Motorcycles have been around for quite a long time. If you've ever witnessed two bikers pass each other on the road, you may have caught a glimpse of them pointing downward. You wouldn't be blamed if you tried to see what exactly they were pointing at, to see nothing at all. So, it begs the question...
Why do bikers point to the ground?
It seems it all started sometime around the year 1904. The creators of Harley Davidson, Arthur Davidson and William Harley, were cruising along, passed each other and waved. As the years went on, more motorcyclists adopted this wave and it became a popular trend that still continues to this day.
The "wave" (similar to the Jeep Wave) is literally what it sounds like. A wave. It's a way to acknowledge another biker to say hello and I see you have the same interests or passions that I do.
Over time, with many bikers losing their lives while riding, more meaning was added to this wave. With two fingers pointing down meaning "Keep 2 wheels on the ground"or "Be Safe".
Motorcyclists have been seen making other signals, like shaking a leg or tapping their head. While there are many explanations as to why they do these things, there are a couple common ones.
Shaking a leg. Sometimes bikers shake a leg to alert other bikers of upcoming debris on that side of the road. However, sometimes it's just because they're adjusting their um... package... because straddling a vibrating engine for miles can get a bit uncomfortable after a while.
Tapping their head. If you see a biker tap his head, you may want to check your headlights. He might be trying to tell you that you have your high beams on. This can also mean there's a cop ahead.
Have you seen a motorcyclist do any of these things?
J&S FixQuik Auto | Mobile Auto Repair | Aurora, IL
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