View Full Version : *nods*
Redster
20-06-07, 05:17 PM
Hello forumites,
I've been riding for a week now after passing the DAS and one thing I've noticed above all else (bar the leaking oil and knocking noises coming from me engine) is the other bikers on the road.
Case in Point:
Last weekend I rode from London to Southampton to see me mum (ahhhh) and show of my shiney (leaky knocky) bike off. I decided that an hour on the M3 at 70-80mph was not wise for an utter n00b who frankly ****s it at 70mph cause of the crosswinds, so i headed off round the M25 and then down the A32 to winchester. Great road btw.
Anyhoo, I passed at least 5 bikers on the road and they all gave a cursory nod as I sped off (at no more than 70mph).
Is this normal behaviour? I remember getting flashed by other Mini's when I got me first mini, but bikers seem to send a nod at everyone else on any sort of bike. Its pretty cool actually.
This is not so true in the central london area. Now theres a shock.
Red
riktherider
20-06-07, 05:21 PM
yea general procedure around most bikers. more than likely the bikers in london are either working, or going to work, so dont tend to nod ( i only nod at someone if they nod at me when im going to work now as my neck started to hurt and i think this applies to most other riders as well.) allways nod if im just cruising around.
ASM-Forever
20-06-07, 05:23 PM
Yep thats standard....just a courtesy really.
N.B. In city rush hour this may well go out the window as people dodge between buses/pedestrians etc...you are not invisible :)
you are not invisible
except to car/van drivers coming out of side roads who do their best to try and squish you.
ASM-Forever
20-06-07, 05:41 PM
Bah smartass :)
Ceri JC
20-06-07, 05:46 PM
Yep, normal behaviour, but generally not done in London due to sheer volume of bikes (although some are obviously v. friendly).
In America everyone waves (so long as it is on a long straight and at an on-coming bikes). The wave is really just the left hand out. I've even noticed less waves on certian types of bikes and FROM certian types of bikes/bikers. Harley to Harley is the most common, followed by cruiser to cruiser waves. Sport bikes seem to get and give less waves -especially from H-D riders. But there are a lot of people that will throw a hand out to just about everyone.
Most people don't wave in the city though, it's just not safe.
As far as nods, that's a higher level greeting. When I nod it can mean any of the following. It's just another hand signal that in the world of motorcycling!
*Wave* = "Hi!" OR "We like motorcycles!"
*Nod* = "I know you!" OR "Nice bike/car." OR "I understand."
*Nod* + Engine Rev = "Let's play!"
*Pat top of helmet or head* = "Police!"
*Pat fuel tank* = "I need fuel."
*Pat crotch* = .... well that's more for me and my friends. But let me tell you it ISN'T nice and sometimes it gets mistaken for "I'm hungry." WHICH IS NOT WHAT IT MEANS!
Tiger 55
20-06-07, 05:49 PM
There was a whole noddy thread (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=85610&highlight=salute) (with poll) not long back. You're right, it is pretty cool :cool:
(although some are obviously v. friendly).
You wouldn't happen to be talking about Grinch there would you?? :D
Yup, normal practice. I laugh at the ones that don't nod back.
Alpinestarhero
20-06-07, 05:51 PM
Yea, I nod, and i get nodded at. If im feelign particularly chirpy, or see another SV, i'll wave!
Most bikers in london are couriers I guess, so bikes arnt so much a pleasure thing (hence nod at other peoples bikes) but more a work tool
Matt
MiniMatt
20-06-07, 06:55 PM
Chuckle, my very first ride on my own on a little AR125 and I near as damn it fell off when someone nodded at me :D
Still nod/wave like a madman, perhaps it's nostalgia but it doesn't seem quite as common nowadays?
Endellion
20-06-07, 07:02 PM
Chuckle, my very first ride on my own on a little AR125 and I near as damn it fell off when someone nodded at me :D
Still nod/wave like a madman, perhaps it's nostalgia but it doesn't seem quite as common nowadays?
