Nodding to L Plate Riders?!

[lukey]

Hi all, Ive just recently passed my CBT a few weeks back at the grand old age of 44 and bought a 125 Varadero with the view of using this over the winter and do by DAS in the spring.

One thing ive noticed is that not everyone seems to want to nod at me even when i instigate it. This goes for all different types of riders, i.e. sports bikes, cruisers etc.

Am I being paranoid in thinking that as ive got L plates on other riders look down their noses at you?. Do all you riders who have passed your test have this attitude or is it just a coincidence?

[G]

Have a search on here - basically, people will only nod to a specific set of people. That may be anything two wheeled, anything like their bike, anyone they consider likely to be 'serious' about riding, etc, etc.

I've got/had a range of bikes (most things apart from cruisers) including plenty of big bikes etc and still don't get nods from everyone by a long way even when I nod first.

[chris-red]

People don't tend to nod at people on L plates because they are thieving chav scum.

Now I know that is a big generalisation but thats the way people see it i'm afraid.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[lukey]

I didnt think that anyone who was 44, wearing full textile gear and riding a Varadero (not a nifty fifty) would be considered a Chav to be honest.

Maybes Im just too pleasant by trying to nod at everyone.

[Louise]

TBH I nod if I feel like it.
Some days I cant be bothered other days I will. I dont nod to scooters or cruisers

[chris-red]

I know what you mean but thay seems to be the reaction from most bikers when they see L plates.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Cigaro]

Pisses me off that some people think they're in some kind of exclusive secret club just because of the kind of bike they ride.

I nod to everyone no matter what I'm riding, even if I'm on a scooter.

If they don't nod back, they're obviously a wanker. It's as simple as that.

If someone has said hello, and if you can't find half a second out of your packed schedule to tilt your head slightly, you're an ignorant fool.

(Unless you've got osteoporosis )

[olionel]

Ye not many used to nod to me until my L plate snapped off last year and everyone nodded until I put it back on... was quite funny... today a learner didnt nod back at me though... damn.. off to jump off a cliff...
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[lukey]

This one guy who passed me the other day, on a 125 cruiser (was an older guy like myself) actually raised his left hand up to say hello as he passed me, thought that was strange but a nice gesture.

It doesnt bother me too much really, just as im very new to biking i always thought the 'nod' was something that all bikers did....must say that you dont half feel daft when you nod at someone and they ignore you though, especially if your passing at very low speeds like in stop start traffic

[daytonapaul]

[Kal]

It'll happen more once you get the L plates off from the experience I had.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[bazza]

[alpine]

[shaun_04]

[Cigaro]

[Mudskipper]

**Long sigh**

Some people nod, some don't, some do sometimes, some nod to everyone, some only to certain riders.

L's make no difference to me, unless it's one of the ped tossers who race down my road at 3am.

I nod to most everyone cause I like to, on a long ride I can maybe only get 30 - 40% of them returned. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Just because someone doesn't nod back, doesn't make them a wanker.

Sometimes you're tired and you need every ounce of concentration on your riding. If you've been nodding constantly on a long run (esp. on popular routes on a sunny sunday) it can get a bit weary.

Live & let live, it bemuses me when we get the 'indignant L plate rider' posting on nodding threads slagging off those on bigger bikes. I got tons of nods when I was on L's.

Though maybe that was because I've got decent norks.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Cigaro]

When I had a geared bike I (mostly) used to get one back anyway.

I've noticed that it's mostly scooter riders that people ignore. Which I really don't understand - not all of us are 16 year old chavs with overinflated egos

It doesn't really bother me either - but when someone blatantly looks down their nose at you, you can't help but feel slightly indignant.

[Kal]

[druidsam]

sometimes i nod and sometimes i wave,it depends how fast im going,but i acknowledge everyone on two wheels


.......................Sam
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https://www.bikerforum.co.uk/

[lukey]

I not trying to be judgemental, more just curious observation with me being a total newb to biking and this forum as we all were at some point.

If the accepted practice was that you dont nod to L platers, then I dont have a problem with that, I dont think im being 'indignant' by asking?

[Kal]

For a lot of riders while you are on L plates you are on probabtion, once you go through your test you'll have made a commitment to the lifestyle and be an equal.

Other riders will never nod at you.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Shay HTFC]

when I got my first nod yesterday I actually started laughing in my helmet. It was such a good feeling (maybe the fact that my front L plate wasn't on helped)

Some of the faster bikers didn't nod, but then again they may have been concentrating hard, or just been a bit too arrogant to nod to a lowly cg125


But why do we think that every biker knows to nod? If I didn't come on this website I would have never thought to nod, so maybe that's the reason with some other people who maybe don't go on the internet?

[Kal]

My first nod came on my CBT from a pair of sportsbikes going the other way so they aren't all bad...


Embarresingly enough I believe that one of them was a Gixxer...
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[lukey]

My first one was when i picked up my varadero the week after my CBT and was trying to get it home, couldnt understand why this guy on a motorbike nodded at me to be honest....i was clueless

[sekwah275]

As a primary disclaimer i nod to all bikes, (or do the hand/foot wave here in France) although its rare to get a reply nod.

I see some people saying they dont like the idea of certain bikers thinking they are in a secret club and will only nod to certain bikes - isnt that just a more refined version of what you are already doing? Why is it we should nod to all bikers but no other vehicles? (aside from there being no point)

It seems to be a thing that spreads to more than bikes, i live in France at the moment, and if two British people meet anywhere it seems they have to act like best friends and clump together. More than likely we wouldn't be friends or even aquaintances in England, so why does the fact we are both british mean we should be friends there?

Again with bikes, just because we both have bikes doesn't mean we have anything in common or have even vaguely compatible personalities. Yes we can sit and chat about the latest bikes down the pub, but once that runs out would we really be mates? Im not ruling out we could be great mates, but then the nob who cut you off in a car the other day that you probably cursed for hours after could well be your potential best mate. I know my best mate cant drive for toffee and hates bikes.

Who knows, i personally nod to all bikes, and even scooters (seems to surprise or confuse them mostly though), just think its a bit hypocritical to say Cruisers or sportsbike guys are being eliteist in their nods when our whole biker nod/clique thing is already eliteist.
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