Motorcycle Views

2-Second Rule: This is the minimum spacing in seconds between moving motorcycles. While in formation, maintain a 2-second interval from the rider in front of you. Measure the time by counting "one-thousand one, one-thousand two" as you see the rider in front of you pass a sign or landmark. Stop counting when you pass the same marker. Under poor weather conditions, maintain longer intervals consistent with safety.

2-Stroke: A 2-Stroke is an engine (also known as a Stroker) having two strokes per cycle. The combustion stroke occurs when the piston moves down allowing the exhaust gases to exit through an opening. The compression stroke is the upward movement of the piston where the air-fuel mixture is drawn in and the spark plug ignites the mixture causing an explosion, thereby forcing the piston back down again. (Also Known As: Stroker, 2-Cycle)

4-Stroke: A 4-Stroke is an engine that uses four strokes to complete a complete cycle. The four strokes are: Intake, Compression, Combustion, and Exhaust. During the Intake Stroke, the intake valve opens and an air-fuel mixture enters the chamber above the piston. The piston moves down drawing the mixture in. The intake valve then closes and the piston moves up for the Compression Stroke compressing the mixture. The spark plug then ignites the mixture causing an explosion. The resulting force moves the piston down again for the Combustion Stroke. Then the exhaust valve opens as the piston moves upward for the Exhaust Stroke and all the exhaust gases are ported through the exhaust system. Also Known As: 4-Cycle.
Internal Combustion Engines
See How Stuff Works

ABATE: ABATE is a biker organization that promotes more freedom for motorcyclists by limiting restrictive laws that affect riders. ABATE has organizations in most states. The name of the organization varies from state to state. It is known by "Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education," "A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education," and "American Bikers Aimed Toward Education." There may be other variations. ABATE keeps track of what state legislatures are doing relative to motorcycling and rallies its members to support legislation in the best interests of bikers. ABATE has devoted much of its resources to helmet laws.

ABS: ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System. The system, popularized on BMW and then Honda ST1100 motorcycles, utilizes a computerized system to sense wheel lockup and then release and reapply the brakes many times per second. The result is a steady controlled braking without skidding. Most experienced riders can stop a motorcycle faster by fully utilizing the front and rear brakes with steady controlled pressure just short of a lockup. Anyone attending a motorcycle rally has probably seen the famous BMW demonstration where they flood a parking lot and then ride a BMW without ABS, but containing outriggers, through the water and make a panic stop. The result is a tipover onto the outriggers. Next, a BMW with ABS is run through the same course and this time, the ABS causes the bike to make a controlled straight line stop.

Air Cleaner: An Air Cleaner is a filtering device with a replaceable cartridge (air filter) that filters the incoming air to the fuel system on the motorcycle engine.

Airhead: Airhead refers to the air-cooled engines of early BMW motorcycles.

AMA: American Motorcyclist Association - 260,000 motorcyclist members

Americade: Touring Rally held in the first full week of June at Lake George, NY

AMF: AMF stands for American Machine and Foundry which is a well known company that once owned Harley-Davidson from 1969-1981.

Ape Hangers: If you remember the motorcycles in the movie Easy Rider, you may also remember that the riders held onto handlebars that were above their shoulders. The position of the rider is almost like an ape hanging from a tree, hence the term, Ape Hangers.

Arenacross: Arenacross is a variant of Supercross performed inside athletic arenas. These shows are promoted by large companies and attract large audiences and TV coverage. The jumps are more spectacular and closer to the audience.

Arlen Ness: Motorcycle customizing owes much to the talents of Arlen Ness. He started out in 1967 by customizing his own Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. It won first place in the first custom show he entered. Soon he was doing custom bikes for a long line of customers and continued to win awards living by the slogan, "Always innovate, never imitate." His latest creation is the Arlen Ness Signature Series for Victory motorcycles. Check out the Arlen Ness Web site.

Automatics: Riders of motorcycles are used to shifting gears and using a clutch. However, some new riders would like to do away with shifting and clutching since they may have become used to automatic transmissions in cars. They often ask if they can buy an Automatic motorcycle. Well, in the early '80s, Honda made an Automatic. They called it the Hondamatic. These days, most scooters come with automatic transmissions as well as a few motorcycles such as the Boss Hoss and the Ridley. You still can't get an automatic on a Honda Gold Wing even though it seems to have just about everything else.

Bagger: A Bagger is a motorcycle that is fitted with Saddlebags to allow the rider to carry items for a trip. Many start riding with no particular way to carry anything of any size. Some will resort to strapping on luggage to a Sissy Bar or by means of a Bungee Cord. Others go for saddlebags. The term may also apply to any Touring Bike.

Balaclava: A Balaclava is a thin pull-over head and neck cover with eye slits for winter usage under a motorcycle helmet. Pronunciation: Bal-A-Clav'-A • (noun)

Basketcase: A Basketcase is a pile of parts usually bought as a whole and supposedly from a single bike model. Basketcases are bought especially by motorcycle restorers to help finish out a restoration.

Battery: A Battery is an electrical storage device that forms the central core of a motorcycle's electrical system. Most modern batteries are 12 volts. Many riders use trickle chargers to maintain their battery. Batteries may require periodic servicing but many are maintenance-free. When a battery fails on the road, the rider may want to jump-start the battery. It's probably a good idea to replace a battery every two years.

Beanie: A beanie, also called a shortie, is a small motorcycle helmet that sits on the top of the head providing less protection than other helmets. Some beanies are not made to safety standards and used mainly for show.

Beater: Beginning riders should not attempt to buy a new motorcycle as their first bike. Almost always, a new rider will take a spill or two on their first motorcycle and cause some physical damage. It's better if they have an old bike that they can learn on and won't cost much to fix. Such a bike is often referred to as a Beater. The term may come from the same source that produced the beat-up car.

Beemer: A term used for a BMW motorcycle. A bimmer is the corresponding term used for a BMW automobile. Read my BMW and a Quiz Too for more information about the history of BMW motorcycles.

Belt Drive: Belt Drive is a method to transmit power from the transmission to the rear wheel of the motorcycle using a belt. The belt requires practically no maintenance. Harley-Davidson has used Belt-Drive systems on most of its motorcycles in recent years.

Bike Blessing: Since motorcycling is an activity involving risk, it is sometimes prudent to bless these machines and their riders before a group ride. These are called Bike Blessings or a Blessing of the Bikes. Bike Blessings are informal religious ceremonies conducted by ministers, priests, rabbis, and other religious authorities. Some Bike Blessings involve thousands of bikes. Others may involve only a few bikes. Bike Blessings were performed one-bike-at-a-time, upon request, at the BuRP Rally held in Maggie Valley, NC. The BuRP rally is organized and run by members of various motorcycle forums including the Motorcycle Views Forum. Here's an example of the words that might be used at a Bike Blessing.

Biker: A Biker is one who rides a bike or motorcycle. The term Biker brings up different images to different people. Biker has an edge to it that speaks to a lifestyle. The term Motorcyclist is used interchangeably at times but Motorcyclist doesn't seem to have the same edge. A lifestyle change may not be as pronounced as with the term Biker.

Blue Knights: The Blue Knights® is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles.

BMW: BMW is a brand of motorcycle. BMWs were first made in 1923 with the R32 boxer. If you mention BMW to most non-riders, you will almost always hear, "I didn't know BMW made motorcycles." Actually, they made motorcycles before they made cars. Check out my BMW and a Quiz Too to learn more about BMW motorcycles and take a quiz too.

Bottom End: Bottom End refers to the bottom portion of a motorcycle engine including the crankshaft, connecting rods and bearings, primary chain, cam sprockets, seals, and other components that support delivering the power to the transmission and rear wheel of the machine.

