What Are The Common Rider Hand Signals?

• Table of Contents
• 1. Left turn
• 2. Hazard left
• 3. Right turn
• 4. Hazard Right
• 5. Stop
• 6. Slow down
• 7. Speed up
• 8. Single file
• 9. Double file
• 10. Turn Signal On
• 11. Fuel
• 12. You Lead/Come Up
• 13. The 2-Finger Flip

Every motorcycle rider needs to know what the common rider hand signals are. Let’s get started with the basics!

1. Left turn

– Raise your left arm horizontal with a fully extended elbow.

2. Hazard left

– Extend your left arm at a 45-degree angle and then point towards the hazard.

3. Right turn

– Raise your left arm horizontal and bend your elbow up 90 degrees.

4. Hazard Right

– Extend your right foot and point towards hazard as best as possible.

5. Stop

– Extend your left arm at a 45-degree angle with the palm of your hand facing back.

6. Slow down

– Extend your left arm to a 45-degree angle and move your hand up and down repeatedly.

7. Speed up

– Raise your left arm up and down with your palm facing up repeatedly.

8. Single file

– Extend your left arm up with one index up. This tells everyone behind you to go into single file formation. Usually this is for safety reasons.

9. Double file

– Extend your left arm with middle & index fingers up. This tells everyone behind you to go into double file formation.

10. Turn Signal On

– Open and close your fist with fingers extended.

11. Fuel

– Extend your left arm out to the side and point towards your tank with your index finger.

12. You Lead/Come Up

– Extend your left hand out with an open palm and index finger pointing out. Swing arm from back to front signaling to rider behind you to take the lead or come up to the front.

13. The 2-Finger Flip

This is the most casual and most commonly shared wave. Just raise your index & middle finger to passing rider or extend hand out with both fingers pointing out. Of course, not every rider will wave back, this is especially true if you’re not riding the same type of bike but that is not always the case.

That’s the basic hand signals. When a fellow biker approaches, his left arm and hand tells the story. The signals are the same whether you are the you’re the leader or just part of the pack.