Why do we wave?

[DeepSea]

Disclaimer: This is just random thoughts bouncing around in my skull, and isn't intended as anything other than a sharing of my curiosity.

We all do it, it seems. We see another motorcyclist and we throw out a hand to the side, or raise a few fingers off the grip. But why do we do it? Car drivers rarely wave at each other. Sure, there are places in rural America where it might be common (I grew up in one), but motorcycles do it everywhere all the time!

There are exceptions, of course. I have noticed before I rode HD that often HD owners wouldn't wave at me when other metric owners would. And of course nobody waves at scooters. But WHY? Why do we feel it necessary to wave at all?! And if we do, why don't we do it for some? Is it a feeling of brotherhood just because we both happen to own two wheels and share a piece of road? What makes a scooter different? By not waving to scooters, are we judging some guy saving a crap ton of money riding a scooter to work and back because he doesn't care what other people think of his ride?

Let me be clear, I wave most times. But I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY I DO IT. It seems to be an unconcious habit - is this what other people think too? There are times I think about wanting to wave: passing someone on a sweet ride when I can get a good look/sound and think "Nice ride, man!" I say with my wave and smile. Other times, I am just trying to get home after a crap 12 hour day at work and I am not even thinking about other riders, or the seemingly required wave. Then, of course, I catch someone waving too late to return and I feel like now I'm the jerk not returning waves! WHY DO I FEEL LIKE A JERK?! I don't know this guy!

I know many of you will have opinions of this, let's here 'em!

[stocker883l]

Where I live everyone flips up a couple of fingers in passing on the road: Bike or car or whatever. Just a greeting in the passing. Sit back and burn one and don't worry about something so simple.

[Loner]

There are at least five or six threads on this topic
Scroll down to bottom of the page and put waving in the google search box, I did and got a whole bunch of realated threads,
Short answer is because we all share a bond and are a minority supposedly.

[Ireeman]

Maybe it comes from a ancient custom to show that you do not have a weapon in your hand and come in peace, hand shakes are the same.

[Bob F]

This started many years ago when there weren't many of us on the road.

[DeepSea]

Originally Posted by Loner

There are at least five or six threads on this topic
Scroll down to bottom of the page and put waving in the google search box, I did and got a whole bunch of realated threads,
Short answer is because we all share a bond and are a minority supposedly.

Fair enough. Seems no idea is new here.

[DeepSea]

Originally Posted by stocker883l

Where I live everyone flips up a couple of fingers in passing on the road: Bike or car or whatever. Just a greeting in the passing. Sit back and burn one and don't worry about something so simple.

Not worried, just a thought after driving home yesterday.

[DeepSea]

Originally Posted by Bob F

This started many years ago when there weren't many of us on the road.

That makes a little more sense to me.

[Ireeman]

Where did the thumbs up come from?



Band mask

[Rogster]

Dont know nothin about the thumbs up , never been diving, been a bubble watcher, while I was in the water I saw a small shark that couldnt see me and my first thought was hmmm wonder if theres a shark watching me that I can see? But I ride a Honda Silverwing for the most part (or my sporty) its a 600cc scooter. and will go 100 but at about 90 or so the windshield starts to bend back toward my face, kinda spooky right there in your face going that fast..but I wave all the time, usually the downlow 2 finger salute,, and almost every one waves back,,hell sometimes I even wave at the 50cc scooters...Rog