Boxer: Refers to the BMW R-Series engine that has two horizontally opposed cylinders.

Bungee Cord: Bungee cords or nets are used to secure cargo to a bike. There are U-shaped hooks at the ends of the cords that fasten around various parts of the bike as anchors.

BuRP Rally: The BuRP Rally is a motorcycle rally founded by members of various motorcycle forums. BuRP stands for Blue Ridge Parkway and You. The rally was first held in 2002, basically as a ride by forum members. In subsequent years, the rally has been based in Maggie Valley, NC and includes rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Deal's Gap, and other scenic roads. The organizers of the BuRP rally are on the Motorcycle Views Forum.

Cafe Racer: A Cafe Racer is a style of bike popularized in London in the '50s where bikers wanted a fast, personalized and distinctive bike to travel from cafe to cafe. Many Cafe Racer bikes have distinctive small low-cut fairings.

Cage: An automobile. On a motorcycle you are exposed to the environment and nature. You're free. In a car you are isolated, enclosed, and separated from the environment and nature. It's as if you are locked in a cage.

Caliper: A Caliper is the non-rotating portion of the motorcycle disc brake that contains the hydraulic components including the brake pads. The Caliper is positioned on both sides of the Rotor such that as the brakes are applied, the brake pads are pressed against both sides of the Rotor, thereby stopping the motorcycle.

Camshaft: A Camshaft is a shaft containing lobes (also called cams) which is synchronized with the crankshaft. Its function is to rotate and open and close the valves in the engine. Camshafts may be located on top of the heads of the engine (SOHC or DOHC) or near the crankshaft. When the camshaft is located near the crankshaft, its rotation causes its lobes to press on pushrods which extend to the top of the engine and connect to rocker arms which then open and close the valves. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are heavy users of the pushrod method of valve operation. How Stuff Works explains Camshafts and uses animated models.

CB: The Citizen's Band (CB) radio craze in automobiles has long since died but CBs are still used to communicate especially by motorcyclists. Most heavyweight touring motorcycles are equipped with CBs today. CBs have 40 channels and a range of several miles under good conditions. They are used in tour groups at major rallies to maintain motorcycle-to-motorcycle communications.

CC: CC refers to the cubic centimeters of displacement of an engine. Usually written, for example, as 1200cc. Total engine displacement is the volume displaced by a piston in a cylinder during a single stroke, multiplied by the number of cylinders.

Centerstand: A Centerstand is a stand mounted under the motorcycle with a spring return. When the Centerstand is extended to the ground, it holds the motorcycle vertical with the rear wheel just off the ground. Such a stand is useful for leveling the bike and spinning the rear wheel to lub the chain (if used). It also makes a nice platform if you want to park your bike at the curb at a rally and watch all the other bikes go by. Not all motorcycles have centerstands but do have sidestands.

Chain Drive: A Chain Drive is a method to transmit power from the transmission to the rear wheel of the motorcycle using a chain. The chain is much like that on a bicycle requiring periodic lubrication -- a messy job.

Chaps: Most motorcycle riders like to have some protection on their legs while riding. A pair of leather chaps does the trick. Chaps usually have snaps near the ankles and a zipper down the legs. They're pulled around the waist like a belt and fastened. The backside is open.

Choke: The Choke is a device that restricts the air intake to result in a richer fuel mixture which assists in starting the engine. Most motorcycles have knobs or levers to pull out to decrease the air intake. After the engine has warmed up, the choke may be pushed back in. Warm motorcycle engines normally do not require choking to restart.

Chopper: A cruiser style bike that has a lot of the pieces of the bike "chopped off." The riders of the '60s did everything they could to customize their bikes and make them go faster. Thus, much of the existing bikes they bought were chopped off. The bikes in the movie Easy Rider are examples of choppers. Here is my Motorcycle Choppers Gallery

CI: CI refers to the Cubic Inches of displacement of an engine. Usually written, for example, as 80ci. Total engine displacement is the volume displaced by a piston in a cylinder during a single stroke, multiplied by the number of cylinders.

Clip-ons: Clip-Ons are special handlebars that clamp on. They provide a lower, more forward riding position. The forward shifting of the weight of the rider often results in better handling of the bike.

Clutch - Dry: A Dry Clutch is more like the clutch found on an automobile that separates the engine from the transmission. There is a dry connection between the engine and transmission. See also Wet Clutch.

Clutch - Wet: A Wet Clutch is one that contains many plates that are in the oil spray of the transmission and the oil gets between the plates. The plates on wet clutches have a tendency to stick together when the bike sits. So, when you start the bike in the morning, before you put it in first gear to move off, depress the clutch lever for about 30 seconds to allow the oil on the plates to drain off and the plates to separate. Otherwise, you'll get a decided clunk and slight movement forward when you put it in first. See also Dry Clutch.

Colors: Many bikers / motorcyclists join motorcycle clubs. Usually these clubs have distinctive jackets. Also, clubs will issue club patches to display on the jackets. These patches and sometimes the jacket design itself are known as Colors. In certain motorcycle clubs there may be disputes over territory and the wording and arrangement of the various elements of the Colors. You may hear that certain establishments don't want any Colors displayed by bikers so that such disputes will not occur. The subject of Colors is a complex one and subject to considerable debate on motorcycle forums.

Compression Ratio: Here's a definition from Motorcycle Views forum moderator, Bill Wood:

"Think of Compression Ratio this way: When the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder, say you could pour 100cc of water into the spark plug hole (both valves closed) and it would be full. When the piston is at the top of its stroke, you can only pour 10cc of water into the hole to fill it. The compression ratio would be 100 to 10 or 10 to 1. That's about as easy to understand as I can make it. Oops, forgot to say -- Higher compression ratios (in general) will let the engine make more power, require higher octane gas and be harder for the starter to turn over."

Contact Patch: The Contact Patch (CP) is the area on the ground where your motorcycle tire actually touches the road surface. This area can be very small and highlights the fact that there isn't much actual contact between your bike and the road.

Co-Rider: Motorcyclist riding on the back of a motorcycle behind the rider. The co-rider is an active participant and assists the rider during certain maneuvers. Could also be someone riding in a sidecar. See also Pillion.

Countersteer: A motorcycle turns left/right by slightly pushing the left/right handlebar. Push left, go left. Push right, go right. This is called countersteering.

Crash Bar: Many motorcycles have a Crash Bar or guard to protect the bike should it fall over. You'll have to look carefully on some bikes to see them and not all bikes are so equipped. Some models hide the protectors behind plastic covers. Look for extended areas on the bike where the guards may be hiding. For Newbies, a Crash Bar may be the only thing standing in the way of an expensive repair job that could cost you hundreds of dollars because of a simple tipover.

Crotch Rocket: A term some people use to describe a high-performance sportbike motorcycle. If you want to know more about the real world of sportbikes and forget about the commonly used term, Crotch Rocket, check out a good sportbike forum. These forums allow you to converse with real sportbike riders and racers. We also don't encourage new riders to buy sportbikes as their first bike. It's better to buy a cheap bike to learn on. A new sportbike is fast, touchy, and doesn't have much margin for error. It also costs a lot to repair when you tip it over while you're learning to ride.

Cruiser: The modern version of the Chopper with small gas tank, large rear tire, and feet forward seating and stylish appearance accounts for about 33 percent of all sales.

Custom Motorcycles: For many motorcyclists, the choices provided by the motorcycle manufacturers do not provide enough variety to match the personalities of the riders. For this reason, many customize their motorcycles or hire customizers to do the work for them. Many of these custom motorcycles are entered in shows and win prizes. Motorcycle Customs can easily cost twice the selling price of the original bike.

