 Customarily
Minded: October 2003 |
by Richard
Rose
Associate Editor
Beginner Bikes Magazine
| The
Wave |
Welcome once again to this month's edition of Customarily Minded.
Autumn is in the air and that means things are cooling down a bit.
Which means a lot of motorcyclists are either coming out of the
wood work or getting their final rides of the year in before old
man winter comes a sneezin'. For October I'd like to revive an old
custom among motorcyclists: the Wave. No, this isn't concerning
stadium or sport events, this is something that motorcyclists have
been doing long before today's athletes signed their first contracts.
Many articles have been written on this topic over the years, allow
me to contribute yet one more to add to the masses. Without further
adieu, let's fasten a DOT approved helmet and hit the road with
gloved hands and look into "the Wave".
First off, why do we wave? The way I see it we do it out of camaraderie.
When we brought home that first two wheeled contraption we automatically
and unknowingly joined a loose alliance of like minded individuals
that share the same basic passions, although many have different
ideals and opinions we all ultimately hit the road looking for adventure
on two wheels. The International Brotherhood of Motorcyclists if
you would. Call us a cult, call us a gathering, call us anything
but late for dinner. Nay the camaraderie is undeniably there, despite
the differing opinions as to which make or model or style is best.
From my experience here in the southwest, I get a pretty good return
wave rate. I haven't encountered the certain type that doesn't wave
back on the open road heading out of town very often, but as I get
into the populated areas this does tend to change. Still it hasn't
become a brand or style related issue. I have noticed one thing
though, while I do get a decent return rate, if I "experiment"
by not initiating a wave it becomes more of a rarity of having someone
wave at me so that I may return it. I would surmise that for the
most part we're still a friendly bunch, just not open enough to
initiate the gesture.
Sadly, the wave seems to be a dying art form despite my best attempts
at return rates. I would attribute this to the current "I/Me/My
generation". Motorcycling is a more popular endeavor than ever,
and it has now reached into the realm of not just the "common
folk" but the well to do class too. The ones that stepped on
others on their way to the top and have long since forgotten what
it was like on the bottom. Most of these folks go out and purchase
the biggest/fastest/most expensive model they can, spend a few more
thousands on fashionably equipped gear, and perhaps actually ride
the bike out of the neighborhood once a month and have the gall
to call themselves bikers. Or maybe they're not really well to do,
but work several full time jobs in an attempt to pass off that lavish
lifestyle so that they can afford all their toys despite never having
the time to enjoy them. Every neighborhood has one, you hear the
motor everyday revving on the next street over, and occasionally
hear it racing up and down said street, but after 9 months you have
yet to actually see it on the road. Maybe they're slow learners.
Regardless of my theories of the overworked and snobbish, these
folks are obviously too hung up on themselves to raise a hand off
the grip and return a friendly greeting when they do hit the road.
Either that or they're just not experienced enough of a rider to
try riding single handedly (meaning they couldn't swallow their
pride and start off on an appropriate bike that they would no doubt
grow bored of quickly). All I can do is hope that they get some
miles and experience behind them and that someday they'll just get
it.
Perhaps another aspect would be the larger audience of new riders
out there, perhaps naive to the "secret handshake" of
biker dom. I have read many a message from new riders about how
someone waved to them, and they either didn't know about the old
tradition or they were simply stoked about being "included"
amongst the ranks of bikers. Either way, it's not a fluke happen-chance
thing, put enough miles on the bike and you'll start meeting all
sorts of interesting folks and future friends, and it all starts
with a simple wave. Personally I try to extend the gesture whenever
possible. Now I won't say that you definitely need to focus all
your attention to this, especially if you happen to be negotiating
the brake and clutch levers in a curve or stopping maneuver, but
when I'm out cruising at a steady pace I will extend that left arm
out toward any motorcyclist, whether he/she is coming from the other
direction or passing me on my end of the road. It's practically
become second nature to me, heck sometimes I find myself driving
the car with the windows rolled down (in a vain attempt at cycle
dom...) and extending a hand out the window to oncoming motorcyclists.
As to the non-wavers, I don't let that get to me. Maybe they didn't
see me, maybe they were busy with the controls. Maybe they were
just lost or daydreaming, or perhaps they just didn't care. So why
should I...the point is I'll just keep on waving. The thing is I
just get a kick out of it. Especially when the car behind me pulls
alongside at the next light and the driver asks me "Do you
really know all those guys?"
So for all the Beginning Biking brethren out there, don't let this
form of art slip away. It isn't dead yet, and there's no reason
why it should be dying. As the next generation of bikers, we owe
it to ourselves to keep this sacred tradition alive. Let's start
making the old wave into the latest rave!
Email associate editor
Richard Rose at rich@beginnerbikes.com to redeem any accumulated
Beginner Biker points. |
Bike
Of The Month |
This time
around the featured Customarily Minded Machine of the Month is
a custom beginner bike. This stunning example features some fine
retro styling from yesteryear that dates back to the magnificent
motorcycles from the 1940's. This 250 Virago has received all
the detailing from that era, including a hardtail rear end courtesy
of solid struts that replaced the OEM rear shocks, a sprung solo
saddle, a wide low handlebar, two into one fishtail pipe, and
flowing valanced fenders complete with a tombstone tail light
in back. Only the "Virago-pods" belay the bike's true
nature... |
