Do you nod to random bikers?

Canis Lupus

Currently living in Brisbane and a newbie biker but I'm finding it common to have other bikers nod the head at me when I'm passing them.

This isn't just when I'm out on a Sunday spin on the known spots (and might I make a boast that Queensland has some simply stunning rides and the weather to go along with it) but everyday commuting. At first I thought I was imagining it but I'd say 1 in 4 bikers salute as they're passing which I find a bit odd in a city environment. Does the same happen in Ireland?

I've also noticed that bikers on cruisers don't do the nod.... Are sports bikes and cruisers 2 seperate breeds or are they too intent on humming the theme tune to Sons of Anarchy to notice? :P

BrokenArrows

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Currently living in Brisbane and a newbie biker but I'm finding it common to have other bikers nod the head at me when I'm passing them.

This isn't just when I'm out on a Sunday spin on the known spots (and might I make a boast that Queensland has some simply stunning rides and the weather to go along with it) but everyday commuting. At first I thought I was imagining it but I'd say 1 in 4 bikers salute as they're passing which I find a bit odd in a city environment. Does the same happen in Ireland?

I've also noticed that bikers on cruisers don't do the nod.... Are sports bikes and cruisers 2 seperate breeds or are they too intent on humming the theme tune to Sons of Anarchy to notice? :P

Its pretty common over here in the uk. Less so since I moved into london.

serious3

i nod and wave to everyone one, even scooters! noticed that the only ones that don't really respond too well are the cruiser types, but i still do it just to annoy them!

peckerhead

Hell, I sometimes forget myself and do it when I'm driving the car. Get some right funny looks.

Zascar

Most of the time, but mainly only when out on a spin on a sunday etc. Not much when on my daily commute. Unless its a really nice bike or he nods first haha

Canis Lupus

So it's not just an Australian thing I understand the Sunday spin/backroads thing but think it's hilarious to be nodding away to bikers in a city commute. I still do it though seeing as they're nodding to me as well, it's a nice thing I guess.

minidazzler

I nod to most. Always feel awkward if they wave back thinking he didn't see my nod so now I look like an ignorant prick :pac:

arybvtcw0eolkf

Commuting around Dublin I don't unless I know the other biker, or if someone stops beside me at the lights or at the opposite lights.. But on the open road I do all the time and have never found a difference between BMW riders, cruisers or sports bike riders.

Doesn't bother me if I get one back or not.

Wonda-Boy

I do,... I nod to everyone all the time. But I would agree, most BMW old timers would not give you the time of day. I am out alot on the bikes so I see it all the time....they are afraid to let go of the bars in case they bin it. Must be coz they only go out once every other month to air the tyres!!!!!

Suasdaguna1

As a Bm old timer I nod at most biKes bar couriers that pull in constantly in front of me at lights and scooters.

Cienciano

Every biker does it. Even biking in the states people did it. I never do it in the city though, just too many bikes. Unless it's another similar bike to mine, usually get a nod then.

serious3 wrote: »

i nod and wave to everyone one, even scooters! noticed that the only ones that don't really respond too well are the cruiser types, but i still do it just to annoy them!

I always find that too. You could go past a load of harleys in a row, 20 or 30 of them and wouldn't get one wave.

chrismon

I always nod to other bikers if I spot them on my commute.

Heathen

Yep! I nod to all, some nod back some don't, it doesn't bother me if they don't.

blu3r0ri0n

Prefer to stick the leg out myself, as far and high as I can, 7/10 will stick their leg out. The rest just stare

Wonda-Boy

blu3r0ri0n wrote: »

Prefer to stick the leg out myself, as far and high as I can, 7/10 will stick their leg out. The rest just stare

You wont wave thats for sure....the hand would be off the heated grip too long :P

BaronVon

I always nod while on the work bike. Only about half of bikers nod back, maybe they're a bit intimidated, or are hiding something......;)

cantdecide

infacteh wrote: »

I always nod while on the work bike. Only about half of bikers nod back, maybe they're a bit intimidated, or are hiding something......;)

I always nod to your colleagues. The same can be said about them!