Daytona: The famous Daytona Bike Week held in late February to early March.

Desmodromic: Desmodromic has to do with valve control in the engine. With desmodromic control, no return springs are used and the engine relies on compression to seat the valves. This is a design used previously by Mercedes and others but became an integral part of the Ducati motorcycle engine. It allowed for much higher rpm and horsepower and immediately proved itself in racing. See the book, Ducati, for illustrations of the Desmo valve control system and a description of its operating principles.

Dirt Bike: Some motorcycles are designed to be ridden on rough terrain. They are known as Dirt Bikes or trail bikes. Dirt bikes will typically have suspension with more travel than a street bike, higher ground clearance, and a small (less than 500cc) engine. Related to dirt bikes are dual-sport bikes which are street-legal versions of dirt bikes with more suspension travel than a standard bike but having all the other equipment usually found on street bikes.

Disc Brake: A Disc Brake consists of both a rotating portion called the Rotor and a stationary portion called the Caliper. The Rotor is attached to the wheel of the motorcycle. The Caliper assembly parts work against the Rotor to apply pressure to it thereby stopping the wheel from turning. It's difficult to say precisely when the components of a disc brake should be replaced since so much depends on how the motorcyclist uses the brakes.

Displacement: Displacement is the volume displaced in the cylinders of an engine as the pistons move from their bottom position to their highest position in the cylinders. Displacement is measured in either cubic centimeters (CC) or cubic inches (CI).

DOHC: DOHC stands for Double OverHead Camshaft. In a DOHC engine, each head of the engine has two overhead camshafts to operate the valves for that head. This is done so that multiple valves per cylinder can be opened and closed by the camshaft.

DOT Helmet Rating: The Department of Transportation (DOT) rates motorcycle helmets. The rating is based on dropping the helmet containing a simulated head from a height of 10 feet. The "head" must receive no more than 400 Gs over a prescribed dwell time. See Bill Stermer's book, Motorcycle Touring and Travel for more information. This book is available in the Motorcycles Bookstore.

Drag Bars: Drag Bars are distinctive custom handlebars that are relatively straight and require a slight forward leaning to reach. The look is great but some complain about difficult low-speed handling. You may need long arms to have a successful experience using Drag Bars.

Dresser: Normally a large fully equipped motorcycle with fairing, saddlebags, and a trunk.

Drum Brake: A Drum Brake is the older style of motorcycle brake. Most bikes use disc brakes these days. Drum brakes work by forcing brake shoes against the inside of a rotating drum that is part of the wheel. Many motorcycle trikes use drum brakes for rear brakes.

Dual-Sport: Dual-Sport refers to a street-legal motorcycle that is designed to also be used in off-road situations. Thus if one were planning a trip to South America, it might be wise to ride a dual-sport bike to be ready for any road conditions.

Easy Rider: The famous motorcycle movie, released in 1969, starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson

EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) is a fuel delivery mechanism that eliminates the need for a carburetor. A computerized control system accounts for elevation changes and delivers the necessary information to the EFI system to change the air-to-fuel mixture to achieve optimal fuel economy and engine performance.

Electrics: Many motorcyclists ride in all kinds of weather conditions. Thus, riding is not just for fair weather. Some motorcyclists ride when it gets cold and sometimes regular apparel just isn't enough to keep warm. That's when riders use electric apparel referred to as Electrics. Most start with electric vests, then electric gloves and then electric pants or suits. Some even go for electric socks. These electric apparel contain heating elements and are usually controlled by thermostats connected to the motorcycle's battery.

Enduro: According to the rules of the AMA, "An Enduro is a meet in which speed is not the determining factor and a time schedule must be maintained. It takes place on a variety of terrain, little-used roads and trails, etc." Enduros can be as long as 60-100 miles and require considerable skill and endurance to complete.

Engine Guards: Many motorcycles have Engine Guards to protect the bike should it fall over. These are billed as Engine Guards but sometimes they are referred to as Crash Bars. We don't want to emphasize crashing a motorcycle since that is not a desired result and proper training should minimize the possibility of any crash.

You'll have to look carefully on some bikes to see the engine guards and not all bikes are so equipped. Some models hide the protectors behind plastic covers. Look for extended areas on the bike where the guards may be hiding. For Newbies, an Engine Guard may be the only thing standing in the way of an expensive repair job that could cost you hundreds of dollars because of a simple tipover.

Enrichener: The Enrichener injects an extra amount of fuel to assist in starting the motorcycle. If the throttle is opened, the function of the enrichener is defeated. The effect of the enrichener is to provide extra fuel to assist starting. This is similar to the function of the choke but the choke only restricts air intake (which has the effect of making the mixture more rich in fuel). The enrichener has been used by BMW and Harley-Davidson. Most motorcycles have knobs or levers to pull out to decrease the air intake for chokes or increase the fuel intake for enricheners. After the engine has warmed up, the enrichener may be pushed back in.

Evolution: Evolution is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine used from 1984-1999, sometimes called the EVO. The engine is a 45 degree V-Twin displacing 80ci/1340cc. Check out the Harley-Davidson site to see pictures of their engines.

E-ZPass: Motorcyclists have always had a problem at toll plazas. They have to slow down, push up their face shields, stop, shift into neutral (sometimes even put the sidestand down and kill the engine because neutral couldn't be found), remove their gloves, search for their toll ticket and change, hand to the toll taker, receive change, put their gloves back on, (possibly retract the sidestand and restart the bike), shift to first, and move off.

Well, many highway authorities are using electronic toll collection methods to speed traffic through toll plazas and that has become pure pleasure for riders of motorcycles. The names of these computerized systems vary depending on where you are. In the East, the system used is called E-ZPass. This system covers most of the major toll roads in NJ, DE, PA, NY, MA, WV, and MD.

Just sign-up and receive a small flat tag for your windshield. Pass through the E-ZPass toll plaza at low speed and the system reads your E-ZPass tag and subtracts money out of your account to pay the toll.

Some E-ZPass toll plazas are designed to allow high-speed traffic so you can ride your bike at near speed-limit rates through the lane. These lanes are identified as express lanes at the outside edges of the toll plaza complex with no barriers on the sides of the lane.

If you have such a system near you and you use the toll roads a lot, get signed up and then you can concentrate on riding and not stopping.

Fairing: An enclosure on the front of the motorcycle containing the windshield and affording wind protection to the rider. Can be attached to the frame and not move or be attached to the fork and move as the handlebars are turned.

Fat Boy®: Harley-Davidson released a motorcycle in 1990 based on the FLST Heritage Softail. They called it the FLSTF or Fat Boy. It is immediately recognized by its solid cast disc front wheel.

FIM: FIM, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the world-wide motorcycle sanctioning body based in Geneva, Switzerland. The AMA is the sole U.S affiliate to the FIM. The FIM is comprised of nearly 70 national organizations (called Federations) from countries around the world. The FIM establishes and enforces racing rules and calendars for all types of international competition, ranging from motocross and road racing to trials and enduros.

Flathead: Flathead is a type of engine where the valves are located in the side of the engine. The head of the engine is flat with just a place for the spark plug.

Flat Twin: Flat Twin is an engine configuration where two cylinders lie flat, horizontally opposed. The BMW Boxer engine is the prime example.

Foot Pegs: Foot Pegs are pegs wide enough to support the foot while riding a motorcycle. They may be mounted directly under the rider or placed forward in the cruiser style. Sometimes, floorboards are used in the place of Foot Pegs.

Forward Controls: The foot pegs, rear foot brake pedal, and gear shift on a motorcycle can be located either pretty much straight down from the rider or positioned more to the front of the bike. In a forward position, the controls are referred to as Forward Controls. You might want to check out this explanation of the use of forward foot controls.

