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]
Motorcyclists may use specialized hand signals to both greet and warn oncoming riders:
The use of specific gestures may be culturally or regionally dependent. Some observers have commented that waving is common amongst riders in North America but uncommon in some European countries, like Germany.[10][notes 1] French riders will stick their foot out when overtaking another motorcycle, and while lane splitting when a car facilitates it.[11] In Britain, vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road, and so bikers will most commonly give each other a nod, rather than releasing the throttle to wave, or waving with the clutch hand which would likely be difficult to see.[original research?]
"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.
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...
Tap top of helmet, or hand on helmet - cop nearby (This signal is designed to be both noticeable and undecipherable by the cop)
