Full frontal or to the side?

[Mark_h]

Why do motorcyclists nod sideways when acknowledging another rider? What’s wrong with a “frontal” nod like you would to someone in the street? I’m sure there’s a good reason for it but it’s been bothering me for a while now.

I guess it's just easier to see and more obvious if you nod to the side.

Originally Posted by Mark_h

Why do motorcyclists nod sideways when acknowledging another rider? What’s wrong with a “frontal” nod like you would to someone in the street? I’m sure there’s a good reason for it but it’s been bothering me for a while now.

Its not always easy to differentiate a nod from wind buffeting.

And a sideways movement allows for a mirror check.

But Ive noticed now, the further north of the country I got the less nods were done and people actually waved with their left hand. When this start happening then?? :P

Freakishly enough, I was wondering exactly the same thing earlier after the 5327th sideways nod I got today.

I can only assume it's something to do with a sideways nod being easier to identify as a greeting - a frontal nod might look just like the opposing rider has ridden over a bump or similar and it's caught his head by surprise.

Or it could be that coincidentally every rider you come across travelling in the opposite direction is just happening to check his/her mirrors at that precise second.

Originally Posted by lynw

But Ive noticed now, the further north of the country I got the less nods were done and people actually waved with their left hand. When this start happening then?? :P

Well I nod. Or wave. Depends what else I'm concentrating on. Can't make up my mind what's best. But I mostly nod

I'm from the South East originally though...

Originally Posted by lynw

Its not always easy to differentiate a nod from wind buffeting.

And a sideways movement allows for a mirror check.

But Ive noticed now, the further north of the country I got the less nods were done and people actually waved with their left hand. When this start happening then?? :P

Depends on my mood (and if it's safe to take left hand off the bar) but I quite often wave as well, i get quite a few back too. Haven't been down south on the bike yet to compare though...

and why do harley d riders ignore you?

I noticed most cruiser types ignore you... though I am on a bright green Ninja these days.. and seem to have been lumped in to the mental sports rider stereotype (im not that bad.. yet!).... so maybe they have a reason too.... its always watching pillions wave.. arms, legs... head... all waving at once.. quite funny watching them go mental sometimes!

Originally Posted by lynw

But Ive noticed now, the further north of the country I got the less nods were done and people actually waved with their left hand. When this start happening then?? :P

The europeans do this loads but its way eaiser on the other side of the road.

As for sideways nods i think it because front nods might be the rider just going over a bump.

Originally Posted by valleyboy

I noticed most cruiser types ignore you... though I am on a bright green Ninja these days.. and seem to have been lumped in to the mental sports rider stereotype (im not that bad.. yet!).... so maybe they have a reason too.... its always watching pillions wave.. arms, legs... head... all waving at once.. quite funny watching them go mental sometimes!

Not sure what the thing is with cruiser riders, but not all of 'em are ignorant! I got chatting to a guy on a Kwak VN last week at Rivvy Barn, and he decided to tag along with me to Knott End, was a top bloke and even bought me a brew