Same for me, usually mutter something under my breath when they don't nod back. I usually give the none chav type scooterists and learners a nod, I self importantly believe it will encourage them the pass their test and buy a decent bike.
Hence why nodding in London is no no.........look like one of those nodding dogs in cars the amount of bikes there are around.
I always had nodding at each other down as a mutual respect thing, a kinda, you know you are both at risk more than other road users by using 2 wheels instead of 4, and yes I even give a nod to cop bikes, they are out there risking life and limb against cars and lorries too For plod ahead I give a thumbs down to oncoming bikers, except plod bikes of course, lol
The "nod" confused the hell out of me when I first started riding. Up until then I had the impression that all bikers nodded and enjoyed the company of their fellow 2-wheeled comrades, no matter what their ride of choice was. It was this sense of community that partly drew me to wanting a bike. So there was me, nodding like a greaser at a 'Quo concert but only getting the odd reluctant nod in return. Since those early days I've come to learn that biking, like so many things, revolves around a pack mentality. Cruisers don't nod sportsbikes, tourers nod (or wave a leg at) anyone, commuters nod no-one and everyone ignores a scooter rider. I still nod most riders as I pass, but these days it's usually followed by me muttering "Ignorant f*ck..."
I like nodding to moped riders, I was one once, at 16 a nod from a Real biker was a real feeling of acceptance. Made my day. Added bonus may keep them away from bloody scooters. Mike.
I also ride a scoot and enjoy watching bikers deflate when I pass them in traffic. Also like baiting them at traffic lights beating them on the green........such fun.
I can't say too much here, I often borrow the Mrs's scooter if I have to go to the docs which is 2.5 miles but right through the middle of Cambridge (and it always seems to rain when I go there), amazing how many big bikes won't nod first, or even back, lol. It must be kinda funny for them seeing some fat bloke on a 125 scooter in textile trousers, Alpine Stars red, white and blue race jacket, Alpine Stars boots and a Shoei lid nodding at them thinking he is all that, I can only imagine the words they would be using in their head but I bet I could think of a few rhyming ones, lol
I get the scooter thing, I really do. It's easy for us to be into them though because we've all got fecking great super bikes to be smug about.
I think one particular group has gone totally unmentioned here and i would like to correct this, Goldwing owners, usually roaming in packs on their glorified sofas. What a self centred bunch of pr--ks, i bet they don't even acknowledge BMW or Harley owners. As others have said see them approaching mutter a few choice words to oneself, give em a wave and call them wan---s at the same time.
I have never heard that a nod means theres nothing down the road. When I went passed plod the other week without hands on bars I got more than a nod, lighten up copper i was only having a stretch lol. Personally i don't nod to Hog riders as never got anything back when I did it before. Don't they like sports bike riders?
I have a business....rival, who has never taken to me for some reason or another. He has a tendency to look so far down his nose at me that he has a permanent squint. He rides an Africa Twin and one day we left my office at the same time and he happened to be parked next to my Ducati. As he laced, velcro'd, buckled, and buttoned all the various, but obviously necessary fastenings on his 17 layers of gortex for his 5 mile commute, he nodded at my bike and sneered "Sport bikes. Absolutely pointless for road use." Pulled out his step ladder to climb onto box girder bridge with wheels and tottered, on the very tips of his tip toes out into the bumper to bumper traffic for his great adventure home. Each to his own
I ride a small GS and i used to nod before when i was taking my exams and i wont stop. Sometimes i dont get anything back but it is good to know who's alive out there! So, if you see me nod like i do
Mind you, we are funny buggers as a group, generally. The inbuilt biker paranoia is always close to the surface. If I'm out on the bike and I see another biker having problems at the roadside, if I can, I'll stop and see if I can help. Last year I did it while I was in the car and I could tell by the lad's body language that he thought I wanted to show him some puppies in the park. Or is that just me...?
I get more nods if I wear my jacket with the pink on than the rest of the ' look like a bloke stuff I wear! ' ..... Oh you shallow shallow men you
Pink kit indicates likely presence of boobies. that or the Firebloke is riding towards you. Either way it top trumps all other social considerations.
Oh yeah. Pink leathers or the merest hint of long hair out the back of the helmet and I'll nod no matter what you are riding. Of course, the long hair assumption has got me into trouble with some greasy biker gangs in the past....
A word of warning to those guys attracted by pink attire, we did a charity run on Sunday just gone and one of the guys on the run had pink and blue leathers on Said to my mrs he must be a real man because it took some balls to wear them, also had a spider motif stitched into them so guessing he had them made for him, strange colour choice though.
As Gary said to me as he pulled his chair uncomfortably close to mine during our candle lit dinner the other night "Any hole's a goal."
