Biker wave

Merch

I just checked to see and the most recent thread on this was a few years back.
I just got my bike and went on a spin yesterday, I'm aware of the biker wave? here though?
I only passed a few bikes coming the other way and I'm sure they both nodded at me, one was a very slight nod so he could have been stretching, I gave an equally slight nod, all at low speed.
Another was a guy going fairly fast, he either gave a very noticeable nod (right side back to centre) or was doing something completely different?

I read a good book called Uneasy rider, and there was a part in it about the biker wave/left handed salutes in europe and right foot extended here? or maybe it is a nod??

Cuddlesworth

Depends on where your riding. I don't bother in Dublin especially during rush hour. There are so many bikes my neck and arms would be sore from waving like a moron all the time.

peckerhead

The nod is fine. I only raise my left hand to thank a motorist to the rear of me that has pulled over a bit to let me overtake safely.

Merch

Thats what I was thinking regarding waving and getting sore arm/looking like a bit of an enthusiastic spanner , my spin was off outside the city, I didnt consider it in the city, looking out for other stuff

Andromeda_111

I mostly nod. Don't usually wave unless I'm on an open road with no cars close. I think most people in Dublin nod or kick out a foot slightly. I travel in and out of the city too each day and I nod at times to other bikers but as Cuddlesworth said it would be too sore to nod at every biker you pass

I did notice though that when I was up North the bikers there are more animated with their greetings which is nice too.

Merch

I'll play it by ear so, as Im new to the whole thing, just thought Id be better to know from the start

unclebill98

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056200768

Here's the last tread. Not that long ago :-)

Merch

unclebill98 wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056200768

Here's the last tread. Not that long ago :-)

I thought I had seen a more recent one, but when i searched the one that came the top of the list was '07, I didnt use the advanced search though.

Merch

Reading through that other thread now, it may answer this but, I think Id be more comfortable with a head nod or a leg shake, than a wave, while Im new to biking (not been on bikes before this year bar a honda 50 for a few days on holidays) Im not completely uncomfortable with the idea of taking my hands off the bars (I do), but at speed Id be less inclined to, so
the leg shake,
just kick the right leg out? shake it all about

unclebill98

I give a wave if during the day and on a good road. Otherwise it's a nod.

Never tried or would try the leg.

Run_to_da_hills

Down the country (Ennis) I would wave / nod to all bikers more so that I would more than likely know them. In Dublin I would only wave / nod to bikers on the same bike as I would be on, ie Classic GSXR 750 or Bros

gipi

It's just a friendly acknowledgement - whether it be head, wave, leg, it doesn't matter!

Was out today, met loads of bikers who gave a nod or wave - it's a great feeling, to be honest!

arybvtcw0eolkf

unclebill98 wrote: »

Never tried or would try the leg.

The leg was fairly common with courier's here in Dublin during the 90's when there were literally hundreds of courier's riding about.

I've given a wave or nod to bikers from all modes of transport.

If I see a biker in my door mirror while he/she is filtering I'll always give a nod to let them know I see 'em and move the car slightly to the left if I can - its almost always acknowledged.

Merch

so literally just stick the leg out straight?
I'll probably need to be paying more attention to whats going on on the road at this stage anyway.

Paparazzo

I find myself going to give the wave while walking down the street if a bike goes by.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Paparazzo wrote: »

I find myself going to give the wave while walking down the street if a bike goes by.

I work on the door of a bar at the weekends, but would call it a biker bar.

But its a rock & metal bar, anyway there's usually a few bikes outside and you'd be surprised at how many bikers would drive past and give a blow on the horn, a rev up or a big wave.

Its good ol' craic and they always get a big acknowledgement.

Alkers

The leg wave is great craic once your out of the city! First time someone did it to me I broke my sh1t laughing!

Pataman

I also nod but as someone says not in the morning commute, there are too many.

rat_race

A guy overtook me on my Ninja 250R a couple of weeks ago, on a good but fairly remote road. I have to admit, as a challenge to myself I tried to keep the pace up so he wouldn't want to overtake me. He kinda stuck his left leg out just as he passed me.

I didn't think it was a gesture at the time... I thought he was a bit being a bit of an ass...i.e., his overtaking was so casual and easy for him that he'd make use of his relax time by stretching!

Maybe he was being friendly!


Anyway, have to say, I find it much much easier to raise a left hand than anything else. Altho, maybe that'd change with a much heavier bike...

arybvtcw0eolkf

rat_race wrote: »

A guy overtook me on my Ninja 250R a couple of weeks ago

lol, seriously?...

I kid.

If I want to acknowledge someone I've overtaken it'll be either a swing of the leg or left my clutch fingers.. So I'd just take it as a friendly gesture.

seanybiker

Xzavier Rapping Oat wrote: »

I work on the door of a bar at the weekends, but would call it a biker bar.

But its a rock & metal bar, anyway there's usually a few bikes outside and you'd be surprised at how many bikers would drive past and give a blow on the horn, a rev up or a big wave.

Its good ol' craic and they always get a big acknowledgement.

The odd little burnout or whatever outside a biker bar also.

arybvtcw0eolkf

seanybiker wrote: »

The odd little burnout or whatever outside a biker bar also.

Feck that, even wheelies are too expensive to pull off these days.

