Ritterview

Well, I think I have noticed the packs of crotch-rocket rice burners tearing up Highway 9 to Skyline, while passing at 85 mph, are giving me 9-12" of clearance rather than the usual 6".

TYB069

Happened to me on Saturday. I was descending a small hill with a 35 mph curve. I heard them coming but thought it was just a milk truck (Wisconsin after all). I got over to the right to let what I thought was a truck pass and suddenly about 8 HD's gun it and pass two abreast in the lane. ******* didn't even move into the left lane at all (although a couple hugged the centerline but a couple bikes were 2 feet from me - not cool with that exhaust ). Scared the crap out of me. I nearly lost control and almost bailed into the ditch.

What I think is happening (and I'm going to generalize) is that Harleys are so expensive now that are Doctor and Lawyer toys. These are the same people that can also afford the huge Expeditions and Hummers that nearly run me off the roads. I guess it is not suprising to me that HD owners do not wave, they don't wave while in the Hummer so why would they wave while on the Harley. I find that Goldwing owners wave the most (~50%), followed closely by sportbikes (<50%) and closing the bottom of the niceness scale, harley riders and import v-twin clones who virtually never wave. All that being said, I still want a harley .

cyclezen

Yeah, about the same correlation as me and a horse...As with any flock of sheeple, there'll be anomaly variance.
2 whls is mostly a grandfathered coincidence.
You put a decked out 'Pinnie' next to any nondescript decked out bauble of an infernal combusted cage - say some skatewheeled Sentra with tinted shades; and 95 outta 100 moto-riders will walk around and oogle the cage and completely ignore the Pinnie.
Not sure? Some Sunday, try riding up to the Rock Store, Harley's Rock Inn or Alice's (or insert your local farm implements hangout) and go 'mix' with the moto crowd.

slide

You are righter than you probably know. The bike community is somewhat split between we guys who have been riding forever on Harleys and other bikes. Then there are the new Harley riders who are really a**h**les in all respects. I call them bond salesmen, but they could be lawyers or doctors too. Whatever, they believe that their high incomes makes them lords of the universe. They wear fake tatoos, think it cool to be or act drunk, have those obnoxious pipes (which the cops ignore) and generally embarass we who ride because we enjoy the act of motorcycling rather than the pose of being a bad biker.

DamnRock

I ride a 2004 CBR 600rr around town and I find that 95% of people I waive at wave back, including HD owners... typically the cruisers are later with their waive, maybe waiting to see if I'm going to waive, but while I give a quick flick of the hand to a sport bike rider because I know he'll waive back, I make sure to give a good sweeping waive at a cruiser/hd rider so he sees me... I think if you guilt them into it, they will waive

If both of you are waiting to see if the other is going to waive, then you are both pricks in the others eyes

Rock

joshdcu

Are Gold Wing owners the "Freds" of the motorcycle world?

Gummee

I'm the other way: I was a cyclist for a lot longer than I've had my MC (BMW R1150RT). I tend to wave at cyclists. Most look at me like I've got a hand growing out of my forehead.

Been into bicycles for the last 19 years and MCs for the last 2.5.

M

Gummee

Pretty much.

Next time you see one, go up to the guy and ask him what he's done to it. Be prepared for a LENGTHY dissertation!

Geeks! Darn near all of em!

Then again, I ride a BMW, so I can't really say TOO much! Lessee: GPS, XM, MP3, Heated vest, Aux brake lights, Aux driving lights (to be installed soon), etc.

M

patentcad

I ride racing bicycles and motorcycles. And I have NOT accepted MYSELF yet.

FatguyRacer

No way. Those rides aint cheap. They're more OCP than Fred. Same with the BMW riders too.

DocRay

+1

Anyone riding a Hardly Movinson is not about motorcycles. The loud straight pipes are officially old.

Stv

Where I pull in for my Java-Fix there are often several guys on Yammy's, Harley's and whatnots parked there too. I tell'em to keep an eye on my hawg (cycle) while I go in and grab a cuppa so I don't hafta lock-up. They always chat me up and likewise.

These guys are astounded by the bucks it takes to invest in a decent bike these days.

