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When I was much younger and there were much fewer bikes on the roads, we bikers used to greet when crossing each other by flashing our lights once or twice (well now thinking of it, my first bikes had no flashing switch, so we waved our left hand).
Now, at least in Italy, I don't see this happening any more. Only reason to flash lights to another biker today is to alert him/her of a police patrol with a speed gun ready for an ambush.

Greeting each other was a nice and polite way to recognize the fact that bikers belong to a different sect than those poor people sitting in slow-paced metal boxes on wheels (sometime we too belong to that race of course, but just because of force majeure).

Due to the international flavour this forum has, I was wondering how it is the situation in other countries: is it still customary to greet other bikers in some way?

Ciao
Leoquattro

Here in Chicago, I wave at everyone when possible. I would say the majority waves back. There are always those times when both hands are busy and I am more focused on surviving than being social.

There are definitely alot of new comers who don't know the culture and really don't care. I figure if you just keep waving, at some point and time they'll get it and start waving back.

Bill

Same here. Mostly everyone waves no matter what bike their on.

I wave at every bike I see. I have noticed that I get a return wave from almost all bikes with the exception of the Harley riders. Not a slam, but they almost never seem like they see me at all.

Here in the Detroit area, I almost always salute (the custom here is to extend your left arm out and down at about a 45 degree angle) almost all wave back except for the myriad of the too cool to wave HD's. Maybe 10 percent of them will wave to a Beemer.

To be fair Leo, the density of bikes where you live must be so high that it would get pretty old if you had to wave at every one, including Vespe! Here in Virginia I will seldom need to wave once a day!

Yes, I nod rather than wave, but the trouble is the other guy (or guyess) is probably also nodding at the same time, so the end result is that I don't actually know if they have acknowledged me!

Rog

I always wave unless I did not see the other rider, or if the density of bikes are so great it becomes moot (as during large rallies), or for safety's sake where both hands on the bars are mandatory.

Those who do not acknowledge the gesture may not have noticed you if all other conditions seem to be favorable. Or for some other reason. Usually these are the Harley guys (but not always... no, everyone's different and you'll also have squids who ignore you too). To them I will offer a bit of leeway.

Their bikes probably rattle so much they can't risk taking a hand off the handlebars for even a moment. Or from lack of riding experience.

It was a pleasant surprise when I took up riding a few years ago, that motorcyclists acknowledged each other with what I call a "low five". To this day, most extend this greeting of the "brotherhood" of cyclists. For whatever reason, I noticed more Lo5's when I was riding a crusier - mostly from other cruisers. Now, on the R, I get more from sport bikers. Anyway, that's what goes on in this area...

On the Gulf Coast of Florida, Harley guys never wave but most others will if you initiate it. Only infrequently will I be the wavee and not the wavor, but that doesn't bother me.

I rode Indiana from stem to stern and everyone one waved, no matter their make of bike.

Most people (HD or not) wave in MD and PA (US). I figure those that don't just didn't see me. I think it may be the round headlight that confused the cruiser folks.

Also, drivers of Jeep Wranglers wave to each other, as do Subaru WRX drivers. I saw my coworker wave to another Porsche Boxter yesterday morning in Portsmouth UK.

On an open road, I always wave.
In town, when safety allows, and when not safe, usually the nod.

Most everyone waves back. It seems to me that younger riders are the ones who don't wave. When I got my first bike, I loved when the old guys on Harley's would wave to the skinny geek on a Honda (at that time a wanna-be Harley rider), especially a large group of Harley guys.

I think it's the Brand of BIKER (not the brand of BIKE) that is different now.

As Rog says, in the UK a nod is the usual greeting, and it's pretty universal down here in the South-West.

I like the French greeting - drop your left arm down and out at about 45 degrees. Apparently the lower the wave the cooler it is!

Their 'thank-you' to helpful cars is great too - extend the left leg as far as you can!

Mike

Wave to another rider down under and they will think you're gay..(not that there's anything wrong with that)

A slight nod of the head is ok...but not to scooter riders..(they never nod back)

DJ

I wave when I can and nod otherwise if my hands are busy. Most folks around here wave back no matter what their riding.

If I ever get down under AND get to ride a bike there, I'll remember that advice DJ, lol. And I don't wave to scooters around here either. If they don't have pegs to drag, they're not worthy

I almost always wave regardless of the brand, and as long as it is safe to do so. I find HD riders wave just as often, or not, as others. I have even found myself mistakenly waving at scooters. Its funny but it seems to freak them out somewhat. I don't mind if I don't get a wave back, everyone is different. My favorite wave is the one given by new riders, its usually quite high and very demonstrative.

I always nod at other 2 wheelers regardless.
For years, when riding my CBR600 I had a morning nod from a guy on a ZX6. When I got my XR250 and used that for work he would blank me. very strange...

A nod normally for me. (and of course stopping to help any bike that's stationary on the side of the road, if it's safe to do so).

Not in London though - every man for himself in there!

thenewcamus: Here in the Detroit area, I almost always salute (the custom here is to extend your left arm out and down at about a 45 degree angle) almost all wave back except for the myriad of the too cool to wave HD's. Maybe 10 percent of them will wave to a Beemer

Same here in Norway!

Lars.

we in The Netherlands always great, left hand 45 degrees up, and when the left hand is bussy a nod with the head upwards.

here in Holland about 30 to 40 % of the daily bikers, like me, are beemers and on sunny days the other brands come out of the garage.

and as we are allowd to pass through thraffic-jams we do also great automobilists who make room for us, and whwn the hands are bussy we great them using our feet