BaronVon

cantdecide wrote: »

I always nod to your colleagues. The same can be said about them!

It's like family, you don't get to choose them!

minidazzler

infacteh wrote: »

I always nod while on the work bike. Only about half of bikers nod back, maybe they're a bit intimidated, or are hiding something......;)

On this actually, been stopped by Garda only once, ran a red light completely accidental at 4 am (it's in teh middle of a main road with no actual roads off it, just a Ped crossing).... only reason I got stopped was it was a Bike Garda in a car who 1. Wanted to look at the bike and 2. Tell me to stay safe..... if the rest of the Bike Gardai are as sound, ye are cool. Never had much other dealings with the rest, but definitely nod when I see ya'll. Way I see it, in my head, they are bikers first. But I'm a romantic like that :pac:

Peanut2011

Must say I will give a nod to all bikers I meet, even the infacteh type :eek: !

And as everyone else pointed you get some that will respond and some that won't. In any case, I've done my thing and been polite!

BKtje

It's a done thing in Switzerland as well except maybe around Geneva cos they be pricks.

the cats pajamas

I nod at everyone, and sometimes i forget not to when in a cage or on foot

PlayerA

Hello, in France we usually do a V sign with the fingers when meeting another biker on the road, and we take the foot off the pedal when a car let us overtake it to say thank you.

I am in Ireland for 3 years, and a biker for 6 months (newbie inside) and yeah here bikers nod at each other even if not everyone seems to practice it, I think it's cool anyway

two wheels good

the cats pajamas wrote: »

I nod at everyone, and sometimes i forget not to when in a cage or on foot

Haha! Sometimes, on my bicycle I too have to stop myself nodding to bikers.

Zascar

In fairness quite often if I'm on foot standing at the side of the road and I see a guy on a nice bike, I'll give him a nod too - and most of the time they'll nod back - sort of acknowledging your a biker also. Just cause you're not sitting on a bike, does not mean you can't say howaya!

Fun fact - no one nods in the Isle of Man. I found that funny when over there. Reason being there are just SO many bikes you'd be doing it every few seconds. I'm sure the novelty wore off and it just got annoying haha

Frigga_92

I give everyone I meet a big wave, I don't really care whether they wave/nod back, says more about them than me.

unclebill98

I give a nod or wave to all the bike when I am out in Cavan 99% of the time I get a leg shake or a nod or a wave. When I am in Dublin I see it less, guess if you did it all the time you'd crash as there is just much more bikes.

When I am in the van I flash the lights or give a way and always move over for bikes, they all say thanks etc.

Cienciano

Zascar wrote: »

In fairness quite often if I'm on foot standing at the side of the road and I see a guy on a nice bike, I'll give him a nod too - and most of the time they'll nod back - sort of acknowledging your a biker also. Just cause you're not sitting on a bike, does not mean you can't say howaya!

That must happen quite often on a Ducati :pac:

Zascar

Hahahaha I've actually been pretty lucky! She has not given me an ounce of trouble in the last couple of years. You just have to know how to treat them (inset cheesy cliche about women etc etc)

MrPudding

I'm in the UK and I wave, nod or stick my foot out to everyone, that includes coppers and scooter riders . I am also a BMW rider, so there.

MrP

Tomohawk

I always nod the head to other vepsa riders as we are a rare breed, sometimes I know them, often I don't and don't get a nod back.

I will nod at the odd biker and always nod back if someones gives me a nod first...

Cienciano

Zascar wrote: »

Hahahaha I've actually been pretty lucky! She has not given me an ounce of trouble in the last couple of years. You just have to know how to treat them (inset cheesy cliche about women etc etc)

Was talking to robbie in mototechnic and he used to commute on a M900. He said 80,000 and it gave him zero trouble, and that was with minimal servicing.

Pedro K

I always nod.

Dayton Purple Violinist wrote: »

Commuting around Dublin I don't unless I know the other biker, or if someone stops beside me at the lights or at the opposite lights.. But on the open road I do all the time...