Full-Face Helmet: A Full-Face Helmet surrounds the head with protection on the top, sides, back, front, and chin areas. There is a lift-up face shield and usually ventilation ports. Peripheral vision must meet standards so you will be able to see to the side. This helmet is harder to get used to and harder to put on especially if you wear glasses. It does, however, afford the best protection for your head and face should you find yourself sliding across the pavement face down.

Geezer Glide: Geezer Glide is a term used by some old Harley riders to lovingly refer to the Harley full dress (dresser) touring bikes or baggers.

Get-Off: Sometimes a rider gets into a situation where the motorcycle becomes unstable either because of an impending accident or sudden maneuver and the bike and rider part company. This is called a Get-Off.

Gold Wing: Gold Wing is a Honda motorcycle model first introduced in 1975. It's a touring motorcycle suitable for luxurious two-up touring. Many Gold Wing owners belong to the GWRRA. Here is my 29 Years of Honda Gold Wing picture gallery

GPS: These days, motorcyclists want to equip their motorcycles with all the latest electronic gadgets. One of the most useful is a GPS (Global Positioning System). This tiny unit attaches to the handlebars and guides you from any point on the earth's surface to any other point giving you turn by turn instructions based on signals it receives from a set of 24 satellites that are orbiting the earth. Here's an article about how a GPS can be fitted to a motorcycle. It's my motorcycle, a 2000 Honda Gold Wing trike, and the GPS is a Garmin 2610 that I use both in my car and on my trike.

GWRRA: GWRRA stands for the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. This group headquartered in Phoenix, AZ has over 75,000 members worldwide. Members of the GWRRA mainly ride Honda Gold Wing and Honda Valkyrie motorcycles.

Hack: A Hack is another term for a sidecar. Also called a chair. Hacks are an old form of motorcycle transport that enabled riders to extend their riding season on the relative comfort of 3-wheels instead of two. Hacks are still an important part of the motorcycling scene.

Hard Tail: Hard Tail refers to a motorcycle with no rear suspension. Harley-Davidson motorcycles were all Hard Tails until 1958 when the Duo-Glide was introduced.

Headlight Modulator: A Headlight Modulator is a device that turns your motorcycle headlight into an attention-getter. It makes your headlight beam pulsate 240 times per minute during daylight hours. Modulators are legal in all 50 states of the USA.

Here are the official rules that govern the use of headlight modulators: Official U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Governing Motorcycle Headlight Modulators

Heel-Toe Shifter: Normally, shifting on a motorcycle is done by placing your foot under the shift lever, squeezing the clutch lever all the way to the grip and then kicking upward smartly for each gear change as you from first through all the higher gears. Similarly, downshifting from a high gear to the next lower gear requires the rider to place their foot on top of the shift lever and stomp down smartly to make one gear change.

When a heel-toe shifter is used, the rider has use of a different mechanism designed so that a downward kick is all that is required whether upshifting or downshifting. By stomping down on the ball of your foot on the forward lever, the transmission is shifted into a lower gear. By stomping down on your heel on the rear lever, the transmission is shifted into a higher gear.

Of course, you can also use the heel-toe shifter as a normal shifter. Just use the forward lever and stomp down to go to a lower gear and kick upward on the bottom of the lever with the toe of your boot to go to a higher gear.

Hell's Angels: Movie produced in 1930 by Howard Hughes. Also a B-17 squadron in WWII. The name was subsequently taken by a group of motorcyclists for their motorcycle club. This club has expanded and has many chapters. Their motorcycle of choice is the Harley-Davidson and some feel that the club has dangerous elements. In the public's eye, sometimes every motorcyclist is a member of Hell's Angels. See my review of the book, Hell's Angel.

Helmet Hair: Wearing a motorcycle helmet tends to mess up one's hair. Removing the helmet usually leaves hair sticking out in all directions. This is called helmet hair. It can be minimized by use of special skull caps and liners that hold the hair in place.

Highsiding: Highsiding occurs when the rider of a motorcycle is flipped over the handlebars of the bike. This most often occurs when the rider locks the rear brakes during a panic stop and then releases the brake. This causes the rear wheel to kick the bike upwards throwing the rider off.

Highway Pegs: Footrests situated forward of the rider so the legs can be stretched out to relieve highway fatigue. See pictures.

HOG: Has various meanings from Harley Owners Group to simply a Harley rider or the machine itself.

Hollister Incident: A band of bikers rode into Hollister, CA. on July 4, 1947 for a 3-day rally. Some drunkenness occurred and the press made a sensational story out of it that appeared in Life magazine. Most of the biker movies have perpetuated the Hollister image that appeared in Life. The movie, The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando was based on this incident. Even today, motorcyclists are still viewed in the light of Hollister.

Honda Dream: First Honda model that popularized motorcycles to Americans in the early '60s. Check out Honda and a Quiz Too for more history of the Dream.

Hondamatic: Riders of motorcycles are used to shifting gears and using a clutch. However, some new riders would like to do away with shifting and clutching since they may have become used to automatic transmissions in cars. They often ask if they can buy an Automatic motorcycle. Well, in the late '70s and early '80s, Honda made an Automatic. They called it the Hondamatic. Honda made the CB750A Hondamatic from 1976-1978. They produced the Hawk Hondamatic in 1978. For 1979-1981, Honda produced the CM400A Hondamatic. Finally, in 1982-1983, Honda made the CM450A Hondamatic.

Lately, you can get an automatic on the Boss Hoss or Ridley.

Horsepower: One Horsepower is defined as the amount of work required to raise a 550 pound weight one foot in one second. Horsepower, Torque, and RPM are interrelated by the formula: HP = Torque * RPM/5252.

Hurt Report: Harry Hurt conducted the definitive study on motorcycle accidents at USC in 1979. His team studied 3622 accidents and drew many important conclusions relative to motorcycle safety. This report has been debated ever since mostly by motorcyclists who are divided on the need for motorcycle helmets. No follow-on study has been conducted since then and the helmet debate continues.

Inline 4: An Inline 4 is a motorcycle engine having four cylinders in a row.

Integrated Brakes: Integrated Brakes are used on motorcycles to link together the front and rear brakes. Many inexperienced riders in panic situations tend to overuse the rear (foot) brake. This causes skidding and possible loss of control. Integrated brakes work by applying one of the front disc brakes along with the rear brakes when the brake foot pedal is depressed. The best situation is for a motorcyclist to use the front and rear brakes together to effect a fast controlled stop. With Integrated Brakes, at least there is the improved chance that the bike will stop in a controlled manner just using the rear brake. Bear in mind that proper use of the front brake while applying the rear brake will cause the machine to stop faster.

Iron Butt Rally: The Iron Butt Rally is an 11 day 11,000 mile motorcycle trip around the perimeter of the United States. It has a series of checkpoints that must be visited within a two-hour window.

Jumper Cables: Jumper Cables are heavy electrical cables with clips on the ends used to connect two batteries together to Jump Start a motorcycle battery.

Jump Start: Jump Start is the term used to describe starting a motorcycle that has a dead battery by placing a good battery in parallel with the dead battery. Read How to Jump Start Your Motorcycle for procedures to use to safely jump a dead battery.

Kickstarter: A Kickstarter is used to start a motorcycle. The kickstarter is a pedal that is swiftly kicked downward to turn over the engine to start the bike. Each motorcycle equipped with a kickstarter may have a different procedure to ensure successful operation. Kickstarters were standard many years ago. Most modern motorcycles have an electric starter.

Kill Switch: The Kill Switch is in series with the ignition switch. When the Kill Switch is open, the bike will not start.

