In Europe people tend to wave with their left hand, which is more relaxed and obvious than nodding. It doesn't work very well in the UK so we nod instead.But,what is the significance? and do you give the nod?                                                                                                                                                                             

I sometimes  drag my leg a la Europe it saves getting a bad neck if there are several riders aproachingl 
                                                                                                                                                                             

drag ya leg?? i stick me leg out if im tellin bike behind to go past  well not right out or i might knock em orf ....                                                                                                                                                                             

easier to wave abroad due to them riding on the wrong side

I think a lot of it is more down to the type of bike u ride..

Sports bikers nod as it's easier to do that when couched over their bikes

Tourers/Cruisers etc  will wave as we have a more relaxed riding position on our bikes so makes it easy to do so.

The leg wave is mostly a German thing to do and I've  never worked it out.  Yanks will wave and show a peace sign as they have one of the best laid back approaches to biking

The only exception to all that are most Harley riders (not all) or HOG members (Scottish lot are terrible they don't even like each other never mind other bikers) as they have delusion of grandeur me thinks. 
                                                                                                                                                                             

if i nodded to all the bikers i pass while riding around London,   I could get myself part time job as a nodding dog.   On a motorway I'll wave or nod depening on my mood.                                                                                                                                                                               

you may find answers here:   http://www.bikermatch.co.uk/sites/bm/forum/posts.asp?to...amp;page=1   perhaps Matt could combine the threads?                                                                                                                                                                             

I always nod, would feel very rude if I didnt !!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

Probably won't nod at everyone - just as I wouldn't say hello to every single biker in person. 
If I recognised the bike I probably would lift a couple of fingers.....

Besides I'd be too busy concentrating on what I'm doing and trying not to crash.

I must admit that after recently passing my test i wondered what the other bikers were upto! now i nod at anything that goes past, although there was a point when i wouldnt nod at scooters....but were all bikers right???                                                                                                                                                                             

Dave .. Congrats on passing

Wait till you have done couple of weeks riding solid then get into a car ... And find you still nod at a bike coming towards you lol                                                                                                                                                                             

I think there's a hierarchy  going on. One time most bikers nodded at each other. The Harley riders dont nod at anyone but their own, the  sports bike riders generally don't nod at cruisers, and hardly anyone nods at scooter riders.
                                                                                                                                                                             

your right suzyamki - when i was on a cbr400 all teh sports bike riders nodded at me..... now im on a harley they dont nod!!!!   seems a shame to me but hey ho so long as im smilin while im riding they can stuff it really hahahaha...still seems a shame tho as like ya say we are all bikers...                                                                                                                                                                             

It depends how fast im going  x
                                                                                                                                                                             

I tend to wave rather than nod.  Very good reason for this ... once I nodded to another biker and my head fell off!  It was very inconvenient.                                                                                                                                                                             

"once I nodded to another biker and my head fell off!  It was very inconvenient."

Don't you just hate it when that happens!!                                                                                                                                                                               

I nod or wave to any 2 wheeled machine riders - since I got a Harley I don't get acknowledged even though I have made the first nod lol.  I admit that most Harley riders are guilty as accused - we are not all like that honest.  I really  me off that the majority of HD riders are so up themselves.

The last nod I received on here has disappeared!! How did that happen??                                                                                                                                                                              

littlechick have a new nod to replace the lost one                                                                                                                                                                             

awww thanks lol  much appreciated... I just don't understand how it disappeared!!!.maybe these things happen if people leave the site??? I dunno                                                                                                                                                                              

I acknowledge every bike - not always returned. Had my first ride out in the dark this week, biker coming towards me..nod /wave he aint gonna see me ;-(.. but he winked ! well flicked his indicator on..i've learnt something new ;-)