Do you actually like nodding?

[Benbay001]

Almost since i got my bike licence in 2009, nodding at other bikers has felt a bit stupid.

Now i live on the continent, and nodding has now become sticking your hand out to the side in a peace sign, which is even less convenient and more annoying.

Where does this come from?

When i go out on a sunday it feels like i spent 20% of the ride acknowledging that other people also ride motorbike.

Ironically, when you get to any bike parking, hardly anyone says hello..

Like it, love it, or hate it?

[Ambleton]

Ride a scooter and your problem will dissappear. No one will nod at you! (Or expect one back!)

[LosingGrip]

I don't nod. I don't get it.

Do I nod/wave to everyone I pass in a car? Just because I happen to have the same mode of transport?

Do I nod when I walk pass someone as we are both walking?

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I like it, there are too few of us so its nice to acknowledge each other.

I remeber getting my first nod on my 125cc, the first sunny Saturday after doing my CBT. I was chuffed.

[Sweaty Sock]

I've been riding since 1992, in the UK mostly.
Certainly there's less nodding now, but 35 years ago (and before) it was part of being part of a "tribe" or social group. Sometimes a wee wave.
There was no way you'd ride past a biker stuck on the side of the road, even when driving a cage.
I still nod and help stranded fellow bikers.
The only folk who seldom nodded were Harley riders and police cops, although I've had a few acknowledgments from both.
I like the low left hand wave in Europe.

[P675]

In Ireland everybody including cyclists waved, which I preferred. Felt less 'secret club'. I tend to do a thumbs up to signify no speed cameras or hazards my way.

[-Cappo-]

I’ve ridden a lot in France this year and the arm-out peace sign thing gets REALLY tedious after the first, hmm, 100m or so of riding. Some riders seem to almost contort themselves off their bike to get maximum arm extension. Not my thing. I’ll nod back over here if it’s a single bike and I’m on my own and they instigate but it’s a bit pointless really.

I get waves from others when I’m in the Landie all the time as well. Thing is, I left school about 50 years ago.

[Sweaty Sock]

LosingGrip said:

I don't nod. I don't get it.

Do I nod/wave to everyone I pass in a car? Just because I happen to have the same mode of transport?

Do I nod when I walk pass someone as we are both walking?

Maybe you simply view it as transport which is fine, as opposed to people for whom being a biker is part of their identity. Just different I guess.
I'd never nod to a fellow car driver, although some supercar owners do.

[Benbay001]

Sweaty Sock said:

Maybe you simply view it as transport which is fine, as opposed to people for whom being a biker is part of their identity. Just different I guess.
I'd never nod to a fellow car driver, although some supercar owners do.

Personally, i ride a bike because its fast and fun. I couldnt give a stuff about the culture.

Edit: i do enjoy a good bike meet though.

[_Rodders_]

Always thought it a bit cheesy. The kind of thing a mean looking biker gang would get uppity about.

And yet I still did it.

[PistonRings]

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

I think the difference to a car vs bike is that almost every biker I know would come to the aid of another biker. Whenever I see someone broken down or having a problem with their bike, if I can, I'll pull over and help. Thats rarely a kindness you see from car drivers.

[Biker9090]

I've been riding since 2007 (when I was 16) and probably nod a lot less now.

Generally I'll only nod back if someone nods at me - and only then if I'm not already concentrating too hard on what I'm doing.

The only ones I really make an effort for are those on 125s (not delivery scooters) as I know how much it meant to us when being acknowledged by someone on a bigger bike.

I do make every effort to stop if it's clear/looks like someone needs help, as (again) I've been there and it's not pleasant.

I had to push my 500 about 2 miles to a fuel station from Goring a few weeks ago (fuel light wire broken it seems) and only ONE out of about 40 bikes that passed even bothered to acknowledge me - and they were on L plates on a 125.....

Edited by Biker9090 on Wednesday 2nd September 11:08

[boxedin]

PistonRings said:

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

I think the difference to a car vs bike is that almost every biker I know would come to the aid of another biker. Whenever I see someone broken down or having a problem with their bike, if I can, I'll pull over and help. Thats rarely a kindness you see from car drivers.

That's because we know how utterly awful it can be and as someone who's needed help and given help it's never been unwelcome.

Most/some car drivers seem to think bikes breakdown by choice just to inconvenience them.

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.

[spoodler]

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...

[Time4another]

Nods for everyone! Big bikes, small bikes, learners, cyclists not you, scooters.

[s p a c e m a n]

We've got a couple of fairly rare classic cars, will always acknowledge another one if we see it. Infact we normally give a thumbs up to anything cool when we're in them.

Try riding with a couple of females. I'll be following my missus and her mate down the road and they wave at other bikes like a 5 year old who just noticed their best friend in the park, other girls normally wave back at them in the same way. To be fair it's fking hilarious, if they get a wave back I get them shouting bike friend, bike friend over the intercom

[Linksmas]

I nod, sometimes wave. The other weekend I think I missed the memo not to nod as no fker was returning it.

In Europe I do enjoy the two fingers down, it's more comfortable to do and feels less of a distraction.

[Redline88]

What about when it’s a group of say ten bikes going the other way, one nod or 10

[s p a c e m a n]

That's when the wave like a 5 year old works because you can just keep doing it all the way along the line

[TimmyMallett]

I wave vigorously at Harley riders because they're far too serious and ruffty tuffty to nod back.