Throwing The Sign Of Brotherhood

I took an excerpt from a journal I kept during my ride to Sturgis 67, regarding "The Sign":

An hour or so later we stop in Moorecroft to fuel up again. This is about the time we started to see masses of motorcycles. When you buy a motorcycle, you unknowingly also inherit a culture, or brotherhood, depending on the type of bike you buy. It is an unwritten code of honor and sign of respect to wave at riders passing by. I have found that the bikers with the true rider spirit will throw you this sign as they ride by no matter what style of bike they have.
This sign has many variations, as it should. Here are some of the signs I encountered: There is the traditional "Spasm", the "High 5", the "Low 5", the "Queen", the "Hang-Loose", the "Rotten Crotch Dip", the "Bucket Tip", the "You Da' Man", the "Peace Sign", the "Soul Power" and my favorite, the "Defiance". These appear to be the standard set. Yes, I also encountered the “Love Eagle”.

(Click on the pict to read the text. I should have used a bigger font.)

The "Love Eagle" is a dangerous show of respect and not intended for the inexperienced rider. This wave is only to be attempted by highly trained professionals, or those who just don’t care for the world any longer. The “Love Eagle” is extending the middle finger, or “flipping the bird”. Normally, this gesture, results in some angry and violent responses, however, done properly, it can express the highest admiration. The secret is all in the facial expression and follow up. You have to be smiling as if you’re having the best time of your life, anything less results in disaster. While you are flying it, make sure its high in the air with your arm completely extended straight up, not in front of you and not off to the side. Immediately follow up with an open hand wave to the side, or a fist in the air. Most of the salty road dogs will get a kick out of this, don’t try it on the weekend warriors, they have dangerous insecurities.

I, myself, would never use this method, nor will I ever try. My facial expression would never allow me to pull off this feat. The rider who gave me the love eagle was an old school biker and looked like he only got off his hog to fuel up and eat. He had a huge smile from ear to ear and missing some teeth. (Evidence that he failed a few attempts at throwing the “Love Eagle” with proper technique and finesse) I know he executed it properly because it didn’t produce any animosity in me, just laughter and a quiet “right on” that I uttered through my smirking lips. Come to think of it, the only man I know who might possibly be able to pull off a “Love Eagle” with success would be Wolf. I am not saying he would, but I believe he possesses the skill for this feat.

There is a point where throwing the sign of brotherhood is inappropriate. Depending on the size of the rally, there is a zone surrounding the rally point where it is ok to turn off the show of solidarity. I have come up with a formula: N / 5k = r (This is simply the number of bikes in attendance divided by 5000, which give the radius in miles that sign throwing is to be discouraged.) I have noticed that riders who have trailer their bikes to the event ignore this formula. Sturgis or Bike Week creates at least a 100 mile radius that surrounds the event where it is preferred you stop this display of respect and brotherly love. You show your respect by not forcing the other riders to suffer from RSTD (repetitive sign throwing disorder). Symptoms of RSTD are: Desire to break the arm off of a fellow rider, Inability to make time for the operation of your clutch lever, the horrifying realization that your left arm has just become useless appendage that now resembles a limp noodle, and finally, the uncontrollable urge to throw the "Love Eagle" (minus the love part).

Well, I'm off to drum up some work! I wish I could snap pictures of the sights that are trapped in my head. You will have to settle for this sketch that I managed to render, using my limited memory, of the dude who threw me the love.

So now brothers, before I hop on my Glide, I throw you a "Love Eagle" with the upmost respect and admiration.