Leg signals?

[...]

Another newbie question:

I heard from a friend that moving your right leg indicates another bike (who knows the leg thing) to pass you.

So another friend and I are barreling down the A20 as fast as our 125's will allow, and a sporty bike came steaming up behind us on a single lane section, so we moved over in lane slightly. He passed us quickly, but each time he passed us he'd wave his left leg. Does this mean anything at all or am I nuts?


I will accept the "You and your mate are idiots, it doesn't mean anything" explanation.

[Derivative]

I have always thought of "leg wave" as a thankyou for letting me through/hello, didn't know there was a distinction really.

[Dazbo666]

I've read about the leg wave being used in a similar way to the biker nod, as an acknowledgement / thanks - more often in mainland Europe AFAIK
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[N cee thirty]

maybe he had cramp

usually when i let faster bikes past they lift there left hand and do a jesture kinda thing
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[pinkyfloyd]

[locked]

never heard or seen a leg wave before
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on the look out for my next bike....
CBT Passed - 13/09/09 Theroy Passed - 19/12/09 Mod 1 Passed 04/05/10 Mod 2 Passed 14/05/10 - Free to ride ANYTHING!
Motorcycles are perfectly safe as long as you remember they're dangerous.

[621andy]

Common in France. Usually a gesture of thanks.
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'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)

[Acemastr]

I wave my leg out to people if i can't lift my hand, of they are passing on the right side, just a 'Hello'.

Or if i'm filtering and can't lift my hand to thank someone for moving i dip my leg out, no idea if they see it but it's the thought that counts :p
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[c_dug]

Same here, I do the leg as a thanks

If I'm filtering or riding spiritedly I would rather have both hands on the bars, tend to filter a little faster than I should so it's good to have full control

Do the Left hand as a "hi" if I pass somebody or the Right if they pass me and I spotted them coming in my mirrors.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Inkognito]

I do the leg wave if i pass another bike.
If i pass a car i try to use my left hand instead as i'm not sure they would understand why i'm sticking my leg out at them

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Filtering...and i use the occasional leg wave.
Have sometimes gestured to faster bikes to overtake by showing abit of leg.


Pat
Has nice legs
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[c_dug]

If people catch me up (assuming it's not because I am stuck behind somebody else ) I will pull into a gap and wave them past.

A pet hate of mine is when people don't let me past if I catch them up when filtering, I can understand maybe for a mile or so if you don't spot me, but seriously, through 6 miles of traffic if you do not spot me in your mirrors once you have an issue!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^Oh Yes.
Whilst doing the M1/M6 a few days ago saw the traffic backing up. (bikers dream ) was making good progress inbetween the 2nd and 3rd lane. Spied a 650GS....would he temporarily join the slow moving traffic so i was on my way...
No. He/she dithered until i found a gap around the 3rd lane (which i hate doing)
I felt like nudging him.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[...]

Thanks for the replies, I feel kinda bad for spamming the place with so many questions

[chris-red]

[Dave McCool]

I fairly often stick my left foot out as a way of thanking someone for letting me past.

I prefer using my hand, in an underarm motion, because this is probably clearer, and reasonably easier, but as mentioned above, if the riding is a bit spirited then my hands stay on the bars! Full throttle in second over bumpy roads is not a one handed job.
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McGee - "When I go to the mall and see all the high school girls, I have to have DO NOT TOUCH THE GIRLS written on my hand. Every time I go to grope I see it and stop."
K7 GSXR750

[Tig]

thanks to the OP for the question and to those who've answered, I've never heard of it before but I will be looking it out for it and using it from now on

If it wasn't for dipping into this forum from time to time I wouldn't have had a clue about this - is there any other biker sign language I need to be aware of?? (Apart from the absolutely obvious universal gestures I mean???!)
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YB100, XS250, GPZ305, VT500, XJ900, XV535, XL125, a scratched up ZZR600 :-S

[mrjonesybop]

I've never seen or heard of that, I'll have to give it a go!

Nodding to all bikers and a mini-salute to other GS riders is my way of doing things.

Cheers for posting this!

[Derivative]

[calyx]

My uncle uses his legs instead of indicators. And he's been doing this for the last 40 years.
Yes, he is still alive
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Boris - London

[NexusDragon]

Yep, seen a good bit of leg mostly on the M25 during rush hour. I see it as being a thank you for letting another biker past.

There are times during rush hour where the traffic will start moving again so I'll find a gap to slip in to rather than filtering. Normally I wont filter if traffic is moving at more than 40-45mph on the motorway. If theres another bike coming up behind me I'll move over and give them a wave so they can pass, thats when I get a bit of leg from them.
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DAS Passed 19th April 08. 07' YBR125 > Yamaha FZ6 S2 '08 > 1998 YZF600R ThunderCat

[Notj7]

I've always been told a leg out is what cruiser riders do to each other (not to be confused with leg over).
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Left the forum.

[That_Hornet]

I show a bit of leg, just inset through my dad really, pillion with him for 8 years gives you some habits.

Leg out, wave, nod is hello
Wave, leg out is thankyou
Wave of the arm up and down is slow down.

[...]

[ajbsmirnoff]

Leg wave, hand wave, nods, thumbs up, winks. This biking malarkey is turning into a hokey-cokey danced by a tourettes sufferer.



Yesterday a chap flicked the rods (stuck 2 finger up) at me, I giggled all the way to work.