Biker Wave???

i have been riding for 2 weeks now. and first off i must say there is no better place to be then on my bike. the next thing i would like to ask is about the biker wave. i have been riding in cagers all my life and never gotten any expression from a biker before. but now there is this interesting thing that i have noticed all bikers do(all of them i see pass each other.) and it seems to be more of a Harley/cruiser type rider thing. and i call it the biker wave. it goes like this every time i pass a bike or i notice 2 bikes passing each other going in opposite directions they take there left hand and just under the handle bars a little wave. now is this just some cult thing that is local to northeastern Wisconsin or do all bikers do this? i ride a older jap bike and i get the wave from every biker i pass except sport bike riders but normally they pass me so fast i cant really see if they waved or not.

I've seen it in every State I've ever been in, ever since I can remember (32 years of riding). Back when I started riding everybody waved. Now,as you noticed, the Sport Bike riders seem to not wave as much, once in a while one will, but for the most part its just the HD and cruiser types that I see wave.

I've seen it out here in the Pacific Northwest since the 70's, I even gotten it from a Washington County Sheriff.

I agree with you about the sports bike riders, though I always assumed their hands were busy fighting to keep that front wheel on the ground, considering the number of times I've seen them up in the air when they pass me.:D

Actually, there is a recent big thread/poll all about the biker wave. :) See below:

http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=72375

I have seen it all around, it is everywhere and it actually makes me feel all warm inside everytime somebody waves. Nice to know there is still "unspoken" communities and respect out there. Hard to come by these days.

Yeah that wave is all over. Mostly a common courtesy to other riders. Just like if you are in a crowd and don't know anyone, but there is someone else in the crowd that rides a bike you two are immediately buddies because of the common ground of riding a bike.

And I am a sports bike rider and wave to everyone, except pedestrians, cars and scooters. But if you are on a bike you get a wave.

well. thats good to hear. i was driving home last night and a bike behind me didn't wave. if a guy doesn't return the wave do you think he is an *******? or just spaced out?

The guy behind you, well could have been spaced out or busy. Around here most bikers wave, sport bike or regular bike, if they meet you going the opposite way. They don't really wave at someone riding in front of them or behind them.

Some cruiser riders won't wave at sportbikes and vice versa. Seems kinda silly, but there ya go.

Everybody on a motorcycle gets a wave outta' me, whether they want it or not! Just think it's neat when I also get the occasional waves from Ranchers, persons on Horseback and folks out on Tractors. :) Got to admit I probably keep my wave hand to myself if a 1%er M/C is out for a run - it's just not done / proper etiquette, ya' know?! Unless one of them waves first (it happens now and then... ). Nuff' said.

LRG

Footnote: I will NOT wave though while in Traffic. Cage Drivers are all Confused enough as it IS!

I'll wave most of the time, depending on if my left hand it busy with the clutch or not. Yes, even at scooters, they are in the same boat as us :) I do tend to get either a sheepish wave or uncomprehending look from most of them though.