Demise of the "Biker nod"?

[Stolichnaya]

I have to agree with you Stoli, but if a learner nods at me first I always nod back, we have to encourage them to continue and earn their stripes, otherwise they might consider us to be the same as the HD pirates we complain about

sorry - i actually look away like a petulant child not being given sweets...!!

Aint nodding to no learner !!!  you earn it

[Proteous]

Its 50/50 round here but when i see a Harley i exagerate a wave and that usually illicits a respons of some kind ( sometimes not a nice one  ) But when im on my Rocket and a Harley comes the other way they cower and lower their head..

[Timothy Spencer]

Yes if the learner or even a large scooter rider nods first then I nod back. Some of them are just commuters and use the bike because they have to, which is fine, but they will be short term bikers and not interested.
I have stopped acknowledging cruiser riders before they do so first as I find they do not often respond.
Nod - around the East Mids. this still seems to be the norm.
In Scotland I have noticed a lot more of a raised left hand - works better on a tourer with a big screen.
In the past 12 months I have ridden in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium and they pretty much all seem to favour the left hand/arm slightly down to the left with a few using the left leg.

Just before I arrive at a place where there are lots of bikers, Matlock on a Sunday for example, there seems to be a point on the road where nodding and waving stops as you would be doing it all the time.

Obviously riding on the side that we do in the UK a signal with the right hand would be more visible but impractical as you have to release the twist grip to do that. Before headlights were permanently on a flash of the high beam seemed to be becoming popular.

Thinking back 40 years to when I started biking a wave was the most popular.

[Kiwifruit]

Been on some charity rides and have come across idiots with L plates. Dont like to be around them. Just not predictable. 
So i do see Stoli's point about earning their stripes.
That said i will respond if they wave or nod first.

[grog]

used to wave or nod years ago. thinking about now in my area, scooter riders never wave so i dont ever. hardlys i never bother, nor do they. have you noticed how hardly riders look straight ahead if youre next to them at lights, happens all the time to me. then they take off as fast as they can on green. hate the sound. indian riders are getting same attitude. boulevard are same. noisy bloody things. love their back tyres, like a rockets, huge. everyone else i like to lift a finger or nod, they are enjoying. sports riders usually too busy going fast. if i pull up next door at lights, i always say g,day to who ever on a bike. im having a good time so i just say hello. its all about having and enjoying your ride. i dont get into the this bike is better than another thing, we know our 14 are awesome, if they dont, well bad luck. they are missing out. just my thoughts.

[SheepDog]

It's sad but true that the Harley folks just don't get it. It's as if they have blinkers on or something. I used to ride a Victory, sweet ride but can get lonely on the highway.

Been riding for a long time and the lone rider is the friendliest rider on the road. They wave / nod and even pull over when your stopped.

It's the two by two's that piss me off. Roar past as if imitating Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner out for the fan-tango blast on the open road. Young-ins. Just tools. 'Look at us' attitude.

Then the large camel train of 10 or more shooting down the highway. The odd one waves / nods but generally the last guy at the end. Generally 99% of the time, Strange. Must be the mature one coming up the rear.

Anyway .... it was quite nice in the early years but unfortunately things change. Such is life. I just love my bike and wife. I try as much as possible for the three of us to head out and look around our country side. How sweet it is. And when people acknowledge us, well that's just dandy too.

[grog]

tigers love swans, staple diet. i like those victory, shop in melbourne the best bike shop ive ever seen, thats lots. your thoughts on victory, just for interest. brilliant names, high ball etc. a lone biker is just a good way to be, i prefer it. not watching others just your surroundings.

[SheepDog]

We all go through trying different bikes. Had a new 2009 KingPin for 5 years. Great ride, magic V-twin, pulled like a tractor and handled sweet (and wasn't a Harley). I highly recommend them. Reliable and stunning and easy riding without the show.

It's long gone but I still have the Suzi in the picture (all be it in bits at the moment getting a refresh).

Right now I love the 1400. Funny that. How you find your way back to what you love.

[KiwiCol]

Just as an aside to the Victory postings, I see Polaris have closed production on Victory motorbikes, they brought Indian & are going to focus on that instead, so bye bye Victory.  Shame as they were some very nice looking machines.

[jack6251]

Thanks for the replies guys, interesting stuff!

I've continued to nod away to myself while riding since posting this thread, definitely noticeable the nods have diminished in my area.

[seth]

depending on where I'm riding I'll nod or wave
of overtaking I'll put a hand out or do the europe thing of dropping leg off the peg for a second on there side.
sometimes also do the leg drop if on single road on the middle of the road side

[gsxbarmy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErEXr1AVV4

[Globalrider]

Harley's get a gay wave from me! or return the point-to-the-ground - not sure why they do that - I guess I should look down for sum-it!

stan

[Andre]

Got a wave from a Harley rider yesterday (marked it on the calendar  ) and nods of a half dozen pedestrians. For the nods of the bipeds I have a few explanations:

1. Nice shiny 14
2. Original cans
3. Considerate riding
4. They can see my face because of me wearing a jet helmet

The Harley guy? I don't have any idea. Oh wait, he thought I was riding a Harley or he had a mental lapse or was  a normal biker who took a friends Harley for a test ride.

[Paulpmy]

Hd is well dark side and who want a nod or even give a nod to the dark side

Let em by they in a hurry to polish there bike !!!