I got sidetracked on my way to Brent Cross a few weeks ago, and landed up in the Yorkshire dales. (I usually only EVER go as far north as Brent Cross, cos there's an Ikea)

The only way I could tell I wasn't in the South East anymore, was because none of the bikers bothered to nod. (and ofcourse - I couldn't find a Starbucks anywhere)

I was wondering whether this is because northern bikers

a) have never seen a girl biker on a supermoto that far north, and forgot to nod / greet out of astonishment or
b) they are all new bikers, who don't know about nodding / greeting, cos it doesn't come in the owners manual when you buy a new bike. (but then there must be many new bikers in the south too?)

See, I only learnt about the MOST WONDERFUL custom of BRITISH bikers nodding in acknoweldgement/greeting at each other, because I hung out with very, very old bikers (like in their 40s!!). Maybe its something that has to be handed down from the older generation to the new and this simply doesn't happen in the North?

Do you think we can ask someone to make it part of the highway code?

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Nah , they can sense you're just another poncey southerner .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Got to be the first option, I reckon - I'm from Yorkshire originally, live in Newcastle now, and I nod to pretty much any bike going the other way. Exceptions are as I'm leaving IKEA, in case the movement of my head makes me any more noticeable, and somebody I know sees me leaving that place

We always wave, as do the riders here in France.
I remember some one telling me in a cafe once that one of our group had a brother aged 23. I just could not understand how someone that old could still be riding a bike.
This was a while ago. It was when I first had my brand new 1961 Triumph 500 Speed Twin
and the brother was riding a 500 Velocette Mss.
Sadly now of the eight of us that evening, only I and the brother are still alive and close friends. ( he is currently looking for a Ducati )

To ignore is unacceptable.

To nod is lazy.

To wave is cool.

There is also a foot wave, can be used when being overtaken when driving on the left, or whilst overtaking on the continent.

What is IKEA, do they sell chimneys in Croydon?

Alec.

ps : If I ignore you on the road, I will be too busy watching crumpet on motorcycles|

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I wanna go back.

i wave/nod/foot-wave whatever all of the time to everyone. i ride all year round but i use my scooter for work and nipping here and there. when i'm on the said scooter people dont wave/nod or acknowledge me. strange as i'm the same idiot on my AT or my scooter!
girl's on bike's
sorry i meant to wave

Yes I noticed this in Germany maybe 8 yrs back now, people nodding, waving and throwing their foot off the peg after they passed you on their shiny sports bikes. I did notice though that if you ever approach these guys in their cafe's where they drink their Latte's they will not acknowledge you or give you the time of day!!

So since then I don't nod or wave to other riders unless they are travelers!

What do you mean "very, very old bikers (like in their 40s!!)." !!!!! I am sure you meant to say very, very experienced and wise bikers, didn't you.

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Peter

http://peter-onamission.blogspot.com

Interesting, here in Brittany no-one waves. At low speeds in town it's the nod, and on the open road it's the waggly foot. I like though how the waggly foot also appears if you're in a car and you pull over to let a biker past on the RNs (the biker waggles his foot, not me out of the car window).

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I always wave, nod or wave with both hands (look mum, no hands!). I do this to anything with 2 wheels. Most people round here nod, you must just be too darn quick for them to respond in time!

I have noticed that if I nod or wave at bikers on my pizza bike a lot of them don't respond (presumably out of arrogance), same as on my bike a lot of kids on scooters dont respond (presumably because they don't know how to be polite). I think that anyone that has been properly bitten by the bug will wave because they are stoked to see other people on bikes - has always been that way for me.

Getting blanked 'cos I'm on a 50cc is very annoying - they might not have any power but on the tight twisting circuits of Sheffield they are faster than any larger bike - example - during a four hour shift three days ago (great conditions) I managed to scrape the centrestand about 10 times. If you rode a motorbike like that in town you would get arrested in a flash, (but as the mopeds are restricted to 30mph the cops can't get a conviction for much so they just give me 'warnings'.....). If you have to ride in a city you can't beat them for thrills and spills, so next time you see a pizza bike remember that the 'L-Plate' is on the bike not the rider and give them a nod!

I am an avid nodder, everyone gets a nod as far as im concerned, who cares whats someones riding, I nod at coppers too and they normally nod back.

I think there are a lot of fashion bikers out there with little or no idea of what biking is all about.

Are we not one big community were you helping someone out this time may well mean you are not stranded next time.

If I am in the car I still check people are ok if they give the thumbs up I carry on but if not I stop.

It can sometimes mean that a biker can stay with there pride and joy and I will go off and get some fuel for them.

Its frustrating when bikers dont nod back but then leave them to it perhaps we should have a hubbers signal, any ideas ?

i find the most nod free lot are the hardly worthitson riders

I nod if the other rider is near enough or wave if they are several lanes apart but I have found that in Saudi when I had a 650 Burgman scooter, bikers ignored me and Harley riders still ignore me on my V-Strom.
Get this, I stopped on the road when I saw a biker stood by his Harley and I asked if he needed any help, he took a step back and said no despite the oil leaking from his engine so I said OK and went on my way. I had to come back down the same road two hours later and the bike was still there with the rider sat under a tree. I waved and kept going.
Cheers
Ian

The nod is a great sign of camaraderie, I did not realise about the nod until I bought the bike last year after ten years without one. I thought this is great, other bikers nod or wave at me all of time. Since then I have got into the swing of things and stop if i see a biker on the side of the road etc.

I think the world is a better place with the camaraderie of bikers.

If I am riding through Swansea now I will nod to every scooter just in case it is Kevin Hancock 750 !!!!

We should have a HUBBER wave like the freemason handshake but without wiggling your little finger.

I suggest making a circular motion with your hand, just like Obi Wan Kenobi in the star wars bar, ' these are not the bikers you looking for '


One motto for the nod / wave / footwave is always to treat others like you would like to be treated yourself.

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'Never worry about things that YOU cant change'

I''ll nod or wave to anyone on any sort of bike, if the miserable ****ers don't want to wave/nod back thats thier problem. Doesn't hurt to be polite or friendly!