Knucklehead: Knucklehead is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine used from 1936-1947. If you sit on the seat of a knucklehead machine and look down to the right side of the engine, the rocker box looks like the knuckles on your fist. Check out the Harley-Davidson site to see pictures of their engines.

Laconia: Large rally and races in Laconia, NH in late June each year. Predominately, Harley-Davidson riders.

Lane Splitting: Lane Splitting is the process of riding your motorcycle in the same lane with cars or other motorcycles. Normally it is done at low speeds with cars stopped or nearly so. California is a state that does allow it mainly because the California Highway Patrol motorcycle cops, CHP, do it. California regulations say: "Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner."

Laughlin: Laughlin is a motorcycle rally held in Laughlin, Nevada near the Arizona border in late April.

Leathers: Motorcyclists wear their leathers. They wear as much leather as possible to protect them from the elements and the ground, should they fall. This means leather jackets, chaps, gloves, boots, and riding suits. Usually, the leathers are ventilated for cooling.

Left-Turner Accidents: The most frequent motorcycle/automobile accidents are collisions of motorcycles with oncoming left-turning drivers. These Left-Turner Accidents are the leading cause of death of motorcyclists. If you only remember one Motorcycle Views Glossary definition, let it be this one.

Slow down before you enter an intersection. Have an escape route planned. Stay visible. Don't travel too close to cars in front of you. Position your bike so it can be seen by the Left-Turner. Eye contact is not enough.

Don't become a victim to a Left-Turner Accident.

Check out my 10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle.

LEO: Cops have many terms that describe them. One term sometimes used by motorcyclists is LEO which stands for Law Enforcement Officer.

Lid: We stress here that riders always wear a helmet. We want you to maximize your chances of survival when riding. Another name for a helmet is a Lid. Some states require helmet use. Other states have age restrictions. Some states don't require a helmet at all.

My advice is to wear a lid, preferably not a beanie. We want to see you around the site for many years to come.

Lowsiding: Lowsiding occurs when a motorcycle falls over and drops the rider to the ground. Some riders have been known to deliberately drop their bikes to avoid an accident. This is usually a bad idea since falling off the bike will most likely cause greater injury than staying with the bike and attempting a controlled stop or purposeful maneuver to avoid an accident.

Master Cylinder: A Master Cylinder for a motorcycle is usually located in two places. The front master cylinder is positioned on the right handlebar where the front brake lever can easily activate it to control the front disc brake. The rear master cylinder is located near the rear foot brake pedal.

The Master Cylinder contains a reservoir of brake fluid and controls the movement of fluid through the brake lines to the Caliper assemblies.

M/C: M/C stands for Motorcycle Club. M/C is also written as MC. A motorcycle club is just a group of riders who band together for support and fellowship. Some clubs are independent having no other chapters. Club members often wear what is referred to as "colors," a vest or patch or hat that displays an emblem and other colors that are used by the club to distinguish itself from other clubs.

There are also riding clubs that don't have the special member commitments often found in motorcycle clubs.

There are also large national organizations and associations of riders such as the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) , the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.), the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMWMOA), the Women on Wheels (W.O.W.), the Motor Maids, and the Women in the Wind (W.I.T.W.). These all have local chapters.

Metric Cruiser: Metric Cruiser is a general category of bikes including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki as opposed to American bikes such as Harley-Davidson and Indian. The American bikes tend to use the English system of measurement: pounds, feet, miles, inches, while the Metric Cruisers use the Metric system of measurement: Kilograms, meters, etc. The fact that some American bikes may use the Metric system to quantify their components may still render them as American rather than Metric, at least in the eyes of the Metric Cruiser enthusiasts. By the way, the Harley-Davidson V-Rod model is also a Metric Cruiser.

Motocross: Motocross is an outdoor dirtbike competition using long courses over basically natural terrain with some manmade jumps. It can be a family sport with mom and dad assisting their young boys and girls learning the basics. Motocross involves racing in what are called Motos. More popular variants of Motocross include Supercross and Arenacross which cater to professional racers, larger audiences, TV, and endorsements.

Motorcycle: A motorcycle is a 2-wheel vehicle patterned after a bicycle but powered with an engine and supported with a much heavier frame. Early motorcycles were actually bicycles fitted with small internal combustion engines. There was a gradual evolution as numerous motorcycle manufacturers entered the market and competed against each other.

A motorcycle works using a complex interrelated set of parts controlled by both hands and feet and requires coordination and skill not required to drive an automobile.

Motorcycles have been a part of transportation for a long time. They were once much more prevalent than automobiles until such pioneers as Henry Ford found out how to mass produce cars at a lower price.

Over the years, the motorcycle has come to fit a variety of needs beyond basic transportation.

Today's rider may use a motorcycle for commuting or everyday use. Some ride as part of their lifestyle. Some ride on lengthy cross-country tours.

Motorcycles have evolved to include 3-wheel vehicles called trikes. A motorcycle is sometimes fitted with a sidecar.

In the United States, only one company, Harley-Davidson, has been able to survive over 100 years, producing models every year since its first model in 1903. In fact, to most non-motorcyclists, the words "motorcycle" and "Harley-Davidson" are used interchangeably.

Although many motorcycle brands exist, the most prominent besides Harley-Davidson are Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, and American made Victory.

Also Known As: Scooter, Bike, Scoot, Motorbike

Photo © 2005-2008 Walter Kern

Motorcyclist: A Motorcyclist is one who rides a motorcycle or bike. The similar term Biker brings up a different image to most people. There is not as much of a lifestyle change associated with the term Motorcyclist as there is with the term Biker.

Motor Maids: The Motor Maids is a woman's motorcycle organization founded in 1940 by Linda Dugeau of Providence, Rhode Island and Dot Robinson of Detroit, Michigan. Dot was named the first President and remained in that position for the next 25 years. The Motor Maids originally had 51 chartered members. The American Motorcycle Association Charter #509 was issued to the club in 1941.

MSF: MSF stands for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation that sponsors motorcycle training courses and classes.

Naked Bike: A Naked Bike is a motorcycle with little or no wind-deflection and an exposed chassis. The Ducati Monster comes to mind. Read this article by Chuck Hawks that gives you a better idea of just what a Naked Bike is.

Neutral Light: Most modern motorcycles have a green neutral light that lights when the motorcycle transmission is in neutral. Finding neutral on a bike can be difficult at times. Just watch the light on your instruments. When it turns green, you're in neutral. Make sure you have the ignition on so you can see the light.

Newbie: A Newbie is a person who is just starting to learn about some new endeavor. A Newbie is a beginner or novice. On the Motorcycle Views site we use the term Newbie for both new riders and persons who are new to motorcycling.

NHTSA: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). Check out the NHTSA Web site.

OEM: OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. As an example, Harley makes a motorcycle out of parts and Harley is the OEM for that motorcycle. Users then may modify or add parts to the machine. Most likely the added parts are not OEM but so-called after market parts.

Off-Camber: An Off-Camber turn is one that is banked higher on the inside than on the outside of the turn. Normally roads have a slight crown in the middle to let the rain wash off. However, some roads may have a pronounced crown, making turning left around a curve, a skillful exercise in the Off-Camber world.

Off-Road: Off-Road implies that a motorcycle is ridden off the street onto dirt, trails, sand, woods, hilly terrain, etc. There are also Off-Road motorcycles that have special features to withstand the non-street environment presented by Off-Road riding.

Oil Filter: An Oil Filter filters the oil in the motorcycle engine. Changing the oil and oil filter is one task that many riders do for themselves. Consult your owner's manual for recommended intervals and oil weights to use.

Oilhead: Oilhead refers to the air-cooled engines of more recent BMW motorcycles that also contain an oil cooler.

