All

0

// BIKELIFE GLOSSARY

All things Bikelife in words.

From “12 o’clock” to “scrape,” decode the street slang, stunt lingo, and codes that run the Bikelife scene. Whether you ride or rep, know the language.

#

12

1 percenter

member of an outlaw motorcycle club

12 o'clock

when a motorcycle's front wheel is pointing straight up during a wheelie

13

patch worn indicating time in prison

2-banger

Two-cylinder motorcycle

2-smoker

Two-stroke engine motorcycle

2-up

riding with a passenger

22

patch indicating someone has done time in prison

299hub

Powered by the people who ride; watched by the ones who dream.

4-pot

Four-piston brake caliper

5-0

Police (pronounced "five-oh")

6-pack

Six-cylinder motorcycle engine (like Honda CBX)

8-ball

Black motorcycle helmet

A

9

A-kit

Professional-level suspension package

ADV

adventure motorcycle or adventure riding, Adventure motorcycle category

ADV bike

adventure motorcycle

ADV riding

off-road and on-road long-distance riding

ape hangers

tall handlebars rising above the rider's shoulders

Apex

Optimal turning point in a corner

Arm-pump

Forearm muscle fatigue during riding

Arrow straight

Perfectly straight road section

ATGATT

All The Gear All The Time - safety philosophy (safety mantra)

B

60

Babysitting

Riding extremely slow in a group stunt session

back box

luggage box mounted at the rear of a motorcycle

Back marker

Slowest riders in a race

Back protector

Armor for spine protection

back warmer

person riding pillion (passenger)

Backing it in

Controlled rear slide entering corner

Bacon strips

Tire repair plug marks

Baffle

Removable silencer in exhaust

bagger

touring motorcycle with saddlebags

Bail

Jump off bike before crash

Bar hopper

Motorcycle used primarily for short urban trips

Barn find

Vintage motorcycle discovered after long storage, classic motorcycle found in storage or abandoned

Basket case

Disassembled motorcycle project

Bean can

Small displacement motorcycle

beemer/beamer

BMW motorcycle

beeza

BSA brand motorcycle

belly shover

prone-riding motorcycle (rare, vintage slang)

Bench racing

Talking about riding/racing without actually doing it

bible

repair manual

Big bore kit

Engine displacement increase modification

big four

top four outlaw motorcycle gangs (Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, Bandidos)

bike

motorcycle

Bike night

Regular gathering of motorcyclists

biker

someone who rides a motorcycle (often club-affiliated)

bikini fairing

small wind deflector around headlight

binder

brakes

binned

crashed (single vehicle accident)

Blacktop

Paved road

Blanking plate

Cover for removed parts (mirrors

blinkers

turn indicators

blip

quickly revving and releasing the throttle

Blipping

Quick throttle rev when downshifting

Bloated

Overweight motorcycle design

blood bikers

volunteer bikers couriering medical supplies

Blower

Supercharger

blown bike

supercharged motorcycle

Blue dot

Illegal blue-tinted taillight

Bobber

Stripped down custom with shortened rear fender

Bobbity bob

Shortened/bobbed motorcycle

bog

engine hesitation at throttle opening

Bone stock

Completely unmodified motorcycle

Bottomless pit

Extremely deep front brake dive

bounce

hitting rev limiter during wheelie

Brain bucket

Minimal/unsafe helmet

Brap

Sound of motorcycle acceleration (especially dirt bikes)

Brat style

Minimalist custom motorcycle style

Brick

Heavy

broken wings

damaged motorcycle or club member who crashed

Bubble

The front tire during a wheelie

Bucket of bolts

Unreliable motorcycle

Buffer

Safe distance between riders

Bug splatter

Insect impacts on motorcycle/rider

Bullet bike

Sport motorcycle

Bumping

Deliberate contact in racing

Bunny hop

Jumping motorcycle over obstacle

Bust a cap

Blow an engine

bust a move

perform an impressive stunt

Butt dyno

Subjective feel of power/performance

Butter

Smooth surface or riding technique

Buzzy

High-frequency engine vibration

C

51

Cage

Car or truck (non-motorcycle)

