Hand signals

I was just wondering if this is a California thing.
You're riding along and each oncoming rider throws his hand out pointing down at an angle with 2 fingers extended like an inverted peace sign.
So on a really nice day there can be so many riders throwing out the signal that you almost dread seeing any riders at all because you just have to respond in kind to the hand signal.
I generally just kinda lift my fingers on my left hand without taking it off the handle bars.
I've been riding my Nortons for 35 + years, the last 3 it's been down but just got back into them this year, and never noticed the hand thing before.
So, is this a Cali thing or is it international?

We have it here in Wisconsin, it's a rider thing. Kind of annoying.

When I wave to other bikers I have used the two fingers lifted from the bar, and other times I use the flopped out left arm like you describe. However, now that I think about it I am more likely to use the flopped out left arm if it is a string of bikes coming the other way, I guess its just a big lazy wave.

GB
on the east coast

The lifted fingers from the handgrip like the old days is out. Now it is total hand removal and 45 degree arm extension to be cool. I found that nobody waves back with the old method. On good riding days around here you really get worn out waving. Then there is the too cool to wave guys...

Kinda like the South Park episode with the hybrid cars.
I hate it when I mistakenly wave to a scooter. Who in the hell do that think they are?

It seems to disapate during a stretch of good weather but when the riders come out on a rare good weather day it gets a little annoying.

Sometime I think it's just power play to show how tough you are that your arm doesn't blow back at 80 mph.

There are a few that I've seen that seem to be universal. If you pass someone stopped at the side of the road you give them a thumbs up. They give you a thumbs up if all is well, thumbs down if they need help. If someone coming they other way pats their helmet it means 'heads up'. Also pointing at their eyes. It means there's something going on ahead, usually a speedtrap. The ZZ Top smooth sailing horizontal is self-explanatory. I've had Harley riders flip me off when I wave, but that was when I was on the Honda.

http://www.viewfromthecloud.com/2006/08 ... tings.html

I guess I have reluctanty fallen into the "too cool to wave" group. Not intentionally, I just prefer to ride and enjoy my bike without having to decide whether I want to wave or use my clutch. And since I don't show up at Safeway on Saturday to join in the group ride to the end of the road I probably have a bad rep!
But since I have one of the only bikes in town to shift on the right, I might be able to explain it off as needing to concentrate.
Russ

I love it, lift left hand to all bikers!

Russ, this obviously doesn't apply to you. When Harley riding biker wanna be dentists don't wave back, I imagine the thought swirling around in their helmet is, "I'm not taking my hand off the handlebar to wave and crash like I did the last time!".

Harley riders can't wave......... both hands needed on bars to stay in control

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him
6. The espresso machine just finished
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite
navigation system
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard

Top Ten Reasons Why Squids Don't Wave Back

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back

10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form.”
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to iPod, XM, and talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wire from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

Top Ten Reasons Why Dual Purpose Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Off road elbow guards, chest protector, fanny pack, drink system binds them up.
9. Bark busters and gummy grips slows the hand from raising quickly.
7. Just can't take time out from doing that 10 mile wheelie through traffic.
9. He's passing street bikes off road on the right @ 60mph through the trees & rocks.
6. Too busy checking his enduro roll chart doing mental time/mile math so he wont blow the next check point.
5. Can't see other bikers through his 20 layers of tear off's.
4. The dude only recognizes Hondas with every after market race part known to man.
3. His killer 2 inch tall knobies vibrate so bad vision his obscured.
2. The chin guard on his full face helmet sticks out so much it blocks his view.
1. He's got his Mauna Kea 200 race face on and can't be bothered.

Top Ten Reasons Why Moped & Rukcus Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Scared ****less to remove a hand from the bars.
9.Never rode this fast on a two wheel anything before.
8. Full focus three inches from front tire.
7. Freaked out on the extreme right side of the road dodging broken beer bottles and car accident trash.
6. Don't want to lose their groceries in plastic bags hanging from the bar's.
5. Won't deter from the full attention military riding position.
4. Their mother & grandmother told them it was very, very dangerous.
3. Thinks it's a hoodlum stunt riding.
2. Don't want to chance getting a reckless driving ticket.
1. 25 mph is too damn fast to try something stupid like that.

