What is That Sign That Bikers Make to Each Other?

Question

When two motorcyclist go by each other, they make some sort of sign with their hand down. What is it, what does it mean, and why do they do it?

Answer 1

Two finger Peace sign, just saying hello to a fellow biker; a "biker thing". Kind of a brotherhood between us no matter what each person rides.  

Answer 2

The pointing down biker wave means, "Keep the rubber side down." It's a constant reminder to ride safe, plus an acknowledgement of a fellow rider, in most cases no matter what brand of bike he/she chooses to ride. Just the fact that you ride a bike, rather than driving a cage, will get you that much, anyway...K ;o)

Answer 3

It's a wave or a peace sign. It's an acknowledgment of each others presence. More people should see bikes.

Answer 4

As already stated, it's just an acknowledgment of a fellow rider.  

Answer 5

First their are a lot of signs if the biker taps his helmet it means their is a cop a head if he waves or gives you the piece sign its just saying hello to a fellow rider if he places his arm strait down he is telling the person behind him he is stopping or slowing down and hand exteded to the left turning left and if his arm is at a 90 degree angle with his hand up he is turning right  

Answer 6

well, i can't answer this question any better. everyone else seemed to sum it up pretty well. I am extremely new to biking. Have only had my gsxr750 for about 2 months now and before i began riding, my cousins told me that i will see things (on the road) entirely different. You will have respect for other riders when you see them and you'll make friends quick just based on your interest in motorcycles. When people started waving or throwin peace signs at me, I just did it right back and caught on after two times. Just a way of saying hi.. having respect for on another.  

Answer 7

it means "YOU'RE BUYING THE BEER" they usually keep on riding though....sigh

Answer 8

That's from the medieval ages when knights on horseback acknowledged each other. It survived through the wild west, though not really by tradition, just as an acknowledgment when two people rode by each other out in the middle of nowhere. People don't do that in cars probably because they're all closed up and also they're all over the place.

I've been riding for 5 years and I've never seen any kind of retarded peace sign these guys are talking about, but I know what you mean with the hand down and out.

Answer 9

This used to mean "watch out something on road" but with so many Citizens now riding that do not know the customs of road riding it is now being used as a form of greeting.

When I started riding there were three forms of acknowledgment----Nod of the head, Military Salute and a up raised right fist (this was a copy of the Black Panther salute but was adopted by many of the anti-establishment bikers as well esp in the Western States and Provinces) This was before the influx of Posers when ABATE was AMERICAN BIKERS AGAINST TOTALITARIAN ENACTMENTS and not the watered down PC active toward education c**p.

Answer 10

It's an acknowledgment of a fellow rider.  There's no specific hand signal, unless you are in a specific club.