Cager

Car driver

Can

Exhaust muffler

Carb ice

Carburetor icing in cold conditions

carby

carburetor system

Cat-and-mouse

Racing strategy of following closely

Catch can

Oil recovery container

Chain monkey

Tool for precise chain adjustment

Chase the dragon

Continual pursuit of the perfect stunt or ride

Chatter

Front end vibration during cornering

Cheese grater

Rough road surface

chicken chaser

50cc moped

chicken shit

underpowered or unimpressive bike

Chicken strips

Unused tire edges showing lack of leaning, unused edges of a tire

Chop

Extensively customized motorcycle

Chopper

Custom motorcycle with extended forks

Circus wheelie

Exaggerated

City slicker

Street-only rider

classic

older or vintage motorcycle

Clinch nut

Self-locking fastener

Clip-ons

Separate handlebar attachments on sportbikes

Closed course

Track not open to public

Clutch up

Using clutch to initiate wheelie

Cock the wheel

Turn front wheel in preparation for stunt

Coffin tank

Rectangular gas tank

Coin slot

Gap between seat and tank

Cold tire crash

Wiping out before tires warm up

Collecting

Hitting another rider in race crash

colors

club vest/patches identifying club and rank

Come unstuck

Lose traction unexpectedly

come up

to perform a wheelie

Comfort stop

Rest break during long ride

Cork sniffing

Obsessing over expensive parts/brands

Counter-steering

Pushing handlebar to initiate lean

cowboy

reckless or irresponsible rider

Crack the throttle

Open throttle suddenly

Crank

Engine's main rotating assembly

Crash bars

Frame protectors

Crash candy

Colorful protective gear

Crash truck

Recovery vehicle at race track

Crazy Ivan

Unexpected lane change maneuver

Cross-up

Motocross jumping position

crotch rocket

sport bike (usually fast, high-performance)

Cruise

Ride at relaxed pace

Cruise missile

Fast touring motorcycle

cruiser

large, comfortable motorcycle for long rides

Cubes

Engine displacement (cubic inches)

cut

club vest with patches

Cut slicks

Tires with minimal tread pattern

Cutout

Exhaust bypass valve

Cyanate81

Elite biker community page — known as the CEO of bikelife for leading the scene.

D

37

Dank nooner

Perfect afternoon wheelie

Dank whoolie

Perfect wheelie (combination of "dank" and "wheelie")

Darkside

Using car tires on motorcycles

Dart

Quick maneuver through traffic

Day-glo warrior

Rider in high-visibility gear

Deadman's curve

Dangerous corner

Death grip

Holding handlebars too tightly

Death wobble

Violent handlebar oscillation at speed

Decel-pop

Exhaust popping during deceleration

Deep lean

Maximum cornering angle

Desert sled

Off-road capable vintage motorcycle

Desk jockey

Rider who talks more than rides

Dialed in

Perfectly tuned motorcycle

Dirt nap

Crash into ground

disc brakes

brake system using calipers and rotors

Disco brake

Drilled or slotted brake rotor

Dock

Lower motorcycle for easier mounting

Dog

Underpowered motorcycle

Donor cycle

Derogatory term for motorcycle by non-riders

donorcycle

motorcycle (dark humor about crash risk)

Dot approved

Meeting safety standards

Double hammer

Hit throttle twice quickly

Drag pipes

Straight exhaust pipes

Dragging knee

Cornering technique where knee touches ground

Dragscraper

Lowered motorcycle with parts that scrape

Drift

Controlled slide

drifting

controlled sliding of motorcycle

Drive train

Power transmission components

drop a gear

rapidly downshift for more power

Dropping the bike

Accidentally letting motorcycle fall

Dropseat

Custom seat with lower passenger position

Dry clutch

Clutch design without oil lubrication

Dry sump

Type of engine lubrication system

Duck walk

Moving motorcycle while seated using feet

Dune dancer

Sand dune rider

Dust devil

Fast desert rider

Dyno queen

Motorcycle tuned for maximum dynamometer readings

E

9

Edge trap

Dangerous pavement height difference

Elephant

Harley-Davidson motorcycle (due to weight)

Elsinore

Reference to vintage Honda dirt bikes

end can

exhaust muffler

Endo

Front flip or stopping with rear wheel in air, crash over handlebars

Enduro

Dual-sport type riding combining off-road and street

Euro fighter

European sport motorcycle

Everesting

Climbing massive elevation on motorcycle

Expansion chamber

Two-stroke performance exhaust

F

34

Factory works

Special factory racing motorcycle

fairing

plastic or fiberglass bodywork for wind protection

Fairing queen

Heavily-faired touring motorcycle

False neutral

Transmission between proper gears

Fat bob

Dual gas tank design

Feathering

Subtle clutch or throttle control

feature

notable obstacle on a ride (jump, curve, etc.)

