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	Archive through May 14, 2003	20		05/14 03:43pm

By Ventureman13 on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:13 pm:

I generally wave at fellow riders unless I'm busy operating the clutch or brakes. If the other guy waves back, fine. If not, that's his problem. Everybody has their own riding style. Wingers generally herd, everybody wearing the same color nylon jacket and 90% will wave. Cruiser dudes and crotch rocket jockeys average a 50% wave back factor as will Beemerphiles. Badass H-D drivers average less than 25% and some that do wave back don't use their whole hand. Interestingly, most H-D tour rig guys will wave back. Most of the badass H-D guys are regular folks, they drive Japanese pickups, use Japanese cameras and watch movies on their Japanese VCR's. It's just the image thing and a fair amount of them are doctors, lawyers and such living their alter-ego lives.
That's why some people like vanilla, some chocolate, etc. Yes, it's not WHAT you ride, it's THAT you ride, in my view. 

By David1300 on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:38 pm:

Here we replace the wave with a nod, or a dip of the head. You see, our right hand (throttle hand) is the one towards the centre of the road, and to keep lifting off the throttle to wave causes you pillion to wonder just what the heck is going on, specially the way the FeeJer's throttle snaps shut If you pass four or five riders in a row you either: a) Hop like a kangaroo, or b) come to a complete stop  

By Bagstr on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 02:10 pm:

Nocchi,

Roger that. The whole episode was soo funny to me as much because of my own reaction. I did not want Mr. 69 to roll by therefor deflating my self image. Now face it, the FJR is about Power and Control. When a rocket bike blows by, well I can deal with it. When this ratty, a steel framed, oil spitting death trap blasts by, I am forced to confront a crack in the armour of my carefully constructed self image. To myself I repeat,"This is not a race track." Looking oneself in the mirror, and making a honest evaluation, is a life long project. 

By Sherlock on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 02:18 pm:

I tend to nod rather than wave, unless i'm going real slow, its just that on a real sunny Sunday around here, in Norfolk, your head is still nodding an hour after getting home through shear momentum, there are hundreds of bikes to nod at, and the vast majority nod/wave back. Now, I have no problem with H-D riders, cruisers or any other biker in particular, but who do piss me off at times are.....TRIKES....what the @#~* are they all about, they potter along at 40 or an eye popping 50mph, overtake nothing, and take at least 3 "proper" bike spaces up at most meets, even saw one pulling a small caravan last bank holiday, Gold wing it was, the ,ole woman knitting on the back, I wanted to tell them what i thought so I shouted over "pullover", she shouted back "no, its a scarf". OK I made that bit up, but you know what I mean... 

By Franke on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

GrBeyes
I own a house in Friendswood but now live in the UK for at least 1 1/2 more years and hoping we get extended.
Friendswood is located just west of Clear Lake and between Houston and Galveston. Clear Lake is where NASA is located.
If and when we do return back there I plan on riding out of that area. Also got to get a kit that will allow me to ride in 90+ temp. I know I will be riding up your direction. 

By Kieth on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 06:06 pm:

I love coming into a tight right hander, keel hauling the bike over and waving at the Harley riders as they try to go thru the corner. They can't let go in the corner and I have my left hand high in the air waving at them. Most don't have a clue and can't figure out how you can steer without both hands on the bars. Kieth 

By Nocchi on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 10:12 pm:

Hell, I look good in store front windows whatever I am riding !!  

By R1derbike on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 12:25 am:

Notchee:

My GF says we look good going-by windows...I say I look even better on the R1 by myself!

Outta here...Charles 

By Nocchi on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 02:30 am:

By Torch on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 02:41 am:

Up here most guys will wave, except on the divided highway were (I assume) their attention is elsewhere.

I was heading in to work today, and as I neared my destination traffic started to build. I was riding right track in the left lane to block my position from cagers and I noticed a single headlight wiggling around behind me. Traffic came up to a red light and the bike behind cut into my lane and pulled up to my left as I slowed. I looked over and waved, but Mr. Cool on his Harley wouldn't deign to glance in my direction. The light turned green just as we came to a stop and and the traffic ahead started to move. As I started off, the Harley split the air with his unbaffled slash-cuts, keeping pace with me.

Personally, I find that a little presumtuous -- rude even. I don't mind when someone pulls up beside me at a stop for a freindly "hello", but I don't ride beside someone who's skills I don't know. This thread came to mind as I again glanced at this obvious poser with all the well polished chrome, leather tassles and conchos emblazoned with official HD emblems. An opening appeared, I saw my chance, ducked right, flicked my wrist, and left him stuck at the next light. "There" I thought. "That'll show you, you effin' HD rider."

Five minutes later I pulled up at a convenience store to grab my usual paper and milk (yeah, yeah, but I had to work... ). As I was coming out, an old Wide Glide pulled in beside me. Nice shape, but the faded paint and patina of past polishings hinted at it's mileage. Well worn leather saddlebags were bereft of adornment as was the equally well worn leather jacket and chaps of the rider. From beneath his great grey beard there was a hint of a smile as he nodded hello and said "Great day for it, isn't it?"

As I nodded in acknowledgement it struck me: it was cool, grey and threatening today. Only a die- hard biker would call it a great day for riding.

Not all HD riders are posers. 

By Amain on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 05:39 am:

Have to agree with you there, Torch. If it's image these posers are after, they need to realize what guys like the one at the convenience store do for their image. He goes a long way to negate the negative image the posers are really eminating. 

By Nocchi on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 07:18 am:

Well hey, I might not have well worn saddlebags on my cruiser but will a well worn face do? Yeah not everybody fits the pattern so we can only talk in general terms here cant we? As far as I am concerned all of us on two wheels are arriving at the same pleasure in a different way. As for posers, I have seen just as many on sports bikes as on cruisers. We are all to a degree, posers. Anybody who thinks they are better than anybody else is a plain loser and deserves pity. A guy on a beat up old bike is the same to me as a guy on the latest dollar sucker. Just ride whatever you have and enjoy it.......stuff those who wont acknowledge you.  

By Sherlock on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 08:42 am:

Well worn face??
Is that due to the;
" My face is leaving in five minutes...be on it"
Chat up line 

By Barmy on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 07:29 pm:

Surely on an FJR the issue isn't about the wave you give to bikers going in the other direction, but the type of wave you give to the people you meet who are going in the same direction! 

By Sherlock on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 08:12 pm:

Do you mean the Barry Sheen two fingers behind the back type wave?? 

By Barmy on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 08:33 pm:

Or ten fingers if I'm feeling cocky. 

By Nocchi on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 09:53 pm:

Sherlock, you got it in one! I am not called Pinocchio for nothing  

By Sherlock on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 10:31 pm:

Must be why they call me Tom Thumb 

By Nocchi on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 03:02 am: