The Biker Nod

Do you nod?

  • Yes

    Votes: 86 94.5%
  • No

    Votes: 5 5.5%

  • Total voters
    91
I always try to nod or wave to other riders....I've found almost all sport bikers nod/wave back (even tho I ride a '78 Twinstar), and the only bikers who sometimes don't are guys on choppers.
 
The Swiss do a two finger point, even when dragging their knee on the mountain edge.

In the UK it's more often a head tilt than a nod, so you can still see where you are going. Long chains of bikers get an extended length of time on the tilt.
 
Seems to be more wavers and nodders the later season. Now that most others have put their bikes away for the winter. I even have cruisers waving at me now LOL.
 
I nod to all bikers on proper bikes "ie ones where you have to swing your leg over it to get on", scooters kinda remind me of the girly bicycles where they had a V cut and no cross bar .... and that brings back bad child hood memories ( i told my mum it wasn't a boys bike..) Oh yeah that also includes guys/gals with L plates ... they are after all the next generation and we should lead by example...

On a more serious note...always wear your boots, that picture from Abomin81on is gross but hard hitting. I had a taxi do a wheel spin on my foot at the traffic lights and because i was wearing my trusty TCX's got nothing but a scuff and a grimace...
 
I nod to all bikers on proper bikes "ie ones where you have to swing your leg over it to get on", scooters kinda remind me of the girly bicycles where they had a V cut and no cross bar .... and that brings back bad child hood memories ( i told my mum it wasn't a boys bike..) Oh yeah that also includes guys/gals with L plates ... they are after all the next generation and we should lead by example...

On a more serious note...always wear your boots, that picture from Abomin81on is gross but hard hitting. I had a taxi do a wheel spin on my foot at the traffic lights and because i was wearing my trusty TCX's got nothing but a scuff and a grimace...

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sorry hit send to early....when i get into london i stop nodding.... i would look like a raving head banger otherwise as there are just to many bikes.

Also i have 2 nods...forward nod for acknowledgement of another biker and a sideways nod for thanks for letting me pass - this one is also given to car drivers .... although sometimes i think they think i am telling them to move the fuck over .... have to remember they dont understand the lingo.... here in the UK we also stretch our leg out to say thanks....dont know if thats a Global biker signal or not....

Damn your good...why couldn't i have put it like that...:)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
sorry hit send to early....when i get into london i stop nodding.... i would look like a raving head banger otherwise as there are just to many bikes.

Also i have 2 nods...forward nod for acknowledgement of another biker and a sideways nod for thanks for letting me pass - this one is also given to car drivers .... although sometimes i think they think i am telling them to move the fuck over .... have to remember they dont understand the lingo.... here in the UK we also stretch our leg out to say thanks....dont know if thats a Global biker signal or not....
I stretch my legs out but that isn't to say hello, it's more that I have leg cramp from riding so long. :D
 
On a more serious note...always wear your boots, that picture from Abomin81on is gross but hard hitting. I had a taxi do a wheel spin on my foot at the traffic lights and because i was wearing my trusty TCX's got nothing but a scuff and a grimace...
About 6 months ago one evening, I had a SUV type thing run over my foot while we were waiting in stopped traffic.
My foot was over too far and as they moved, the tire pinched the edge of my boot, trapping it. As soon as I felt pressure I tried to move it, but there was no way. I could do nothing but watch as the tire continued to roll over the top of my foot and toes.

That very morning I had a debate with myself on whether I would wear my steel toed boots or Doc Marten's...
 
Friend of mine used to wear steelies where his toes stopped before the steel bit. Not sure if that was too far really as it made it partly pointless - and he looked like a clown.
 
Well for what it's worth, I rarely nod, always a wave, (well that's the country way), unless I'm at motorway speeds, where on a naked bike the wind blast is a bit more noticeable, then a nod is quite acceptable, especially to riders on the other side of the Aramco ...
 
Steel capped boots can chop your toes off in an accident.
As with anything, there is no "easy answer or magic pill" that explains or does everything. While what you said may be true I don't think that's the whole story or even the most common result. In this case I think it depends on the type of accident and quality of the boot among other factors.

As I understand things, toe injuries due to steel toed boots are caused when your foot and toes (and the steel cap) are bent so far back that the top edge of the steel is now trying to touch the sole of your boot. Of course your toes are in the way. This is possible at high speed with boots that have flimsy, thin or otherwise weak and inadequate soles. Some better boots have stronger soles that would resist being bent back at that point. Better soles may also aid in preventing twisting and crushing from the side, if the bike falls on ones foot for example. They may be a little harder to walk in but they won't give way when you need them. Generally boots and high speed accidents are quite possible on a motorcycle.

When buying boots, try bending them back like that and twisting from the toe and heel. If you can bend and twist a lot and they are brand new, it's only going to be easier (worse) after wearing them for a while. At that point I'd say that things like steel caps, buckles, armor are more decorative fashion sound-bites than an overall safer boot.

So if an inexperienced or unskilled rider buys cheap boots (but "Steel Toed" sounds cool and bad-ass and, "They were only $30.00! YEAH!") and then rides faster than his skill level and whacks his foot on something at high speed, Yes it's possible that rider would experience foot and toe injuries.
And all of those points are quite common; Inexperienced rider, buying cheap gear, riding faster than he knows how to, and crashing. Happens all the time.

I think steel toed boots were originally designed for work in factories where crushing was a possibility. Good quality steel toed boots will generally withstand crushing forces when applied from the top.

Which is exactly what happened to me.
That morning I decided to wear the steel toed boots. When the SUV got to the steel cap, it immediately supported the weight of the small truck and nothing happened. I was still trapped but not crushed. They drove off and then I continued home. All I had later was a little redness at the initial pinch on the side of my foot. No pain or damage at all. I was very happy I decided to wear those boots rather than the lighter Doc Martens.

Just my experience and opinion of course.
 
I try to wave to everyone. I'll nod if we're just about to pass before we notice each other. 90% of the people up here in Kitsap don't wave back or even nod.
 

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