Nodding
Author
Discussion

nigeve

Original Poster:

18 posts

232 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
I know some people find nodding at other riders a bit of hassle but come on guys. We are not like other motorists, we share a kin ship for the open road and the feel of wind on our skin. We don’t queue at traffic lights, we don’t worry about driving home at 5.30 because we make long lines of cars up the high street evaporate. We go to bike cafes and local meets to talk ste and admire other people’s machines. We share a common bond and if we can’t be arsed to give a fellow biker (who’d be there for you if you ever needed assistance) a nod then we’re no different from any other road users. And that would be a pity…
If you’re on two wheels your in the gang whether it’s a Puch Maxi or a Fat Boy.
My old bike was a GSX-R1000 and I’d nod at everyone and I’d get nods back from all and sundry. Sports bike, tourers even Harley riders were happy to wave (bad ass mothers from the Vikings as well). Since I’ve been on my XJR 1300 I seem to be being ignored. Let’s not have a bike hierarchy because that’s just not right…
My next bike will be a road king and I’ll be expecting sports bike riders to nod back… Is right! :-)

Chilli

17,320 posts

267 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Hmmm, problem is, if you commute into the City, you'll see 854,569,274,631 bikes each way...Ive counted. On nice sunny weekends, you see (on a good day) 47,659,487 whih makes for a lot of nods, and leads to a headache. Worse still, if the BiB see you, you'll get a pull as they'll assume your having a fit. I tend to keep it to a reasonable level.. ie won't bother if the guy is ugly or really fat....or has a shat bike.

dern

14,055 posts

310 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Some people nod, some don't. I do because I'm a friendly sort but if it becomes a requirement then I'll stop.

Edited to add: quick question though... if you're riding along and 10 bikes come the other way do you...

  • nod to all of them
  • just the first one
  • execute the first half of the nod, hold your head to one side and then execute the second half for the last guy
  • repeat the nod while you pass them all
  • wave
  • give it a miss
...I tend to intend to just nod for the first guy but by the time the last guy goes by I feel like I should nod to him too and then I get all confused and end up (I imagine) looking like a spaz.

What's the answer?

Edited by dern on Thursday 3rd July 16:22

surfsofa

406 posts

314 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
I've found it's a bit like when you go walking in the countryside. The further you get away from town the more friendly people seem to become, and then it reverses when you get nearer a town again.

Do also bear in mind the other rider may look properly kitted-out, but doesn't mean he/she's not a nervous newbie watching the road like a hawk smile

m3psm

988 posts

252 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
I always nod if out of the City or unless there are hundreds in convoy then I'll just give a wave.

Always try to stop for a broken down bike too unless on a motorway or I spot them too late to safely pull over.

Heskey

4,048 posts

224 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
When I had my bike I found it really fun to experience this level of commaradre; I'd nod to bikers, and they'd nod back to me with my stty little L plates on. Sometimes at traffic lights with other bikers, they'd eye up my bike because (even though it's only 125cc, it's still a looker!).

I also found it hillarious that this commaradre seems to go over the heads of scooterists. I'd give them a courtesy nod, but they either look at me strangely or outright don't notice.

I'm sure ordinary scootarists might acknowledge; but the ones around by me are all chavs with only a helmet on over their trackies, and probably have no idea about the depths of 2-wheel commaradre, other than the fun they can have using their back wheel to spin the round-a-bout at the local park really really fast innit man.

Edited by Heskey on Thursday 3rd July 16:40

lawrence567

7,507 posts

221 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
I think its funny people on peds wear scramble bike helmets with no goggles, then hang over the thing to try and get it to go faster.
I went out one evening and there werea bout 15 of the 50cc ones revving the nuts off the things with stty little sports exhausts on.
I pulled over specially as one of them was showing off.
(having just had mu viper can fitted minues the silencers).
& revved my engine, you couldnt even hear theres!
I think then they accepted that their bikes were'nt as good as they firs thougt.