On Any Sunday: Famous motorcycle movie featuring Malcolm Smith that popularized motorcycling.

One-Off: Those who happen to watch TV shows such as American Chopper get to observe the building of a custom motorcycle from the ground up. Often these bikes are one of a kind and are sometimes referred to as a One-Off.

One Percenter: Many years ago, the AMA stated that 99% of motorcyclists are law abiding people and only 1% are causing trouble. Those riders who felt they were in that 1% assumed the name One Percenters and started wearing patches denoting themselves as One Percenters.

Outlaw: The AMA attempted to organize most of the motorcycle racing competitions many years ago. Some motorcycle clubs and groups of riders did not want to go along with the AMA rules. They became known as Outlaws since they fell outside the laws of the AMA. After the Hollister Incident in 1947, the concept of the outlaw motorcycle gang began becoming part of the American psyche. The term Outlaw then took on a different meaning. Today, some people view all motorcycle clubs as gangs and assume that all gangs are outlaws. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Packing List: A Packing List is an alphabetical list of items to be taken with you when you travel on your motorcycle. It may contain categories such as Regular Stuff, Clothes, and Toiletries. Usually it also identifies the location on the bike where the article will be stored. If you do much touring on your bike, you'll need to get organized. A packing list is a necessity. Here's my Packing List.

Panhead: Panhead is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine used from 1948-1965. The chromed rocker covers resemble a baking or frying pan.

Paralever: Paralever is the name of a radically different rear suspension system first used on the BMW R100GS motorcycle. The Paralever works on the principle of a parallelogram with a torque arm that allows the shaft drive to move through two angles, giving about 70 percent more rear-suspension travel. There is considerable discussion as to just how this suspension works, but it apparently does and has been used in many other BMW models.

Parallel-Twin: A Parallel-Twin is a motorcycle engine having two cylinders placed parallel to each other and vertical.

Passenger Pegs: Passenger Pegs are pegs wide enough to support the foot of a passenger (pillion) while riding. They are mounted directly under the passenger. Sometimes, floorboards are used in the place of Passenger Pegs.

Petcock: A petcock is a manually operated device inserted in the gas line that allows for an On, Off, and Reserve position for the gas supply. When the motorcycle starts to sputter, the rider turns the petcock to the Reserve position to gain access to additional gas while a gas station is sought. Some modern motorcycles have gas gauges and automatic gas shutoff systems making the manual petcock unnecessary.

Here's a good reference on Gas Tanks that also discusses all the types of Petcocks. It discusses ON-OFF-RES, ON-RES-PRI, and ON-OFF systems: Gas Tanks

Pillion: The backseat on a motorcycle for its passenger. Also, a passenger is said to ride pillion. Pronunciation: Pill-yon • (noun)

PMS: PMS is defined as Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. This is a common disease that occurs in the winter when a rider is unable to take his/her motorcycle out for a ride and is forced to think about things other than motorcycles.

Pocket Bike: I seem to be inundated with stories about pocket bikes or mini-bikes that are starting to appear everywhere across the USA. These are extremely small bikes that look like miniature sportbikes, have engines under 50cc and sell for prices as low as $200. eBay is loaded with such vehicles. I first saw these at Americade a few years ago ridden down Canada Street by regular motorcyclists. Now, the bikes are getting in the hands of the masses and used on sidewalks and city streets mainly by young people. Pocket bikes are quite low to the ground and can barely be seen by motorists. Although laws are sparse regulating the bikes, local law enforcement officials are clamping down on their use. My advice to you is to watch out for these vehicles. Fortunately, they can usually be heard even if they can't be seen.

Poker Run: A Poker Run is an organized motorcycle event where riders travel over a prescribed course and at designated stopping points, select a card. At the end of the poker run, the person with the best poker hand wins a prize. Motorcycle poker runs usually require a fee to enter with a part of the proceeds going to charity. Some poker runs are done from bar to bar but in the interest of safety, I don't recommend these. The best motorcycle poker runs have a dinner at the end point and only serve soft drinks. Please do not drink and ride your motorcycle. The rules for Poker Runs vary depending on the event.

Polar Bear Grand Tour: Most motorcyclists don't ride in the winter. However, the Polar Bear Grand Tour held each Sunday beginning with the last Sunday in October and ending with the last Sunday in March, allows riders to continue riding throughout the winter in NJ, DE, PA and NY. (The Polar Bears are continually being confused with those "other" Polar Bears who like to jump in the Ocean in the middle of the winter.) Check out the Polar Bear Grand Tour Web site for additional information, schedules, and an application to join.

Poseur: A Poseur is a person who pretends to be what he is not. There are those individuals within motorcycling who are superficially attracted to the image of the biker but who are unwilling to set about the much more difficult task to become a real motorcyclist. Here's a Diary of a Poseur, giving a typical day in the life of a Biker Poseur.

Positive Camber: A Positive Camber turn is one that is banked higher on the outside of the turn than on the inside. NASCAR racetracks and Interstate highways are examples of roads that have Positive Camber.

Powder Coating: There are various ways to paint a motorcycle. A popular method these days is powder coating. The paint mixture is normally sprayed on the surface where it clings by electrostatic attraction. Here's a great resource that describes the complete process.

Pushrods: Pushrods are used to connect to rocker arm assemblies which, in turn, open and close valves. In this case, the Camshaft is located near the crankshaft. The rotation of the camshaft causes its lobes to press upward on the Pushrods which extend to the top of the engine and connect to the rocker arms. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are heavy users of the pushrod method of valve operation.

Rake and Trail: Rake is the angle of the fork away from vertical toward the rider. Trail is the distance on the ground between a vertical line dropped straight down from the center of the wheel and a projection of the fork extended until it touches the ground. As the rake increases, the trail increases. The more rake, the more stable the handling.

Rally: A gathering of motorcyclists. Could be any number as small as 50 or as large as 500,000.

Rat Bike: A rat bike is a bike that is usually unkempt and is loaded with all sorts of luggage, tools, tents, bedrolls, flags, pots and pans, clothes, jackets, etc. You can't miss a rat bike. It has everything on board and looks like the rider has all his or her possessions strapped to the bike.

Rearsets: When racing a motorcycle or just doing the twisties, a rider often finds that the pegs just get in the way when leaning the bike. A way around this is to relocate the pegs, foot brake, and shifter farther back and up on the machine. This is done with special rearsets.

RETREADS®: The RETREADS® Motorcycle Club was conceived and founded in 1969 by five men through a letters column in a motorcycle magazine. In time, the group agreed they should form a correspondence motorcycle club. The RETREADS® became a formal club in July, 1970. Membership requirements are an age of 40 plus (XL+), and a love of motorcycling. Check out the RETREADS® Web site.

Revolution: Revolution is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine first introduced in the V-Rod in 2001. This engine is an 1130cc, 115 HP, 60 degree V-Twin using rubber mounting with a single counterbalancer. Check out the Harley-Davidson site to see pictures of their engines.

Riceburner: A Riceburner is a Japanese motorcycle. The term tends to be used by riders of American made motorcycles.

Ride Bell: There are many stories about the Ride Bell. Here's one: Have you noticed that small bell on some people's bikes and wondered why it was there? It's more than just decoration. It has a specific function. As we all know, life has many mysteries that have no apparent solutions. One of these is Evil Road Spirits. They are the little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride. They're also responsible for most of your bike's problems.

Sometimes your turn signal refuses to work, or the battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred other things go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits. Road Spirits can't live in the presence of a bell. They get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is extremely sensitive. The constant ringing and confined space of the bell drives them crazy. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. (Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed?) The bell has served its purpose.

