Out on my XT6E (red) today in this lovely weather (30 degrees). Did a short trip from Sheppey to Bexhill in Sussex and back (100 miles).

Bit hot and sticky in my full leathers especially at lights and jams. But it was glorious. I just love my single cylinder torquey bikes.

During the ride I tipped my head to a vast number of other riders passing me by on the other side of the road. This practice comes naturally to me and I have done it since I started to ride in 1980.

Nearly wiped out by a young girl driver (T boned). Good thing I was riding defensively and left a wide berth.

I can report here that about 50% of riders totally IGNORED my gesture and went speeding past without reciprocation.

I have always considered us bikers to be an elite on the road - members of an exclusive club where we all help each other out if things go wrong. We also show car drivers how to drive properly particularly on rounderbouts etc. I have always considered that riding on 2 wheels improves your driving skills on 4 wheels too.

I found that riders of small capacity bikes (mopeds and learner 125's) were more inclined to reciprocate.

Yes I always tip my head to mopeds/learners and large capacity riders alike - We all started out on these things and they are on two wheels taking exactly the same risks as the larger capacity bikes.

What has happened to bikers? Have half of riders lost their manners or, did they never possess them in the first place?

AND why are car drivers not using their indicators? I noticed a driving instructor not using them and even a bloody police car!

AND why do many car drivers do right turns on rounderbout's using the LEFT hand lane?

Got my moaning head on, sorry.

__________________
Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Might vary abit from region to region, but certainly I have noticed a change over an almost thirty year period in western Canada. In the "old" days, a wave was exchanged between almost all bikers. These days, 50% seems somewhat reasonable.

I always attributed it, at least partially, to the growth in biking whereby people from all walks of life have bought bikes and the brotherhood/sisterhood of biking has become much larger and less tight knit.

In cities, waving is much less frequent. On the open road, much more so.

I tend to nod / wave to just about all bikers I see but the response rate varies hugely depending on what I'm riding. On a big sports bike about 50% respond or nod first but if I'm on my mid 70's 125 commuter bike I doubt if it's 10% - and they tend to be sports bike riders. I can't remember the last time I got a nod from someone on a big traillie (1200GS etc) when I'm on the 125.

Neil, in the UK I think we look like DT125 riders on the road and therefore not respecting enough for a "tip" or a nod from most sports/street bike riders.

I get a similar nod rate to you of about 50%. On a Thunderace that was pretty much 100%. 1000 Fazer slightly less and a 1200 Bandit slightly less again. Oddly, I get more wearing a motocross helmet and goggles than my Arai.

Coppers never tip back no matter what you are riding. Neither do Harley (custom) riders.

Oddly, more instructors doing CBT/DA seem to respect the XT and I have had a good amount of those on this bike.

TBH, I have lost hope so I don't nod much any more. Except to other adventure bike riders who almost NEVER nod back.

I was having pretty much the same conversation with a friend of mine the other day about the "biker nod" or lack of it.
I still give a nod to to pretty much every bike i see n would say get a 50/50 response.
Strangely enough i noticed in the crappy weather when all the weekend warrior's are tucked up warm n dry i get more response!...

I hate the nod in the UK. Much prefer the small wave/finger point in Europe. In fact I prefer the whole European bike culture. Much more inclusive. Even Harley riders acknowledge!
Rant over

Here's a virtual nod to one and all


Bajagrngo

Interesting...

I'm probably biased but I think that in Portugal and Spain I'm more frequently ignored by small bikes. Maybe because they're more frequently ridden by high school kids

Very Seldom a GS or Triumph, etc ignores a compliment (normally we just open our left hand)

All the best

jazzmd

I live in the Czech Republic and here every biker always give each other the downward pointing left finger as we pass each other its a common salut as in a lot of Europe. Another thing we do here is that when a driver pulls over to let a biker past we stick out our right boot to say thank you. Drivers here are very biker friendly and about 75% will move over to let you pass safely so its only right that you encourage the behaviour and say thank you. Good manners on the road goes a long way to making the roads safer. We do not discriminate between scooters, cruisers or sports if you are on two wheels then we are all members the same club - bikers.