Hand Signals

Whether riding in a group or riding alone, hand signals are critically important to your overall safety. Using hand signals let's other people (mostly cars) around you know what you are doing. Hand signals greatly increase your visibility and overall safety. Hand signals are really important when riding in groups, because of the limited visibility of the riders behind you, but equally important when sharing the highways with distracted drivers. Hand signals give the automobile driver a little more visibility about your intensions. When riding in a group, the person behind you does not always know what's going on ahead of you, hand signals can help out in that way as well..

Certain hand signals are optional in group riding: turn signals on the bikes ahead will usually advise a rider that a turn is coming up, for example, and hand signals in a turning situation may actually add to the danger for some. However, other hand signals are extremely helpful to the rider who has no other means to communicate. The most important two hand signals are these: pointing to an obstacle in the road, warning the rider to avoid it; and pointing to the tank. Pointing to the tank- No matter what your reason, pointing to the tank on your bike, will be telling everyone that you needs to stop as soon as possible. This may be because needing fuel; to make a “potty stop”; because you are having a mechanical or equipment problem; because your co-rider is uncomfortable; because a medical problem; a crisis of confidence; or for any other reason at all. Such a signal should be relayed throughout the Group. If possible, the Lead Bike may orchestrate a stop by the whole group. If not, the affected bike can count on the Drag Bike to stop with him to try to help him. Back off - Palm of left hand shown to group, pushing motion toward rear of bike Ready to ride – “Thumbs up” high enough in air to be visible to Lead Bike Single-file formation - One finger points to the sky on top of the helmet Slow down - Left arm is held out straight, then goes up and down Smoky alert (police or emergency vehicles) -- Hand taps top of helmet several times Speed up or close ranks in formation - Left arm makes “windmill” sign Staggered formation - First finger and little finger point to the sky on top of the helmet, also known as the “Hook ‘em, Horns” sign. U-turn - Left hand makes circle in air over head