Modern Vespa

Had the 300 for a week now and i am a happy bunny. After about 15 years on all sorts of "big" bikes i find the reaction of other road users, particularly fellow 2 wheelers, a bit odd.
When i rode motorcycles there was always recognition, a wave, a nod, now - nothing. I am not there. Invisible.
The upside though, is more than enough. I pulled into a petrol station and a rather charming young girl, who looked a little like Megan Fox, gave me a rather cheeky grin and waved. Lovely. Made my day, it did.
Anyway. All the best.

Hey! Where did that post come from? I didn't see anybody!

Don't worry about the motorcyclists, I get "the wave" from some and not others. I even got a friendly nod at a stop light the other day from a Harley rider that stopped next to me.

Of course he then kept revving his engine and took off leaving me in his exhaust fumes when the light turned green.

I think some bikers don't consider scooter-riders to be "true" two-wheelers. Others could care less and are just friendly. Honestly, I would rather take the smile and wave from a young hottie than a grizzled old biker any day!

My sentiments exactly!!

I've noticed a loose correlation between the type of bike and the greeting I get - at least here in my part of California, the young guys riding the sport bikes (wearing shorts, sandals, and a tank-top or tee shirt) don't bother to acknowledge when I pass (they're too cool for me, I guess). But the "cruisers" seem to give the wave almost every time... I try not to be biased - I welcome courtesy and friendliness from any rider or (driver, for that matter...) and try to respond in kind.

Yup I get the same thing. Bikers don't nod because scooters are'nt considered real bikes to them. Ho hum eh.
Bill and the scabby ET4

I am Mr Invisible.


Is someone talking??????????????????????????

No I am Sparticus

i've never had a nod, a wink, or so much as a 'by your leave' by bikers, at least not whilst i was moving. i've had a lovely bloke move two very large motorcycles out of the way for me so i could sqeeze into bike bay. and a couple of weeks ago a fellow on a crotch rocket gave me an odd gesture with his leg.

now that i know i'm actually being ignored, i'm ready to feel insulted

Genie, some bikers (mainly europeans) use the leg as a form of wave. 8)

thank you. i almost gave him the 'v' cos i thought he was being rude

Genie the leg thing is something I saw first in France when you get over taken by a power ranger on a kwakinuzirama 900. Like a wave but you aren't taken your hands off the bars because you are scared.
Take it as a complement.
Bill and the scabby ET4

Also used as a 'thank you' to cagers who move over. Catching on in the UK now as well.

Thing is, i quite like it. I quite like being a pariah amongst the "bike" crowd. It's almost an epiphany. I do genuinely view things differently now. I don't do 3 figure speeds anymore, nor do i feel the need to. I don't want a noisy exhaust to give me one whole brake horsepower. I am quite happy bimbling along, doing my own thing.
I have done more mileage in 2 run outs than i have done all year on the "proper" bikes. I just enjoy the Vespa so much.
Damn, they are addictive.

You may not get as many unsolicited nods, but you reap what you sow.

I've never found any problem with any biker crowd because of what I ride. Some take the piss, but why not. Just as welcome at rallies etc, no problem.

Funny, people's experiences - I'm getting one sort or another of wave from everybody lately.

Did 170 mi yesterday on the GTS and all - crotch rockets, H-Ds grizzled, dirty, chopped or Lawyers in Love alike - waved, gave the down-pointing V, or the flat hand. All of them. Weird things was, I saw no other scoots, small or large.

Went 50 miles at speed with an HD guy of the grimy outlaw sort after I passed him. When the long road emptied, we rode staggered for the rest of the route at around 65. Nioce day, nice curvy road, nice to have company. More and more, it would seem that a bike is a bike is a bike.

So true.

I can't be bothered. If they wave, I wave back and I always wave and smile at scooter riders...well, not all. I'm sick of this debate. If a wave from someone on a Harley is what you need to feel okay about yourself, then you need a Hog. Frankly, I'm happy with my Piglet.

Happy Riding.

Agreed.

+1

I often don't get waves from scooter riders... prolly 'cuz most of them have no idea how to ride properly that they're terrified of taking a hand off the bar.

Doesn't bother me any.

Out for a ride today w/ the missus on the back of the Ducati and got only a single wave (HD Dyna) and a nod (Duc 748) after passing >30 bikes.

Uh whats "The V"...

I hate being ignorant.

Genie would you please give me "The V" so I know it when I see it.

well, I s'pose the point was...it ain't a debate. Many years ago, I rode big machines. Now I find scoots to be a delight. It's not a question of getting a wave from a Harley rider to "feel ok about yourself": it's a matter of the shared experience, no matter the size or configuration of the bike.

Two-wheeling is something that we all have in common. I find the hauteur of crotchrocketeeers or Hogsters - or even some scooterites - to be hilarious. Guess I've gotten too old even to judge people by their choices...

+1

given with the palm outward, the 'v' symbolizes victory or peace:



given with the palm facing inward, however, it has the same meaning as the solo middle finger (i don't think that's what winston meant in this picture, tho):

Thats it! Who would you rather drawn your attention? Dressed up in leather bikers or charming young girls

I try to be as polite as possible to ALL bikers, I initiate a wave by raising fingers (subtle V-style). Guess most reply.

Toward girls I encounter, I always initiate a smile but I never use the leg as a form of wave then 8)

Edit: See previous post https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic30652

I ride both a gts and a Ducati 600. I always give them the salute. I don't care if someone looks at me funny when I am on the gts. I have nothing to prove in the way of manliness. From our PM's I am sure you understand where I am going with this.

I have been riding a Ruckus 50 up to this point. I wave to all bikes. I have gotten waves and nods from Harley riders, Scooterests, but never from a Gold Wing rider. Snooty Gold Wings.

AMEN A bike is a bike is a bike. No matter if you have to swing a leg over or swing a leg through!

Lima-Charlie - 5 X 5

I never got a wave back from a Sherman tank too!

The V sign is supposed to originate way back. English archers apparently used to make the sign at the French as an indication that they could take them out with a long bow so long as they could draw the bow with those two fingers. If the French caught you, they chopped those fingers off, hence the sign!

It is a great story which is probably not true, but nevermind. We still use it to tell our enemies to get stuffed (or other motorists that they are a pain in the arse). So the second photo means that - still got those fingers, still able to take you out. Churchill definitely meant for both gestures to be recorded.

WM, i sooooooo hope that story is true!! 8)

I was driving from the San Fernando Valley to Cucamunga last Friday afternoon/evening on the 210. Heavy traffic. My wife and I were in the Trooper in the car pool lane. LOTS or motorcycles "lane sharing" past us. I noticed that when I visibly moved over to give them room (as opposed to driving to the left all the time) many would give me the two-finger-down "wave" as they passed.

It felt good.

Riding a scooter has made me a better driver.

That is how I get "Waves" from other riders. Left hand (duh right hand is on throttle) upside down peace sign or upside down V.

I get it often from Scooterists, often from Harleys/customs, frequent from sport bikers. Never yet from Gold Wing Riders. Though yesterday I got a nod from a Gold Wing rider.