Feedback

Road feel through handlebars

fender

mudguard over wheels

fiberglass cowling

bodywork for wind protection

Fishballing

Repeated uncontrolled wheelies

Fishtail

Rear wheel sliding side to side

Flapper

Dirt bike rider

flat tracker

race bike for dirt oval tracks

Flickable

Motorcycle that changes direction easily, motorcycle that's easy to lean into corners

Flip chip

ECU modification device

Floating disc

Brake rotor mounting design

Floating the front

Front wheel slightly off ground during acceleration

Flow

Smooth riding through corners

Flying brick

BMW K-series motorcycle

Flying W

Crash where rider goes over handlebars with arms extended

Footpeg feelers

Removable parts that scrape first in cornering

fork

front suspension assembly

Four-stroke

Engine type with 4-cycle operation

frame

main structure of the motorcycle

Freeway flyer

Motorcycle optimized for highway riding

Friday night special

Cheaply built motorcycle

Frog eyes

Dual headlight design

Front-end washout

Loss of front tire traction

Fuel-injected

Modern fuel delivery system

Full dresser

Fully-equipped touring motorcycle

full face

helmet with chin guard

Full tuck

Aerodynamic riding position

fully sent

completing a risky stunt successfully

G

22

Garage queen

Motorcycle rarely ridden

Get back whip

Decorative leather strap also used for defense

Ghost ride

Letting go of handlebars during wheelie

Gixer

Suzuki GSX-R sportbike

Gixxer

Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle

Glory hole

Large intake opening

Go juice

Fuel (gasoline)

Goon

Stunt rider

Goon riding

Urban style stunt riding

Granny gear

Very low first gear

Gravel rash

Road rash from falling on loose surface

Gravity check

Crash

Green lane

Legal off-road path

Grenade

Catastrophic engine failure

Grid position

Starting spot in race

Grind hard

To ride aggressively for extended periods

Grinder

Rider who drags hard parts in corners

Grip it and rip it

Ride aggressively with full throttle

Grooved pavement

Road surface with channels (dangerous)

Ground clearance

Distance from lowest point to ground

GSXR

Reference to Suzuki sportbikes

Gut it

Remove unnecessary parts

H

23

Hack

Sidecar

Hairpin

Very tight turn

hang-around

person hoping to prospect for a club

Hardtail

Motorcycle without rear suspension

Hat trick

Three wins in succession

Heat cycle

Warming and cooling of tires

Heat score

Level of police attention in an area, police attention or surveillance

Heathen

Rider who doesn't wave to other motorcyclists

Heel-toe shifter

Wide foot shifter with extensions

Heidenau

Premium adventure motorcycle tire brand

high-side

crash where bike flips over to opposite side

Highside

Crash where bike flips rider over the top

Highway pegs

Forward-mounted foot rests

Hit a gap

Accelerate through traffic opening

Hoe handle

Extended shift lever for stunting

HOG

Harley Owners Group or Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Holeshot

Leading from the start of a race

Hood famous

Well known in local riding circles

Hooking up

Good tire traction during acceleration

Hooliganism

Aggressive

horse

motorcycle (classic slang)

Hot swap

Changing riders while bike is in motion

Hyperbike

Extremely powerful sportbike

I

8

I-beam

Stiff front fork design

ice cold

perfect execution of a stunt

Ice pick

Riding on extremely slippery surface

Industrial-strength

Exceptionally durable

Inline

Engine with cylinders in a row

Interstate killer

Touring bike comfortable at high speeds

iron

motorcycle (classic slang)

Iron butt

Long-distance rider

J

8

Jack-hammer

Extremely vibrating motorcycle

Jail bars

Crash protection cage

Jap bike

Japanese motorcycle (term can be offensive)

Jaw dropper

Impressively beautiful motorcycle

jersey tilt

hard punch (club slang)

