If the road isn't divided, I drift over to the yellow line and try to high-five the other rider as they pass... to date, no one has ever tried to make contact with my high-five. Will fingerless gloves help?
but seriously, I do try and give a "Shaka" wave to passing bikes.
Waving is NOT AUTHORIZED during Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Sturgis, Laconia, or any other large biker event when riding within 15 miles of the host city. Violators will have their waving hand severed.
It should be a personal thing. If you want to wave give a wave. You can not always expect a reply. The other rider may have other things on his mind, maybe had a bad day at work, a fight with the GF, or nearly getting hit by a cager a block before you saw them. Do it because you want to and it makes you feel better.
I do not always give waves or HD salutes ... and in turn do not always expect to get a return. I understand the other factors that will ruin what was suppose to be a good ride.
It does not matter. A wave is a wave. Do what you like. When and if I wave, I wave at any bike, regardless of manufacturer. I figure that if you're on a bike, that's cool with me. The bigger problem for me is that with all of the bike out on the roads these days, I feel like I am constantly waving. Sometimes I get sick of it and stop waving to everyone.