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hi
did 123 miles on my honda innova step thru in the UK the other saturday. I noded my head to numerous on coming bikes, didn't get one back. If I had been on my other bike a cb250, I would have been a bit more successful. Small bikes are mostly looked down upon here in the UK, most riders are obsessed by racy looks and speed. One of these days mpg will start to become important to all but the most well off. |
Well I ride a 1200 BMW, XT660Z and 1 200cc Yamaha and get the same on all of them, mostly ignored.
Is it because they are rude or because they are not relaxed enough to not watch where their front wheel is going. I have been known not to acknowledge another rider generally because I am doing something that requires my attention, bend, car, overtake or even a nice pair of legs. What does upset me is when a broken down bike gets ignored, I always try to stop if I see them. Having broken down myself and just been left till the breakdown van arrived some 4 hours later. |
We don't get away much on the bike but recently went for a short 3 day trip to the seaside. We left on Bastille day Sunday 14th July. The roads we're extremely quiet, temperatures were around 35C. We saw very few bikes and I don't think one acknowledged us. Monday the roads were much busier especially around the big towns (Poitiers and Niort) and every single bike waved, even the Harleys managed the cool substitute for a wave of raising a finger!. Tuesday was much the same except that we passed a few Brit bikes, as we passed we turned to give them a wave but were totally ignored. I think they were suffering in the heat.
I tend not to discriminate between different bikes, or even notice, but in general, it's not considered cool to wave at kids on 50s nor do they consider it cool to acknowledge anyone on a 'real' bike. I haven't ridden in the UK for years but driving on the left must make a difference although I'm not really sure I'd spot a helmet tilt. |
London...
I live in Suffolk and my girlfriend lives in London. Out in the sticks I'd say 80% of people nod/wave. In London, nobody does. But I'd say that's probably because you're too busy looking out for the next taxi/bus/range rover/cyclist/pedestrian/pigeon that wants to kill you.
The further away from London you get, the better it seems. |
In Belgium, it's a wave. I nod only when my left hand is to busy to leave the clutch lever.
Most of the time, I don't wave to scooters or moped, not because I'm to cool for that; it's just that most of them are not aware of that "motorcycle culture" thing. I always wave back though. |
I tip my helmet to absolutely everyone including 50cc mopeds. We all started out on these things (FS1E, AP50) and they are taking EXACTLY the same risks as all other 2 wheel riders. This seems to be forgotten by those who consider themselves superior just because they happen to be a bit older and be riding a larger bike.
I don't care if I look uncool doing this, to me it's just polite manners. If ever I see a bike broken down at the side of the road, I will always pull over and see if I can help. I do this on 4 wheels as well as when riding a bike. What has happened to good ole plain MANNERS? As far as London is concerned, the last time I went there it was like the United Nations walking down the High Street in Brixton! Perhaps Anglo-Saxon Christian manners aren't in great demand in these here parts now? Having worked/travelled widely throughout Africa I can see why this is happening. Pity.... We bikers need to stick together. It's in our own interests to keep this practice alive. If you don't want to tip your head to passing bikers then that's fine BUT at least acknowledge others who do it as a polite gesture. |
I rode a scooter for 3 years and was acknowledged only once by another rider. A BMW 1200GS rider gave me a nod at the lights.
Have had a Triumph Bonneville now for 12 months and get a few nods around the city now and again. I find out of the city most riders will nod except Harley riders. HD riders seem to almost look slightly away from you so that they can pretend you don't even exist. A bloody rude and arrogant bunch, in my area anyway. |
Greetings Kentfallen
I've seen various versions of this on the web over the years, it won't answer your question but at least you can have a smile :) Top 10 Reasons why riders don't wave back... Regards Ian J |
Thanks Ian - Great find.
