Motorcycle cops and the biker community

[Ludo]

I'm sure some of the forum members are motorcycle cops so I'll take a shot at a naive question I can't ask anyone else.

I'm newly endorsed and I love the feeling of the biker community about as much as I love riding.

In that spirit I make a point of waving all bikers unless I don't notice them in time (which I take as a sign I wasn't being aware enough of my surroundings).

In doing that I have waved several times at cops on bikes, I was almost surprised the first few times to see they responded in kind. A couple times this happened while I was speeding and I got the wave back just the same.

So... Is there some kind of more open and tolerant relation between bikers and officers on two wheels or I'm just tripping?

When I was a kid (in France) I was dreaming of being an American motorcycle cop and ride a Harley all day... I didn't manage to pull that off, but I have to say that these guys waving back to me went a long way in making me think they are every bit as cool as I thought when I was a kid.

[Louis]

I've gotten a few waves back (or nods) too from biker cops.

[QuacktheDuck]

Yeah got a nod here too. Was pretty cool riding back from work one afternoon in the carpool lane with 2 chp as escort the whole time (well they were behind me). Never felt so safe on a bike before. I did a low wave to them when I exited the lane to get off the fwy and one nodded.

[Clint]

I think they most certainly understand what we're after on motorcycles more than other officers, but I don't know how often it works to our advantage.

[finch20th]

what are biker cops??? we don't have those here...

[nhoel]

I actually travel to work on a bike almost daily... and on the same schedule, this biker cop actually comes up behind me at some point in the freeway. Naturally, I'll let him pass and he'll give me an acknowledgement by waving back at me after passing (this is while lane splitting). The cool part of this whole thing is, cages stay clear from him and I just follow him all the way until I exit. That's one LEO I wouldn't mind seeing on the road with me.

[KNIGHTENFORCER]

Here in NY they'll nod or wave back if they can,or if the situation permits. ( dont take it personal if they dont )

[Uncle Bob]

As a general rule motorcops do get waved at and not only by other bikers on a regular basis and usually return same.

[tooltrader1975]

I have met a couple cops (while they were off duty) that were pretty cool, I have only met one that were as big as Barney Fife....I think its pretty cool that they wave back. Where I am we dont have motorcycle cops, but I do ride through cities that do.

[Gixxerdale]

I ride with a couple and know several others. Bottom line is, the majority just want to be treated the same as everyone else, badge or not.

One works the Santa Monica Mountains on a regular basis. So when we run see each other we pull over to BS for a few. Everyone going past assumes I am getting a "driving award". I've been question after the fact several times by other riders and friends who saw me stopped. Hey, they're human too! Treat them as such and you might find a new friend.

[IntruderCruiser]

we have heard the stories that some of Motorcyle Police -- don't wave back -- but I have my morning run to work and see two Motorpatrols -- the first day I saw them I waved, after a couple of days they started waving back -- I generally catch them in the same location every day --

also while out riding one day, we had a Motorcycle police -- wave first at a stop sign. Like others have said, they are human just like us --

[2kMarauder]

The motorcycle police around here always wave..sometimes first, sometimes in return.