Have I Missed Something ???????

[ROSHOLT1]

Have I missed something? In 1979 fresh out of High School I bought a brand new XS Eleven over the next few years my future wife and I put on several thousand miles including a trip to Wyoming after we were married and our daughter was born in 1985 the bike was parked in the garage and pulled out every summer or 2 for cleaning and a quick ride (55000 miles in the first 6 and 500 in the last 20) and this summer we decided to get a new bike as the kids were all grown up I found a new 2003 VTX 1800s and fell in love with it,
But I digress, last week we took a ride from our home to River Falls to visit our daughter in school 202 miles one way on interstate roads, Back in the 80's every time we would meet a biker we would give a small wave and 99% of the time it was returned or we were beaten to it and returned it ourselves. And on this trip we would do the same only this time it was different it seemed as if no one was in the same spirit we were, after the trip TO River Falls I mentioned this to my wife and on the way home she would keep track, and this was her calculation of 122 bikes we met only 42 or 34%returned our wave. did bikers become an unfriendly lot over the past 20 years? I dont know just an observation.

[Wyandotte Kid]

I'm probably a 90% or better waver. Sometimes my attention is required in a different location, sometimes got a handful of clutch and brake, sometimes just didn't notice. I always try and give the wave or at least a nod if hands are busy. I will have to say that while traveling interstates my wave rate goes way down. The threat level is so slight from the opposite lane on an interstate that I just don't pay attention over there. So to all the folks that I didn't notice going the other way on the super slab here is a quick hey and a wave. I just didn't see ya over there.

[Mer]

Interesting......Seems like most everyone here waves, probably 90 percent of the bikers (no matter what kind) wave.

[chazb458]

I'd say I only get about half response around here as well. But it really depends on where I'm riding. There are some cities through the DFW area that are just more friendly about it than others. However, the highways are so jammed it's easy to miss someone on the other side of the road. On the city streets there is almost always a nod or wave.

[FL_VTX_GA]

Depends on the day of the week around here. I ride EVERY day, and get a response from virtually 100% of the riders during "working" hours Mon. through Fri. Weekends are for the posers, especially Sunday, but I still get a return wave from most of them. I've noticed that the more black they wear the less likely they are to wave. Also, I've never had a helmet wearer, (DOT certified), fail to return a wave.

Jay

[Cpromotico]

It's about 95% in San Diego

[mustangman]

Most wave around here. I went to Sturgis this year and out of the thousands of bikers there, maybe a handful waved. I thought maybe it was because of the amount of people and the fact you'd be waving all day, but when I went to the Honda Hoot, 90% waved.

[Gertbfrobe]

About 75% around here will wave. I will have to agree with FL VTX GA the more black they wear the less they wave.

[FL_VTX_GA]

For me, it's all about the ride. I don't care if anyone looks at me or not, I don't have to look "cool" or "badass", and I don't happen to own an HD or OCC shirt. I wear what's comfortable and relatively safe, and that includes a helmet. I also happen to REALLY enjoy my VTX, and I usually ride alone. If another rider doesn't happen to feel the same way, it's OK. The wave just shows others what I think about them. They can think what they like about me. I'll continue to wave as long as I ride. I find plenty of good people out there wherever I go

Jay

[Aldo]

In IL it seems better than 95% acknowledge another rider by waving. The less urban the local the higher the percentage because of the attention/hands needed elsewhere. The nod seems to take over in higher traffic areas. Friends not riding a long time find it hard to notice the nod sometimes. This could head straight to being a seinfeld topic, so enough said. keep riding, stay friendly, get old.