Key points from the chart
- The chart shows 16 hand signals used in group motorcycle rides, each drawn as a rider seen from behind.
- Almost every signal uses the left arm, so the right hand can stay on the throttle. The one exception is pointing out a hazard on the right, which is done with the right foot.
- Four signals cover direction and speed (left turn, right turn, speed up, slow down), and three cover stopping (stop, comfort stop, refreshment stop).
- Others organise the group: follow me, you lead, single file, double file and pull off.
- The rest pass on warnings: hazard in the road, police ahead, a turn signal left on and the need for fuel.
Motorcycle hand signals chart in text
The chart runs in four rows of four, read left to right. The wording below follows the chart, with spelling corrected.
| # | Signal | How to make it (as described on the chart) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left turn | Arm and hand extended to the left, palm facing down. |
| 2 | Right turn | Arm out, bent at a 90 degree angle, fist clenched. |
| 3 | Stop | Arm extended straight down, palm facing back. |
| 4 | Speed up | Arm extended straight out, palm facing up, swing upward. |
| 5 | Slow down | Arm extended straight out, palm facing down, swing down to your side. |
| 6 | Follow me | Arm extended straight up from the shoulder, palm forward. |
| 7 | You lead / come | Arm extended upward at 45 degrees, palm forward, pointing with the index finger, swing in an arc from back to front. |
| 8 | Hazard in roadway | On the left, point with the left hand. On the right, point with the right foot. |
| 9 | Single file | Arm and index finger extended straight up. |
| 10 | Double file | Arm with index and middle finger extended straight up. |
| 11 | Comfort stop | Forearm extended, fist clenched, with a short up and down motion. |
| 12 | Refreshment stop | Fingers closed, thumb to mouth. |
| 13 | Turn signal on | Open and close the hand with fingers and thumb extended. |
| 14 | Pull off | Arm positioned as for a right turn, forearm swung towards the shoulder. |
| 15 | Cops ahead | Tap the top of the helmet with an open palm, facing down. |
| 16 | Fuel | Arm out to the side, pointing to the fuel tank with a finger extended. |
Why riders use hand signals
The Motorcycle Legal Foundation, which publishes this chart, says most hand signals are fairly intuitive, but new riders without training may be confused by them. It suggests agreeing the signals in a pre-ride meeting before large group rides or track days [1]. Signals also stand in when a bike’s indicator lights are damaged [1]. On its page, the stop signal should ripple back from the leader to the last rider in the group, and the speed up signal is described as most useful for less experienced groups [1].
Turn signals and the law
The left and right turn signals on this chart match the arm signals used for road vehicles in the United States. Wikipedia notes that in every country a left turn can be signalled by holding the left arm straight out, and that in the US and Canada a right turn can be signalled with the left upper arm out and the forearm pointing up [3]. The US Uniform Vehicle Code recognises this and a right arm signal [3].
The chart is drawn for traffic that drives on the right. In the UK, the Highway Code sets out arm signals for turning left, turning right and slowing down or stopping, for use when indicators are not used or to reinforce them [4]. It also tells motorcyclists to look behind before manoeuvring and to follow the routine of observation, signal, manoeuvre [5]. The group riding signals on this chart, such as single file or fuel, are informal conventions rather than legal signals.
Notes on this infographic
- Cropped title. Our copy has no title. A version posted on Reddit in 2022 has the same 16 panels under the heading “Motorcycle Hand Signals” [2].
- Stop signal. The chart says arm straight down, palm facing back. The Motorcycle Legal Foundation’s current page describes it differently, with the arm bent at 90 degrees and fingers pointing down at the road [1].
- Spelling. The chart writes “fist clinched” for the right turn and “fist clenched” for the comfort stop. Both mean a closed fist.
- Not universal. Arm signals vary between countries. Wikipedia lists different turn signals in South Africa and Denmark, for example [3].
Questions about motorcycle hand signals
What are the motorcycle hand signals?
This chart lists 16: left turn, right turn, stop, speed up, slow down, follow me, you lead, hazard in roadway, single file, double file, comfort stop, refreshment stop, turn signal on, pull off, cops ahead and fuel. Each is described in the table above.
How do you signal a right turn on a motorcycle?
With the left arm out to the side and bent up at 90 degrees, fist closed. That keeps the right hand on the throttle. In the US the same signal is used by drivers and cyclists [3].
What does it mean when a motorcyclist taps their helmet?
On this chart, tapping the top of the helmet with an open palm means police ahead. The Motorcycle Legal Foundation describes the same signal, patting the top of the helmet with the left palm [1].
What does a raised arm with two fingers mean?
Double file. An arm held straight up with the index and middle fingers extended tells the group to ride two abreast. One finger raised means single file.
Sources
- Motorcycle Legal Foundation, 16 Motorcycle Hand Signals for Group Riding.
- r/coolguides, Motorcycle Hand Signals, April 2022.
- Wikipedia, Hand signals.
- GOV.UK, The Highway Code, Signals to other road users.
- GOV.UK, The Highway Code, Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88).
Last reviewed 29 October 2026
