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[Sun Devil]

Motorcycling  Etiquette - When & How to Wave.

I was riding SR 159 near the Red Rock loop, when an approaching Goldwinger gave me a Queen’s Wave (twisting his left wrist slightly left and right, with his hand slightly cupped). I nearly fell off my bike, laughing. A Queens Wave! I found this experience so unnerving I failed to return the wave, I just laughed. Then I began to think about biker wave etiquette and wondered why the road captains do not include wave instructions with the other hand signals. For that matter, I don’t remember any mention of the wave in the basic or advanced rider courses. How could something that happens every time you ride go uninstructed? When is a wave appropriate and what is the proper way to give one?

When I got home, I googled and surfed the web, looking for answers, but all I found were more questions. Should I even be a waver, and if so, should I wave first or only return waves? Does it matter what brand or type of bike is approaching and what about those scary hard corps bikers with ape hangers?
What is the wave protocol for a group of approaching bikes, will one long wave take care of the whole group or are individual waves required? What about on a poker run or bike rally, do you just wave yourself crazy?

If your going to be a waver you’ll have to choose a wave style. The basic wave styles are: the left-handed, low wave, straight out and the high wave. There is also the right-handed wave, which says, “Hi, I have cruise control”. The basic waves have variations which include the extension of any number of fingers, palm direction and motion. The advanced wave options are endless: Two Finger Flip, Four Finger Wiggle, Mini-Wave and on and on. When you are unable to safely wave, it is acceptable to substitute a Head Nod in lieu of a bona fide wave.

Here is what I’m going to do, until I receive proper instruction: When I give the wave first, I’ll use the peace sign, low for Harley’s and higher for those others. When I’m returning an other biker’s wave, I’ll mimic their wave, unless it’s a Queen’s Wave, in which case, I’ll  just laugh. ;-)

[Buy early]

Hilarious! Do you wave at scooters?

[Fired00d]

This has been posted before, but here is a solution...

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Georgehjr]

 

[RidinRuby]

And then of course there is the single finger wave, probably the most effective

[Sun Devil]

The single finger wave, to which I believe you are referring, is classified as a highway salute. The highway salute is considered impolite, especially by old school bikers.

Reference: Wikipedia

[Hawg]

What do you think when you don't get the wave back?

[WestCoastRuss]

No big deal.......it was only a Vespa....

[Sun Devil]

If my wave is not returned, I feel somewhat offended and for the next few miles I become a return waver only. I never become a non-waver as this would make someone else feel like a dork.
This is the wave conundrum; If everyone says, I'm only going to return waves, then that's the end of bikers waving. So, you have to take a chance and be a first waver some of the time and risk being snubbed.

[StrikerDown]

Honestly I never gave it much thought! To wave or not to wave, that is the question.

Usually 1 or 2 fingers pointed towards the center line seems adequate. Unless it's a scooter, he gets a 1 finger wave of another kind!   (just kidding)

A nod is fine when you have the clutch pulled, we've all been there.

Seriously, keep your mind on what you are doing, don't sweat the little crap!

[WestCoastRuss]

If my wave is not returned, I feel somewhat offended and for the next few miles I become a return waver only. I never become a non-waver as this would make someone else feel like a dork.
This is the wave conundrum; If everyone says, I'm only going to return waves, then that's the end of bikers waving. So, you have to take a chance and be a first waver some of the time and risk being snubbed.

Does that mean I was snubbed by a.............Vespa?

[Sun Devil]

Proper motorcycling etiquette is never, "sweating the small stuff".

Etiquette tells one when and how to properly give and return a biker wave. Manners tells one what to do and how to respond when a fellow biker doesn't follow the bikers rules of etiquette.

If you ever have any questions on proper biker etiquette, please feel free to consult me.

[Twolanerider]

Does anyone remember when "the wave" started being so damned normal anyway?  If anyone has been riding long enough they'll remember when those that were or at least looked the part of old road dogs passed each other with a casually tossed closed hand.  That usually lazy clenched fist was tossed unless the other guy had on the wrong colors.

The silly wave is now so ubiquitous though.  I just don't remember when it actually started being the normal thing to do?

[Sun Devil]

Wave folklore has it that the wave began one day in 1904 when Arthur Davidson passed by William Harley  and since they knew each other, they waved, thus a tradition was born.

[Hawg]

Have you ever waved and realized you waved to a non-Harley rider?  

[Twolanerider]

Have you ever waved and realized you waved to a non-Harley rider?   

Never gave a chit worrying what kind of bike another rider was on.  Spend enough time worrying about the bike I'm on.

[sadunbar]

Never gave a chit worrying what kind of bike another rider was on.  Spend enough time worrying about the bike I'm on.

 

[RedDevil]

I'll wave to anyone riding a motorcycle...don't give a chit about the brand.  They're out enjoying riding just like I am, and that's all that matters. 

[Georgehjr]

 

[SBB]

I'll wave to anyone riding a motorcycle...don't give a chit about the brand.  They're out enjoying riding just like I am, and that's all that matters. 

 

[hard10]

Does anyone remember when "the wave" started being so damned normal anyway?  If anyone has been riding long enough they'll remember when those that were or at least looked the part of old road dogs passed each other with a casually tossed closed hand.  That usually lazy clenched fist was tossed unless the other guy had on the wrong colors.

The silly wave is now so ubiquitous though.  I just don't remember when it actually started being the normal thing to do?

2LN, none of us ever remember you being "normal".

[GtreetSlide]

The waves I like best are for surfboards, but seriously; there is one wave I'm just dying to try out. I want to pull my sleve over my left hand and insert one of those fake hands which will promptly fall off when I extend my arm... does this sound like a good idea?

jb

[Twolanerider]

2LN, none of us ever remember you being "normal".