Jetting

Carburetor fuel mixture adjustment

Jockey shift

Hand-operated transmission lever

jump-start

starting a bike with external battery

K

13

Kangaroo start

Jerky

Kick the tires

Inspect motorcycle before riding

kick-start

starting a bike by foot lever

Kicker

Kick-start lever

kickstand

stand to keep bike upright

Kidney belt

Lower back support for off-road riding

Killed it

Performed exceptionally well

King of the hill

Dominant rider in competition

knacker

old, worn-out, or broken bike

Knobby

Off-road tire with aggressive tread

Knuckle dragger

Ape-hanger handlebar user

Knucklehead

Vintage Harley engine or foolish rider

Kwak

Kawasaki motorcycle

L

17

L-twin

V-twin with 90-degree configuration

Lane splitting

Riding between lanes of traffic

Lay it down

Intentionally slide motorcycle in emergency

Lead sled

Heavy

Lean angle

Cornering tilt degree

Leathers

Protective riding suit, protective leather clothing

Lid

Helmet

Lightning rod

Exceptionally fast motorcycle

Line

Optimal path through corner

lit

exciting or impressive motorcycle stunt

Literbike

1000cc sportbike

Loop

Flipping motorcycle backwards during wheelie

looping

flipping motorcycle backwards during wheelie

low-side

crash where the bike slides out and falls on the side closest to the ground

Lowside

Crash where bike slides out from under rider

Lug

Run engine at too low RPM

Lung cookies

Material coughed up after dusty ride

M

23

M-word

Moped (derogatory)

Magneto

Old-style ignition system

Mail it

Ride at maximum effort

Marshmallow

Overly soft suspension

MC

motorcycle club

Meat crayon

Rider without gear who crashes

Mechanic's special

Motorcycle needing significant repair

meet

gathering of bikers

Middleweight

Medium displacement motorcycle

Minibike

Very small motorcycle

Mod

Modification to bike

Mods vs. rockers

Historic UK motorcycle subculture rivalry

Monkey butt

Sore posterior from long riding

Monkey see monkey do

Following another rider's line

MOT

annual safety test (UK)

Moto-camping

Camping via motorcycle

Mouse trap

Dangerous riding situation

Mud dauber

Off-road rider

muffler

exhaust silencer

Mule

Test motorcycle for development

Mullet bike

Business in front

Mushroom mark

Helmet impact mark on rider's forehead

mushrooms

crash bungs for protection

N

9

naked bike

motorcycle without fairings or windscreen

Neck breaker

Exceptionally attractive motorcycle

Neutral finder

Technique to locate neutral gear

Nickel and dime

Small recurring maintenance issues

Nip valve

Tire valve stem

nomad

club member not tied to a specific chapter

noob

new rider (short for newbie)

Nooner

Wheelie at 12 o'clock position

Number plate

Racing identification panel

O

13

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer parts

OG

original gangster; experienced or respected rider

Oil burner

Engine that consumes oil

One-percenter

Outlaw motorcycle club member

Oppo

Opposite lock (countersteering during slide)

Organ donor

Derogatory term for motorcyclist by non-riders

OTB

over the bars; crash over handlebars

Out the door

Final price including all fees

Out-brake

Pass by braking later than competitor

outlaw

member of a biker gang (often 1% club)

