Why they don't wave back!

[Isabo]

Top Ten Reasons:

Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back:

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse 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 Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms

[masraum]

Hilarious!

[tabs]

They think it will make them look like Sissys if they wave.

[wludavid]

When riding that slow, you need all the stability you can manage.

[LakeCleElum]

Too inexperienced to ride with one hand....

[PFFOG]

Add a new one...................

Actually they are stuck to the bars, from all the Loc-tite that is all over their hands. It is a pre-ride ritual to wash and Loc-tite every detail of the bike. You don't want those $400 chrome plated H-D engraved bolts falling out every ride.

[Flatbutt1]

I can't find the pix of the one guy that did wave on Deals Gap but then crashed so this will have to do.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=487_1205349914

[Flatbutt1]

Found it!

[Jeff Higgins]

Actually, around here every goddamn one of them waves. It's all a part of the show. That, and calling each other "bro", hugging each other all the time, and getting their first tattoo at 53 years of age. And let's not forget growing their three remaining strands of hair out and tying them into a leather wrapped ponytail, wearing a beard for the first time in their life, and the ubiquitous ear ring.

Yes, I've been riding Harleys for 30 years now. These clowns have me seriously considering something else, as much as I love the bike. The "guilt by association" that comes with riding one today is starting to get to me. Maybe a Beemer or something...

Anyway, I remember when we waved because it was actually unusual to run accross another bike on the road. It was more of a "hey look; your's is running too!!" kind of a wave. Or more than likely we knew each other. Nowadays, if I waved at every fair weather weekend badass I run accross on our backroads, I would never have my left hand on the bar. We are over run with them. I only wave in the winter months, or on rainy days; the boutique crowd is at home; warm, dry, and safe. And looking through Harley-Davidson Motorclothes "spring collection" catalogs (I ***** you not - got one in the mail the other day).

Oh well. I still wave at other Porsches. I run accross them with about the same frequency that I used to run accross other bikes. If the Porsche is old enough, they usually wave back. It has an enthusiast in it. The opposite is true on the bike; the new riders on the new bikes wave. The guys with some miles in the saddle, and years of riding under their belts, have pretty much stopped. We'll let the yuppie RUB FNG's have their fun and think they're cool.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Hard Core H.D. riders would NEVER raise their hand to wave!

How ...utterly...European!

The "wave/acknowledgment " among REAL bikers is a palm forward, lowered, extended arm. Kinda like a left turn signal only rather than parallel to the ground, it's a 45 degree angle, downward.

Think ...'LOW FIVE'.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Anyway, I remember when we waved because it was actually unusual to run accross another bike on the road. It was more of a "hey look; your's is running too!!" kind of a wave.

OMG thats funny. Back in the day whenever we passed another bike of ANY brand we usually put a fist in the air. But that was city riding in the 60s

[VincentVega]

Found it!

That sucks. That's not much of a lean angle, not cool. Even if the HD guys dont wave to me I dont want to see them bite it. I do wonder about the gear though.

[Steve Carlton]

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?

[on2wheels52]

I'm in a small market area and ride every day. I've pretty well figured out who's going to wave back. Out on the road things are different.
Jim

[Drago]

I'll buy I bimmer (beemer is resrved for the cars) if you will. I'm thinking of a 2005 R1150GS. In blue, with the white stripes. Either that or a K bike.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Actually, around here every goddamn one of them waves. It's all a part of the show. That, and calling each other "bro", hugging each other all the time, and getting their first tattoo at 53 years of age. And let's not forget growing their three remaining strands of hair out and tying them into a leather wrapped ponytail, wearing a beard for the first time in their life, and the ubiquitous ear ring.

Yes, I've been riding Harleys for 30 years now. These clowns have me seriously considering something else, as much as I love the bike. The "guilt by association" that comes with riding one today is starting to get to me. Maybe a Beemer or something...

Anyway, I remember when we waved because it was actually unusual to run accross another bike on the road. It was more of a "hey look; your's is running too!!" kind of a wave. Or more than likely we knew each other. Nowadays, if I waved at every fair weather weekend badass I run accross on our backroads, I would never have my left hand on the bar. We are over run with them. I only wave in the winter months, or on rainy days; the boutique crowd is at home; warm, dry, and safe. And looking through Harley-Davidson Motorclothes "spring collection" catalogs (I ***** you not - got one in the mail the other day).

Oh well. I still wave at other Porsches. I run accross them with about the same frequency that I used to run accross other bikes. If the Porsche is old enough, they usually wave back. It has an enthusiast in it. The opposite is true on the bike; the new riders on the new bikes wave. The guys with some miles in the saddle, and years of riding under their belts, have pretty much stopped. We'll let the yuppie RUB FNG's have their fun and think they're cool.

[livi]

Just do not hit them with your car. The bike could be yours.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yes, I've been riding Harleys for 30 years now. These clowns have me seriously considering something else, as much as I love the bike. The "guilt by association" that comes with riding one today is starting to get to me.

Same here! (Although only 25 yrs here.) I'm on my 3rd one.
Nothing I hate more than being lumped in with RUBS. I avoid all and any Harley events and gatherings. I dont even think I own a HD T-shirt anymore for fear of being RUBBED out.

But then again, while everyone likes to make fun of the new breed of HD riders, they aren't that much different than allot of the clowns I've seen at PCA events with all their P-car clothing and related paraphernalia

[NICKG]

since when does honda own any of harley?
lux tax? not really in the states ...i guess in europe wher a Harley is a status symbol..i just think of them as another bike

[Drago]

I'll buy I bimmer (beemer is resrved for the cars) if you will.

I'm thinking of a 2005 R1150GS. In blue, with the white stripes. Either that or a K1200[i]X[/] bike. Or maybe an R1100RS. I don't know quite yet...I need to go take some test rides.

Oh, and when I had my '80 GS1100E, I waved at everyone on two wheels.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Actually, around here every goddamn one of them waves. It's all a part of the show. That, and calling each other "bro", hugging each other all the time, and getting their first tattoo at 53 years of age. And let's not forget growing their three remaining strands of hair out and tying them into a leather wrapped ponytail, wearing a beard for the first time in their life, and the ubiquitous ear ring.

Yes, I've been riding Harleys for 30 years now. These clowns have me seriously considering something else, as much as I love the bike. The "guilt by association" that comes with riding one today is starting to get to me. Maybe a Beemer or something...

Anyway, I remember when we waved because it was actually unusual to run accross another bike on the road. It was more of a "hey look; your's is running too!!" kind of a wave. Or more than likely we knew each other. Nowadays, if I waved at every fair weather weekend badass I run accross on our backroads, I would never have my left hand on the bar. We are over run with them. I only wave in the winter months, or on rainy days; the boutique crowd is at home; warm, dry, and safe. And looking through Harley-Davidson Motorclothes "spring collection" catalogs (I ***** you not - got one in the mail the other day).

Oh well. I still wave at other Porsches. I run accross them with about the same frequency that I used to run accross other bikes. If the Porsche is old enough, they usually wave back. It has an enthusiast in it. The opposite is true on the bike; the new riders on the new bikes wave. The guys with some miles in the saddle, and years of riding under their belts, have pretty much stopped. We'll let the yuppie RUB FNG's have their fun and think they're cool.

[Drago]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

... But then again, while everyone likes to make fun of the new breed of HD riders, they aren't that much different than allot of the clowns I've seen at PCA events with all their P-car clothing and related paraphernalia

This would be the same reason I avoid PCA events like the plague.

It seems that they strive to be officers of the club.