I had an interesting debate with some bikers about the biker nod / wave this week.
Before I go on, a confession: I am a Harley rider. Don’t hate me. I nod or wave at everyone, even the 50cc delivery drivers. And I know I'm overthinking this.
I sit on the roadside for hours watching thousands of you pass my camera, and if there’s one thing that cracks me up, it’s the sheer mental energy we waste on the biker nod. It’s supposed to be a simple, unwritten rule of the road. You pass another rider, give a quick tilt of the helmet, and it’s a silent “Hey! A biker! We’re better than car drivers!” But let’s be honest, it can be a proper headache.
Picture it: you’re leaning into a brilliant corner, focusing on the apex, and you give a friendly nod to an oncoming rider. And... nothing. Total radio silence. Left hanging at 50mph.
Instantly, the internal monologue starts inside your helmet: Is he just miserable? Did he not see me? Is it because I’m on a cruiser and he’s on a sports bike? Does he think Harleys are rubbish? What a complete bastard!
We’ve all done it, but I reckon nine times out of ten, an ignored nod or wave has absolutely nothing to do with you. From what I see when someone doesn’t nod back, they’re usually just dead focused on something else in that exact split second:
• They’re dodging a massive pothole, hitting a patch of loose gravel, or bracing for a sudden crosswind.
• They’re mid-gear change into a tight bend where taking their hand off the bars or their eyes off the road is a terrible idea.
• They’re a brand-new rider entirely consumed by just keeping the shiny side up, or a veteran who is completely lost in their own thoughts.
• The "Did They or Didn't They?" That microscopic twitch of the helmet at 60mph. Was it a nod? Did they just hit a fly? Did their neck stiffen up? You spend the next half a mile wondering if you’ve been blanked or acknowledged.
Or maybe they’re just a dick.
It’s funny how easily a total stranger miles down the road can temporarily disrupt the vibe. Riding is the ultimate reset button, the one place where the background noise of life finally drops away. But that headspace only works when we're entirely dialled into our own bike and our own little patch of tarmac.
For the record, I don't buy the "Harley riders don't nod" myth. Every bike manufacturer has its share of good and bad. Remember, us Harley riders are usually old, and too busy hanging on to various bits of bodywork to stop them falling off and our teeth shaking out to acknowledge you on your fancy-shmancy reliable, non-oil-leaking, non-rusting bikes.
By all means, keep nodding. It’s what makes the bike community unique, and it’s brilliant when you get a proper wave or a solid acknowledgement back. But throw the greeting out there with zero expectations. If they return it, fantastic. If they don't, who cares? Keep your eyes on the horizon, enjoy the pace, and enjoy the ride.
It's your helmet, after all. Don't let a stranger rent space inside it for free.
This is my standard greeting in the picture below. What’s yours?