Outrigger

Auxiliary wheel for training

Over-rev

Exceeding recommended engine speed

Overcooked

Entered corner too fast

P

46

P-trap

U-shaped brake line routing

Pack

Group of riders

Paint shaker

Excessively vibrating motorcycle

pannier

side storage bag for motorcycles

Park and preen

Gathering to show off motorcycles

Park it

Stop riding due to conditions

patch

embroidered badge indicating club, rank, or achievement

patch holder

club member entitled to wear the patch

Peanut tank

Small gas tank on custom bikes

Peg dragging

Cornering so deeply footpegs scrape ground

Peg feeler

Sacrificial part on footpeg

Penguin suit

One-piece racing leathers

Phantom shift

Shifting when already in top gear

Pillion

Passenger seat or passenger

Pin it

Full throttle

Pipe wrap

Exhaust wrap for performance/aesthetics

pipes

exhaust pipes

Pit bike

Small motorcycle used in racing paddock

Pit lane

Service area at race track

Pivot turn

Turn while stationary

Plank

Hard

plastic

bodywork/fairings

Plonker

Foolish rider

Plug chop

Spark plug inspection for tuning

Pocket bike

Miniature racing motorcycle

Pocket rocket

Small

Pole position

First starting position

Pony express

Long-distance relay ride

Pony up

Pay extra for premium equipment

Pooch

Push motorcycle with foot

Pop a wheelie

Lift front wheel off ground

Pork chop

Custom side cover

poser

person pretending to be a real biker

Pot

Cylinder

Power band

RPM range of maximum power

Power commander

Fuel injection controller

Power dive

Front suspension compression under hard braking

Power wheelie

Wheelie from acceleration without clutch

power-to-weight

ratio of engine power to motorcycle weight

Pray to gravity

To crash

Predator

Police officer hunting for motorcyclists, aggressive or reckless rider

Prime the pump

Prepare fuel system

prospect

club member-in-training

Pull the pin

Full throttle acceleration

Punch it

Accelerate hard

Putt

Ride slowly and casually

Q

3

Q-tip

Rider who wears all white gear

Quarter-mile

Drag racing distance

Quick-turn

Rapid steering input

R

48

Race face

Intense expression while riding

Race gas

High-octane competition fuel

Race kit

Competition performance parts

Race line

Optimal track path

Race prep

Competition preparation

Rack

Luggage carrier

Rad

Radiator

Rag

Throttle wide open

Ragged edge

Limit of traction

Rake

Front fork angle

Rat bike

Deliberately unfinished/rough-looking motorcycle

Rattle can

Spray paint

Rearsets

Rear-positioned foot controls

Red-eye express

All-night ride

Red-line

Maximum engine RPM

Rev-limiter

Engine speed governor that stunt riders often remove

Rev-matching

Engine speed synchronization when shifting

Rice burner

Japanese motorcycle (derogatory)

Rice rocket

Japanese sport motorcycle (derogatory)

Ride captain

Group ride leader

Ride of shame

Returning home after crashing

Ride the lightning

Ride electric motorcycle

Rider's triangle

Ergonomic position of handlebars

riding bitch

riding as a passenger (pillion)

riding pillion

riding as a passenger

Riding the bowl

Track racing on banked oval

Rip it

Ride aggressively

rip off merchant

someone who overcharges or deceives in sales

Ripper

Exceptionally fast rider

Road captain

Motorcycle club ride leader

Road furniture

Highway infrastructure

Road king

Dominant long-distance rider

Road pizza

Crash victim (derogatory)

Road potato

Extremely casual rider

road rash

skin injury from sliding on pavement

road sofa

large, comfortable touring motorcycle

Rolling burnout

Spinning rear wheel while moving

Rolling chassis

Frame with wheels but no engine

Rolling restore

Gradual restoration while still riding

rolling thunder

large group of motorcycles riding together

Rookie stripe

New tire center seam

Roundabout racer

Rider who shows off at traffic circles

RUB

Rich Urban Biker (well-off, casual rider)

rubber

tires

Rubber band effect

Group stretching and compressing during ride

Rubber side down

Staying upright (not crashing)

ruff ryders

motorcycle stunt group and lifestyle

Run what you brung

Race with available equipment

S

106

saddle

seat

Saddle sore

Discomfort from long riding

saddlebags

side-mounted storage bags

Samurai

Motorcycle made in Japan

Sand trap

Loose surface hazard

Sano

Clean

Scalped

Tire with worn center

Scare the paint

Ride extremely close to object

Scooter trash

Derogatory term for motorcyclists

Scorpion

Tail-up wheelie position

Scrambler

Dual-purpose vintage style motorcycle

Scraping pegs

Leaning so far in corners footpegs touch ground, dragging footpegs while cornering

Scratcher

Aggressive canyon/mountain rider

scrub

new rider or inexperienced motorcyclist

Scrubbing in

Breaking in new tires

Seat time

Experience gained by riding

send it

to attempt a risky or challenging maneuver, Go for a risky stunt or maneuver

Shadetree mechanic

Amateur home mechanic

Shake down

Test ride after repairs

Shiny side up

Not crashing (keeping chrome/paint visible)

