If you’ve ever been on the road near a motorcyclist you may have noticed that they often wave at other bikers as they pass by. This kind of friendly greeting has been a biker’s tradition in many parts of the world for decades, stretching back to the first world war era.

What does the wave mean- is it a secret code, some kind of gang sign, or just a friendly ‘good to see you’ thing? Is it impolite to ignore a wave? And do I, the author of this blog, wave at other bikers?

Origins

The origins of the biker’s wave are somewhat vague. Some attribute it to a common greeting passed between William Harley and Arthur Davidson as they passed each other on their bikes in 1904. Motorcycles were uncommon at the time, so the actions the founders of one of the early motorcycle companies carried extra weight.

It is also considered true that American soldiers coming back from service in World War II often waved the “V for Victory” sign at each other as they travelled on their bikes. The late 1940s and early 1950s was the era when the practice was truly popularized, regardless of the true inspiration for the act itself.

Why?

Bikers do not generally wave at cars and would likely be confused if a car occupant waved at them. But it is quite common for motorcyclists to exchange such gestures: so common in fact that, on a typical ride, I’ll share such a wave several times.

I am sure that every biker who waves at other bikers or who chooses not to has their own reasoning. But the general rationale as I perceive it comes down to a sense of community that bikers have established around the hardships and joys that motorcycle adventure brings.

Every biker, regardless of brand preference or style of riding, is exposed to greater discomforts and risks than the driver of a car. We feel the weather first hand as rain, hail, or sleet strike us directly. A piece of flying debris that would bounce off a car or truck could seriously injure or kill a biker. A collision that would just be a simple insurance claim for a car driver could be life ending for those of us who ride our motorcycles at highway speeds. Tragedy can follow when a motorcycle strikes an animal as small as a gopher or a patch of oil left by a leaking vehicle. Small potholes and asphalt ridges can make simply coming to a stop a test of strength and fortitude for a motorcyclist.

Bikers ’embrace’ these challenges in some fashion as the cost of some kind of joy that riding the bike brings us. That is what makes motorcyclists feel connected: a quick wave of acknowledgement for that shared passion despite the risk seems completely natural.

Styles of wave

A simple wave of the hand is all it takes to acknowledge another oncoming biker. But of course there are numerous ways this can be done, and every rider will have their preferred style. The ‘core’ meaning of every wave style is a friendly recognition of camaraderie without any deeper intent. Generally all waves are made with the ‘inside’ hand closest to the oncoming rider.

• The Queen’s handwave: an upright hand perhaps moving slightly side to side. Very royal…
• V up high: a typical ‘V for victory’ AKA ‘peace’ sign made with the index and middle fingers.
• V down low: somewhat unique to motorcyclists. Just point the ‘V’ of your index and middle fingers towards the ground. Some say this indicates “V-twin” (a common cruiser motorcycle configuration) or ‘keep two wheels on the road’ safety greeting
• Finger flick: the hand doesn’t come off the bars: just raise a few fingers are raised from the grips. I’ve mostly seen this from folks riding sport bikes
• The nod: not a wave at all, rather a nod of the head. I’ve observed this most commonly when the bikers are at a stop, when it is generally not practical to lift the inside (clutch) hand from the grips

To wave or not to wave

Whether to wave or not when encountering other bikers is in general an entirely personal choice. If you decide that sharing a friendly wave is something you want to do, then your primary concern when doing so should be safety.

When not to wave

If you’ve decided you are going to be waving at fellow bikers that is great! But never wave if doing so compromises your safety. Here are some good times to maybe forgo the friendly hand gesture:

• when navigating a corner: waving while cornering may not be wise in many circumstances. If it is a long predictable sweeper or you know the corner well it may be fine to wave. But generally corners on a motorcycle require more concentration and control which makes them a good time to keep both hands on the bars
• in stop and go traffic: you need your clutch when the traffic is heavy and pausing frequently. And traffic is unpredictable
• when dealing with road obstacles: Keep both hands where they belong if you are dealing with potholes, tar ‘snakes’ (patches), or debris.
• across a divided highway: There is not really anything unsafe about waving across a divided highway. But often the wave goes unseen in such a circumstance, and that momentary distraction is not really worth the effort.

Some people set their own ‘rules’ for waving. For example, they may only wave at people riding the same brand or type of motorcycle. I prefer not to walk that path of exclusion.

I generally wave at all oncoming bikers: I like the sense of camaraderie and recognition it reflects. It doesn’t matter to me if the bike is a sport bike, a cruiser, or some kind of three wheeled motorcycle. If the riders are exposed to the elements, the motorized vehicle has fewer than four wheels, and they are riding on the road instead of the sidewalk (like a scooter) then they get a wave if it is safe to do so.

I prefer the ‘V down low’ hand gesture, and it feels nice to get reciprocal recognition of any kind. However I don’t judge other riders if they seemingly ignore me: they may be busy with the road, or simply not notice me. Or they might dislike the whole idea of a friendly biker wave: some people are like that, and that’s their choice.

References

The biker’s wave has been talked about online quite a bit. I found a few articles were helpful when thinking about this common practice, and you may wish to read them to find other details and opinions.

• https://us.saint.cc/blogs/journal/motorcycle-wave
• https://www.reddit.com/r/NewRiders/comments/c8rb6r/what_is_a_motorcycle_wave_just_got_a_bike_been/
• https://discover.hubpages.com/autos/MotorcycleEtiquetteHowNotToWaveLikeADork
• https://canadamotoguide.com/2019/09/04/opinion-to-wave-or-not-to-wave/
• https://www.pirelli.com/global/en-ww/road/motorcycles/tips/wave-the-greeting-between-motorcyclists-it-is-about-to-turn-120-how-was-it-born-62594/