Secret Cycle Society

The sweetest ride that anyone can ever ride is driven by moi. It is a 2004 Yamaha Vino 125 scooter.
I have wanted one of these babies since 2002 and the opportunity to get one came up around two years ago. We were expecting out first child and I was driving a 1996 Acura Integra two door and Jamie (my wife) drove a Tacoma. We needed a more practical car so we thought if we sold both of our cars we could use the money to get a scooter for me and a four door car for the family. After a few months of looking I found and bought one. This sweet beast on wheels gets 80 MPG and drives max speed of about 52 MPH. I drive about a hundred miles a week so my gas bill is astronomically less then most drivers, which is one of the main reasons for getting it. Now that you know what I drive, I will get to the point.

This is where you as the reader need to imagine I am talking to you as an anonymous informant relaying sensitive information. You may have noticed the title “Secret Cycle Society,” this is where I reveal a secret that could get me exiled from the cycle world, yet the info must come out. Ok I will whisper it to you, when someone on a motorcycle is riding in the opposite direction as you, they will wave at you. There I said it, I know it may be hard to believe, but it is true. If they don’t wave, they may give you the head nod or something of the sort.

When I first started noticing these gestures from other riders, It felt a little awkward. It is kind of like when someone you don’t know says, “Hi” to you and you return the hi accompanied with a look that says “Do I know you?” or “Why are they talking to me?” Over time I started to realize that riders greet their own. I never thought I would be greeted due to my ride being a scooter (or in other words a poser motorcycle), but I am greeted none the less. Sometimes I think the waves are in jest because of my ride, but I have no way to prove it. Ok, it may not be a secret society but it may be due to the fact that I don’t see them waving at people on horses, unicycles, elephants, bikes, skateboards, or camels.

Now there are some do’s and don’ts I have learned while trying to return the salutation. First of all, I try to avoid the head nod. I can’t see it when the other riders do it half the time, so I figure they can’t see mine. Second, don’t lift your hand up to wave. I did that the first couple of times and hit my mirror on the way up. After hitting the mirror, about a half hour of readjusting goes into putting it back in the right spot. I have found the best way to wave is to keep your thumb and palm connected to the handle bar while jetting my fingers out towards the other rider. By doing this I can keep control of the bike while giving an obvious acknowledgment. Keep in mind that I have learned all this by trial and error as I have been initiated into this secret club of motorcycle riders. This should not be attempted by any vehicle on more than two wheels.

Now remember, keep this information a secret or one of the butchy she-man biker chicks will come and flog me, so mums the word.