El Paso Drivers: Watch For These Important Biker Hand Signals

El Paso drivers could benefit from knowing what these biker hand signals mean, whether they themselves ride or not.

Some are pretty well known, others may not be but they all mean something different and knowing them could possibly help avoid an accident.

One of them could even help you avoid getting a speeding ticket.

Bikers kind of have their own language and use words and phrases that non-bikers may not understand. Terms like "panhead" and "knucklehead" for example refer to types of engines.

Different types of motorcycles have nicknames too like "bobber", "chopper" and "dresser". For example, this is a "dresser", a bike loaded with creature comforts like stereo, heated seats, windshield, storage areas, etc, etc..

"Get in the wind" means go for a ride and "KSU or "kick stands up at X o'clock" means the ride or run begins at that time. "Run" or "poker run" means an organized ride for large groups of bikers, usually on behalf of a charity. Parades are also often arranged.

There's more but that will do for now, let's move on to the hand signals. You're probably familiar with the basic left turn, (left arm extended out straight), right turn, (left arm, bent up at the elbow) and stop signals. (Stop is the left arm, bent down at the elbow.)

There are others though, here's how to speak biker sign language.

Now you know so, the next time you see a biker motion toward the road with his leg or point with his hand, watch out for a hazard in the roadway.

And if you see a biker tap the top of his helmet or head with his left hand, check your speed ... there's 5 - Oh in the immediate area.