Biker Hand Gestures

Two fingers down by my left side usually does the trick. I either get that back or nothing at all. Even got a BMW rider to wave back!

 

Only two groups of riders won't wave in Oregon... Harley riders (most, not all) and scooter riders. Otherwise, its either an open left hand out and slightly down on the road, or a head nod at an intersection.
Cheers

 

Here in the south east almost everyone no matter the make of the bike gives a left hand down open,closed,one finger or two or even a nod. The one we always apreciate is the pat on the top of the helmet which means cops ahead so that we can act normal. :}

 

I'm new to riding and the only time I don't return a wave is if I need my hand for the clutch, or I didn't see the other rider. When I do wave, I wave back what was waved first. Whole hand gets a hand, two fingers down, likewise. If I need both hands on the bars, then I at least try to give a head nod.

Be safe all.

 

I am replying to this thread and resurrecting it since it may be helpful to other new riders. I've been riding for less than a month, took the Basic Riders Safety Course, which did not go over riding etiquette. I have found riders to be very generous and easy going. I have other riders wave every day I ride to work. I couldn't understand why folks would wave low, therefore the search for an answer. I would typically wave back or nod, depending how confident I was at the time (still getting comfortable with the bike).

 

AWave low is pretty much because that's where there is a lot less wind resistance for the arm

 

Thanks for the insight, Hogfiddles. There is a lot I have to learn about the culture of riders.

 

Actually, isn't it a low wave because otherwise you'd look like you were indicating a right turn using hand signals?

 

No, a left arm held parallel to the ground with the forearm held up vertical ( sort of like a left-hand version of a swearing-in) is the sign for a right turn. I just use my turn signals for that, though...

The 'low wave' is more like pointing at either the other riders toes, or pointing at your own kickstand, etc....

 

A parallel arm and vertical forearm is the correct way of making a right-turn signal, but you know no one is doing it that properly (if they do it at all). The layman's "right" looks just like the newbie's "hello."

 

Nobody around my area uses hand signals for turning.....

 

Nobody around here uses turn signals for turning, mainly cagers in nice SUVs.

 

Honestly, the only person I've ever seen do it was my buddy who is both a lawyer for the county courthouse and an Eagle Scout. He was in an SUV at the time, hauling a small trail that had no working lights.

 

I have used hand signals in a car/truck a few times when towing something without good working lights, or when I have had crappy lights on an old car. And I do think the strait-out arm, or classic hand-up wave can be construed as a turn, making it the reason for the low wave.

 

I don't use hand signals, but I am rather retentive when it comes to using my vehicle signals, as well as the bike signals. I'm more than happy to let people cut in if they signal.

 

Saw a guy on a chopper with ape hangers doing hand signals (no turn signals on his bike) near Fleet Farm in Wausau. . .
I actually did a double take and watched him make two turns using hand signals for both . . . I even pointed it out to my wife. It was an anomoly to see.

 

He was probably using hand signals to get blood back in his arms.

 

I was following a couple on one of those Polaris 3 wheeled ski-doo thingies down a winding road next to the big river. They would wave at any biker rolling in the opposite direction. Most would wave back, but the dudes on HDs would not. I saw several ignore them. So here's my question : do you do the biker salute if it's a summer ski -doo? I don't think it helped that the girl on the back was taking a selfie video

 

SLINGSHOT! You don't know how bad I want one.

Wait, on the back? Oh, Can-am Spyder? I'm less excited for one of those.

 

Those slingshots are really cool. I'd love one, but I'm not paying that kind of money. I'll wail til they're 30 years old, then grab some for a couple hundred bucks.

I wave to all of them.... Bikes, trikes, scooters, can-ams, even harleys.... But that wave often changes

 

I will wave to any bike or trike or motorized scooter but never an e-bike.

 

Just searched that Slingshot thing. Looks pretty cool. Kinda like T-rex, but is it a bike? The one i was following was one like a ski doo. Like getting a ticket to the Biker Club without paying the dues. Passenger was taking a selfie video. No bike skills required.

 

It's a 3-wheel thing, along the idea of the Can-Am Spyder..... Much more angular, though, and side-by-seats. Kind of like crossing a Spyder with the Batmobile..... Lol

 

I don't wave at anything on 3 wheels that have two in the front, for me they are not bikes and they never were, except if the guy on it wave at me first, then I wave back. I'm a bit picky.

 

There's this guy on my street with a kinda trike kit for his bike. But it still has the back wheel, so more like training wheels! It has four wheels. I was like "Dood, it's a car." He was pretty pissed.

 

If you only put one wheel in the front of a trike what you end up with is an instability machine

I wave at everyone, cuz I'm friendly like that.

 

I get pretty tired of it. I'm soo friggin lazy!

 

The way I see it, trikes and Can-Ams are the worst part of cars combined with the worst part of motorcycles, and none of the fun of either.

But I'll still wave to you.

 

Sounds like my dad's ride! But I wave at those guys, too, because I stopped to help a guy once with a kit like that... turned out he was missing a leg which is why he had the training wheels.

 

Casual hand with one or two fingers out to the side, can quickly switch to one finger salute if needed
Usually the only time I see , or use hand signal is when riding in large groups (15 or more)
Here's what seems to be a fairly 'offical' illustration of hand signals..




But this one is more real-world user friendly





And there's always this....



LOL

 

In reality there are two waves.

The two finger wave; "peace bro"

And the one finger wave.....