Topic: When did everyone become a butthole?

[rhos1355]

I had a great instructor when I did my 5-day intensive bike course. It wasn't all theory and instruction with him, during the lunch breaks he'd talk to us about the many pleasures of biking as well as dangers. He told us about the "biking brother/sisterhood" where you show recognition if not respect to other riders by giving a little nod or wave. Most importantly, he said, when you see another biker parked on the side of the road always assume he/she is in trouble. Stop and find out if they're having a specific problem. Who knows, you might just be able to help, and if you do, think of the kick you're gonna get out of it for the rest of the day. Anyway, he said, what's it gonna cost ya to roll up behind him, ask "you allright, mate?" get the thumbs up from him and you carry on with your ride? 45 seconds?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

In the seventies when you met another rider it was usually a raised fist biker salute, and everyone did it, everyone, or else they only had one arm.

Possibly since the rise of the Black Power movement the raised fist has been frowned upon, the Black Power gangs here in NZ use it still and the Mongrel Mob (thick as) use the "hang lose in Hawaii" thumb and little finger raised salute, completely ruining a great greeting that used to mean friendship.

Black Power gangs in NZ?? You gotta be #$%*ting me. Thats mostly old timey stuff. I thought we were the only oppressive country in the world.  You gotta quit holding the bro back. Looks like we get all the trends started in the States. Sorry about that.

[Ryan 550k]

This is only my second season of riding but one of the coolest things about motorcycle culture is the wave. It really shows off the brotherhood of our lifestyle. I always initiate a wave if I'm not in the middle of clutching or tucked in running all out. But this year  I'm probably only getting about half of the people waving back. Now I understand not to expect one if someone is cornering or in the middle of traffic or something similar but come on 50%?!?!

My percentage is much higher with people on crotch rockets and bless them for it. My lowest percentage has to be with gray haired people on Harleys of course. This is getting kind of ridiculous, the wave should be on the motorcycle permit test. Im done venting for now.

When talking to people at cruise nights or shows it seems to be one of two reasons...

1. It just isn't cool anymore to have girls in a car watch you wave to someone else.

2. More an more people think that anything other than a Harley is crap and won't or don't want to give you the time of day.

Me personally I am the crazy guy who waves at everything on wheels. Cars with little kids in them, old people on their hover-rounds, even bicyclists get a high five a 60 mph.

Anything to let them know I appreciate them. 

[Industrial Cafe]

Newbies, that have spent most of their driving years in cages, are so worried about wether they should wave or not, so they dont..

 They are too worried about looking like a dork, waving at the wrong person , that they wont..

 But secretly, a lot of them WOULD LIKE TO WAVE. .. I mean like who EVER waved at them before..

I like the wave.
    I get it back most of the time too. I think the ones that don't give it back are concentrating on staying on the road too much.

In St. Pete, in the ricer community, when we'd see each other, we'd just push in the clutch and hit the rev limiter for a second, and the other kid would do it back.

it was the only way to get the other guys attention.
    have you ever ridden in a riced out honda? a little loud inside

[razor02097]

I started waiving cause when I first rode I was waived at and I was like wtf?  So I just started and don't give it much thought.  I notice that most times when its a bigger bike with a bi.... passenger on the back she is the one to waive back

[BeSeeingYou]

Oh no, I have become a butthole.

I always thought it was a "brotherly camaraderie" thing out on the open road more so than for the casual ride around town.  Little things like this can get so overdone as to be meaningless, like the bic lighter at a concert.  Around town I prefer "the nod" unless it's a cool vintage bike.  Then it's the wave or a thumbs up.

[Inkscars]

I get waves from female passengers too. Most the time when I do not recieve the wave, it's because it's a scooter getting mad because I go out of my way to wave like three times to them. 
What does it mean when 3 guys wave and one pats his helmet? We have an argument about this. I will not tell you the story. I patiently wait for an answer.

[Really?]

Hard to get a wave back from a Harley.  Even if both are baggers.

Careful though, some of those waves you don't think you get, you are actually getting one.  I and other people I know lift there fingers up, still keeping the bottom part of the palm on the bar.  Sometimes I think the mirror gets in the way.

If I do not do the above, I lay my hand down to the side flat if it is for a bike on the left and my left hand under my right arm, flat and sticking out a bit.