If your bell was given to you, its power is greatly increased, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you. So, if you have a friend that doesn't have a bell, why not be the person to give them one? It's a nice feeling for the recipient to know you personally cared. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bike's owner, will help eliminate the Evil Road Spirits.

Ride To Work Day: Ride to Work Day was inspired by various "Work to Ride - Ride to Work" T-shirts, stickers and other marketing materials created between 1989 and 1991 by Andy Goldfine for the Aero Design and Manufacturing Company, otherwise known as Aerostich Riderwear, a Minnesota based manufacturer of motorcycle riders clothing.

In 1992 these items inspired motorcycle magazine editor Fred Rau to write an editorial calling for an annual national ride to work day. That day, the third Wednesday in July, was first celebrated in 1992 and has been celebrated each year since. According to the Ride to Work nonprofit advocacy organization, "Ride to Work Day reveals that motorcyclists come from all walks of life, work in all occupations, and range in age from teenagers to grandparents."

Rigid: A bike with no rear suspension is said to be a rigid. Harley-Davidson motorcycles all had rigid frames until 1958 when the Duo-Glide was introduced. Most choppers are built using rigid frames.

Rig: A motorcycle with an attached sidecar. Also any combination of motorcycle with or without sidecar pulling a trailer.

Road Rash: Road Rash is a term used to define injuries to the skin when a rider falls or is thrown from the motorcycle and lands or slides on the pavement. One reason riders wear full-face helmets, gloves, leather jackets, chaps, and boots is to minimize Road Rash. Let the leather suffer the Road Rash.

RPM: RPM is defined as Revolutions Per Minute. Horsepower, Torque, and RPM are interrelated by the formula: HP = Torque * RPM/5252.

RUB: Rich Urban Biker.

Saddlebags: Saddlebags are either soft or hard containers attached over the rear fender of a motorcycle. They hang down on each side of the bike and provide storage for items that are carried on the bike. Usually, saddlebags are made of leather and contain flaps that are fastened to the bag through buckles. These soft saddlebags are fastened to the bike with leather laces or other detachable devices. Hard saddlebags can be plastic, fiberglass, or metal and are usually permanently attached.

Scooter: A scooter, in its purist definition, could be considered a small motorcycle with a step-through or feet-forward design. For bikers, a scooter might just means any motorcycle, sometimes also called a scoot.

Scoot: Affectionate term for a motorcycle.

SCRC: The Southern Cruisers Riding Club (SCRC) was founded by Rick Perry (Rickster) as a local motorcycle riding club in the Memphis, LA area. Within five years, the club had chapters all over the United States and elsewhere in the world and had over 26,000 members. Check out the SCRC Web site.

Shaft Drive: Shaft Drive is a method to transmit power from the transmission to the rear wheel of the motorcycle using a shaft. The shaft is much like the driveshaft on an automobile. One end connects to the end of the transmission and the other end connects to a sealed ring gear on the rear hub. Shaft-drive systems are troublefree and require lubrication usually only when the rear tire is replaced.

Shovelhead: Shovelhead is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine used from 1966-1985. The shovel engine has rocker boxes, not covers, and rocker arms pivoting on shafts leading to castings on the heads. The whole thing resembles the back of a coal shovel. Check out the Harley-Davidson site to see pictures of their engines.

Sidecar: A Sidecar is attached to a motorcycle to create a 3-wheeled combination. The sidecar is also known as a hack, outfit, rig, or chair. Sidecar combinations have been used for over a hundred years. A sidecar/motorcycle combination is neither a motorcycle nor a car in handling characteristics. Special driving techniques must be mastered before one can safely operate a rig.

Sidestand: The Sidestand retracts from the left side of a motorcycle and contacts the ground to hold up the machine at a slight angle off vertical. In recent years most bikes cannot be started with the sidestand down since there had been so many instances on older bikes where riders rode off with the sidestands still down and accidents occurred.

Sissy Bar: A tall backrest on the passenger seat of a motorcycle. It helps to keep a passenger from falling off and it's also useful to bungee luggage to a bike when there is no passenger.

Snell Helmet Rating: The Snell Memorial Foundation rates motorcycle helmets. The rating is based on dropping the helmet containing a simulated head from a height of 10 feet. The "head" must receive no more than 285 Gs. A second drop is done from a lower height. See Bill Stermer's book, Motorcycle Touring and Travel for more information. This book is available in the Motorcycle Views Bookstore.

Soft Tail: A Soft Tail is a motorcycle that appears to have a Hard Tail rear suspension but in reality has shock absorbers that are hidden from view. Harley-Davidson has many Soft Tail models but they call them Softails.

Sportbike: Very fast, colorfully decorated, high-performance motorcycle. Sportbikes are flashy, fast, and lightweight. Some are capable of sport-touring.

Sporty: Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster in 1957. The Sportster is sometimes called a Sporty or Sportie, depending on how you like to spell it. You may want to read my article, Sportster, for more information on the Sporty. By the way, 2004 was the first year that rubber-mounted engines were used in Sporties, thereby greatly reducing the vibration long a part of the Sportster experience. Alternate Spellings: Sportie

Sportster: Harley-Davidson's entry level model is a popular model for both men and women riders. Also Known As: Sporty, Sportie. This venerable Harley-Davidson model has been around since 1957 and has a legion of devoted fans -- and detractors. It has multiple personalities. We'll explore some of them here in my article, Sportster.

Sport-Tourer: A Sport-Tourer motorcycle is one that is sporty like a sportbike but capable of touring with some comfort. The speeds and handling are similar to a sportbike but there is usually storage for traveling and more creature comforts.

Springer: A Springer is a particular Harley-Davidson model in the Softail family. It is characterized by a front fork that uses springs and a shock instead of a telescopic fork. The Springer front fork was first used on a 1948 FL model then abandoned until forty years later when it appeared on the FX Softail line, much improved in performance.

Squid: Have you seen a motorcycle rider who does not wear protective clothing, darts into and out of traffic at high speed, seems to need some motorcycle training and, in general, acts like he/she doesn't know what they're doing? You've seen a Squid. No one is quite sure where this term came from. It is a naval term for a young sailor. It may be an acronym. Some examples are "SQUirrely kID," "Stupid, QUick, and Inevitably Dead," or "Super QUick, Inadequately Dressed."

Standard Bike: Tends to be a motorcycle without frills such as saddlebags, windshield, radio, or trunk. It is the cheapest to buy and usually has small rake and trail. Check out Motorcycle Types.

Stoppie: A stoppie is a motorcycle maneuver performed by a skilled rider to stop a moving motorcycle so the rear wheel is raised in the air while the machine is balanced on the front tire.

Stroker: Stroker has at least two definitions. First, it is another word for a 2-stroke engine. Second, it refers to increasing the stroke in a Harley-Davidson engine (or any other make) to give it more horsepower. The resulting Harley is called a Stroker.

Sturgis: Town of 6000 in SD where the Sturgis Rally and Races is held in early August. Attracts as many as 400,000 motorcyclists to the area.

Suicide Clutch: The best way to describe this is to refer you to a great explanation by Bountyman, former moderator of the About.com Harley-Davidson forum. Just click here.

Supercross: Supercross is a dirtbike competition using relatively short courses inside athletic stadiums with mostly manmade jumps. Supercross has its roots in Motocross and might be considered a step-up in terms of organization, promotion, showmanship, and professionalism.

Sweeper: A Sweeper is short for a sweeping curve. These are gradual curves, easy to negotiate at high speed. The curves often are back-to-back, first a left sweeper, then a right sweeper, etc.

Swing Arm: Older motorcycles and some new motorcycles have rigid frames much like bicycles. Thus, the frame is connected directly to the rear wheel. A swing arm is a movable joint between the frame of the motorcycle and the rear wheel assembly. It supports the rear wheel and associated suspension components.