Bob - I never knew about the universal signals you mentioned so thanks for new info. I was referring to the too cool defiant non-wavers - mostly 1%er type father rapers and mother stabbers. Riding Harleys with 3 foot rise on their handlebars. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

I've seen crotch rocketeers take their left hand off the grip while making a sharp low speed turn in an intersection and drag it on the road. This was not just a one time thing. Now that is impressive and scary looking. Just hope they don't hit a stone and wiggle that throttle hand too much.

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.



Ammendment to Harley riders
1. Only Harley's are cool, so only wave only to each other
2. Newer owners don't recognize that a Norton is way cool and don't wave
3. Old school Harley riders think a Norton is very cool and wave upon recognition


As far as the form of wave....I haven't really considered it important and not a fashion statement.
In the 60s VW drivers waved to each other similarly. It's a recognition of similar interest. It's harmless.

I live so far in the boonies, when we moved in (70's) everyone knew everyone else, and everyone waved at everyone, I'm talking cars here. Then the flatlanders moved in and all that pretty much stopped. I just wave at bikers if I feel like it, I tend to drive where they don't anyhow, or at least where they don't know where to go. I don't see that many M/C's where I go. Cool.

Dave
69S

In our region of Florida (west coast) everyone does the "wave"...crotch rockets, harleys, vintage: A solidarity kind of thing that's pretty cool IMO.

In my area of SO California, U.S. It seems all people on bikes lift a hand to say hi or tap there helmet to tell others about a Nazi Fu"" Cop control freak giving tickets to anyone going 5 miles over the posted limit. I don't allways wave & it's not because I think I'm "to cool because I'm on a cool old bike" but if I waved & every guy or girl on a bike Id'e feel like a flag & my left arm would be to tired to ride. Geez, so what your on a bike. Most of um are on the equivelent of a two wheeled Honda Civic or lowered Toyota. Boring... Id'e rather enjoy the beauty of the forest. No offence, just saying.

Those were some hilarious reply's. Bob, your top ten list had the wife and me busting up.
I like the other signals for warnings. Good to know.
We riders seem to be more friendlier. More apt to lend a hand even though it may just be going to the nearest phone to make a call for you cuz where you are at has no cell service.
Many just stop to check out the Norton and say they had one once. What ever the reason we all have a common bond, a yearning to be free, to ride without the day troubles following you. Going into an area with no cell coverage is like the perfect escape. Afterall, being disconnected from everything is why we ride.
Well, except for the Gold Wingers with their Blue Tooth enabled, iPod hooked up, XM listening, intercom connected, external mic wearing helmets on crowd.
Mini RV's if you ask me.
Sorry, a little disdain.

So, if giving the hand gesture is a pain or just inconvenient or something you think you are too good for or it makes you feel good, it's your choice.
Freedom, thats what it's all about. No matter what country you are from, no matter what bike you ride we are a kinda family.

I wave if waved to first. But, If it's something old, european, or something similiar to what I'm on, I'll wave or acknowledge them someway. If we have something in common. I just don't feel a connection to a lot of these people, and see no reason to wave. I always feel a lot of the Harley riders go out of their way not to wave to me, even look my way. Kinda funny. I've been riding since 1970, and I just don't get the whole "brotherhood" thing. Since the first time I threw a leg over a motorcycle, the vast majority of people want to act so superior, and make a statement of why their machine is so much better than whatever you are one. It doesn't matter the brand, or country, they just don't seem happy unless they are somehow tearing you down. I got out of Junior High in 1969, and I'm not eager to return to that state of mind.

Guido, I agree with everything you said except for the Goldwingers. They seem to suffer from some sort of mass hysteria for their gizmo's and farkles but I think we do too. They probably dance polka, ballroom, or God knows what. And you might not want to know what they're listening to on their iPods, but they do ride. I know a few of them that started on British bikes back in the day, and one guy that still has some, a lot of them.

I wave even to scooters.
Most of us except maybe the scooters are intentionally taking a greater chance of being killed (35 time that of being in a car) for the enjoyment of riding.
Its a shared experience and I acknowledge it.
If no wave back they have their reasons.

Bob