The Acknowledgement – The Wave

The motorcyclist wave, also known as the biker wave, is a gesture used by motorcyclists to acknowledge and show camaraderie with other riders while engaging in a mutually satisfactory and necessary activity. It is a courteous and sometimes awkward or inconvenient way of saying ‘hello’ and expressing community among fellow motorcyclists. It is a two or three wheeled ‘Namaste’, the traditional Hindu salutation used by yogis meant to bring about a sense of oneness.

The motorcycle wave is not just a greeting. It’s a universal language among riders that has evolved over time. It may have originated in1904 when Arthur Davidson and William Harley, the founders of Harley-Davidson, greeted each other on their motorcycles. This tradition has since become a part of some motorcycle cultures, with riders using various gestures such as a nod, a pointed finger, or a palm-out V sign to acknowledge each other and a reminder to keep both wheels on the road.

It should be noted that not all riders are ‘in’ or ‘down’ with the wave. Certain biker groups or gangs or crotch rocketeers are typically too cool or tough to wave. Some riders are unable to wave because their wave hand is carefully placed on their left thigh to show how cool and chill they are. They are exclusive unto themselves. They are the ‘Wild Ones’, that owe no courtesy to anyone but their own kind.

The wave is a way for motorcyclists to connect and show mutual respect on the road. It is often used to indicate that a rider is aware of another’s presence and to express a sense of community and mutual support. However, it’s important to note that the wave is not always reciprocated. There are situations where it may not be appropriate or safe to wave, such as when riding in heavy traffic a single track trail or at high speeds. There are also times when total focus with both hands on the bars are essential such as more technical, twisty mountain roads or challenging wind and weather. Safety and survival take precedent over courtesy and coolness. I sometimes think that the wave is an acknowledgement that the rider has survived or is surviving their ride. Do you wave at other bikers who are a median and three lanes across? Hopefully not. You’d probably be a ‘NOOB’. And don’t feel guilty or offended if you miss a wave one way or another. The other rider may be focusing and hopefully not too lost in thought to know what’s going on around them.

In some parts of the world, the wave is more common than in others. It is widely practiced in North America, while it is less common in some European countries like Germany or Communist Canuckistan. It’s best to do your research before travelling on two wheels instead of four in other countries. Two fingers pointed down might mean something else entirely and could get you into trouble. In Quebec, Canada it might mean, ‘I speak English and I fart in your general direction’ or ‘Your mother spells of elderberries and scented dryer sheets’. I remember scootering on The Cooke Islands and thinking the upward nods from other riders meant ‘piss off bloody tourist’. I haven’t seen it but apparently some riders in the UK or France may also use a ‘leg shake’ when passing another motorcyclist or while attempting becoming an organ donor by lane splitting. This gesture is seen as safer than a hand wave. In Australia, a nod is more common than a wave…but from the other, wrong side of the road.

Overall, the motorcycle wave is a symbol of the bond between motorcyclists and a way to show mutual respect on the road. It is a gesture that carries significant meaning within motorcycle culture. Perhaps more importantly, the wave is acknowledgement that we, as a group, are engaging in an activity or ritual that requires awareness and survival skills not practiced by cocooned or distracted four wheeled motorists or those operating heavier and larger transport trucks operated by the illiterate, illegal and unqualified.

Even when I happen to be moving about on four wheels instead of two and come upon a motorcyclist coming at me, I don’t always resist the automatic wave, knowing that the rider probably won’t see it but will be totally aware of the four wheeled vehicle coming at him. At these times, I am part of another community, a potential threat.

Oh hey! Hi there!

And if they don’t wave back, well fkuc em. : )