Motorcycle etiquette

[Cormanus]

I'm not sure where this question belongs. I'm not even sure it belongs at all, having seen all sorts of derision aimed at "nodding threads" on an Australian motorcycle forum. It may even be that the question, like comments and discussions about oil, God and politics is expressly banned.

But I saw this:

... and I just have to ask: what is the modern protocol in the US—or any other country from which this forum has members—for acknowledging other motorcyclists?

As a boy starting out, I was told it was the done thing to acknowledge other people on (motor) bikes with a nod or a wave. You had to be careful as a young 'un on a small capacity bike. Some folk on big beasts wanted to remain aloof and waving to some of the types who affected denim jackets with cut-off sleves and big pictures on the back—which I'm sure they wore because they couldn't master the zip fastener on their leather jackets and had to keep the front together somehow—might earn you a scary look or a kick in the head. But, generally, bikers were affable types who acknowledged one another. Oh, and there were people who rode scooters ...

I come back to riding after years away and I do it in a different place. Once I've remastered staying upright, I start waving and nodding away like the good old days only to find people staring resolutely ahead. Any sort of acknowledgment from any other biker has become as rare as rockinghorse cuss. Have things changed that much? Is this an Australian phenomenon? Or is it particular to the peculiar state of Australia in which I now live?

Before Ferret or Guth, with smoke erupting from their ears because I've committed some unforgivable breach of forum protocol, rip this post down, ban me from the site forever, and cause the bikers equivalent of a fatwa to be promulgated against me, to could someone take pity on me and treat this as a serious sociological question? Please?

[calamarichris_imp]

IMO, there's no standard protocol. The only wrong answer is to allow yourself to feel compelled by social protocol to wave or not wave.
Personally I wave at every 1%er, every ADV-poseur, every motorcycle cop, every crotch-rocket fratboy, and every 6-year-old on a Bigwheel, but I don't expect them to wave back. Sometimes I'm too distracted by my own apex-predicament to notice if they wave back.
There might be a very good reason they don't wave back. Perhaps a bee just flew in his/her helmet (my Dad suffered a fractured femur when this happened to him); maybe he/she is in the middle of changing gears; flat tire; heavy traffic; maybe her husband slaps her hand down because he feels threatened by your devlishly handsome good-looks...
And some of us live in motorcycle-dense regions, where you could spend all day with your clutch hand never getting a rest. An upward jut of the chin will do.

Taking your hands off the bars is dangerous. So you probably shouldn't wave at other motorcyclists. Unless you want to and it's safe.

[the Ferret]

Well I don't think this subject is touchy like oil or politics, but it certainly is an individual thing. I started riding in the mid 60 s. Weren't a whole lot of bikes around then and it was common to give acknowledgment to fellow riders passed on the road. I still do, to every one ( even scooters and trikes) but not all riders feel that way. In this country a lot of times genre of motorcyclists don't acknowledge other genre riders ie: sport bike riders don't acknowledge tourers and Harley riders, for the most part only want to acknowledge other Harley riders, but this is not cast in stone and ofttimes riders acknowledge each other regardless of brand or genre.

Most acknowledgements here seem to be a downward facing " peace sign"

[rboe]

[Papabear_imp]

Yep, downward facing peace sign sort of wave. Not all are returned. No big thing. I have done my part. Doesn't hurt to be friendly.

[Deanohh_imp]

If I'm on a half day ride or so, I wave in some kind of way for about the first 30 oncoming bikes. After that I get sick and tired of waving all the time and just stop doing it for a while.

[Cormanus]

Did you have to take both hands off the bars to do that?



I d ....

[calamarichris_imp]

Did you have to take both hands off the bars to do that?



I d ....

If the weather's really good and I'm enjoying the ride enough, I'll dive off my bike and tackle the rider coming the other way just to give 'em a hug.

[Cormanus]

Did you have to take both hands off the bars to do that?



I d ....

If the weather's really good and I'm enjoying the ride enough, I'll dive off my bike and tackle the rider coming the other way just to give 'em a hug.

If the weather's really good and I'm enjoying the ride enough, I'll dive off my bike and tackle the rider coming the other way just to give 'em a hug.


Geez! What a pity we're not on the same continent!

[Greg_imp]

Most of the time, where I ride, seeing an oncoming bike is a novelty. Since I assume cagers are intent on killing me, I acknowledge other riders who share my vulnerability in one way or another unless my situation requires full attention and coordination of left and right hands and both feet.

Sometimes I wiggle three fingers on my left hand or drop my left arm with two fingers extended. Sometimes, while riding on a separated road, another rider will wave at me even though there is 50 feet of grass separating us. I try to wave back even though he may already be behind me.

Being in Central Florida means that on some weekends there will be lots and lots of other riders on the roads. My town is a favorite destination for riding clubs. On those days there's no point in waving. The 10 or 15 oncoming riders don't wave and I would look like a fool traveling 1/4 mile or more with one hand in the air.

One situation I've never figured out is whether I should acknowledge another rider who going the same direction next to me. I've tried various waves but it always seems weird and I've never gotten a response. I've pretty much given up on waving to guys going the same direction as I am.