amazing, I thought you guys would have told him the truth! There is a secret signal, but I cant share it with you until the secret society has checked you out and you have passed the back ground check. watch your mail, you will notified when clearance is given.

There are also 6 different types of waves:
The Crossing Guard Wave: This is the open palmed, arm bent at the elbow, fingers pointed straight up wave much like you saw in the Dawn Holmes picture above. This wave can also be mistaken as a right turn signal by the traffic behind them.

The Stop Traffic Wave: This is the arm straight out to your side, open palm facing forward like you used to do out of the back window of your Dad's 57 Ford Fairlane. This wave can also be confused as the slow down sign for trouble ahead.

The 1 or 2 Finger Wave: One of the most popular waves. This is the arm fully extended down to your side at a 45% angle with 1 or 2 fingers pointing to the ground. A perfect example of this wave is in the picture linked above. Although, this is really not a good wave to a guy riding a Harley. He probably thinks you are telling him some parts just fell off.

The 4 Finger Wave: This is done by leaving your left hand on the handlebar but unwrapping four fingers and pointing them straight out. You will usually see this from the Return Wave Only rider. Comes back to that lack of motivation with the whole waving process.

The Prom Queen Wave: This is with the left arm fully elevated and hand moving side to side like you actually know the person you are waving at. This is a rare wave but can usually be seen coming from the passenger on a Gold Wing.

The Nod: This is a relatively new response in lieu of a bona fide wave. This is usually executed by the rider that is not sure where he fits in. Not quite a First Waver but not really a Non Waver. He is looking for his own identity in the waving community.

Very good RoadieFF and never ever wave at a one armed paper hanger riding a motorcycle, its rude.

The Nod: This is a relatively new response in lieu of a bona fide wave. This is usually executed by the rider that is not sure where he fits in. Not quite a First Waver but not really a Non Waver. He is looking for his own identity in the waving community.

Not to be confused with the PEZ
With a Nod you tip your head forward
With a PEZ you tip your head back like your waiting for candy to shoot out of your neck

Moondog

javawave wrote:
amazing, I thought you guys would have told him the truth! There is a secret signal, but I cant share it with you until the secret society has checked you out and you have passed the back ground check. watch your mail, you will notified when clearance is given.

I've been waiting for 6 months JW. Maybe it's not comin'?

PapaTom wrote:
javawave wrote:
amazing, I thought you guys would have told him the truth! There is a secret signal, but I cant share it with you until the secret society has checked you out and you have passed the back ground check. watch your mail, you will notified when clearance is given.

I've been waiting for 6 months JW. Maybe it's not comin'?

Ahhhh...errr. I didnt want to say anything in public Tom, but your back ground check.......

I've always thought of it as a way of saying hello , and I'm glad you're out on yours too. I nod at stops if I have my clutch pulled in and can't put my hand out. But then , I never really know where I fit in anyway.... BB

Just try to avoid... (Too enthusiastic)
Or, ... (Too authoritative...)
Especially avoid... or .... They'll think you're wierd...

But, these are ok though....... ... and .... ...but only if you have a Mohawk...

I figured it to be a gesture of recognition. That's why I do it. I never thought that there were any secret meanings. I'm just not the type to do something I know nothing about usually.
Like an above poster mentioned the 2 fingers down being a good luck gesture. I would hate to unknowingly make a "bad" luck gesture or something.
I got one the other day with the index finger touching the thumb and the last three fingers extended down. I didn't know if I should be offended by that one or honored.. j/k
Illstate

Way back in the dark ages that time before fuel injection, when only bad guys rode, the 70's we would give a passing biker the thumbs up wave as a sign of brotherhood of the open road. There were not as many of us then. That has now morphed into a left hand 2 low wave, 2 fingers extended slightly and the arm out low so as not to catch too much wind. Of course do not smile, the bugs you know, and act cool you are a biker after all and there is nothing cooler than that