Glad I'm not alone then when I nod and unbalance the bike a little!
A friend sent me this today, all is explained :D
http://www.livevideo.com/video/F0EF205BFE734C92ADFBAF0AA3E72D3A/bikers-like-to-wave.aspx
Sometimes a nod, sometimes a wave, sometimes a blink of high beam or a mixture. I generally acknowledge other bikes in the oposite direction or if I'm overtaking them (or being overtaken). It's only polite.
Ceri JC
20-06-07, 07:05 PM
In America everyone waves (so long as it is on a long straight and at an on-coming bikes). The wave is really just the left hand out. I've even noticed less waves on certian types of bikes and FROM certian types of bikes/bikers. Harley to Harley is the most common, followed by cruiser to cruiser waves. Sport bikes seem to get and give less waves -especially from H-D riders. But there are a lot of people that will throw a hand out to just about everyone.
I found that in America there's a great deal more waving from Harley (and all cruiser bikes) to people on sportsbikes and tourers (and indeed, generally much less of a divide between types of bikers) than here. I found when I pulled over and stopped, equal numbers of sportbike and cruiser riders would come over and natter. In the UK at the weekend (IE Hell's Angels fantasists) the vast majority of them blank you unless you're on a cruiser. In the week I find people commuting on them etc. almost as likely to nod as people on sportsbikes.
Endellion
20-06-07, 07:17 PM
I found that in America there's a great deal more waving from Harley (and all cruiser bikes) to people on sportsbikes and tourers (and indeed, generally much less of a divide between types of bikers) than here. I found when I pulled over and stopped, equal numbers of sportbike and cruiser riders would come over and natter. In the UK at the weekend (IE Hell's Angels fantasists) the vast majority of them blank you unless you're on a cruiser. In the week I find people commuting on them etc. almost as likely to nod as people on sportsbikes.
I feel like an imposter in the world of 'REAL' bikers sometimes, when I went into Harley in Edinburgh I was there for about 15mins and out of the 5 odd staff members noone said a thing to me, won't be going back in a hurry I am an inferior SV rider
Snobbery and ignorance combined
I nearly fell off me bike when a police rider waved at me once. Tried waving/nodding to them since but all I get back is dirty looks or vacant stares. Always nod or wave at other bikers - the most ignorant are the baddass looking cruiser riders with the dark glasses and the scarf/leather face mask and the cowhide chaps - you know the sort...
Yup, common practice, usually nod sometimes wave if I'm just cruising along and even flick the main beam. Like Minimatt I notice more blank returns than a few years back. I think they are two distracted trying to extract their fingers...
I followed two peeps, one on a gixer, other can't recall who totally blanked me. I laughed to myslef having noticed their chicken strips then left them in my wake of burning rubber. :twisted:
CoolGirl
20-06-07, 08:30 PM
Of course it's, easier to wave to oncoming if you're riding on the right rather than the left (think about it) - continetal riders do a little left-hand-down wave, which was a lovely novelty to me when riding in France.
And London bikers are too damned busy keeping an eye on the traffic and wayward bicyles and lemming pedestrians to nod, so don't take it personally, I've founf most of them to be nice and chatty at the lights.
I found nodding hard to get out of my system; it was a bit like a reflex. Even after the bike went, I used to still nod to bikers when I was driving the car. And I have been known to do it on the bus.....
I almost always nod. But not when filtering\commuting\making progress in traffic. I'm all for nodding.
rs_tubby
20-06-07, 10:29 PM
i like nodding at the other bikers, it makes you feel like your in a community, unlike car drivers (being one myself), i have found not soo many nods, but i do nod to all riders including police who i get a nod sometimes off.
I used to still nod to bikers when I was driving the car. And I have been known to do it on the bus.....
It's like doing a life saver when you're walking on the pavement :safe:
phil24_7
21-06-07, 03:44 AM
:thumbsup: to nodding!