God be with the days I cared little for chain's, sprockets or tires!.

seanybiker

Xzavier Rapping Oat wrote: »

Feck that, even wheelies are too expensive to pull off these days.

God be with the days I cared little for chain's, sprockets or tires!.

Yeah that's true. When I get mine back ill stick with a nod. Price of petrol isn't good if I want to rev going passed a biker bar. One rev probably cost about a fiver lol

Please Kill Me

rat_race wrote: »

Maybe he was being friendly!

He was. No doubt.

I wave, nod, salute, stick out the leg...whatever comes to me at the time. Once I gave two thumbs up! LOL. Some wave back, some don't, I don't care. I do it anyway. It's a nice cameraderie thing that bikers have going on and I like it. It's nice to be nice.

Paparazzo

rat_race wrote: »

A guy overtook me on my Ninja 250R a couple of weeks ago, on a good but fairly remote road. I have to admit, as a challenge to myself I tried to keep the pace up so he wouldn't want to overtake me. He kinda stuck his left leg out just as he passed me.

I didn't think it was a gesture at the time... I thought he was a bit being a bit of an ass...i.e., his overtaking was so casual and easy for him that he'd make use of his relax time by stretching!

Maybe he was being friendly!


Anyway, have to say, I find it much much easier to raise a left hand than anything else. Altho, maybe that'd change with a much heavier bike...

Yeah, that was defo a wave. I always do it when overtaking, or when someone overtakes me.
The only time I see waves in the city if overtaking. sometimes someone is moving fast and you move in to let them by, always get a wave there.

Andromeda_111

rat_race wrote: »

A guy overtook me on my Ninja 250R a couple of weeks ago, on a good but fairly remote road. I have to admit, as a challenge to myself I tried to keep the pace up so he wouldn't want to overtake me. He kinda stuck his left leg out just as he passed me.

I didn't think it was a gesture at the time... I thought he was a bit being a bit of an ass...i.e., his overtaking was so casual and easy for him that he'd make use of his relax time by stretching!

Maybe he was being friendly!


Anyway, have to say, I find it much much easier to raise a left hand than anything else. Altho, maybe that'd change with a much heavier bike...

:pac::pac:

goodlad

rat_race wrote: »

A guy overtook me on my Ninja 250R a couple of weeks ago, on a good but fairly remote road. I have to admit, as a challenge to myself I tried to keep the pace up so he wouldn't want to overtake me. He kinda stuck his left leg out just as he passed me.

I didn't think it was a gesture at the time... I thought he was a bit being a bit of an ass...i.e., his overtaking was so casual and easy for him that he'd make use of his relax time by stretching!

Maybe he was being friendly!


Anyway, have to say, I find it much much easier to raise a left hand than anything else. Altho, maybe that'd change with a much heavier bike...

hahaha!! thats gas dude!
I kinda have a funny vision of it all in my mind.

He is saying hello and your all like .. yah well fu with your leg stretching! lol

MrPudding

Paparazzo wrote: »

I find myself going to give the wave while walking down the street if a bike goes by.

yeah, my daughter slags me off 'cos I nod at bikes when I am in the car. Just a habit now.

MrP

Paparazzo

There's also the petrol station wave. If you're filling up and you hear bikes coming, you always get a wave.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Could you imagine the carnage if a ride out gave a Mexican wave

Please Kill Me

Xzavier Rapping Oat wrote: »

Could you imagine the carnage if a ride out gave a Mexican wave

PMSL!!!!

daenerysstormborn3

I'm out on the bike everyday, it's my only mode of transport, and while I'm always nodding and waving and leg shaking and fist pumping and all the rest of it at other bikes, in the past month since the bad rain came down I've seen 3 bikes on my way to and from work so I'm all on my lonesome until Spring I'd say.

I meet the same fella on a deauville quite regularly and I always get the same look of "what are you nodding at?" when I go by him.

If other road users pull in to let me pass (rare, despite the fact that 80% of my drive involves a wide road with a hard shoulder) I give them the thumbs up.

I'm that eejit that waves at bikes when I'm walking down the street or if I see someone with a helmet they're immediately my mate or if I'm on the road and I'm not going to or from work and I see a few lads out for a spin I just catch up to them and go with them for a blast.

I love the fact that you feel like you're part of this big community and when someone doesn't nod/wave back I do think "well fine then!" lol

maameeo

i nod, but rush hour in dublin no one seems to nod so i gave up. id get upset counting the amount of bikers that didnt nod back lol

never did the foot thing, think id loose balance!

fleabag

I always give a good old nod to any two wheeler, including the moped boys.

Rarely get one back though - some folks must think they're above nodding to a 125 with top box and pink pannier (aka kid's rucksack). I'm on that bike every day and rarely see anyone else on my lonely journey into Limerick and back so get kinda excited when I see someone else... only to be ignored ...:(

The Harley/Brit bike/custom bike riders are usually dead certs for a nod but crotch rockets - forget it!

corkimp

I try waving if conditions and the road allows (aka not while on a corner). Mainly I nod, but I tend to tilt my head while I do it so its more obvious. I did a leg wave a few times but more comfy with nods and waves.
@OP - if your comfy just nodding, do so. I can take my hand off left side for a few moments to thank a car to pass or a wave. I'm new to biking too. But find it great that so many bikers acknowledge one another.