What is a "yaeh" among motorcyclists? A rider's greeting that divides opinion

What is a motorcycle "Yaeh!"?

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A motorcycle "Yaeh!" is the act of riders greeting each other as they pass by, typically by giving a peace sign or waving their hand.

It's a unique motorcycle greeting (communication) often seen when riders pass each other while touring. Simply put, it's the motorcycle version of a "hand greeting."

Sometimes, a "peace sign" (made with the index and middle fingers, signifying peace or luck in Japan) is given. Like the peace sign, Yaeh! is a greeting that expresses wishes for safety.

Why do riders do "Yaeh!" in the first place?

There are several reasons why riders perform Yaeh!:

A sense of solidarity and camaraderie as fellow riders
To cherish once-in-a-lifetime encounters
A cheer for fellow riders who overcome the inherent dangers of motorcycling

It's a greeting born from a desire to confirm a "sense of solidarity and camaraderie" as fellow riders, and to cherish the once-in-a-lifetime encounter, even if it's just a fleeting moment as they pass each other.

Unlike cars, motorcycles don't have a body to protect the rider, making them a more dangerous mode of transport. So, Yaeh! also carries the meaning of sending a cheer to fellow riders who overcome these dangers.

A sense of solidarity among riders, consideration for others, and a cheer for fellow riders who brave the dangers of the road are the reasons behind Yaeh!.

It also carries a wish for safe travels.

A "Yaeh!" also implies "Have a safe trip!" to passing riders, and by exchanging Yaeh!s, riders mutually wish for each other's safety.

Furthermore, riders might give a Yaeh! as a sign of welcome, like "Welcome!" to riders from other regions who visit their local area on a touring trip.

Thus, Yaeh! can have various meanings depending on who gives it, but all Yaeh!s convey positive sentiments!

History, Origin, and Etymology of Yaeh!

Yaeh! originated from a spelling mistake in a comment posted on the internet forum "2channel."

In 2003, in a thread titled "Let's peace!", someone mistakenly typed "YAEH!" instead of "YEAH!", which amused the people posting and viewing the thread.

From there, "YAEH!" began to be used within the forum and gradually spread, marking the history of "YAEH!".

There are also Yaeh! stickers.

There are also "Yaeh! stickers" (commonly known as "Yaesute") created by volunteers nationwide, which were originally distributed free of charge at offline meetings of forum members.

Eventually, their distribution expanded to include free handouts at hubs and stores nationwide where riders stop, as well as at rider cafés.

All Yaesute are intended for free distribution by volunteers, and their sale is not permitted. Therefore, please refrain from purchasing them on auction sites or similar platforms, as these are unauthorized Yaesute sold for profit.

How to do Yaeh!, manners, and precautions

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So, how exactly does one perform a Yaeh!?

We will explain how to do Yaeh!, its etiquette, and precautions to take when doing it.

How to do it

Here are some ways to do Yaeh!:

Slightly raise your left hand
Peace sign
Wave your hand
Rock sign (index finger + pinky)

The easiest ways to Yaeh! are to "slightly raise your left hand" as you pass a fellow rider, or to "give a peace sign" by holding up your index and middle fingers.

Other ways include "waving your hand" with fingers lightly extended, or giving a "rock sign" using your index and pinky fingers. The type of Yaeh! you give can show your personality.

Manners and Precautions

It would be counterproductive to cause an accident while trying to give a Yaeh! to wish for or acknowledge safe driving. Therefore, be sure to keep precautions in mind when giving a Yaeh!.

Here are some manners and precautions to observe when giving a Yaeh!:

Don't force it when it's dangerous.
Use your left hand.
Primarily for riders in the oncoming lane.
Don't worry if they don't notice.
You don't have to return it if you don't want to.

Let's look at each of these in detail.

Do not force it when it's dangerous.

Avoid giving a Yaeh! in dangerous situations that require your full attention to driving, such as when you're on a curve or when there are many small stones or fallen leaves on the road.

Even on a straight road, some roads may be wavy due to ruts, which can make it easy to lose control of the handlebars. Therefore, only give a Yaeh! when you are absolutely certain of your safety.

In dangerous situations where you need to concentrate on driving, prioritize safe driving and don't force yourself to give a Yaeh!.

Use your left hand.

When giving a Yaeh!, you should use your left hand. However, it is dangerous to do so when accelerating or decelerating, as clutch operation is required.

Also, giving a Yaeh! with your right hand prevents you from operating the throttle, increasing the risk of losing stability and falling due to sudden engine braking.

When giving a Yaeh!, always use your left hand in relatively safe locations where clutch operation is not required.

Generally limited to riders in the oncoming lane.

Giving a Yaeh! is generally done as you pass a rider in the oncoming lane, and should be limited to general roads only.

Giving a Yaeh! on highways, where more cautious driving is required, is prohibited. Even on general roads, giving a Yaeh! while riding side-by-side on a two-lane road can lead to distracted driving as your attention shifts away from what's ahead.

Give a Yaeh! only to riders in the oncoming lane on general roads, and be careful not to get distracted when doing so.

Don't worry if they don't notice.