So is tapping the top of your head the common way to signal police to other bikers?
MiniMatt
21-06-07, 06:56 AM
:thumbsup: to nodding!
So is tapping the top of your head the common way to signal police to other bikers?
New one on me that one but I sure do like it :D In fact the whole system Posky outlined seems like something we should be adopting over here :D
Ceri JC
21-06-07, 08:18 AM
Even after the bike went, I used to still nod to bikers when I was driving the car. And I have been known to do it on the bus.....
I find myself doing this too. Remarkably, a chap on a bike coming the other way must have clocked it as he gave me a thumbs up as he passed. Pretty good observation on his part! :)
I found nodding hard to get out of my system; it was a bit like a reflex. Even after the bike went, I used to still nod to bikers when I was driving the car. And I have been known to do it on the bus.....
lol :cool: on the whole I think bikers seem to be more friendly, social people anyway...that's part of the reason I wanted to ride :D
Ceri JC
21-06-07, 08:37 AM
:thumbsup: to nodding!
So is tapping the top of your head the common way to signal police to other bikers?
Yep. Don't do it to police riders though. ;)
With regard to nodding/waving to them. Some return it (almost always with a nod- presumably they're trained to to take their hands off the bars), but I agree a lot don't. One I used to see daily going the other way on the way to work used to nod even before I did though.
MeridiaNx
21-06-07, 11:13 AM
I tend to alternate between nodding, waving and flashing (lights!). I was given a natty full salute by someone buzzing past on a ZX-6R the other day though which brought a smile to my face :D
Gordon B
21-06-07, 11:26 AM
I found nodding hard to get out of my system; it was a bit like a reflex. Even after the bike went, I used to still nod to bikers when I was driving the car. And I have been known to do it on the bus.....
Ditto. Always nodding when I'm in the cage. My wife and kids think I'm a bit bonkers...
And they may well be right...:smt103
Ditto. Always nodding when I'm in the cage. My wife and kids think I'm a bit bonkers...
And they may well be right...:smt103
Damn I'm glad I'm not alone!!
It's like doing a life saver when you're walking on the pavement :safe:
Heh. I do that all the time. :oops:
:edit: As for nodding, yeah, it's all good. Tend not to do it in London though for the reasons sited by others herein. As soon as I'm out of town though, it's nod central.
Heh. I do that all the time. :oops:
+1
wyrdness
21-06-07, 01:29 PM
Harley riders don't nod as no-one else nods at them!
Actually not true - when I had a Harley, I always nodded at people and got nods back.
I find that when I'm wearing a dark visor, I get more nods from sportsbike riders than when I have a clear one.
People very rarely nod in London, but I was nodded too last week when I had a loan Bonneville whilst my bike was in for servicing. I was so surprised that it took me a moment to react and nod back.
Pedrosa
21-06-07, 01:45 PM
When I am being out for my usual Sunday ride nobody is nod to me when I am pass them?:rolleyes:
Not many people nod back to me in Bristol. Say 40% do. Back in the west midlands where i come from people nod far more. Must be a south thing :smt093
Gordon B
21-06-07, 01:54 PM
When I am being out for my usual Sunday ride nobody is nod to me when I am pass them?:rolleyes:
Tsk tsk, who hasnt been keeping up with their English lessons this week....
And with you being in the UK this week, be an ideal time to send off my t shirt you promised me :jocolor: or shall I just wait for my all areas pit pass and come see you personally....:rolleyes:
Pedrosa
21-06-07, 01:58 PM
Tsk tsk, who hasnt been keeping up with their English lessons this week....
And with you being in the UK this week, be an ideal time to send off my t shirt you promised me :jocolor: or shall I just wait for my all areas pit pass and come see you personally....:rolleyes:
Mr.V Max..you must not be see this thread?
