So what's up with Harley riders sticking there nose up at each other?

[evoKENevo]

Last year a thread very similar to this ran..titled "Hand Wave"

You can all find this thread by scrolling down the formums main page to the topic of Motorcycle Safety...in post #26 on page 3 of that thread you'll find a story posted by Servicarrider (regretfully not heard from in awhile) complete with artists painting called "The Wave" that I think everyone here would enjoy and benefit from reading...or re-reading for some us.

Please do this...and let myself and others know what you think...or have re-thunk.

[unclepsycho]

Ya mean this one?

Here's a short cut to it. Hand Wave

[unclepsycho]

I thought the wave originated way back in the days when everyone rode horses. and when on a long journey, you meet up with someone else on the trail, you "wave" at the passer by to show your "empty" hand, that proves you are unarmed and not a threatto them and mean them no harm.

[evoKENevo]

Yeah,Pyscho...that's the thread you provided the short cut to...thanks...and I just hope others will take the time to find the 26th post in particular.

Meanwhile, I think you've confused the origin of the WAVE with the origin of the SALUTE which is essentially a show of respect and/or an indication that you come in peace (armed or not) with an empty hand.

One thing for sure if I were on a horse (or whatever) and met a stranger on the road, I would'nt be the guy informing the other that I was unarmed knowhutImean !?!

Anyways...the point of that post is pretty well summed up in the last paragraphs...and THAT'S what I'm hoping everyone will grasp.

[unclepsycho]

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

One thing for sure if I were on a horse (or whatever) and met a stranger on the road, I would'nt be the guy informing the other that I was unarmed knowhutImean !?!

Anyways...the point of that post is pretty well summed up in the last paragraphs...and THAT'S what I'm hoping everyone will grasp.

The weapon would be in the other hand

and yes for now-a-days, the last couple paragraphs ...........sum it up......

[dwight]

I've been riding for about 59 years and i wave at everyone. If they don't wave back, so what. I ride all winter witha friend on a rice burner and if he didn't we wouldn't have anything to rag each other about. I am a little jealous as his is boring because nothing ever breaks on it.

[sgtcowboyusmc]

Originally Posted by unclepsycho

I thought the wave originated way back in the days when everyone rode horses. and when on a long journey, you meet up with someone else on the trail, you "wave" at the passer by to show your "empty" hand, that proves you are unarmed and not a threatto them and mean them no harm.

I read that too in a Louis Lamore (sp) Book and I never argue with Louis. He knew more about the old west then people who lived in them times!

The salute goes back to knights who would raise their face shield and look his you in the eye. A warrior to warrior thing.

Evo it really didn't mean you were unarmed it just meant you didn't have a piece in your hand at the time and/or you meant the approaching rider no harm. Almost nobody went unarmed in the frontier.

Oh and back to the original subject at hand the wave... Great story and a little bit like my own story. I have been taking my Daughter for rides on the back of my FXD for 5 yrs and we sometimes go to a neighboring town for ice cream. We had a very similar conversation on one of our first rides. When my parents rode in the late 40's and all through the 50's in the beginning before they could afford leathers, they would put newspapers inside their pant legs and inside their jackets for warmth.

I used to get pi$$ed at those who didn't wave back and then I got to thinking what does it matter, if they don't want to wave that's ok too. I wave because I think it is the right thing to do, if you don't want to wave then fine. I find that as I get older I try to let less and less bother me.

[evoKENevo]

Originally Posted by sgtcowboyusmc

Evo it really didn't mean you were unarmed it just meant you didn't have a piece in your hand at the time and/or you meant the approaching rider no harm. Almost nobody went unarmed in the frontier. .

Cowboy you're right...and if you re-read the part of my post regarding the SALUTE you'll see where I'd written..."and/or indicating that you come in peace "(armed or not) with an empty hand". Which as you say goes waaaaaaaay back in time.

That and in case you had'nt noticed the & in my remark to Pyscho...that too was alluding (in a fun way) to it's not very likely that the WAVE was ever meant to tell other "frontier's men" weither you were armed or not either...as he seemed to think it included meaning.

[Joyride]

The "Wave" article from the other post was a great read. I like the part about the wave being like a handshake or greeting to another. Now I understand why it pisses me off that my waves don't get acknowledged. If someone extends their hand to greet me (not on the bike), then I shake it. It would be rude and disrespectful not to.

I rode today (Saturday) and found most waved back. I recall an HD rider with super tall ape hangers, wearing a German style half helmet who didn't wave back. I was thinking he didn't wave because he couldn't take his hands off those apes for safety reasons, or he thinks he was just too badass to acknowledge other bikers. I suspect the latter. Towards the end of the day I pulled to the side of the road to throw my jacket on since it was getting cooler. A couple on a Road King stops to see if I was okay. Of course I was, but it sure was comforting to know some people still stop to check on a fellow biker. There's all kinds on the road. Just hope that when you need assistance, the right biker is on your road.

[unclepsycho]

Here's a thread on that, from a while back. It shows that most of us, well, all of us here would stop to help.

What would you do?