I just wondered if there had been some sort of law passed that I don’t know about whereby bikers are no longer allowed to show any sort of recognition for other bikers in this new year? If so, it’s just me and a little 125 Learner in Edenbridge Kent that haven’t been told about it!
I will continue until arrested . . . however ignored it makes me feel! 
Ah bless, sending you a big ‘NOD’
lol… I read somewhere about bikers etiquette, adn sorry but if your on a 125 then your down the pecking order when it comes to paying recognition. I cant remember where I read it but it made me double up laughing because I remember my days on a 125, adn the article read sooo true:P:P
have a nod from me too ;)
I remember now lol… If you can get hold of a copy of this months Riders Digest (Jan 09) the section entitled ‘in the saddle’ has a write up on nodding etiquette. It really is quite funny.
soo different to yrs ago.
i remember taking my bike lessons following instructor and a passing biker nodded and gave the thumbs up too, made me feel part of something, that was 20 yrs ago though and biking was very different, if you ahd a bike you were into it rather than now a lot of people getting 1 cos its the thing to do.
And yes on a 125 you are down the pecking order as said, i do not nod at all to any1 on a scooter, sorry if i am wrong but i just think its either a commuter or a scrote, lol
I wonder if it’s a london thing?! Elsewhere in the country i get lots of nods and waves but london bikers (not LONDONBIKERS!) seem a bit less friendly generally. Of course there are better bits about london bikers, they seem much more diverse; when I lived in the midlands I actually believed it was only middle aged/class, slightly overweight, bad dress sense, hairy, male, white hetrosexuals who were allowed on two wheels!
*…I actually believed it was only middle aged/class, slightly overweight, bad dress sense, hairy, male, white hetrosexuals who were allowed on two wheels!
*
Oi! You talking about me? Oh no. You mentioned “hairy”.
I do the French thing of subtly raising my left hand. If I get any sort of response, I do the decent thing.
It’s not a 125 thing, it is a London thing. Most people (and I do include me in this) are concentrating on the traffic and the most dangerous roads in the UK. When it is clear I do try and nod but it does become a pain in the neck.
I did a ride on my 125 up north covering some 400 miles there and back and once out of the London area every one was nodding.
I’m from the midlands (Telford) and I have to agree - it’s incredibly rare that I don’t get another biker nodding to me around there, but in or around London it’s not quite as common - especially not if you don’t nod first.
I think within the M25 its rare to get a nod too be honest.
I give a nod to the guys i see on bikes when I’m stopped at lights on my wat to work and occassionaly have a bit of banter with them…but i think that its quite rare to get people nodding and waving within the M25 unless its a weekend and you’re out on the country roads or they’re on the same bike as you!
I still think the nod is alive and well, I’ll nod to anyone on a bike if they’re out and about when i’m not commuting!
Where i´m from we don´t nod, but just slightly raise our left hand fingers, without letting go of the handle. And some people are very strict about who they wink to, and would never do it to someone on a chrome sleigh, as we call them:P
Sometimes i find myself standing on the pavement with my hand sort of lifted as to wave, but then i realise that i´m not on a bike myself, and the biker passing me wont notice me…
I always make a point of giving the nod, or at least a raise of the left hand’s fingers. If I don’t get a reply, I simply curse them from inside my helmet and carry on! :w00t: 
I must say though, when you’re in deepest darkest London, it’s just taking your concentration away from the job at hand. I do enjoy trying to strike up conversations at traffic lights though, although it usually causes people to think you’re a wierdo…
And Louize, at least you don’t go through McDonalds drive-through in full on riding position, making engine noises with your lips! 
You’re not completely barking mad yet! :w00t:
ha I nodded to a bloke walkin down the road with a lid in his hand and he stopped and watched me go by, with a look of puzzlement on his face. I nod if I can or if I get a chance…if you nod back great if you dont then ah well too bad. And I dont nod ped riders with their lids above their heads smoking, I just laugh as they come off
I know where your coming from on that one. Ive loved riding bikes since i was about 14(not quite aslong as you 
). I ride no matter what, well when my bikes roadworthy, in any weather just ask Sneaky he’s got the proof. Anyway to the point there is a guy at work who rides and kept going on at me to check out his ‘beast’ :hehe: When i mentioned anything to do with bikes ie rideouts, meets, exhibitions he said ‘im not a biker i just got it cause its quicker/easier to get around on’… well dont come talking to me about bikes then you fat nobber :w00t: Oh and the nod thing, thats been mentioned a few times on here me thinks. Not been on bike bike for abit as she’s still off the road atm though. I nod to everyone no matter what they ride, actualy the exceptions are idiots who ride round wearing shorts/t-shirt/trainers/tracky’s, and i do find it quite anoying when i dont get it returned.I still think the biking spirit is still going strong though, especialy in august when the bulldog is on. Loved that this year when a Hells angel was egging me on to wheelie the quarter mile after the safety dude told me to stop wheeling 
Haha feels good to hear, maybe I should start waving to bikes passing me… just to see how thy react…
In Holland everyone waves. I was parked up once in a motorway services and passing bikers on the motorway were waving at me. Book a road trip to Holland to get your fix of biker solidarity for the year.
I live in Essex and work in London. When out of London I nod to many and am often ignored but continue doing so with a smile on my face
When in London I simply don’t. It’s simply a case of I see so many bikes on my commute I’d need a chiropractor working on my neck full time!
Ha ha – reading the replies I think everyone now believes I ride a 125! (I don’t, honest).
My day of no nodding was riding outside the M25, which is why I was so surprised, particularly by the lack of recognition from 6 BMW GS riders trekking their way up the wild and rought A roads of West Kent!
The best recognition I’ve had was from a group of Big, Hairy, Frightening looking bikers pulled up at the side of the A23 last year who all took the trouble to wave (slightly camply, if I’m honest) as I went past!
I gotta say I’ve had more nods in the few months I’ve had my new bike than in the whole 2 years I had my 125.
I hired a bike while I was out in Colorado, USA and over there every biker you pass on the road gave you a peace or OK sign.
Very rare, Z. With 't trike, I even get nods from Harley riders! :w00t:
