What are the best hand or other signals riding?

We all ride, and If in a group? What signals are universal for potential damage or injury? I was taught to put a foot down with an road issue. Either left or right. I have seen to many accident of more than one rider that was followed to closely by another. I know these days we have communication capabilities with head sets. But, I ride alone, and if and when I do ride with others it would be good to know a visual signage of issues if the tech (headset) fails in a close group ride at a good clip or speed!

 

I suspect there is no "official" answer to your question. However over the years bikers have developed a small vocabulary of commonly used signals.

The main ones are here -

http://www.lifford-cooke.com/motorbiking/documents/groupridingsigns.pdf

The middle sign covers hazards in the road.

Perhaps the most obvious missing signal is the "I've broken down and need help". I guess it is no surprise that Harley riders have been the first to devise their own signal - placing their helmet on the ground a few feet behind the bike. Suffice to say it rarely works in Europe as a helmet on the ground may simply be the result of it falling from the seat. So in Europe most riders needing help stand by their bike and use the aircraft handlers stop signal (arms raised and crossed above the head). That sign can not be mistaken and more often than not it means the rider needs a lift to get fuel or breakdown assistance.

SkiMad

 

Out in a group everyone rides their own ride. It's your job to keep yourself safe.

Don't ride line astern unless altering position to go round bend. Line astern reduces your views.

Don't ride side by side. Greatly reduces your manoeuvring capabilities.

Best position is on the diagonal. Give you your vision and space to alter position.

We use the drop off system. So 1 leader and a tec ( tail end Charlie)

General signals are

Boot out off peg ,hazard in road

Point to tank. Need fuel stop.

Cuppa sign, cuppa.

 

Left hand tapping on top of the head (usually for oncoming vehicles) used to mean police ahead... dunno if people still use that or not...

 

Always use that Samuel, now on coming bikes may not know what it means these days.
All great info


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Before the comm system use, the signs that are in the post by Skimad are the ones we use when riding in groups. However, with the comms, this changed quite a bit, the communication became much more verbose and has even saved a few of us from embarrassment and potential injury. When the comms either fail or batteries die, we revert back to the hand signals.

One hand signal that we added was a tap on the side of the helmet with the index finger to the ear indicating that we are getting a signal from a radar detector. This too have saved us from getting the embarrassing and costly performance award.

 

I like the last one! Tapping the tank makes sense but "pointing down" I would take as "I need to pee"! Do you stand up and point to your ass to say "I need to take a shit"?;-)

 

Yeah, I still use that. I never knew it had another meaning.

 

As far as I know tapping your helmet or thumbs down to passing bikes means police in the area


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