Motorcyclists point two fingers down, why?

While riding on the serene roads of Germany with my buddies, I noticed a biker riding on the opposite lane who raised a two finger wave to us. Some of us waved back to him but some didn’t understand what the anonymous rider actually meant. It got me thinking, how many of us are actually aware of the ‘two-finger biker wave?’ And even if some are, how many actually practice it when they see other riders?

When thinking of a ‘two-finger wave’ the first notion that comes to the mind is that: your index and middle finger are straight, touching your forehead, while the rest are folded. This is a kind of salute used by the armed forces in different parts of the world, symbolizing honour and fatherland. However, the action of ‘two-finger wave’ is different for motorcyclists, which altogether has a different meaning. Let’s find out!

Motorcyclists, while riding a bike when encountered by other bikers coming from the opposite direction, point out their index and middle finger of their left hand towards the ground. This is a way of expressing respect towards the other motorcyclist. It’s our way of saying, “Hello! Keep the rubber side down, keep both wheels on the ground”. It signifies that the rider is wishing the fellow rider to stay safe and ride safe. Though there are many mysterious talks around the traditional biker wave, but let’s leave it for some other day. Also seen are many variations of rider wave, which all interpret into different ways of wishing goodness to other riders. While, when the same gesture is shown to a four-wheeled driver by a motorcyclist, it means that the biker is saying ‘Thank You!’

So whenever you cross paths with a motorcyclist, raise your hand to greet him with a two-finger biker wave. Let’s bring the community closer.