Do you actually like nodding?

[Steve Bass]

Be thankful.

Over here, there s a ridiculous two finger down signal with the left hand. Apparently signifies keeping two wheels down, shiny side up. When I see a bike coming on I shudder as I know this mind bogglingly stupid “brutha”sign is coming. I just want to flip the bird in response .
Almost as bad as “hadda lay ‘er down”
Yes, I m old and a curmudgeon

Edited by Steve Bass on Wednesday 2nd September 12:51

[Richard-D]

Initially thought it was a nice thing but soon became an irritation, not a fan of the nodding thing myself.

[Bodo]

-Cappo- said:

I ve ridden a lot in France this year and the arm-out peace sign thing ...

It's not meant to be a peace sign. The OG Motorrad greeting is index finger and middle finger pointing down - meaning: I wish you'll have both rubbers on the tarmac.

When you're greeted by an oncoming bike with their hand on top of their helmet, he warns you of a speed trap or police check.

[Quinny]

I was riding in France in June, and even the police riders acknowledged me with the 2 finger V..

I usually give a nod unless the other rider is on a GS or any type of Harley..

[Ambleton]

Time4another said:

Nods for everyone! Not you, scooters.

[moanthebairns]

spoodler said:

boxedin said:

Hands up if you've been knocked off your bike and whilst lying on the road coming to terms with what's just happened, someone is sat in their car beeping at you.

Ha. Oh yes, indeed... It's not down to the modern generation not giving a damn either, as I've seen posted elsewhere. The first time it happened to me was when I was seventeen. I hit a wet manhole cover on my 650 BSA and down I went in front of the oncoming traffic. Everybody sat in their cars just watching me lie there in the rain, except for those who bumped over the pavement to go round me.


As for nodding, I usually do, I think the spirit goes back to the days when motorcyclists were rare and adventurous, when AA men saluted passing motorists etc... but can't understand those who take to social media to have a go at those who don't. For all they know you could be a bike thief, rapist, peado' or member of the Greens... and I wouldn't want to wave at them either...

I once helped up a delivery rider at a local small roundabout that had decided to give the tarmac a closer look. I could not believe the amount of sheer s that were driving around us whilst he was on the deck or when we were moving the bike.

[Accidentalhero]

No, honestly its a bit silly really but I’ll acknowledge other Ducatis and 125s on L plates because I think they need to know they belong to the wide biker community and we were all there once

[hiccy18]

I like it, often I'm that idiot waving furiously at you because I'm happy riding my bike. Sometimes there's far too many bikes around I don't feel like it so I don't at which point I'm that ignorant ignoring you.

I don't feel obligated but I do recognise when there's others out enjoying themselves like me. Hell I've even been known to strike up a conversation off the bike: to quote someone I spoke to recently "bikes are brilliant, aren't they!"

[black-k1]

hiccy18 said:

I like it, often I'm that idiot waving furiously at you because I'm happy riding my bike. Sometimes there's far too many bikes around I don't feel like it so I don't at which point I'm that ignorant ignoring you.

I don't feel obligated but I do recognise when there's others out enjoying themselves like me. Hell I've even been known to strike up a conversation off the bike: to quote someone I spoke to recently "bikes are brilliant, aren't they!"

I'll be the one enthusiastically waving back ... even when you're not waving to me!

[Opapayer]

I used to nod sporadically when out and about years ago, although I felt like I had a broken neck given how many bikes you’d see on a Sunday. I can’t stand that stupid V sign thing. Another Americanism that’s found its way into our culture. F*** that and f*** anyone who does it.

[8IKERDAVE]

I do enjoy it yes, I like being part of the community.

When it gets annoying though is at peak summer when there's absolutely tons of us out.

I think it extends further than nodding because you share the same form of transport. Biking is very much 'if you know you know'. For the most of us, it's an expensive hobby as opposed to something to get us to work and back. We choose to risk our lives to enjoy something that only a select few understand.

[shirt]

PistonRings said:

I always understood the continent "peace sign" as actually "Two Wheels Down", basically saying ride safe.

Didn’t know that. Agree that help from other bikers is always offered when you’re parked at an odd place on the roadside.

It’s just not convenient when you’re on a twisty euro B road and have to take a hand of the bars to return the sign, so I don’t do it. If I’m pootling on a straight A road then maybe. But overall I’ll maintain control and attention on the road.

[Steve Bass]

shirt said:

PistonRings said:

I always understood the continent "peace sign" as actually "Two Wheels Down", basically saying ride safe.

Didn t know that. Agree that help from other bikers is always offered when you re parked at an odd place on the roadside. .

It is indeed and I think it originates from the US. It's fine on a cruiser when you're basically going at a steady speed in a straightish line and can be seen across the sometimes huge median on an interstate highway. But I'd rather not....

[boxedin]

Nodding?

Not really, commuting in London/riding in Europe will cure you of that. However, if it's not a sunny Sunday vibe, the weather isn't great and you're seeing a bike once in a while, a nod or wave? Yes.

The set of gestures that are more important are a wave or leg out to say 'Thanks', no matter if they're walking, riding or driving.

One useful gesture received was after catching up a French bike cop very late at night whilst raining. He turned around, tapped the rear of the bike ( same as a track day instructor ) in the 'follow me' style and off we went.

[slime bomb]

I remember in the 70s and 80s all bikers would flash their headlights to acknowledge each other. Obviously that could have had disastrous consequences so people started to nod. I'm a big fan of it and always will be and always love riding on the continent using their two fingers down thing.

To all the folks who don't nod, I say you are just a miserable bunch of Ba****ds, mind you most of them are younger so what can you expect. I will always stop if I see another biker in trouble too.

[RossF1984]

Relatively new to riding ~18 months but will always nod to fellow bikers when safe to do so - even the 125s. Find that most Harley riders will not return the gesture but then I just have a little chuckle!

Over a decade ago, when I had an Impreza, it also appeared to be standard procedure to wave at other owners.... Providing they weren't in a NA model.

Stopped multiple times to offer assistance to other bikers as I hope that someone would help me if I needed it.

[FNG]

I have to say after 20 years of nodding I’m getting fed up with it, and find myself a little irritated these days if someone doesn’t nod back. Apart from GS and Hardly riders, you don’t expect those to anyway.

But I ride an Indian so if I don’t nod, people will be thinking I’m on a Harley. fk that. So I’m stuck with The Nod

[Latifisnc]

I nod if I'm on the xjr or triumph, if I'm on the Harley I try to do a little effeminate wave to counterbalance all the hard as nails HOG guys who are too good to acknowledge others.

[boyse7en]

I nod to everyone, bikes, scooters, even Harley riders (actually i often do a proper big wave for them, just because)

In my car I wave/flash to same-brand drivers, which goes back to when i used to drive an OG Mini as a callow youth. Only in my Saab or Triumph though. The Honda/Nissan/Toyota are far too common and boring to wave to owners. Most of them probably don't even know what they are driving.

[warnie]

In the summer months it soon gets tiring as there's far too many of us out. A club is not great when there's too many of you in it.

Winter, well Oct - Feb is different I feel. Everyone gets a nod and nearly all nod back I find. The club has now become smaller and you feel more part of it.

I prefer the bike cafes in the winter as well. More bikers actually talk to eachother as more are out on their own and not in groups.

I'm off out now, not been out for over a month and apart from commuter's I won't see many other bikes.