I rarely get a return or even a nod. I can’t imagine motorcycle riders in the UK would use it for anything else as its meaning is as clear and prevalent as the one-fingered salute in the US. eesh, it looks like i ripped that from an encyclopedia of hand gestures…. A two-finger salute to another motorcyclist, meaning “Hail, fellow, well met!” or “Peace!”, is a palm-outward raising of the hand with the middle and index fingers raised. The different ways that humans communicate with one another are plentiful, but the wave gesture is one of the … Incidentally, I was in the carpool lane yesterday when a cage driver started pulling into me. The Peace Sign Motorcycle Wave. 2 – Did not notice you ](www.geocities.com/rachanadasnew/ historical.html). This way you keep hold of the clutch and handlebars, but still wave at your fellow biker. I've Moved to a New Channel! Nowadays, showing two fingers with the palm of your hand towards you is known as the "Two finger salute" or " the forks" in Australia. Is Riding a Motorcycle More Difficult for Left Handers? Theory Two: The wave was used as recognition of military service between bikers. Among all of the possible hand gestures that can be misinterpreted around the world, the chin flick may be the least confusing. 'round here (South Carolina) most bikers just hold a hand, palm down out to the left. The last thing you want to do in a curve is take your hand off the handlebar and risk losing control of the motorcycle. The wave is suppose to be a discrete and not goofy or over the top. So to all you crazy bikers around the world, I’m throwing my wave atcha! I first want to make sure I state that this post is based on my personal opinions that I have made from owning an 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650. The infamous middle finger is one of the most offensive hand gestures out there. What do motorcyclist hand signals mean? The “moving fingers around in a scraggly fashion” wave. link to Is Riding a Motorcycle More Difficult for Left Handers? 10 Middle Finger. There are a few different versions of the wave that we will get into that later in this article. As I said, I only give “twos up” to cage drivers. You stick your left hand (Clutch side) out about 45 degrees below your handle bars and stick out your index and middle finger. what does the 2 finger wave at a 45 degree angle mean for bikers? Stay safe on the roads.” There is a bit more to it, but that is the basic gist of it. Personally, I use the two finger wave - no particular reason. 1st guy: Hand with two fingers = two riders behind me. There’s a mystery behind a biker’s appearance and the secret language they use that makes us all curious. finger wave definition in English dictionary, finger wave meaning, synonyms, see also 'finger bowl',finger buffet',finger painting',finger post'. Below is a few reasons why you may not receive a wave. some would say they are sending a traditional “Peace” sign to other riders, but whether is a 2 finger wave or a traditional 5 finger wave or just a finger in the air - it is an act of camaraderie among fellow bikers. Or was he sending a personal message to the cameraman? The Two Fingers Wave When you’re on the road and you pass another Harley-Davidson, you will notice they will often flash you the two-finger wave; much like the peace sign, only upside down. The sign did not mean any of these when it originated in ancient Greece. is that the forefinger and pinkie finger up?? All the women on the backs without turning around gave me the forefinger/pinkie signal as they passed me, and some of the solo riders too. So, whenever I noticed that the story did not mention the meaning of that particular wave. It really is just a simple way of saying hello to someone who has the same passion as you, when it comes to two wheels. So if you have a habit of flicking your chin while you talk, don't sweat it too much. 3 – Heading into a curve / avoiding something in the road 2nd guy: Hand with one finger = one rider behind. If you are in a country that drives on the left side of the road, you would not really be able to wave. Have you ever noticed when to motorcycles pass each other on the road they give each other a “wave”? I wave at everybody, if they don’t wave back I just assume that they’re busy shifting. It is very similar to how Jeep owners have their own wave as they pass each other on the road. The two-finger wave is a hand signal that motorcycle riders use to acknowledge another rider when passing them in the opposite or same direction. The peace sign as we all know extends the index and middle finger to form a "V" or "peace." The ones you mention are just friendly greetings, sharing the road with a brother