Rider conflict: forget sport vs Harley...is it full face vs open face?

Question

I've noticed something on my recent rides that surprised me a bit. You know how if you're on a sport bike, Harley riders won't wave at you, or wave back? Well I've noticed two things:

Lots of other people won't wave back as well
People wearing full face helmets riding cruisers WILL wave back

Now that I think about it, it seems that people wearing full face helmets will wave back whether they're riding a sport bike or cruiser or whatever...but I cannot remember ever having been waved at by someone in an open face helmet.

Granted Harley riders and open face helmet wearers overlap as groups, but this is still my observation.

What's the deal? Is the same kind of insecure image problem that forces someone to wear an inferior helmet (it just doesn't protect you as much, you clods) also lead to an image problem with waving to other riders?

"Oh shoot, I don't want other people to see this and think I'm some kind of pansy who waves at people."

?

Saying that you think waving is "retarded" only makes the rest of us pity you, buddy.

You obviously don't understand what riding is about. If you did, you'd wave at all the other people who had the same passion for it that you do (or don't, apparently).

cstatman - if you read my question, you'd see I was noticing something that already exists.

I'm not creating anything.

other people - Obviously I don't wave if I'm doing something that requires my hands. But if you're just crusing out on a straight piece of road, and someone is waving at you, pretending you don't see them is pathetic.

Answer 1

I don't care if you ride a sport bike or a cruiser(what ever make or model), or if you wear a full face helmet or an open face helmet, I will wave at any oncoming motorcyclist. If they don't wave back, that's there bad luck.

Shoot, I'll wave at kids on the sidewalks who wave at me.

The way I see it. We all go through the same thing. People in cars don't see us. We are at the weather's mercy. The last thing I want to see after a hard days work, is a brother or sister rider blow me off because my bike is not like their bike, but I won't let it get to me. My ride home is time to unwind.

So ride friendly.
Ride Smart
Ride Safe

Answer 2

You should wave at every rider, if you have a passenger then the passenger waves for you. It doesn't matter if your riding a moped, sport bike, or Harley. We are very few a far from the steel boxes that surround us on the streets, so we must stay tight with each other and wave it's good to see others not let motorcycling pass with time because it could easily. I ride a sport bike and I ride with Harley's and Sport bikes all the time. Riding is Riding bottom line. So when you see some bikes pulled over at a rest stop you should go over and say whats up, every one riding must have respect for each other in the motorcycle world. How often do you see a car pull up to another car and say wow i like you Hyundai. Bikers are unique group and will always be and we like to keep it that way. So say hi to each other because we rely on each other.

Answer 3

Huh.... I am a new rider but my brother and Dad talk about the Harley non-wave a lot so am familiar with that. I have also riden on the back of bikes a lot and now that you mention it, full face helmet wearers do seem more likely to wave... Maybe it is an age thing?

Answer 4

Half didn't seem like enough coverage when I switched from a full face. So, I bought a 3/4 instead. I was riding behind a fairing at the time. The full face was kinda burnt up. I smoke - a lot. Really hard to do with a full face. The decision is totally yours. What do you want to protect? And from what? I wear mine in the rain, cold, and (planned for) bad traffic. Otherwise it's hats off. Of course there are now full face helmets where the whole front hinges up as well as the shield.

Answer 5

i dont have a full face lid, i use a 3/4 shell. and i ride sportsters. i dont give a chit what u ride, just as long as u aint ridin like a suicidal squid when ur in my airspace.
certain situations demand full attention. these include but not limited to: approach or leaving an intersection. usually ur at low speed and in extreme close range to cagers that can have a phone up his azz, and they might become unpredictable.
high speed interstates: gimme a break....at 60 mph, ur doing 88 feet per second, and ur about 75 yards to the side. hit something at that speed, ur azz be grass.
heavy traffic: especially those zones where it's 2 lanes in each direction with a turn lane. i almost guarentee u that if u were to run on 224 in boardman ohio, u will devote 100% attention to the task at hand, or u could wind up being a hood ornament. that road is dangerous.
straight lines, i have no problem waving to all bikes. but when engaged with the twisties, i keep both hands on the bars. i dont care if u ride with full face, half shell, 3/4 shell, or no lid. if its safe to wave, then i wave.

Answer 6

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back
10. - Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. - Leather and studs make it too hard to raise arm.
8. - Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. - Afraid to let go of the handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. - Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. - Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. - Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by those rice-burner manufacturers.
3. - Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. - Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. - They're jealous that after spending $20,000, they still don't own a Gold Wing.

Answer 7

With all the trouble cars give us,
with all the offroad areas being closed to motorcycles,
with all the legislation against motorcycles,

Shouldn't we (riders) all try to group together and get along, instead of creating more splits between us?

I ride a cruiser, sport bike, offroad bike and moped. I wave at anyone else on a bike with a smile.

don't create more splits.

Answer 8

i have no clue what you are talking about i ride a Harley..
i hate helmets and will never wear a full face helmets unless it is freezing...but i am friendly and wave to most riders i see..
i really don't care what you ride..
.i will ignore people that are trying to look tough

Answer 9

Who cares?, sometimes I wave,sometimes I don't .
It depends, have I already waved to 20 riders,? am I clutching? am I cornering? or have I concluded by the type of helmet that you wear that you are going to critique whether or not I wave?
Again, who cares, just go riding!

Answer 10

Read my answers to similar questions: "Just being me".
On a Honda or a Harley, full, 3/4, or no lid.
Just being me.