head nodding. what's the deal?

[vince25]

I think it's great how we bikers recognize each other with a friendly nod, or sometimes a wave. But I have two questions concerning the "nod". Where did it start. Surely its not just an instinctive thing. Like truckies have the old "indicator" signal, and bus drivers do the arm out salute/wave, we have the "nod".
Second question, why do MOST cruisers not do it. I say most, because some do, but most of the time, they choose to ignore us sport / tourer bike riders. Most especially, the "patch" riders or old fellas with big beards. Whats up with that?

[Macktheknife]

Head nodding because hands busy, or maybe because they dont dare let go of the only thing holding them on???
I know lots of guys prefer to wave, some only nod, some dont even notice others at all, and some are just pricks!

[cowpoos]

well most of us wave...but at times both hands are required to ride so I'm pretty sure thaqts how nod's probally started?

[Mattyc]

well most of us wave...but at times both hands are required to ride so I'm pretty sure thaqts how nod's probally started?

i reckon that about sums it up

[SARGE]

well most of us wave...but at times both hands are required to ride so I'm pretty sure thaqts how nod's probally started?

i gave a "rock on" sign to a fellow biker as i was leaned over to turn onto the NW from gt North rd the other day


but im a mad bastard..

[Finn]

I wave to just about all bikes regardless of style. It doesn't bother me if they don't wave back. You're right most cruisers don't wave back probably cause their bikes don't handle well and they can't take their hand off the bars. Can't nod either through fear of bugs going up their snotty noses due to open face helmets.

Just kidding cruisers... lighten up will yah.

[pyrocam]

im into saluting at the moment. or a raped and bastardised version of it.
2 fingers vertical on left side of left eye, lets say 3 bikers. I do the salute 'move your hand away from your face' part on the last one.

but other times I'll give it a nod especially if I need both hands.

[crashe]

Oi Finn..... Look at my avatar pic... Now that is the double hand wave
Plus I'm on a cruiser as well
(pt)

I wave :spudwave: to everyone... and I have had the 'patch' riders wave :spudwave: back to me...
And that can be if they are in a group or riding single... some of them don't wave :spudwave: and thats ok..

I wave :spudwave: to the sprotbike riders... now some of that lot can be total snobs...


I tend to wave :spudwave: rather than nod...

[Katman]

A nod's as good as a wave!

[MoFunthanmost]

im into saluting at the moment. or a raped and bastardised version of it.
2 fingers vertical on left side of left eye, lets say 3 bikers. I do the salute 'move your hand away from your face' part on the last one.

Me too! tho usually only to those bikers I actually know (or think I know)...

Have a tendancy to nod only if I'm caught napping and see the oncoming target of said guesture too late to get my hand off the bars in time for it to be seen returned.

but otherwise i

[Sniper]

This is a pisstake thread isn't it?

[raster]

I still fairly new on the bike as yet and with a new bike even more so.

I do wave from time to time, rest of the time I'm hanging on for dear life so I nod

[Dafe]

The general rule for you newbies is...... Waive to fellow sports/touring riders. Don't wave to harleys because they won't wave back, unless you mistakenly waved at a jap cruiser!
Generally, Trail bike riders are good sorts too.

If you have a hand free, it's more common to wave.
Through corners etc, the head nod will suffice.

We have a neat brotherhood out there! Enjoy!

[SlashWylde]

Second question, why do MOST cruisers not do it. I say most, because some do, but most of the time, they choose to ignore us sport / tourer bike riders. Most especially, the "patch" riders or old fellas with big beards. Whats up with that?

Quite simple really, you're not 'one of them'. Humans instinctively divide them selves into groups of 'them' and 'us'. At the first level, we as bikers differentiate ourselves from four wheeled motorists, we openly acknowledge other bikers with waves and nods but ignore the cagers. At the next level, some bikers will separate them selves from other bikers by only waving to others of their ilk - sports to sports, cruisers to cruisers exclusively. At yet another level some cruiser riders won't acknowledge other cruiser riders because they are riding a Jap cruiser and not a Harley or Triumph, or not perceived to be hard enough etc.

This pattern continues ad infinitum, I'm not apologising for it, I'm just saying it's part of life.

Classic example: Allun and I were out and about last weekend. Passing through Clevedon village, we rolled past a tough looking bloke casually sitting on his Harley admiring the scene. Allun, a sports bike rider, gave him a nod but was blithely ignored, I gave the dude a casual nod and was subtely acknowledged in return as I was on a cruiser, allbeit a Japanese model.

For what it's worth if I'm in an exuberant mood and I can spare my attention from the bars or the road I'll nod or lift a hand to another biker regardless of what they are riding.

[Highlander]

I wave to most others (unless I'm busy) even scooters. Not if I can see they are riding in shorts though.
Ususlly shake my head when I see them waving with no gloves on too