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Motorcycling greetings

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A motorcycle passenger using a V sign
A group ride

Motorcycling greetings can include several gestures made between motorcyclists on the road. Titles for this greeting include "Biker wave", "Motorcyclist wave", "Motorcycle wave" or just "The Wave."[1][2] The greeting made can include a number of gestures including a nod, a pointed finger, palm-out V sign,[3] palm-in fingers-down V sign,[4] or an actual raised-hand wave.[2][5]

Warnings

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Motorcyclists may use specialized hand signals to both greet and warn oncoming riders:

  • Circling raised finger — police ahead[6]
  • Patting helmet — check your lights[3][7] or police ahead[8][9]

Regional differences

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The use of specific gestures may be culturally or regionally dependent. French riders will stick their foot out when overtaking another motorcycle, and while lane splitting when a car facilitates it.[10]

Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ Pat Parziale (August 24, 2011), "Analyzing the Motorcycle Wave", Motorcycle Classics, retrieved 2013-07-23
  2. 1 2 Basem Wasef. "Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lo Long Term Update #2 — Did I Just Join a Secret Club?". About.com Motorcycles. About.com. Retrieved 2013-07-23. "The Wave" is like a secret handshake among motorcyclists, a way of acknowledging like-minded two-wheeled travelers ... Most riders distinguish each other with a simple hand movement, a tip of the forefinger, or a nod of the head.
  3. 1 2 Hough, David L. (2003), More Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (2nd ed.), Irvine, California: BowTie Press, page 41, "Hand signals—Hello, fellow motorcyclist", ISBN 1-931993-03-3
  4. ↑ Motorcyclists point two fingers down, why?, Riderz Planet, September 19, 2019, retrieved April 15, 2023
  5. ↑ Hahn, Pat; Brasfield, Evans (2005), How to ride a motorcycle: a rider's guide to strategy, safety, and skill development, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, p. 132, ISBN 0-7603-2114-0, retrieved 2013-07-23, This is the motorbike wave. It comes in many forms ... gloved-palm flashback, gotcha-pointed finger, howdy-peace sign, rock-and-roll devil fingers, down-low wrist-flipper...
  6. ↑ Blaine Kamp (1990), Motorcycle Sign Language, p. 37, ISBN 1560020725
  7. ↑ Team riding manual (PDF), Gold Wing Road Riders Association, 1995, p. 14, retrieved 2013-07-23
  8. ↑ Group riding guidelines, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Downed Bikers Association, 2013, retrieved 2013-07-23
  9. ↑ Paul Thompson (October 10, 1993). "safe group riding". Newsgroup: rec.motorcycles. Usenet: 29a9tq$lpg@apple.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013. Tap top of helmet, or hand on helmet - cop nearby (This signal is designed to be both noticeable and undecipherable by the cop)
  10. ↑ How to ride a motorcycle in France, Bennetts, 2018, accessed 2019-01-18
  11. Mike Seate (August 2009), "Biker Friendly Salute - Permanent Waves", Motorcyclist, retrieved 2013-07-23
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "Seate" is not used in the content (see the help page).
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