The terrifying origin of the biker salute, the "V" with the fingers

What does the popular V-shaped biker salute mean? Where does it come from? His story will surprise you.

If you’re bikerSurely you have done it or have ever had it done to you. If you’re not, you’ve probably seen it on the road, and maybe you don’t know what it means. We talk about the classic biker greetingconsisting of form the letter V with the index and middle fingers.

Many people believe that it is the V for victory, but it has nothing to do with it. Our colleague Mario Herráez, from AutoBild, has investigated the origin of the famous biker salute.

A trip to the 14th century

Apparently this hand sign has more than 600 years old. It dates back to the Hundred Years War, which like the Fantastic Week of El Corte Inglés, did not last what it says. It lasted from 1337 to 1453.

In this war, the french soldiers they committed an atrocity with the british soldiers that they captured: they cut off their index and middle fingers. The reason was that so They could no longer wield a sword, nor shoot a bow..

But the British turned this mutilation into a symbol of resistance and insult to the French. When they saw one, they showed him their index and middle fingers making a V, a kind of challenge to his enemies.

With the passage of time the v sign became a greeting between the comrades who had participated in the wara symbol of resistance.

And what does this story have to do with bikers?

During World War II, the allied motorized units were used for carry messages, provisions, and packages between barracks, or entrenched troops. It was a dangerous job, because the enemy knew they were transporting something important, and if he sighted a motorcycle, he was a priority target.

These motorized units They recovered the V-shaped saluteagain as resistance symbol. The motorcycle soldiers used it among themselves when they crossed paths, or greeted each other in the canteen, or in the barracks.

since then this salute with the fingers making a V was associated with the bikers, where it has not lost its meaning. Riding a motorcycle is still dangerous, due to falls and accidents, and in addition to a greeting, it is also a symbol of resistance, camaraderie and the wish of good luck.