Depending on the situation, the other rider may not notice your Yaeh! It's not very meaningful to think, "I gave a Yaeh! but they didn't return it."

The other person may not even understand the meaning of Yaeh!, so don't worry if you give one and don't get one back.

Some people might get upset if their Yaeh! isn't returned, but the other rider might have their own reasons, and there's no rule that says a Yaeh! must always be returned.

In the first place, if you're going to expect a Yaeh! back and get upset when it's not returned, it's probably better not to do Yaeh! at all.

You don't have to return it if you don't want to.

Even if someone gives you a Yaeh!, you don't have to return it if the situation makes it difficult.

Safe driving is always the top priority, and giving a Yaeh! should only be done comfortably. If it's difficult to give a Yaeh! but you still want to greet, a slight bow or nod is perfectly fine.

If giving a Yaeh! compromises your safety, prioritize safe driving and do not force yourself to do it.

Some riders don't approve of Yaeh!

Not all riders are positive about Yaeh!; some riders actually dislike it.

Many of these are people who think "taking your hand off the handlebars while riding is dangerous" or "Yaeh! is simply a bother." It's good to keep in mind that such riders exist.

There might be some fellow riders you ride with who don't approve of Yaeh! So, it's best not to urge your companions to do Yaeh! just because you do it yourself.

If a Yaeh! agreement leads to an accident, it could escalate into a major dispute over who is responsible.

Is Yaeh! illegal?

Yaeh! involves taking your left hand off the handlebars to signal to an oncoming rider while riding. But is the act of taking your hand off and signaling while riding actually illegal in the first place?

Under the Road Traffic Act, the act of briefly taking one hand off the handlebars while riding is not prohibited.

However, some police officers may interpret it as a violation of the duty of safe driving, making it subject to enforcement.

If deemed a violation of the duty of safe driving, the fine is 6,000 yen for mopeds and 7,000 yen for motorcycles, both incurring 2 penalty points.

Pros and Cons of Yaeh!

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Yaeh! draws both positive and affirmative opinions, but also negative opinions regarding safety and other aspects, leading to mixed reactions.

Let's look at the opinions of both supporters and opponents.

Opinions of Yaeh! Supporters (Positive Voices)

Here are some of the positive opinions from Yaeh! supporters:

"It creates a sense of camaraderie and unity, which makes me happy."
"It adds more enjoyment to the journey."
"It feels good as a casual greeting."
"It allows for easy communication."
"I feel happy when I pass other riders and want to cheer them on."

Among these, the most common opinions were those that expressed joy at the connection between riders, such as "It creates a sense of camaraderie and unity among riders, which makes me happy," and "It adds more enjoyment to the journey."

There are also opinions common among sociable and polite people, such as "It feels good as a casual greeting" and "It allows for easy communication."

Although a minority, there were also positive opinions from those who give Yaeh! out of a desire to support others, such as "I feel happy when I pass other riders and want to cheer them on."

It has always been a custom for riders to give peace signs or raise their hands when passing each other.

Opinions of Yaeh! Opponents (Negative Voices)

Here are some opinions from people who oppose Yaeh! or don't have a very good impression of it:

"It's dangerous and breaks my concentration."
"It's bothersome every time."
"I don't see the point in greeting someone I don't even know."
"It feels like a culture I don't want is being forced upon me."
"It's awkward if I can't return it."

Among these, the most common opinions, often from older, experienced riders, were that Yaeh! is "dangerous" and "breaks concentration," indicating a dislike for Yaeh! from a safety perspective.

There were also opinions that doing Yaeh! itself is bothersome, such as "I don't see the point in giving a Yaeh! to someone I don't even know."

Similar opinions included, "I hate feeling like something I don't want to do is being forced on me," which hints at a desire to ride motorcycles freely without being coerced by anyone.

Among those who weren't entirely negative about Yaeh!, there was also the opinion, "It's awkward if I can't return it," expressing a dislike for the atmosphere that implies Yaeh! must be returned.

Neutral Opinions on Yaeh! (Neither Pro Nor Con)

While some people are in favor of Yaeh! and others are against it, there are also those who hold a neutral stance.

"Yaeh! is neither here nor there for me, but I'll return it if I receive one."
"I don't initiate it myself."
"I don't do it, but I don't mind it either."

While some people are positive about Yaeh! and others are negative, there are also neutral individuals who aren't strongly one way or the other.

Common opinions among neutral individuals include, "Yaeh! is neither here nor there for me, but I'll return it if I receive one," and "I don't initiate it myself," indicating they will respond if someone else does it first.

There was also an indifferent opinion about Yaeh!: "I don't do Yaeh!, but I don't mind it either."

Approximately 70% of people are positive about Yaeh!

An survey found that approximately 70% of people were positive (in favor) of Yaeh! Moreover, a survey conducted by NAPS, a motorcycle accessory retailer, showed that a significant 80% were in favor.

Survey results can vary greatly depending on factors such as "what age group and gender are targeted" and "where the survey is conducted."

The survey results should only be used as a reference. Both proponents and opponents should approach Yaeh! according to their own style, feeling free to do it or not.