One thing I think I have noticed is a lotta youngin's on the crotch rockets might don't wave 'cause they really do not know yet or think it is uncool.

[Dave-and-his-550]

I'm a pretty new rider, and I've only come across 5-6 other bikers so far in my area. I've received waves every time, and when I first went out for a wave myself I felt a little uneasy with the wind taking my arm back, I guess I shoulda practiced the wave so I'd know what to expect 

So ya, I think it makes some people uneasy. Also I think it has to do with the riding position. If riding forward with clubman bars, I think if you take one arm off the bar, you have to use your leg muscle and left arm more to keep it steady while putting one arm out to wave, sounds unnerving thinking about it...And a little more difficult for those riders. You might not always feel it, but you do it intuitively I think.

[Gordon]

What does it mean when 3 guys wave and one pats his helmet?

Tapping your helmet means there's a cop up ahead.

[razor02097]

They have sites for that sort of thing....


http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/safety/handsignals.shtml

I'm fond of the "Ticked Off" hand signal  

[Hope]

this reminds me of the old 'motorcycle wave' threads we had a while back.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=10310.0

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=1422.0

[razor02097]

I get waves from female passengers too. Most the time when I do not recieve the wave, it's because it's a scooter getting mad because I go out of my way to wave like three times to them. 
What does it mean when 3 guys wave and one pats his helmet? We have an argument about this. I will not tell you the story. I patiently wait for an answer.

I think that Hand on helmet = Cops ahead.... I think... maybe depends on where you live?

[Hope]

I think that Hand on helmet = Cops ahead.... I think... maybe depends on where you live?

Cop Nearby - Pat the top of your helmet quickly.   http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/dictionary/H.htm

[razor02097]

I think that Hand on helmet = Cops ahead.... I think... maybe depends on where you live?

Cop Nearby - Pat the top of your helmet quickly.   http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/dictionary/H.htm

well there ya go 

I was wondering why everyone was checking to see if their helmet was top their head  before I got pulled over 

[cb650]

They have sites for that sort of thing....


http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/safety/handsignals.shtml

I'm fond of the "Ticked Off" hand signal  

As it was for women rider I was expecting something diffrent.
There is always the classic   http://www.ooze.com/finger/html/how_to.html

[Hope]

As it was for women rider I was expecting something diffrent.
There is always the classic   http://www.ooze.com/finger/html/how_to.html

I don't think that I have ever used your hand signal that you suggested.



I tend to rev my engine a little to make folks aware that I am there as they cut me off...  If they didn't see me or my bike, I doubt they will see my hand signal, but tend to hear my engine racing as it signifies my pissedoffedness.

[BIKE]

I wouldn't get too worked up about something as trivial as this.  I initiate waves, sometimes I don't get waved back...oh well.

[flybox1]

What does it mean when 3 guys wave and one pats his helmet?

Tapping your helmet means there's a cop up ahead.

+1
....we gotta look out for eachother.  its good Karma.

[Burnboy]

I tend to rev my engine a little to make folks aware that I am there as they cut me off...  If they didn't see me or my bike, I doubt they will see my hand signal, but tend to hear my engine racing as it signifies my pissedoffedness.

Yeah its hard to honk the horn on a cb  and sound mad

This would be a good avatar!

[razor02097]

I tend to rev my engine a little to make folks aware that I am there as they cut me off...  If they didn't see me or my bike, I doubt they will see my hand signal, but tend to hear my engine racing as it signifies my pissedoffedness.

Yeah its hard to honk the horn on a cb  and sound mad

This would be a good avatar!

I like this for an avatar

[333]

If you don't do it, I will.

[Dave-and-his-550]

Yeah its hard to honk the horn on a cb  and sound mad

Currently my horn is inoperable. I've never heard a CB horn, but if it's anything like my 94 accord then 

I tend to rev my engine a little to make folks aware that I am there as they cut me off...  If they didn't see me or my bike, I doubt they will see my hand signal, but tend to hear my engine racing as it signifies my pissedoffedness.

Yeah its hard to honk the horn on a cb  and sound mad

This would be a good avatar!

I like this for an avatar

lol ya but u gotta animate it as a gif with the finger!

[Frankenkit]

I have a 115dB horn and it sounds PISSED.

[bucky katt]

i used to get bugged about folks not waving back but after talking to some newer riders, theyre not willing to take a hand off the bars for even a second and i can respect that