Redz opinion of "The Motorcycle Wave" (Don't you hate it when people refer to themselves in the third person!)

This whole thing started for me several years ago when I used to be scared to death of motorcycles. At that point in my life, I had several friends seriously injured or killed riding motorcycles, so I avoided them. Well, then I got married and my wife's family were all motorcycle riders. My then father-in-law (FIL) coerced me into riding on the back of his Gold Wing for a short spin. I reluctantly agreed.

We were crossing the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, WA when another bike passed us in the opposite lane of traffic. My FIL casually stuck out his left hand and the other rider reciprocated with the same. Not sure what just happened, I dismissed it and concentrated on enjoying the ride much more than I had anticipated...until it happened again, and again, and again...

I thought to myself, "Shit!! This dude knows a lot of people...must be a motorcycle thing!"

I was half right.

When we got back to the house I asked my FIL who those people were he had waved at. I'm sure you know what he said.

"Don't know, I waved 'cause he was on a bike, that's all"

"Oh"

After my venue in the passenger seat of the two-wheeled Winnebago, my attitude towards motorcycles took a 180 degree turn. Now I wanted one, BAD! It didn't take too much to convince my wife. Hell, she was just as thrilled about it as I was. She sold her Camaro and I got my first motorcycle; a 1985 Honda Shadow VT1100.

The hardest part about getting the bike was I bought the ride before I got my license. My wife is a real stickler for rules and wouldn't let me near it till I was legal. Do you know how hard it is to look at a new toy just sitting in the driveway and not be able to touch it? Total torture!

Anyway, I'm rambling. I finally got "legal" and the following Sunday morning, I was off for my first actual piloting experience. This is where I actually start talking about the actual subject of this article.

As silly as this may sound, the part of this ride I was most looking forward to was getting to participate in the "Motorcycle Wave." Of all the other aspects of riding, that small gesture is what excited me the most. I rode for several hours before I finally passed another motorcycle, a sport bike.

The tension was building. The bike was coming my way. At the point that I thought the other rider could recognize what was happening, I slowly dropped my left hand to take part in the tradition I had been pining so much about. I watched for the return gesture. Just as I had been told, his hand also dropped and the exchange was complete. I had done it. As simple of a task as it was, the swell of pride I had knowing I now belonged to this new community overwhelmed me. My wave cherry had been popped, I went home smiling the whole way.

A lot of years have passed since that first wave and I still get a kick out of it. But below all the heraldry of this unwritten tradition (at least to me), there is a cancer eating away at it; the elitists.

I ride a GSX-R1000 and I wave at everybody; Harleys, import cruisers, sport bikes, Gold Wings, naked bikes, choppers, dual sports, etc. Is it always returned? No, and that is a shame. Now I know there are times the other rider doesn't wave because he/she may not have seen me. I've done it, and I do feel a little guilty when I don't see a rider in time to return the gesture. There are also times when a tight corner makes it too dangerous to remove your hand from the grip. Most serious riders can tell if they are being ignored or the conditions preclude the act most of the time.

What may surprise you if you have read my "Harleys Suck!" page is that I'm not singling out Harley riders. The elitists I'm talking about ride everything from Dyna Glides to CBRs. On both ends of the motorcycle spectrum there are those who will not wave at other bikers because the bike they are riding makes them unworthy of their recognition. It's just plain juvenile and has no place in the motorcycle community. The fact is, TWO WHEELS IS TWO WHEELS...PERIOD. Get over yourself and grow up. You’re not in grade school anymore, so don't act like it.

Now I haven't said anything that hasn't been said before (you'll see a lot of similar comments in the other articles I've posted). I just wanted my short say. I will end with this:

If you don't wave at another motorcyclists based solely on the type of bike he/she rides, sell your bike. You don't deserve to own one. You're an ignorant, self loathing, arrogant ass who only owns a bike for the image or status you think it gives you. Sell the bike to someone who will enjoy all that motorcycling has to offer. Your wasting the motorcycle's (That's right, the motorcycle's) and other motorcyclist's time.

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