Tachometer: The Tachometer on a motorcycle tells the speed of the engine in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Tailgunner: The last rider in a group formation of motorcycles is called the Tailgunner.

Tank Bag: A piece of luggage that mounts on top of the gas tank of a motorcycle. Sometimes contains a clear plastic top where route directions can be viewed by the rider without stopping.

Tank Slapper: The best way to describe this is to refer you to a great explanation by TEvo, former moderator of the About.com Sportbikes and Racing forum. Just click here.

Target Fixation: A motorcyclist often inadvertently looks at an object and finds himself/herself headed straight for that object. This is target fixation and must be avoided. It's also said that "you go where you look." To avoid an object, don't look at it. Look where you need to go to avoid the object. Avoid target fixation.

Tats: Tats, short for Tattoos. Many bikers have tattoos that depict various aspects of their relationship with their motorcycle or other motorcycle-related activities. The Harley-Davidson logo is a popular element of biker tattoos. Check out our Motorcycle Tattoos Gallery

T-Bone: A T-Bone is a category of motorcycle accident where the rider runs head-on into the side of another vehicle. Usually, the other vehicle is a car that has turned left in front of the rider and the rider cannot perform an evasive maneuver or swerve to avoid the car and hits it straight on in the side. The car is the top of the "T" and the motorcycle is the vertical part of the "T."

Telelever: Telelever is the name of a front suspension system used on BMW motorcycles. The front forks are just oil-filled struts. Two ball joints control the suspension through a complex of interacting components. The resulting suspension has received high marks from almost all testers. The front end of the bike will not dive under heavy braking. The combination of Telelever front suspension and Paralever rear suspension has transformed the handling characteristics of BMWs.

The Motor Company: Another common name for Harley-Davidson, INC.

The Wild One: Famous motorcycle movie about the Hollister Incident starring Marlon Brando. Brando rode a Triumph, not a Harley.

Throttle Lock: Manual device fitted to the throttle of a motorcycle that applies friction to keep the throttle from moving. Used to temporarily give your hand a rest on long rides.

Throttle: The Throttle on a motorcycle is contained in the right grip on the handlebars. The speed of the engine is controlled by twisting the throttle.

Thumper: A single cylinder four-cycle motorcycle engine is sometimes called a Thumper because of its distinct "thump, thump, thump" sound.

Top End: Top End refers to the top portion of a motorcycle engine including the fuel system, valve covers, heads, cylinders, pistons, valves, rings and other components that support the power generation that propels the machine.

Torque: Torque is a turning or twisting force applied at a distance from the axis of the object. Thus, if you apply a 100 pound force to the end of a 3-foot wrench placed on a nut, you are applying 300 pound-feet of torque.

Touring Bike: Any motorcycle that you can take on a tour. Normally, it has a fairing, saddlebags, and requires little maintenance. However, any bike can be used for touring.

Touring: Traveling on a motorcycle to visit what's over the next hill. Carried to extreme, some motorcyclists tour up to 50,000 miles a year.

Tranny: The transmission of a motorcycle, a motorcycle tranny

Trials: Trials, or Observed Trials, is a form of off-road racing where the course is made up of a series of observed sections that contain natural obstacles such as mud, water, rocks, and logs. The contestant must ride through the sections losing as few points as possible.

Trike: In general, a 3-wheeled vehicle created by stripping off the rear wheel of a motorcycle and replacing it with two automotive wheels attached to a special differential. The rear section is then covered with fiberglass and painted to match the bike. A trike is classified as a motorcycle in most places since a motorcycle is defined as a motorized vehicle with either two or three wheels.

There are many varieties of trikes. Some are based on car foundations such as the VW trikes. Some are custom made from the ground up. Most current trikes are motorcycle based. Trikes all have three wheels. Most trikes have one wheel in front and two wheels behind. Some trikes have two wheels in front and one wheel behind. Most trikes are steered by a regular motorcycle-style handlebar although you will see trikes that use a steering wheel.

The licensing of a trike is varied. Some areas classify it as a motorcycle. Some classify it as a car. Some place it under a special construction category.

In some states, you need a motorcycle endorsement to ride a trike. In others, a car registration is all that is required. In some, a special trike license is required. Check your local regulations.

Some insurance companies don't know much about trikes. They've heard of sidecars and list them on policies but trikes are not mentioned. When I registered my trike, the insurance man came out and took pictures of it. He'd never seen one before.

A person riding a trike is sometimes called a triker. There is an organization, Trike Riders International (TRI), that is devoted to triking. Their mission statement says: "TRI is the worldwide organization for owners and enthusiasts of three-wheeled motorcycle conversions and related motor vehicles based on that concept."

Here's an article about trikes. Here's a Trike Picture Gallery.

Triple: A Triple is a 3-cylinder motorcycle engine.

Twin Cam 88B: Twin Cam 88B is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine first introduced in 2000 in the Softail line. This engine is a 1450cc V-Twin using twin counter rotating balancers to fully cancel primary engine vibration.

Twin Cam 88: Twin Cam 88 is the name of the Harley-Davidson engine first introduced in 1999. This engine is a 1450cc V-Twin using twin cams.

Twisties: Twisties are any series of curves in the road that offer a challenge to a motorcyclist.

Two-up: Two people riding on a motorcycle, a rider and a co-rider. Two-up riding requires that the manufacturer's recommended load carrying capacity not be exceeded. Also, special consideration must be given to training the passenger to assist in the various maneuvers required to safely ride the motorcycle with two onboard.

UJM: UJM stands for Universal Japanese Motorcycle. It was a radical concept in the early '70s. The UJM was a standard bike offering an alternative to Harley-Davidson cruisers, British bikes, and the small Japanese motorcycles. The UJM was smooth, fast, powerful, comfortable and could go places and be reliable. The Honda CB-750 was the first UJM.

VIN: VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. It's much the same on a motorcycle as the VIN used to identify a car. Each motorcycle manufacturer seems to have a different coding system for the VIN placed on their motorcycles. The owner's manual or service manual should describe the VIN. Also known as: VIN Number

V-Rod: The Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod is a liquid-cooled, 1130cc V-Twin cruiser. The engine was designed by Porsche.

V-Twin: A V-Twin is a motorcycle engine having two cylinders placed at an angle to each other in the shape of a V.

Wannabe: A Wannabe is someone who tries obsessively to emulate a person, profession, or activity. There are a lot of motorcycle wannabes in the world today. Some wannabe bikers actually become bikers but many are just drawn to motorcyclists and motorcycle activities temporarily and eventually lose interest.

WERA: The Western Eastern Roadracers Association (WERA) also known as WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc, is one of the oldest and largest national sanctioning bodies conducting motorcycle roadraces at road courses across the United States. 1999 was the 25th Anniversary for WERA Motorcycle Roadracing.

Wheelie: A wheelie is a motorcycle maneuver performed by a skilled rider to raise the front wheel off the ground and ride only on the rear wheel.

Willie G: Willie G. is short for William G. Davidson, Vice-President of Styling for Harley-Davidson. Willie G. is the grandson of one of the founders, William A. Davidson. He is known everywhere affectionately as "Willie G."

Wind Triangle: A triangular cloth or piece of leather worn around the neck area for wind protection.

WOW: WOW is short for Women on Wheels, a national women's motorcycle association.

Wrench: A wrench is a term used to describe a motorcycle mechanic.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a philosophic book by Robert M. Pirsig. This widely quoted book relates the story of a summer motorcycle trip by a man and his eleven-year-old son. It compares life and philosophy with motorcycle maintenance. You'll want to read this several times.

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