WAVING

[gspd]

WAVING
Do you wave a other bikers when you cross paths? I rarely do. Some bikers you cross paths with almost fall off they'e waving so hard, as if they have never seen another motorcycle or as if they think you are their long-lost twin brother, some give a stern nod of acknowledgement, some a feign a small hand gesture and so on. Some reserve the wave for similar vehicles; i.e This guy has a 2008 Ducati Tricolore 998 Testastretta exactly like the one I'm riding so he gets a wave. What gets me though, is that these wavy riders will often not even say 'hi' or speak to you when you park right beside them at the next fast-food rest stop. My guess is that maybe they are simultaneously terrified, humbled and in awe of the mighty Paris-Dakar and the 'Terminator' guy on it. Or maybe not, maybe I have really bad B.O.. Is it just me projecting unsociability, or have you had similar experiences?

[SteveD]

Tilt o' the helmet here. Will wave at a R100RS though

[Airbear]

Yep, the Aussie helmet tilt here too if the recipient - the 'wavee' - is a proper traveller. No point in acknowledging Harley guys - they are too cool/stupid to respond. I'll strike up conversations at bakeries or roadside stops with other riders. Simple statements like, "Nice day for it" or "It's a bit cold/hot/wet" will usually elicit a friendly response. I've met some bloody interesting people out there.

It's fun pulling up in country towns with Jeff. People come up to me and say, "Wow, an old BMW. What year is it?" and so on, totally ignoring Jeff's bike. 1981 is too new, I suppose.

[ME 109]

It's fun pulling up in country towns with Jeff. People come up to me and say, "Wow, an old BMW. What year is it?" and so on, totally ignoring Jeff's bike. 1981 is too new, I suppose.

Yeah, geez that gives me the shits, Charlie!

I nod, or not. Wave sometimes. Mostly to trippers loaded up on the open road. Rarely nod or wave in town.
Projecting unsociable is a handy tool at times.
Like charlie says, lots of good folk on motorcycles to talk to on the open road here.

[gocytocis]

I assume that being a middle-aged guy on an old BMW, no one expects a wave from me in the first place!

Regardless, my tendency to wave is in direct proportion to the remoteness of the location & the adversity of the weather.

I used to ride a Buell, so my waving habits generally conform their official position on the practice....

[Airbear]

...
Regardless, my tendency to wave is in direct proportion to the remoteness of the location & the adversity of the weather.

Yes, it's comforting to acknowledge the presence of another idiot having fun out on the road where no sensible person would be:

[ME 109]

Good pic Charlie, I think that road has the most bends of any I've ridden.
Er, assuming that's the Omeo Hwy?

[gocytocis]

...on the road where no sensible person would be

...the Omeo Hwy?

Omeo Hwy? I thought the Gum trees & the colour of the dirt looked vaguely familiar. I grew up in Sydney with a Father who was neither sensible or direct when it came to picking routes to Melbourne, so we ended up on that road (& many others in that area) in the family Commodore one summer in the early 80s.

[ME 109]

The Omeo Hwy is fully sealed now, and is probably the best road around here. It's almost non stop corners for 100+ k's.

[Airbear]

Yes, that's the Omeo Highway. Pic taken a few years ago before the last 13km section was sealed. I would have taken some pics further up the road to Mt Wills where it was snowing but could not find a safe place to stop to get the camera out. It was a pretty slow crawl through some deep drifts at times. That section is much easier now.

Hey gocytocis, your dad was obviously an adventure tourer. Where do you live now?