Welcome to the club.
On my ride to Church that Sunday morning after parking lot practice I encountered another brave motorcyclist. We were across from each other at a light, stopped. As I took the advance green I crossed the other motorcyclist’s path. As I did he lifted the fingers of his right hand and gave me The Wave(tm). This was a fairly non-traditional wave but it was a wave none-the-less.
Riding a motorcycle awards you access to an exclusive and superior club: the I’m-riding-a-motorcycle club. You are only a member of the club when you’re actually riding a motorcycle; membership is not valid if you own a motorcycle but are not riding it. If you, as a pedestrian or a cager, wave to a motorcyclist you will not get The Wave back because you are not a member of the club.
I feel left out when I’m walking, or driving a cage and I see a bike. I think to myself “I could wave to this person because we share a common bond of motorcycleness but only if I were riding a motorcycle at this time.” Not only am I jealous that I am not riding a motorcycle at the time but also feeling left out of the club.
In Eastern Ontario there doesn’t seem to be a lot of snubbing; motorcyclists of all classes will wave to all other classes. Sport bikes wave to cruisers, and cruisers wave to standards. In this area The Wave is the standard left-arm out, at least the pointer finger extended wave. You do see some other waves when its impractical do to that. Sometimes you’ll get a nod at an intersection–that’s as good as The Wave.
I have read about the snub, and I’m sure I’ve been snubbed myself. The snub can come in two forms, from what I know: 1. the lack of acknowledgement; 2. the active disavowment. In the first case you can’t be sure it’s a snub. The rider may not have seen you (instead focusing on other elements of the road), or may not have been able to safely acknowledge. So you, the snubbed club member, are left uncertain as whether or not the person has snubbed you or simply couldn’t return The Wave.
The active disavowment is pretty extreme. I have yet to see it happen in person but I have read about it online. Instead of simply ignoring your wave the rider will place his or her left (clutch) hand on his or her lap. Wars have been started for less. This would be a serious no-no to any rider unless you’ve really got your chickens lined up to handle the potential repercussions.
All-in-all, The Wave is an inclusive gig and one that is loved, appreciated, and respected by all riders.