I have a fairly unimportant question to ask the people of LB. I was out on Sunday and saw a lot of bikes and a lot of friendly bikers, so many on some stretches of road that I got a bit dizzy from all the nodding
The problem I have is who am I supposed to wave/nod to and who am I not? there seems to be some sort of waving handbook that I haven’t read. My observations are as follows (a light hearted tongue in cheek observation in case anybody takes offence):
Harley/cruiser types seem to wave to everybody (unless they are old school with open face helmet and waist coat, they don’t wave to anybody)
Dual purpose or tourers wave to everybody, especially if they have a pillion then the pillion tries to have a conversation with you at 90 mph.
Sportsbike riders generally only wave to other sportsbike riders.
Supermoto riders normally have the bike leant over so far that waving is impossible.
Couriers don’t wave-thinking about it I suppose it is difficult to wave while filtering at 95 between 2 cars that are 1 foot apart while having a fag and reading the map.
So to save all the wasted waves, please fill me in…
“Couriers don’t wave-thinking about it I suppose it is difficult to wave while filtering at 95 between 2 cars that are 1 foot apart while having a fag and reading the map.”
Haha Heehee … ain’t that the truth
I used to get most upset when I first started riding and no-one nodded back, I just nod anyway now if they don’t nod back … well … whatever, I nod to other riders apart from couriers, pizza delivery scoots or scoots in big gangs wearing their helmets on top of their heads …
However, yes the nodding gets a little wearing, JZ kicks his leg out …
I pulled up along side another lady rider this morning on a blue CBR 125 at the lights and shouted ‘Good Morning’ (was in a fairly good mood) she smiled back ! I wouldn’t do this the nearer I got to Central London though.
If you search the LB rules here http://londonbikers.com/about/forums.aspx you’ll find members are permitted to wave/nod at all bikers except Hardleys and Beemer riders
I’ve only received one or two nods Do I get ignored as I’ve got L plates still?
I still say we need something so we know if we see any other LondonBikers out on the road. Hi vis vests with the LB logo front and back? They can’t be hard/expensive to get can they? Pay a few extra £££ for you forum name to be printed on it too
I remember the early 80`s people used to flash their head lights , i suppose it would be a bit too dangerous these days to do this ,i used to get a bit frustrated as my old bike didnt have the nessesary switch gear to flash back ,ahhh the good old days big bikes and even bigger indicators and impossibly skinny tyres .
I tend to nod to everyone unless there’s a large group riding by in which case i’ll nod every couple of bikes or so rather than shake myself off the bike . Seems you never can tell who’ll nod back though.
Don’t nod so much when in London, mostly due to sheer number of bikes and the number of couriers who it seems tend not to nod (and who can blame them they’d have sore necks everyday if they did…).
In europe I waved, as you pass with your left hand nearest you can lift a couple of fingers and wave and it’ll be seen, as opposed to this country where you’d need to lift off the throttle…
L platers tend to be ignored by many nodders. You’re on a varedero by the look of it (I was too, great bike ) and they’re quite big for a learner and you tend to get more nods on one of those than you will on other L-plate bikes. personally I often nod to learners anyway, don’t see why you shouldn’t - unless it’s considered distracting??
Like the LB identifying idea, a sticker for your visor or screen perhaps, small but imidiately distinguishable?
I generally nod to all . . . except scoots . . . . oh & couriers cos they never seem respond anyway . . . but I do to everyone else, especially learners cos I know how much I appreciated that when I was a learner.
Haha, to be honest I don’t wave at couriers or pizza delivery guys, as they are concentrating to hard on squeezing through a 10cm gap between buses to notice anyone. I have not encountered many police riders, but I would nod back if they did, I also don’t nod at Harley types wearing a vest/waistcoat, as I wouldnt get a response.
I don’t really nod at Supermoto types either, as they are too high in the air to notice me.
So that just really leaves superbike riders, lol, I normally always wave and nod at superbike riders, and if any rider nods at me, I return the favour.
In fact, when im in my car I sometimes find myself nodding at bikers, not like they notice cagers though.
What really annoys me is when you nod at a biker in the opposite direction, and they stare at you as they past by without nodding, whats their problem? Is it cos I is wearing my t-shirt?
I nod to everybody, although sometimes I miss bikers in the opposite direction if I’m concentrating on events ahead. I even nod to scooters and couriers
I do find that more people respond when outside London though, I guess it takes more concentration getting through the traffic and there’re so many bikes you’d get bored nodding after awhile.
Do I get ignored as I’ve got L plates still? 
. Seems you never can tell who’ll nod back though.
) and they’re quite big for a learner and you tend to get more nods on one of those than you will on other L-plate bikes. personally I often nod to learners anyway, don’t see why you shouldn’t - unless it’s considered distracting??
