My experience down here in southern Louisiana is, most people will wave no matter what you're riding. The exceptions would be the "elitist types". But they run the gamut from the "weekend badass" HD riders (affectionately known as Hells Proctologists), through the "hangin off MotoGP style while doing 20mph on the offramp, flipflop/cargo short/wifebeater wearing" sportbikers, to the "I sniff my own farts out of a wine glass" scooter commuters. But then there are assholes in every group.
I'll generally wave. If you wave back, great. If not, oh well. I sure don't lose sleep over it either way.
Of course you have to use some common sense too. If I'm downshifting in a decreasing radius turn with mud/water/gravel on the roadway, I'm not likely to throw the deuces at you (honestly, in that type of situation, I probably wouldn't even notice another rider waving anyway). Similarly, if you're a worry wart riding on worn/damaged tires on a pothole infested highway, you should probably keep both hands on the bars too
I'll generally wave. If you wave back, great. If not, oh well. I sure don't lose sleep over it either way.
Of course you have to use some common sense too. If I'm downshifting in a decreasing radius turn with mud/water/gravel on the roadway, I'm not likely to throw the deuces at you (honestly, in that type of situation, I probably wouldn't even notice another rider waving anyway). Similarly, if you're a worry wart riding on worn/damaged tires on a pothole infested highway, you should probably keep both hands on the bars too