The nod

Old Geezer

Old Geezer

Old Geezer

Associate
Joined
30 Dec 2019
Posts
93
Location
Deeside, North Wales
As you can probably guess from my username, I am in my twilight years. However, I've been a biker since the early 80's, initially riding smaller machines on my car licence, then passing my test in '93 and moving onto "bigger" bikes. I say bigger but not really, being a 5'5" shortarse there's a limiit to what I can get on. About 12 years ago I had to give up riding due to a medical issue, but in all that time I always observed the age old ritual of nodding or waving at oncoming riders. June last year I got back on two wheels after my son got a Z750 and encouraged me join him. I've been happily riding since then firstly on an MT-03, and now on an MT-07. I have noticed that riders don't seem to nod/wave as often. In the past, practically everyone did it, now not so much. Has it fallen out of favour, or are we bikers not as socialable as we used to be?
Cheers, Trev. (wannabe hooligan but too fragile to risk it)
 
I've only been riding since 2007, but always nod - often not to 'touring twits' mind you, as they're often up their own backsides and don't acknowledge anyone.

Even had a few cyclists nod at me - I guess it's that mutual acknowledgement that we're both targets on the road :D
 
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Yea I still do it.

Most people do it back if you do, I find those guys ok big Harley type bikes are the ones that often don't.

Not inside London though, but there are a million things going on so I don't blame anyone.
 
The biker demographic has changed over the years, largely due to the significant increase in expense of motorcycling, and difficulty of access with a relatively complicated training and testing system. The last time I went to Loomies there weren't many bikers under 50, and a fair portion were well north of 70, all on big expensive bikes. Old men with money aren't as excited by the camaraderie of motorcycling as younger people.

When I had my old DR800 which didn't have a fuel gauge, I ran out of fuel about 400yds down from a layby. I pushed the lump up a hill to get to the layby. As I was doing so, I was overtaken by a group of old guys on a couple of Harleys and various BMWs who didn't even give so much as a wave. Two bikers did stop to help, both in their 20s and both thoroughly decent guys. One of them went to the petrol station a few miles up the road, bought a plastic jerry can, put a gallon of unleaded in it and wouldn't take a penny off me. The whole time we were fervently talking about bikes.


ttaskmaster said:
Even the Harley guys round here nod or wave back. You get fewer nods during commuting hours, and it's usually scooter riders who don't nod.
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Scooters don't count.

Edit: I should clarify - @Old Geezer nothing against older bikers at all. I'm quickly approaching that demographic. I even have a BMW and wear a high viz Helite airbag so technically I can claim membership of the old geezer bikers club :D
 
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Nod and often a hand wave from me that likely can't be seen from behind my screen. Habit!

But then i wave and nod at a fair variety of other humans when I'm on the bike.

I'm somewhere in my 40s I think.
 
Inside London: No nod. Too many riders to keep doing it
Scooter with L plates and delivery box on the back: No nod
Everyone else on two wheels: Noddy McNodFace
 
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Old Geezer said:
As you can probably guess from my username, I am in my twilight years. However, I've been a biker since the early 80's, initially riding smaller machines on my car licence, then passing my test in '93 and moving onto "bigger" bikes. I say bigger but not really, being a 5'5" shortarse there's a limiit to what I can get on. About 12 years ago I had to give up riding due to a medical issue, but in all that time I always observed the age old ritual of nodding or waving at oncoming riders. June last year I got back on two wheels after my son got a Z750 and encouraged me join him. I've been happily riding since then firstly on an MT-03, and now on an MT-07. I have noticed that riders don't seem to nod/wave as often. In the past, practically everyone did it, now not so much. Has it fallen out of favour, or are we bikers not as socialable as we used to be?
Cheers, Trev. (wannabe hooligan but too fragile to risk it)
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I live not far from you, I'm just over border in England, I really don't enjoy riding around your neck of the woods now with all the 20 mph limits, 30 seemed like making reasonable progress whereas 20 is just tedious. Anyway, I digress. I nod to all bikers from 125's to anything CC, I'd say 90% nod back. If some don't nod back try not to dwell on it, they might be having a bad day, or are peeved off about having to do 20 mph! If u see a red Ducati Panigale V4 local to u it might be me and I'll definitely nod back or most probably nod first.
 
I'll nod, or more than not, stick out a foot, esp if it's a group ride coming the other way. The only ones I don't bother with are the Deliveroo type scooters in the city centre. If I've got either of the kids on the back we both wave like lunatics and most wave back, or at least acknowledge us!!
 
I see quite a few bikers on my daily commute too and from work. Always give them a nod... the only one that doesnt nod back is the person on a scooter wearing the orange high-vis :rolleyes:
 
IC3 said:
I always had that insta regret when I nodded at a 125 or a moped... :o Once, I nodded at a Polite W... :(
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I almost nodded at a scrote on a 125. I am glad I waited for the split second to analyse the hoodie, very cheap helmet, the balaclava and crap riding.

I wave/nod at all bikers in general. The Big GS ones can be a hit or miss. No nod to deliveroos, because they just don't get it.
If I see someone on a non 125 scooter, your 300cc plus ones, I may give a nod or wave. I do get response most of the times.
 
I nod at anything, have accidentally nodded at old people on those electric trolley things.
I say nod, but it's more of a dog like side head tilt with an added twist of the neck, definitely looks like I need a chiropractor, but it means I still get to look forward rather than down.
 
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