I spent the day riding today, a little over 150 miles in and around Milwaukee.
I got no less than 15 waves from Harley's to Goldwing's, always the average guy out for a Saturday cruise. Each of those they were the one to initiate the wave. I started responding with the hand up being a newer rider, but 1/2 way through the day I was a full hand down wave.
I did give a few out first, 7 or 8 full blown Harley biker dudes with ZZ Top beards and bandannas didn't wave back, otherwise I got waves back regardless of the bike.
Funny thing, 3 of the bikes that did a full wave to me first were BMW cruisers. Maybe they just respect the 31 year old bike cruising along like it was just made
Overall, I'd say 25-35 waves over the course of 3 or 4 hours.
Speaking of, man the bike is running great! I am like a junkie, addicted to the slight vibration of the engine, whistle of the wind, total freedom. Riding is an experience like none other. Everywhere you go, even if you have driven the road 1000 times is different than what you are used to. The change in temperature passing a lake or river (or even fresh dark blacktop versus sun bleached pavement), the smells of a wild meadow or farm, the placement of manhole covers in the road. Couped up in a car you just don't experience where exactly you are like on a bike.
I may be a bit cocky, but I got it down, and am extremely comfortable on the bike. The only "trouble" I had today was an unfamiliar intersection. I had just left a gas station on a corner so I was in the right lane of a 3 lane road. While sitting at the stop light I noticed my lane ended in the first 250 feet past the intersection. With a fair bit of traffic I had only 1 option: goose it hard on the green light and get into the other lane. It was the fastest take off I had done on this bike and it was no problem. I settled in well ahead of the other cars right at the speed limit of 45.
I got caught in my first rain today. It was forecasted about 3 the rain would get here and I was about 30 miles from home at 1:30. I saw the clouds getting dark quick so I made a beeline for home. About 7 or 8 miles away the light stuff hit. I was on the expressway and every bike in view stepped it up a notch. "Summerfest" is going on here, and the bikes are out in force. I saw hundreds going the other way on the expressway, and there was a mixed bunch of 5 or 6 ahead of me. I couldn't keep up with them once that rain started. I may be a bit confident, but I wasn't about to go over 65 on wet pavement (I'm not stupid
). I did have my rain gear in my backpack, but I figured if I stopped to put it on under an overpass the downpour would be on me by the time I was done. I had called my buddy to let him know I was on the way, and no sooner did I rev up his driveway and park in his garage the gates of Heaven opened and POURED down for 20 solid minutes.
Once it all cleared up I spent another hour tooling around. I only stopped to go home and have a beer and smoke, and call it a day