To nod or not to nod, that is the question

[meenie]

I am new to "big" biking but not new to biking. I was always pretty much ignored on smaller machines, now with my ZXR750L3, more people acknowledge me.

What is the etiquette with "giving the nod"? I see some people nod like the Churchill dog sometimes till they get a look back and acknowledgment, others just blank you.

Please, if you are out on the road, give your fellow bikers the nod, we are a small breed, and its nice to appreciate each other spending the time riding!
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Owner : ZXR750L3 ('96) My bike @ BikePics.com
Wearer: Alpinestars & Shoei
SafeSpeed

[_Will_]

Good manners to nod
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[meenie]

[Misc]

99% of bikers that nod to me are sportsbikes. Depends how i feel really, i only nod to sportsbikes.

[plugger147]

I'm riding an ns125f at the mo and nearly always give the nod, 99% of the time I get one back even from the ped boi's. The usual non nodders are BMW and Harley riders who must feel it's beneath them.

I don't expect any kind of aknowledgement from somebody who's hooning round a bend as I come the other way though,Watch where you're going first then worry about being friendly.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[benc]

i dont normally get many nods on my way to and from work unless its raining. But apart from that its mainly sports bikes that nod.

[Swim41]

I'm on L plates riding a Cub at the moment. So far in a month of riding I've only had one nod - from a guy on a Goldwing of all things. Perhaps he felt we shared an affinity as fellow riders of daft looking bikes

[Marah]

I always nod everyone, learners need encouragement, when I was on my 50cc/125cc every biker used to nod or wave at me but that was 14 years ago.
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Someone complimented me on my driving. They left a note on my windscreen, it said "Parking Fine"
Old Bikes -1990 Yamaha DT50MX > 1988 Kawasaki KMX125 > 1991 Kawasaki KMX125 > 1981 Yamaha XS250SE > 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600 > 1999 Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja
Bike - 1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200

[bob a]

[pwntifex]

I nod to everybody on a bike who's wearing correct gear and isn't riding like a tw@.
I don't get many nods from sportsbikes, probably 'cause of the L plates. I get lots of nods from cruisers, though, and a guy on a BMW R1150GT nearly bounced himself out of his seat nodding a few weeks ago.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[Dragonfly]

I have notied the only bikers that dont nod are 125 race rep bikes and mopeds.

I nod and feel like a prat when they dont nod back. Alot of the big bikers wiil nod at me,sometimes its because i am a girl other times they just being good bikers. Nice ones will come and talk to you also at petrol stations, and i find that great cause my bike is a lifan after all.
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[john2]

[Kitten]

I nod to anyone and I have a race rep.

I not to learners as people nodded to me when I had L plates and my CBR125 on occasions. It helped me learn to nod and ride at the same time (which many people forget it very hard to do when you start out!)

I got a nod from a trike once!

I find that people on cruisers don't often nod back, but it doesn't bother me . . . I don't feel silly if I nod and get ignored, I just feel that I am friendlier than the non-nodder!
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[Dragonfly]

Maybe its just Ni ones that dont nod on race rep 125's. No offence to you guys.

Tourers only occasionally nod. I get alot of harleys nodding though, maybe cause i have a custom.

Maybe there are a few in every catagory of bike rider that just dont wave.
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[Dazbo666]

[Delvard]

Nod to everyone, especially learners as I like to think they see it as encouragement.
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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

[phk6]

i nod to every one, except usualy peds and 125's as id feel daft when they dont nod back altho the other day i mistook a ped for a bike ( dont ask why i think i was high) and i nodded and i got a nob back i was like YES u go lil ped man, but to be fair when i wason my ped i nodded at every one so i dont see now why imon a bigger bike that i dont nod to them weird aint it.
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Current .. 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure ..
Before .. 2003 Yamaha Fazer 1000 .. 2004 Kawazaki Z1000 .. 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s .. 1999 zx6r Track Bike .. 1999 CB 500 Cup ..
/Phil

[Dragonfly]

[Dragonfly]

I still am a learner but been bold and dont have the L plate up as my bike is a 150, Its an import and allowed or something.

Anyway i have a "friend" on a bigger bike who wont wave at me cause of my bike, he wont wave at another person i know cause they have a moped either. when he is with a crowd they all wave and he dosnt, if i see him when no one is about i may get a wave. Thats stuck up!
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[Icey]

I nod at everyone and usually get nodded back at. Even though I'm on a 125.
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Mutley - 1988 Austin Mini City - Blog
Suetonius - 1966 Series Land Rover - Blog
Uma J - 1981 Honda 'Naked' Goldwing GL1100 - Blog

[lumphammer]

Being on L plates I really appreciate the nods I get from other bikers - thank guys

I try and return 'em if poss. but not when hanging on for grim death round some dodgy corner.

Even had one from a ZZ Top look-alike on a big Harley.

[V twin eater]

I always nod to bikers and 9/10 get a nod back.

I used to nod to all bikers regardless usually before they nod at me. The only people that don't nod as much are those on scooters which are more than likely new to the road and probably think I want a race or something, so most of the time, about 99%, I nod at scooters and get nothing back. So, now I still nod at everyone except scooters where I will only nod at if they nod first.

But it is nice to get a nod because sometimes it does cheer you up and shows the biker spirit.

I was once riding home on the busa from a long ride out when until about 40 mile from home still on the motorway it just lashed down. About 10 miles from home, was cold, wet and feeling a bit down due to the poor conditions when on a dual carriageway about 6/7 bikes came in the opposite direction, some with pillions, all nodded and a few waved as well. I couldn't see their faces obviously, but I had the feeling they were smiling while waving. I just gave a thumbs up to them all instead of nodding to all 6/7 and looking like a noddy dog.

But, that cheered me right up and made me forget about the cold and wet and made me think of what it is all about, just getting on your bike and riding for the fun of it.

God bless motorbikes!
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---> Hyabusa 1300
---> Intruder 1400
SOON ---> Intruder M1800R

[Pte1643]

[phatstorage]

i find couriers never nod and if they do i'm so shocked that i don't have time to nod back i find that couriers are the bravest? folks on bikes in the city so maybe it's a sign of weakness if they nod

i was amazed when i first hit the A10 (going northbound) on my new hornet the acknowledgment that you get from across the the road.

i ride into the city every day (A10) and find that it's rare that you get any nods from anyone it is a shame and people will say that it's cos they are looking for idiots pulling out in front of them, yes i can sympathise but even on a clear long straight bit of road an oncoming rider will rarely nod at you in london, don't know why

[Dragonfly]