Hilarious! In fact it was so good I pinched it - Hayabusa.oRg Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back 10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty 9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm 8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for 7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off 6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos 5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley 4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda 3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else 2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet 1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms. Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Riders Don't Wave Back 10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture 9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip 8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm 7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him 6. The espresso machine just finished 5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved 4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer 3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen 2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system 1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard Top Ten Reasons Why Sportbikers Riders Riders Don't Wave Back 10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to 9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond 8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear 7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket 6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips 5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank 4. Their skin tight-Kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal 3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops 2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies 1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Riders Don't Wave Back 10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm 9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form." 8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgment. 7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat. 6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to iPod, XM, and talking on the cell phone. 5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not! 4. Wires from Gerbings is too short. 3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW. 2. You haven't been properly introduced. 1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture. Top Ten Reasons Why Dual Purpose Riders Don't Wave Back 10. Off road elbow guards, chest protector, fanny pack, drink system binds them up. 9. Bark busters and gummy grips slows the hand from raising quickly. 7. Just can't take time out from doing that 10 mile wheelie through traffic. 9. He's passing street bikes off road on the right @ 60mph through the trees & rocks. 6. Too busy checking his enduro roll chart doing mental time/mile math so he wont blow the next check point. 5. Can't see other bikers through his 20 layers of tear off's. 4. The dude only recognizes Honda's with every after market race part known to man. 3. His killer 2 inch tall knobies vibrate so bad vision is obscured. 2. The chin guard on his full face helmet sticks out so much it blocks his view. 1. He's got his Mauna Kea 200 race face on and can't be bothered. Top Ten Reasons Why Moped & Ruckus Riders Don't Wave Back 10. Scared ****less to remove a hand from the bar's. 9.Never road this fast on a two wheel anything before. 8. Full focus three inches from front tire. 7. Freaked out on the extreme right side of the road dogging broken beer bottles and car accident trash. 6. Don't want to lose their grocery's in plastic bags hanging from the bar's. 5. Won't deter from the full attention military riding position. 4. Their mother & grandmother told them it was very, very dangerous. 3. Think it's hoodlum stunt riding. 2. Don't want to chance getting a reckless driving ticket. 1. 25 mph is too damn fast to try something stupid like that. |
Harley & other cruiser riders haven't been too bad around here this season.
The "too good to wave" crew seem to be, um, BMW riders almost without exception..... although I do personally know a couple of exceptions locally, but I don't live in a typical PNW town....... |
I ride a Harley and a Triumph Tiger Explorer and always give a nod to other riders. I'll always stop to help out another rider if they're in trouble. I've been riding since 1976 and it's just what I do.
When I was 17 I binned my 250 and a guy stopped on a CB750, helped me sort myself out, gave me a lift back to the garage where I worked (15 miles or so) and I never forgot that. I'm not a people person, far from it, but to me helping out another rider is just the done thing and the nodding.......well that just kind of happens now, bit like Pavlov's dog. I even have to stop myself doing it when I'm in the wife's car. Funny thing though, less people respond when I'm on the Harley - and I don't dress up like a pirate as many Harley riders seem to like to do - but I still nod. I can't help it. My names Graham and.......I'm a compulsive nodder. |
I always wave or nod. I too have noticed the lessening numbers doing so but I'm always chuffed when someone waves back. I'll keep at it :thumbup1:
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Here's a virtual nod to one and all
Bajagrngo |
The bikers salute is alive and well in France, and even moped riders give a nod from time to time. Scoot riders are a breed apart. I always acknowledge and am sometimes first with the dropped hand. One thing I always do is to nod an acknowledgement to a driver waiting at a turn out to say thanks for waiting.
I was out on a bimble last Sunday, and the Gendarmerie were out in force on what I must assume was a training day on their FJR1300's. 6 of them came tearing past me in a 70kph limit ( I was right on the money:innocent:) and each one of them stuck out a right leg in ackowledgement as they went past, quite extraordinary!:mchappy: |
Shake a leg
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Riding in the UK I have found myself doing the same thing, but using the left leg, when passing vehicles. IMO it is a good "system" because the hands are not removed from the bars. |
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