheels, like 'yippee' share the fun!

[vintagemxr]

Here in my neck o' the desert about the only people that don't seem to wave back are the 1%ers whom I'm sure would be stuck blind if they even looked upon a non-Harley with anything but contempt. I'm not sure they'd even wave at a Harley that wasn't one of their own.

the other Doug

[Tripton]

This is interesting.

See, Iowans like to wave. I dont really have an explanation for it, but seems like regardless of the vehicle that you are in (or on) people will wave to you.

Like I said, I am not too sure on the train of thought behind it, but there isnt such a thing as traffic in my town. I guess people are just friendly.

When I am on my Rockster, almost everyone on a bike waves...but not ALL the Harleys...

(Personally, I think they are the snobs.)

[Sweet Lorraine]

Hey! Maybe it's the [I]way[I] you wave!?!? Down low, left hand, palm open, right? Unless you're in a car, then you can only do the left hand, palm open, above-the-head wave, right? Now, what happens if your on a MC and come upon another MC and do a left-hand, palm open, above-the-head wave?

Probably all you'll get is a stupid stare, a finger or no wave at all, eh?

That is, of course, unless you're the first waver and do a left-hand, above-the-head, with a peace sign. Even a down-low peace sign would be good.

How could anyone not wave back at that?

Oh, wait . . . some of us are not old enough to remember what a peace sign is, maybe. Well, it's usually done with two fingers, index and middle (on the same hand) forming a "V". I can't believe I wrote that . . . nobody here really doesn't know what a peace sign is, right?

Just wave. Peace.

:006:

SW
"Come on take it! Have another little piece of my heart now, baby." (WW won't be the only one to get that one, will he?)

[supermotoC]

Ahhhh, Janis.

[mrogge]

I've held off on responding to this thread until my experiences over the past couple days. Here are my observations. Keep in mind I wave to most everyone, regardless of Brand or Style of bike.

When I'm riding my R1200ST, I have noticed the majority of riders return my wave, EXCEPT for HD/Chopper type riders. They tend to fall into the "less the 50%" group.

Since my recent switch of rides due to the Electrical issue which occurred this last Saturday, I've been riding the Kawasaki 500R. Yes, it's a Ninja, but not a SQUID/Crotch Rocket/SuperSport looking MC. My observation has been that the majority of riders return my wave, INCLUDING the HD/Chopper type riders.

My conclusion from MY experience . . . it isn't the BMW riders who have the attitude . . . it's the HD/Chopper type riders possessing the 'tude.

Just my two cents.

[DarthRider]

My conclusion from MY experience . . . it isn't the BMW riders who have the attitude . . . it's the HD/Chopper type riders possessing the 'tude.

Just my two cents.

Mark, I think they're just scared by the windshield & light...:058:

[Gord]

Mark, I think they're just scared by the windshield & light...:058:

Can't be it Dave.

All the Harley guys I know hunker down behind big windscreens more often than not. Riding naked to them means putting on a different, sleeveless Harley T-Shirt each day and a do-rag!

I suspect they fear that hidden in amongst the futuristic lines of the RT is a weapons system that would put the Bismarck and Tirpitz to shame. Der Deutsche JagdRT.