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=91733
Life very complicate. If you come along to paddock and tell guard Dani be expect you, you be able come see me and collect nice T shirt.(They even more nicer now as new one having my picture on front.:)
I travel to work from warrington, cheshire, through St Helens, Merseyside, and on to Skelmersdale, lancashire. In cheshire everyone nods or waves same in Lancashire, but Merseyside, forget it. Btw as trucker when we know the old bills about we normally give a thumbs down to other truckers plus I do it for bikers too, trouble is they dont always understand, so I sometimes get the finger:smt098 back or shrugs, ah well I tried eh ?
plowsie
21-06-07, 02:25 PM
Best one i've had was a wheelie past me in town with a thumbs up lol
phil24_7
21-06-07, 08:17 PM
Yep. Don't do it to police riders though. ;)
Will have to start that
Always nodding when I'm in the cage.
+1
phil24_7
21-06-07, 08:27 PM
Not many people nod back to me in Bristol. Say 40% do. Back in the west midlands where i come from people nod far more. Must be a south thing :smt093
I get wiplash daily down here in plymouth cuz almost everyone nods!
Btw as trucker when we know the old bills about we normally give a thumbs down to other truckers plus I do it for bikers too, trouble is they dont always understand, so I sometimes get the finger:smt098 back or shrugs, ah well I tried eh ?
Used to drive a van so know about the thumbs down between commercial drivers but i never knew about the tapping the helmet untill now.
:thumbsup: to nodding!
So is tapping the top of your head the common way to signal police to other bikers?
It's common-ish. I would say that only about 40% of bikers actually know what it means. Slapping the roof of your car means the same thing, but most people just flash their headlights now-a-days. That's actually where the sign came from.
The police hate this and I have actually been pulled over for warning people in that way. No ticket, just a nice LONG talk.
Harley riders don't nod as no-one else nods at them!
Actually not true - when I had a Harley, I always nodded at people and got nods back.
I find that when I'm wearing a dark visor, I get more nods from sportsbike riders than when I have a clear one.
People very rarely nod in London, but I was nodded too last week when I had a loan Bonneville whilst my bike was in for servicing. I was so surprised that it took me a moment to react and nod back.
When I would wear a dark visor on a Harley, I got waves from EVERYONE. It was as if everyone was my best friend. I even had the highest honor of being adopted by a several groups riding through the country. (although sometimes I do hate then when I'd rather just be riding alone...but you can't really tell them that).
There are actually a lot of mixed groups out here (but still MANY Harley ONLY groups/gangs) due to father/son combos. The dad has a $20,000 Electra Glide and his son has a $8000 Gixer. ...some people have too much money.
The police hate this and I have actually been pulled over for warning people in that way. No ticket, just a nice LONG talk.
I'm pretty sure it's actually illegal. I think I read recently that the police were actually trying to do someone for it. The problem is that they have to prove that the person that was being warned would have been successfuly prosecuted for an offence. As if they aren't done then you haven't done anything wrong in warning them, the problem being of course that because you warned them they were all legit by the time they arrived where the cops were.
kwak zzr
22-06-07, 10:26 PM
i find its the goldwing pilots that ignore you.
:thumbsup: to nodding!
So is tapping the top of your head the common way to signal police to other bikers?
I generally give a thumbs down to make oncoming bikers aware of police presence.
I do a one armed rally marshal big arm up and down wave. No idea if people understand though.
Wideboy
23-06-07, 04:04 PM
i nod but as soon as a scooter comes past it quickly turns to the finger or the wagging side to side with fist:p
as for piggies i just flash the hedlights really quick
StreetHawk
23-06-07, 07:16 PM
To warn of a police car/bike ahead , I pat my stomach, wiggle my left foot, nod my head from side to side 3 times and touch both wing mirrors twice..
Not many people understand this though.. :-)
Wideboy
23-06-07, 07:28 PM
you forgot to say theres no place like home, theres no place like home!:p
nodding is great fun boo to none nodders i do boooooooo
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.