Heskey

4,048 posts

224 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
lawrence567 said:
I think its funny people on peds wear scramble bike helmets with no goggles, then hang over the thing to try and get it to go faster.
I went out one evening and there werea bout 15 of the 50cc ones revving the nuts off the things with stty little sports exhausts on.
I pulled over specially as one of them was showing off.
(having just had mu viper can fitted minues the silencers).
& revved my engine, you couldnt even hear theres!
I think then they accepted that their bikes were'nt as good as they firs thougt.
I'd be tempted to do something similar but being new to biking, and knowing my luck; two things would happen... Either:

1.) After aweing them with my own revving, I go to set off and stall.

2.) After aweing them with my own revving, I manage to set off but within a mile I'm surrounded by the gang who then proceed to kick me off my bike :P

Don Veloci

2,209 posts

312 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Always nod back in reply if other riders nod at me.

I'm sure cross motorway waves happen too.

Quite impressed yesterday. I'm sitting at 70 on the City bypass thinking thats fast enough for me in the gusty wind when another rider shoots past me at fair rate relaxed enough in the conditions for a friendly sustained wave.


mitzy

13,858 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Always nod, its good to nod

Dont wave but an old boy did to me on sunday.... bless!

White van man has a chat sometimes like today

White Van Man "I have a big one too"

Mitzy "I'm sure you do mate ,what about your bike"

lickheheyum

Chilli

17,320 posts

267 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
mitzy said:
White van man waved his old boy to me on sunday.... bless!
EFA.

AdeTuono

7,626 posts

258 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
lawrence567 said:
I think its funny people on peds wear scramble bike helmets with no goggles, then hang over the thing to try and get it to go faster.
I went out one evening and there werea bout 15 of the 50cc ones revving the nuts off the things with stty little sports exhausts on.
I pulled over specially as one of them was showing off.
(having just had mu viper can fitted minues the silencers).
& revved my engine, you couldnt even hear theres!
I think then they accepted that their bikes were'nt as good as they firs thougt.
We all had to start somewhere. Some people think your Thundercat is a POS.

Edited by AdeTuono on Friday 4th July 08:09

mitzy

13,858 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
White van man waved his old boy to me on sunday.... bless!
EFA.
lol and it was like a wrikly old sausage, must have been on his tank for too long!

lickbiggrin

Chilli

17,320 posts

267 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
mitzy said:
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
White van man waved his old boy to me on sunday.... bless!
EFA.
lol and it was like a wrikly old sausage, must have been on his tank for too long!

lickbiggrin
Ah, no.....Enough!!

mitzy

13,858 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
White van man waved his old boy to me on sunday.... bless!
EFA.
lol and it was like a wrikly old sausage, must have been on his tank for too long!

lickbiggrin
Ah, no.....Enough!!
lightweight mr c

Chilli

17,320 posts

267 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
mitzy said:
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
Chilli said:
mitzy said:
White van man waved his old boy to me on sunday.... bless!
EFA.
lol and it was like a wrikly old sausage, must have been on his tank for too long!

lickbiggrin
Ah, no.....Enough!!
lightweight mr c
When it comes to talking about "old chaps", then guilty as charged!!

Schmeeky

4,304 posts

248 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Trying to get back on topic after Chilli and Mitzi's shenanagins....

Just what the hell do you do when umpteen bikes come past? Dern stated most of the options, but I still don't know what's best.....

mitzy

13,858 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
he started it......

m3psm

988 posts

252 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Schmeeky said:
Just what the hell do you do when umpteen bikes come past? Dern stated most of the options, but I still don't know what's best.....
I usualy just give a wave.

Dakkon

7,833 posts

284 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
Schmeeky said:
Trying to get back on topic after Chilli and Mitzi's shenanagins....

Just what the hell do you do when umpteen bikes come past? Dern stated most of the options, but I still don't know what's best.....
I just flail my head about as though I'm having a fitwink

Edited by Dakkon on Thursday 3rd July 22:03