What's this got to do with the stability of sports bikes? If you want to wave then wave, if you want to nod then nod, if youwant to shake a leg then shake a leg, if you want to stop at every bike stopped at the side of the road then stop. Some times I haven't got time some times it's dangerous, if somebody needs help and I can I will. I don't wave or pick up all hitch hikers when I'm in my car do you?
I love to wave and nod, whilst Fireblade bound, I love to get waves and nods back but don't worry if I don't. If it feels good do it, what goes around comes around....
I've even been known to gesture to car drivers.. who continue to be bad drivers.. case in point.
Hmm... but in a straight line I reckon a cruiser would be more stable than a race bike due to the wheel geometry and in certain circumstances lower c of g. Wouldn't a sports bike have a certain amount of instability designed in to improve it's turn-in response?
(not to mention their square-profile tyres).
There was a cruiser race series from 1974 -76, both years won by Freddy 'the snake' Henderson but the series was eventually abandoned due to the high number of fatalities caused by prolonged exposure to 'tassel-lash'.
I've got to admit I try and nod when passing another bike coming the other way. And try and wave when passing a fellow biker going the same way. But I don't when on the motorway (to busy avoiding useless car drivers, its mirror, signal then manuvour)
Oh I'm not bothered what type of bike it is, I've ridden and loved them all.
* could the people who don't say thank you when you hold the door open for them be the same bikers who don't wave?*
cytm - I find that if, after someone walks through a door you have held open without saying thank you, you follow them and just catch the back of their heel with your boot, you normally get some form of response....
It's easy to knock the type of bike rather than the riders. It may be that certain types of bike attract less savoury people but they can't be blamed for rider behaviour. Certainly 25 years ago, the least friendly were the waxed cotton and Sam Browne BMW riders who seemed to think they were the only riders on the road worth their salt. There seems to be more choice of unsociable riders these days.
I've been riding for 35 years and used to ride in most weathers as part of my job but not because it's the macho thing to do but because a bike can do a journey (particularly with large urban elements) the most quickly, it was easier to park and used less fuel than a car. Besides, representing a motorcycling organisation advocating motorcycles as transport, it was the appropriate choice. Now, I can walk to work in 15 minutes and so use my bikes and car much less although for longish distances, socialising or going out for the day, the bikes remain my first choice.
Anyway, I've recently gotten into sports bikes with a ZX-9R although my Bandit remains the first choice for transport. This doesn't mean that I suddenly no longer acknowledge waves unless my hands are full for some reason or have stopped nodding to other motorcyclists. Neither have I taken to riding like a nutter with a group or adopting the power ranger image. If I ride fast I tend to do it alone, choose where I do so and where I overtake other road users safely but I do wear a zip together two-piece suit for protection and comfort. I did make sure that the current one has enough pockets for my needs.
So don't prejudge riders who choose sports bikes, any more than I would do so with those who choose Harleys, Goldwings or big tourers with off-road styling (and I include KTMS in that category). I should also add that I avoided sports bikes from preconceptions in the past and the ZX is a whole lot better and easier to live with than I had expected. It's also very stable on its stand or in motion. Don't knock it until you try it!!
British bikers nod because thay can't take their right hand off the bars. You can wave on the continent because they drive on the wrong side, therefore can use their clutch hand.
Shaking a leg (for continental types) is generally done to acknowledge or thank someone you have just overtaken. Clearly you don't want to wave with your throttle hand.
And it's irrelevant in this country as no one moves over to let you past.
As commented above, waving is down to the rider. Nothing at all to do with the type of bike you ride, or when you ride it.
Tho some types of bike seem to set certain attitudes in riders
psst yammie... Scottish days are longer than English at the mo....
Nope, it's ok everybody, as has been pointed out to me I have made a TERRIBLE mistake.. It has nothing to do with instability *cough* or what kind of bike you ride or how often... the truth is we are STILL one huge family with everybody respecting other peoples choice of bikes... it is just that they have been waving on the LEFTHAND side of the bike low down and I haven't been seeing them...
(thanks BJ!!)
I feel so stupid now....
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