(Beware: "Tim Horton Donuts" aka; "Tim Horny" coming to a corner near you, and soon!)

patentcad

Goldwing riders may be considered 'Freds' in certain M/C circles, but the guys I know who own them ride MORE MILES than anyone else. So who's the real biker dude? The guy who rides his Road King to the local bar to hang out with his OCP HD buddies - or the Goldwing 'Fred' who rides 20K+ miles annually?

asmallsol

ha, the other day I was at a stop light next to a HD and the guy looks over at me and starts reving. It was a good laugh.

TRaffic Jammer

I've got a Hell's clubhouse about 7 blocks from my house.
Send all the lawyers and bankers with HDs over there

jschen

I don't pay much attention to motorcycles in the city, and presumably they don't pay much attention to me. But out in the boonies, as long as not negotiating a tricky corner, I generally wave, and more often than not, get waves back (and sometimes get waved at first).

GoBlue

I ride both - 2004 Fuji Provence and 1995 Buell S2T. I wave to both types of 2 wheeled riders from either "platform". Here's a contradiction - my motorcycle is a Harley sport bike!

Demographics of least waves returned -- new/younger sport bike riders (especially t-shirt, no-helmet, shorts & flip flop wearers).

With gas prices increasing I expect a lot more waving going on!

TRaffic Jammer

I love Buells, such nice bikes

TYB069

I'd consider the sport bike riders the real OCP group. I know a few, they all have to have carbon gauge clusters and carbon tank protectors and then change tailights because they no longer match. One of the guys I know even bought a new set of full leathers to match his bike.

Dixon

Good one! Friendly motorcyclist and sometime pedaler here, who waves AND challenges cyclists to races. Particularly on my commute into downtown. When I'm next to a cyclist at a red light, I'll flip up my face shield, and say "Wanna race?" The smart ones take me on for short distances, because they can run through red lights that I can't.

One explanation for the motorcyclists who don't wave to bicyclists is that we are overcome with guilt for using petrofuel instead of humanfuel to get around.

ZachS

Also guilt for topping dead threads.

jiggy

Regarding the comment above on Harley's:

As I'm polishing the chrome on my American legend that you can't afford - I will pray for you and your kind, wishing you the best in self control and many miles ahead. All motorcyclists are brothers and sisters and you should avoid offensive remarks about HD's and/or their riders in the future as we are often known for running in packs and take exception to folks making ill remarks about them/us - especially 18 year olds riding their rice burners in shorts and T-shirts which I'm sure you are.

mcoomer

I have my own bit that I pull on bicyclists when I'm riding my motorcycle. I slow down as I pull up alongside so that I'm just pulling past them and then I take my feet off the pegs and start to pedal my feet as I motor away from them. It works especially well on big hills when they're really working hard!

As for the respect issue, I wave and get waves pretty frequently. I've also gotten the head nod when making eye contact with folks at intersections. I think that for the most part riders and bicyclists understand that it's about two wheels and freedom.

Mike

ericcox

I'm trying to work this morning, so instead thought I would waste a little time. I just love thread like this. Glittering gernalizations by many with little to back it up. As others have noted, there are a-holes in pretty much every walk of life. Several studies have shown, however, that are own biases help determine which a-holes we perceive to be reflective of a group or of an individual. For example, people who are predisposed to dislike Harley riders will see one negative interaction as reflective of all HD folks. People who dislike sportbikes see one guy pull a wheelie on a highway -- generalize to all. Motorists of any ilk see one spandex clad weenie blow a stoplight, paint all with a broad brush.

I used to rides motorcycles (just sold my last bike last summer), primarily HDs, but other brands as well, and found most folks I rode with or came into contact to were quite nice. Incidentally, we waved at everyone. I also had a honda for a time that I rode with mixed company, same experience.

So try an experiment. Don't go by "impressions." If you are convinced one group behaves more aggresively or rudely than others, start a tally. Note every interaction with 2-3 different groups you predefine, and rate each interaction on overall behavior. See what you come up with.

My own experience in doing the above is that I see some regional disparities at times, but the overwhelming majority of my interactions with motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are positive.

Sprocket_Jockey

I get lots of waves from motorcyclists around here, NW Fl, and I always return the wave. It's usualy the two finger salute. (a sideways or slightly downwards peace sign.)

Maybe it has more to do with the region you're from.