Complaining is easy, second nature to some while giving a compliment or quick thank you appears to be downright torturous. It could have been the perfect weather making for an amazing ride or maybe the road fumes made it further into our brains than we realized, but a simple comment led to a discussion by the gang of Clutch and Chrome during a stop and we all came up with a list of things to be proud of in the world of motorcycles.

Here is our list, in no particular order of things bikers the country over should give a nod and thanks to as the good stuff that's done right.

Bikers that wave regardless of what they ride.
The mystery of the motorcycle wave has been discussed, debated and argued probably since the first pair of pioneer bikers started passing each other on the road. Not only does the meaning of the wave create some heated conversations, but who, when and to whom it should be made clouds discussions even more.

Some feel that only riders of similar styles of motorcycle should wave to each other, while a more extreme group prefer to wave to riders who are riding the same brand of bike.

While the different viewpoints argue and justify their opinions, there are a segment of riders who not only wave to any other biker on two wheels, regardless of the style or which corporate name is on the gas tank, some take their camaraderie as far as waving to scooter riders!

Clutch and Chrome applauds the bikers who realize riding is about the experience of being on two wheels with a powerhouse between your legs, roaring down the open road. Let the rest of the world divide themselves in special interest groups and bicker about who is better, smarter or even ‘right’. Bikers should enjoy the ride and revel in its brotherhood.

Military leaders enforcing motorcycle safety training
While the men and women served in Afghanistan and Iraq, their pay built up in the bank, and along with the generous re-enlistment bonuses that were offered by the military, many of the service personnel have found themselves ‘cash-rich’ when returning home.

Unfortunately, the returning service personnel who decided to use their hard-earned money to buy a ‘dream motorcycle’ faced tragedy with many dying on American roads in numbers that rivaled the death toll of the beginning of the war in Iraq. It wasn’t long before the different arms of the military quickly took notice, each creating their own motorcycle safety program.

New regulations, which carried the same weight as those meant for the battlefield ranged from mandatory helmet laws to compulsory safety training in order to ride their bikes.

It was heartwarming to read and learn of generals taking as much interest in the safety and lives of America’s brave service personnel at home as well as during dangerous tours of duty in foreign countries.

States that make an effort to raise motorcycle awareness and safety to other road-users.
Every year the month of May is designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month, but depending on where a biker lives, people would be hard-pressed to know about it.

It is a little confusing how States such as Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon and New Hampshire who've either had motorcycle riding politicians or annually schedule grand unveilings of the awareness month seem to let the motorcycle awareness campaign get swept to one side along with plastic dinnerware and deflating balloons the end of the announcement celebrations.

A round of applause as well as a heartfelt thanks certainly goes to States such as Minnesota and Georgia who not only use precious budget dollars to print bumper stickers, posters and produce commercials year after year for the safety month, but also manage to support consistent round motorcycle safety awareness programs to keep other road users alert to the two-wheeled red-headed step children.

More states are becoming concerned over the disproportionately growing number of motorcycle fatalities among the highway accident statistics. Also, local legislatures singling out the bike for ordinances and fines has become the latest state and municipal trend. So bikers have to wonder why we can't get the same attention when it comes to safety campaigns and official support for our right to have a piece of road.

It would be great to write about more States supporting Motorcycle Awareness Month but there's the sneaking feeling it’ll be up the everyday biker to ‘remind’ local politicians how loud their voices can really be and the importance of the ‘biker vote’.