I started legally riding on the street in 76. And rode year round for 11 years. Not a lot of bikes on the road then. Seemed like everyone would throw their fist in the air back then. Bikers had a bad rap going back then. I could leave my helmet on the mirror and no-one ever messed with it. Now days it seems like there are a lot of punks on bikes. Not calling anyone out. Just rambling from what I perceive, right or wrong. To me, Lots of people ride for some messed up imaginary reason instead of riding to ride. I like to ride by myself and in the middle of the night. The less people I see the more I like it out there. Buell riders and solitary enduro riders are OK to me. But, I'm almost to the point of being prejudiced of riders of certain bikes. Ignorance was bliss. Throw them all the shocker and laugh when their passenger is the one to wave back.
I was thinking about "The Wave" on a road trip. Seems like real riders don't care what you're riding they wave or nod. It's the punks and yuppies that are "Too Cool For You" that won't unless you meet their standards. When it's still in the 30s around here EVERYONE wave...only the true riders are out then, or nuts one of the two.
I will say I have more riders wave when I'm on my KLR (guess it looks bigger with the bags and all ) than Buell...but then I'm in haul a$$ mode on the Buell and I don't wave back.`
I bought a CityX Hero Blue flyscreen and airbox cover from ebay, took off the rubber X and put it on my gloss black airbox cover, then just rattle can sprayed the Hero Blue parts Krylon Camo Ultra Flat black.
I try to wave as much as I can to people wearing helmets.I reckon we all respect Life.Those without a helmet I do not wave at regardless.I figure they are mad at life and sick of living and I'd hate to push them over the edge.Seriously though I have found most in common with people who wear helmets.Generally speaking those who do not wear helmets are of two types.The sportbike crew without helmets will kick your ass.And the Harley riders without helmets are "all" Hell's Angels and they'll kill you for looking at them the wrong way.
I have a Harley and a Buell and used to sometimes ride my son's Ducati. I wave at everyone (scooters included) when I see them and believe it is safe to do so. Sometimes I don't see the other bike in time to wave or I don't think it would be safe to wave at the time. The only exception is if the person's body language makes it clear he won't wave back. Then I don't bother.
It's always funny to me how often these, "They didn't wave back" threads pop up.
I've stopped waving. It's annoying, especially on a nice day and there are bikes abound, or when you're deep in thought as is often the case on a bike. I don't know the other guy, I don't really care to, and the bottom line if I were stranded on the side of the road, they'd be riding by - I know, it's happened more than once.
I wonder how many of these threads I've prompted, lol.
BTW - If I see a Buell, I'll send out some kind of sign, and if I'm a straight road and someone waves in time for me to react I'll rotate my hand up off the grip, but none of this fist in the air, fingers pointing at the ground hokey poeky nonsense.
I spent the weekend riding in Southern Ohio and Indiana and back up to the Chicago area. I waved at most bikes when safe and virtually everyone waves back and a high percentage were HD riders.
I also stopped a couple of times on this trip when I saw bikes on the side of the road. Fortunately they were not break downs. I believe that ultimately, what goes around comes around.
I have become very tired of the waving thing. If my wife is the pillion I tell her have at it, she could care less also. Otherwise I will wave when waved to but really like to ride not wave.
Lately this hating Hd and the HD riders seems to have reached critical mass. I have seen some horrible attitude expressed in many other posts.
Maybe I am wrong but this sometimes juvenile behavior cannot be good for Buell riders and motorcyclist in general.
What is up with this attitude. Yes, HD corporate did shut Buell down, yes some HD riders are not what some consider to be real motorcyclist but this attitude will not solve the problems. Any more, this site is getting to be more like some of the BMW and Ducati sites where everybody else are A-holes.
) than Buell...but then I'm in haul a$$ mode on the Buell and I don't wave back.`