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?

__________________

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

__________________
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|

__________________
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.

__________________
Peter

http://peter-onamission.blogspot.com

Absolutely correct!We used to called them "yogurt Becher" riders.Snobs.....

__________________
http://vientoderipio.blogspot.com/
America is a nice continent,not a country.All people who lives in this continent are americans.Discover it in peace!

stop and meet people
eat and drink with them
visit places together THEN wave them goodbie

What for do you want to nod/wave/shoe your boot to a bike going the other way if not stoppin? just cuz you ride a bike too? d'uh.....

Hi

Just returned from touring the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Below you will see an entry that I put on a travel blog regarding this very same subject. I found that, where I went, every one on a bike will wave at you, not the scooters (brommers).

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Not to be confused with the Mexican Wave, but just as enthusiastic, the European motorbike wave is something very different. I Australia, when bikes pass each other, there is a simple nod of the head or a lift of a finger. Here the acknowledgement of another bike is as though you are long lost friends. There is such enthusiasm put into the wave that I am sure that some people may have fallen off while completing the action. I first experienced this phenomenon while taking some bikes for a test ride. Once I thought that the other rider was trying to alert me to a problem with the bike, but no, he was just saying hello.
The biking fraternity is a very special one and I am pleased to be a part of it. Now in another country, and on another Continent.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Marty

__________________

I'm in the same boat, little 125, 6 foot guy looking a bit silly. It is still awesome to get a nod and certainly makes you feel welcome on the road, rather than the idiot that insists on sitting up your exhaust.

I must admit that on the south coast everyone seems lovely and friendly.

Now I'm in London no-one ever nods at me, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm doing it wrong, can someone make a video guide to nodding?

__________________

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).

__________________

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!