biker. A Harley rider waved at you?? No wonder those guys are always running into each other. So I have some questions for you other MotoDopers. Finally, what do you mean by it? This salute is used by the Polish Armed Forces, other uniformed services, and, in some countries, the Cub Scouts Forefinger and pinkie extended is a sign that someone is putting the “horns” on you. You stick your left hand (Clutch side) out about 45 degrees below your handle bars and stick out your index and middle finger. I thought that meant “Shaka” (“Hang loose, Brah!”). The V-salute, which became the peace sign in the 60’s, was created in Europe during WWII. The short answer is, No, A person being left handed should not affect your ability to... Is a Honda Nighthawk a Good Starter / Beginner’s Motorcycle? Fig. it is a wave. 2. Not a problem – they might be staring ahead at some boneheaded thing a car driver’s doing. Which reminds me: I’ve always wondered about Winston Churchill in the famous newsreel footage where he’s displaying “V for Victory” back of the hand toward the camera. “Peace”? I always wave, if I can. The Biker Wave is actually really simple to do. is that the forefinger and pinkie finger up?? Was he really signing “Victory!”? Most bikers, in my experience, will ignore you if you try to wave at them like a normal wave would look. Popular culture also describes the meaning of the "V" sign meaning "up yours", and is commonly accompanied by the verbalization of this sentence when wanting to insult someone even further. 1. In the UK a two-finger wave using index and middle finger, displaying the back of the hand and thrusting upwards means “eff off”. Anyway, my husband and I ALWAYS wave, no matter what the person is riding. Later on this wave became very popular with Harley and Indian riders and the wave has continued on to this day. If you are interested in what Motorcycle and gear I own, you can check it all out on the Bike and Gear page! Same sign with the thumb stuck out horizontally means “I love you.”. can be accompanied by growling ‘metallllllll!’ in your most hardcore voice. The two finger wave/salute to me just makes it personal, at least on my part. A wave is a nonverbal communication gesture that consists of the movement of the hand and/or entire arm that people commonly use to greet each other, but it can also be used to say goodbye, acknowledge another's presence, call for silence, or deny someone. Secondly, do you use the two-finger wave? Around these parts the forefinger and pinkie finger up is the “Hook 'em Horns” sign of the U. of Texas Longhorns. Trikes sometimes do this as well, but they stick out three fingers instead of two. If you do not have two tires on the ground, it usually means you crashed. He’s definitely displaying the “V” sign with the back of the hand forward. ", is a palm-outward raising of the hand with the middle and index fingers raised. 3. No big credentials but I’ve ridden more than 100K miles on heavy weight bikes. - http://youtube.com/MotonosityX Ever notice motorcycle riders wave to each other, or done it yourself? The Peace Sign motorcycle wave (also a favorite amongst UPS drivers) uses your left hand pointed towards the road at an angle. **. It is believed that this was seen by other people and those people thought it is what bikers do. :embarrassed: Johnny- I’ve had Harley riders wave to me on my SCOOTER! Never wave at people in cars except for kids (when they’ve got that, “Ooooh!” look on their faces). To me it says “Hey- Having fun on this beautiful day? A “two-finger salute” to a cage driver is more of a thrusting upward motion accompanied by a couple of flips, and the back of the hand is displayed as much as possible. A type of wavy hairstyle achieved by using the fingers and a comb on damp hair. Staying safe and kind is the most important part of riding. But that’s just because I’m really cute, I think. If the other rider does not return the wave, do not be offended. After reading this article you will be able to do the “Biker Wave” and what it means. Perhaps it meant something different to them. “Hello, two-wheeled brother (or sister)”? I'm 15 and i have a bike license and whenever I am ridding by other bikers they give me the 2 finger wave and i don't really know what it means but i just go along with it what does that wave mean? It can mean anything from f—k you to f—k off, go f—k yourself, and shove it up your a—. The signifigance of the "wave" is acknowlegement of another rider. In a situation like this (Or if you really want to wave at a biker while shifting) you keep your hand on the handlebar, but just extend your two fingers. All the women on the backs without turning around gave me the forefinger/pinkie signal as they passed me, and some of the solo riders too. Motorcycle: What does the two-finger wave mean to you. The Peace Sign can be done in a number of ways, correctly and seriously wrong. Why do bikers wave to each other? I also do have experience riding the 250 and 750 models of... Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). 1 – Changing Gears Who woulda thunk one finger could make such a difference…. When you go out into the real world and start doing the biker wave to your fellow motorcyclists, you will feel like you are awesome. But just to say it again, DO NOT try to wave at another biker if it does not feel safe to do so! Nothing is more evident to this fact than the “Biker’s Wave/Salute”. A “two-finger salute” to a cage driver is more of a thrusting upward motion accompanied by a couple of flips, and the back of the hand is displayed as much as possible. Something else? A "two-finger salute" to a cage driver is more of a thrusting upward motion accompanied by a couple of flips, and the back of the hand is displayed as much as possible. A two-finger salute to another motorcyclist, meaning “Hail, fellow, well met!” or “Peace!”, is a palm-outward raising of the hand with the middle and index fingers raised. If you're an expert or a budding motorcycle rider, it's no surprise that you've heard of the rider's wave. Remember, back in 1904 there was not many motorcycles on the road and not a lot of bikers. You do not want to wave at someone if it will put you (or the other rider) at risk of injury. You will almost always see two bikers acknowledge each other when they cross each other in different directions. There are plenty of reasons why the other rider did not do it. Same sign with the thumb stuck out horizontally means “I love you.”, I’ve noticed a decidedly different response from folks since I changed from the one finger wave to the two finger wave. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS). I use, and usually get, the two finger. Leave a Comment. ), but didn’t make any gestures. 4 – Checking his mirrors Didn’t do them much good against Arkansas yesterday though. I gunned the engine to get away (I love the R1! *Originally posted by The Big Cheese * In most cases the other rider will also give you the wave in return. If so, I was riding my bicycle on a country road, putting in some heavy miles when about a dozen Harleys came flying by me. because you would have to let go of your throttle. finger wave 1. Nice ride! **2-fingers?? If you want a quick answer to what it is, We can sum it up quickly. What are you giving me a finger wave for, I didn't even say anything insulting! The reason we use two fingers is because we are saying to keep two tires on the ground. Yesterday a Harley rider waved back! Just know that there will be some occasions when you will not get a return wave or you will miss a wave. While, when the same gesture is shown to a four-wheeled driver by a motorcyclist, it means that the biker is saying ‘Thank You!’ So whenever you cross paths with a motorcyclist, raise your hand to greet him with a two-finger biker wave. It is a safer way which will be more appropriate for those types of situations. *Originally posted by Johnny L.A. * Or was he sending a personal message to the cameraman? I couldn’t even guess what it means, maybe it’s a gang sign! the act itself is known as ‘throwing the horns’. I know I do when I do it to this day. Whether you’ve seen touring, adventure, or race motorcyclists in the street; it’s almost impossible not to turn your head when they pass you. As a person who has been a left hander his whole life, I feel very qualified to help answer this question. The Biker Wave is a way for motorcyclists to acknowledge each other as they pass each other on the road. I and other motorcyclists display the “peace sign” palm-forward, not back of the hand forward. They always get a kick out of that:). Enrich … Fig. It should be noted that there are just some people who do not like to wave at any other brand of motorcycle except for the brand they are riding. Was he really signing “Victory!”? It makes you look like you do not know what you’re doing or making fun of the other rider. A classic variation of the finger positioning is to throw a peace sign (duce) or a thumbs up. Although there are many waving flourishes that have taken hold over time, the long standing signature biker wave is a variation of two fingers … This stems from back in the days when a motorcycle was not such a common site on the road. It was pretty cool, assuming it was a good thing and not meaning ‘get off our road, spandex-boy!’. It is just like doing the peace sign. 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