How come?

Tigger

i wave or nod or stick out the leg at everyone
last summer i was taking it handy enjoying the heat on my way to work and an idiot in a car was up behind me tailgating
bike cop comes around the corner an i nod he gives me a big wave and the lad in the car drops back half a mile.

and yeah i nod at bikes when im in the car

Alfonzito

Not sure it is exclusively French, but motards wave a leg as they go by.

Canis Lupus

What's this leg sticking stuff? Haven't seen this... Doesn't it look daft?

RosieJoe

Canis Lupus wrote: »

What's this leg sticking stuff? Haven't seen this... Doesn't it look daft?

Like this or this

It's just a way of saying thanks/hello without letting go of the handlebars.

blu3r0ri0n

RosieJoe wrote: »

Like this or this

It's just a way of saying thanks/hello without letting go of the handlebars.

You can let go of the handle bars too... like this

Looks much better that way, specially when leaned in

Wossack

I'd be similar to Mak in and around Dub - dont tend to get a nod back from mopeds, maxiscooters, bmws, cruisers, and couriers (of course), so I dont bother. And tbh, the neck would be worn off ya doing so for every one.

Can usually spot the lads who'll nod/nod back, and ive no issue returning one - as long as theres no crap up ahead Im preoccupied with (another more prominent danger vs open roads imo)

arybvtcw0eolkf

Pedro K wrote: »

I always nod.


How come?

I don't always nod (commuting in Dublin).

Not everyone riding a bike is a biker!.. Some people just use their bikes as a mode of cheap and mostly free flow transport and they couldn't give a toss about biking outside of that ~ I'd dare say thats the majority in Dublin.

I don't bother with cop bikes for the same reason, the guys are just using the tools of their trade and nothing else ~ leave 'em be.

MonstaMash

I nod but sometimes I don't get a response, especially if I'm wearing my club cut because I look like the type of biker your mammy would warn ye about

Not gonna stop me doing it though, I nod & wave to pizza delivery guys on scooters & all, don't discriminate, but then...I'm a bit of a tard

SCOOP 64

Yes i would nod, always used too, if i ever have a motorbike again.
used to annoy me when i don't get a return.

Nodster

The Nodster always nods :P

arybvtcw0eolkf

MonstaMash wrote: »

I nod but sometimes I don't get a response, especially if I'm wearing my club cut because I look like the type of biker your mammy would warn ye about

One thing I'll always do, regardless whether its MC or MCC I'll always acknowledge club patches/colors.

I might not share a pint with some but on the road I leave the other stuff for another time.

Zascar

When I went to France on the first trip out of Cherbourg, you see loads of bikers around and they all either stick the leg out or else give you a huge big hand in the air wave. Made me all excited like a child

They also stick the leg out to thank cars who pull over to let you past - I think this is good courtesy and I do it in Ireland too

pwurple

Yup, nod most of the time, unless it's a convoy or something. In that case I'll nod if they nod first.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Oh and anyone wearing a Sons of Anarchy top should be run off the road, or at least get flipped the bird

Alfonzito

near enough the whole range now, nodding, wiggling left leg, wiggle right leg, waving and , if you are close enough, you can say "how'ya" and blow kisses.

BlackWizard

I don't when I'm in the middle of filtering or going through heavy traffic with crazy zombie pedestrians jumping out from on front of vehicles while using glowing cubes to warm up their face.

Otherwise I'd take part in acknowledging how awesome we both are.

cantdecide

One weird thing I've noticed that the fordiners won't wave. I meant the groups of European riders that come over here in groups. I always nod, but the overwhelming majority won't nod back.

When I was in NZ, everyone would nod except for th HP-HD crowd. Thought they were right hardshaws they did. It was the only time I ever had a rule to not nod to another two wheeler. Shiny new HD= no nod from me of from them.

arybvtcw0eolkf

cantdecide wrote: »

When I was in NZ, everyone would nod except for th HP-HD crowd.

The answer is probably glaring me in the face, but what is a HP-HD crowd?.

(I get the HD part but not the HP).