We'd be offended if we weren't so busy talking to ourself right now.....

[hard10]

We'd be offended if we weren't so busy talking to ourself right now.....

I had a conversation with yourself but forgot what we were talking about.

[Twolanerider]

I had a conversation with yourself but forgot what we were talking about.

Don't feel bad.  So did we.

[LFMC Pharaoh]

I was just trying to find a story a riding buddy of mine emailed me a few years back about the "biker wave".  I haven't been able to find it anywhere on the internet and wished I would have saved it (he doesn't have it anymore either).  I do remember it was a neat story about the "biker wave" and after reading it, I switched from only waving at other Harley riders to waving at everything on two wheels. 

To me it sort of goes along with the saying, "If I have to explain why, you wouldn't understand". 

[lifepac12]

The single finger wave, to which I believe you are referring, is classified as a highway salute. The highway salute is considered impolite, especially by old school bikers.

Reference: Wikipedia

I call that the Harley #1 Wave!

[lifepac12]

 

I am with you man.  I started riding a metric.  It sucks being completely oblivious to what a real bike is!  So, I wave and give a big smile with my two different colored front teeth.  (Cuz that is how Oil Field Trashy Bikers Role!)

[CBW]

I'll wave to anyone riding a motorcycle...don't give a chit about the brand.  They're out enjoying riding just like I am, and that's all that matters. 

I feel the same way,But I do draw the line on those freaking scooters, 

[Crusty]

I'll wave to anyone riding a motorcycle...don't give a chit about the brand.  They're out enjoying riding just like I am, and that's all that matters. 

Amen! Ride'em if you got'em!

[Hawg]

This link sums it up
http://www.ekho.com/elton/PC800/The%20Wave.htm

[LFMC Pharaoh]

This link sums it up
http://www.ekho.com/elton/PC800/The%20Wave.htm

This is exactly the story I was talking about in my earlier post.  Thank you very much for posting the link.

[Sun Devil]

I am the original poster of this thread and I just got rewarded with a link from HAWG to an article by Tom Rattan written in 2002. Tom's word answer, "if i have to explain it you wouldn't understand". He describes the love of motorcycling, that feeling. I, like Tom, have been riding over 40 years and after a ride when I'm walking away, I too, stop, turn around and look back.

[LynP408]

I remember in the early 70's the "wave" (at least in my area) was the left arm raised with a closed fist similar to the signal for a right turn....

[Twolanerider]

I remember in the early 70's the "wave" (at least in my area) was the left arm raised with a closed fist similar to the signal for a right turn....

That's what used to happen.  Can remember watching that happen while rolling by from the back seat of the family sedan on vacation road trips in the 60s and early 70s and still seeing it myself when on two wheels by the last half of the 70s and in to at least the mid 80s.  Then sometime after that we got all happy and started waving rather than just recognizing.  I'm just not sure why or when?

Pretty sure, however, that whatever caused things to change was 103's fault!

[Sun Devil]

In the days when the military men were coming home from the war and were still looking for the adventure that they had during war, they decided to buy motorcycles and many made choppers and when they saw another rider they raised a clenched fist in the air to signify power and brotherhood. There was a negative social stigma associated with "bikers".  Bikers were connected by "us against them". When biker clubs or gangs  members passed they gave the clinched fist, arm at 45 degrees up, to other members. This was the time of the bad boy biker. Then everything began to change when Honda ran adds that said, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". The ads depicted housewives, a parent and child, young couples and other respectable members of society, riding Hondas. Honda sales sky rocketed and soon after came the copycat ads. Harley-Davidson saw Honda’s success and almost immediately,  came out with an ad campaign called “Young America” that looked suspiciously similar to Honda’s “Nicest People” campaign. Other manufactures followed with their version of clean cut young american ads. The rest, as they say, is history.

[spydglide]

The even bigger concern is when you pass a bike & rider on the shoulder of the road as to whether their wave/signal/gesture is a plea for assistance with bike problems or just continuing the 'wave' while stopped to check cell phone messages.  spyder

[Fired00d]

The even bigger concern is when you pass a bike & rider on the shoulder of the road as to whether their wave/signal/gesture is a plea for assistance with bike problems or just continuing the 'wave' while stopped to check cell phone messages.  spyder

I try to remember when I'm on the side of the road to give the "thumbs up" as a return wave if I'm not in trouble.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[spydglide]

I try to remember when I'm on the side of the road to give the "thumbs up" as a return wave if I'm not in trouble.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

And what would be the universal 'I need assistance' wave from the shoulder of the road?  Boaters have a prescribed 'need assistance' wave, why shouldn't riders?  spyder

[Fired00d]

And what would be the universal 'I need assistance' wave from the shoulder of the road?  Boaters have a prescribed 'need assistance' wave, why shouldn't riders?  spyder

Not sure if there is one but I'd probably start waving my hands over my head when I first heard bikes coming..... don't know if it would work luckily I've never had to use it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Sun Devil]

Helmet on the ground alongside the scoot is the "old school" signal of distress.

I use crossed forearms above the head, like an X. People who know what it means (emergency) will stop.

[Blazo]

My wife and I have started doing the wave together. First, I stand and raise my arms above my head. As my azz is on it's way back to my seat, my wife will stand and raise her arms over her head. Rinse, lather, repeat. Looks real cool when we get a whole line of bikers doing the wave.

[spydglide]

My wife and I have started doing the wave together. First, I stand and raise my arms above my head. As my azz is on it's way back to my seat, my wife will stand and raise her arms over her head. Rinse, lather, repeat. Looks real cool when we get a whole line of bikers doing the wave.

Can't wait 'till that catches on.  har.  spyder