Shorty

Short exhaust pipe

Shot-peen

Surface treatment for metal parts

shovelhead

Harley engine made 1966-1984

Show queen

Motorcycle primarily for display

sidecar

passenger compartment attached to a motorcycle

Sidestand

Kickstand

silencer

exhaust muffler

Sit up and beg

Upright riding position

Skid lid

Minimal/unsafe helmet

Skid pan

Training area for sliding practice

Slab

Highway

sled

large touring motorcycle

Slick

Racing tire without tread

Slicks

Racing tires without tread pattern

Slide

Controlled drift

Slider

Replaceable crash protection

slip on

aftermarket exhaust muffler, Replacement muffler

Slipper clutch

Clutch that prevents rear wheel lock-up

Slop

Excessive play in controls

Slot car

Motorcycle with predictable handling

Slush box

Automatic transmission

Smack the rev limiter

Accelerate until engine hits maximum RPM

Smart rider

Conservative

Smoke show

Impressive burnout

Smoke the clutch

Overheating clutch

Smoker

Two-stroke motorcycle

Snail

Turbocharger

Snake

Winding road

Snap oversteer

Sudden loss of rear traction

Snapchat stunter

Rider who performs for social media only

Snapper

Small

Snell rated

Premium helmet safety standard

Snorkel

Air intake

Snowflake

Wheel design pattern

Soft suspension

Under-damped suspension setup

softail

Harley frame with hidden rear suspension

Solo

Riding alone

Spark donuts

Grinding metal parts at night

Sparking

Dragging hard parts in corners

Speedfreak

Person obsessed with velocity

Speedo healer

Device to correct speedometer error

spill

falling off the bike, Minor crash

Spine adjuster

Rough road section

Split lanes

Ride between traffic lanes

Spooning

Tire mounting technique

Sport-touring

Category combining performance and comfort

Spotlight cowboy

Attention-seeking rider

Sprag clutch

One-way clutch mechanism

Spray painter

Rider in rain creating rooster tail

squid

reckless or inexperienced rider, usually on a sport bike

Squid tip

Bad advice

Squirrelly

Unstable handling

Stable

Good handling characteristics

Stack it

Crash

Staggered formation

Group riding pattern

stanced

motorcycle with lowered suspension and custom wheels

Stator

Electrical generator component

Steezy

Stylish and easy stunt execution, style with ease; performing tricks smoothly

Stem to stern

Complete motorcycle inspection

step-through frame

frame style for scooters

Stickboy

Extremely thin rider

Sticky

High-grip tires

stinkbug

poor riding posture with rear too high

Stinky wheel

Excessive smoke from burnout

Stitch monkey

Person who repairs leathers

Stocker

Unmodified motorcycle

stoppie

lifting rear wheel off ground while braking

Stopping distance

Safety buffer to vehicle ahead

Straight-line specialist

Rider with poor cornering skills

Strap in

Prepare for aggressive ride

Street Rossi

Aggressive street rider (from Valentino Rossi)

Street scrambler

Dual-purpose motorcycle

Streeter

Street-focused motorcycle

Stretch

Extended swingarm

Stretching

Extending swingarm for stunting/drag racing

String back together

Recover from mistake

Strip

Drag racing track

Stump jumper

Off-road motorcycle

Sunday rider

Casual

Superbike

Large displacement sportbike

Supermoto

Hybrid dirt/street motorcycle

support club

club supporting a larger 1% club

Surface swing

Changing road surfaces

sweep

last rider in a group ride

Sweepers

Long

Swing arm

Rear wheel mounting structure, part of rear suspension

T

50

T-boned

Hit from the side by another vehicle

Taco

Badly bent wheel

Tag

License plate

Tail gunner

Last rider in group

Tail-happy

Tendency for rear to slide

Take a dirt sample

Crash off-road

tank

gas tank

Tank slapper

Violent handlebar oscillation

Target fixation

Crashing into what you're looking at

Tarmac surfing

Riding extremely low in corners

Technical track

Complex

three-piece outfit

club with a three-piece patch

throttle

controls engine speed

Throttle jockey

Aggressive rider

Throttle therapy

Riding to relieve stress

Throw it away

Crash

Throw it sideways

Intentional slide

thumper

single-cylinder motorcycle engine

Ticket magnet

Motorcycle likely to attract police attention

Tiddler

Small displacement motorcycle

Tie it to the ground

Apply maximum braking

Tight as a drum

Perfectly maintained motorcycle

Tin can

Inexpensive helmet

Tipover

Low-speed fall

Toilet bowl

Circular stunt riding pattern

Ton

100 mph speed

Ton up

Exceeding 100 mph

top box

storage box mounted at rear

Topping out

Reaching maximum speed

Torque monster

High-torque motorcycle

touring

taking a trip on a motorcycle

Touring

Long-distance riding

touring bike

motorcycle designed for long-distance travel

Track day

Organized non-competitive riding event at race track

Track record

Fastest time on course

Trail braking

Continuing to brake while turning in

Trailer queen

Motorcycle transported more than ridden

Trellis frame

Tube lattice frame design

trike

three-wheeled motorcycle

Triple

Three-cylinder engine

Trophy hunter

Rider collecting riding achievements

TT

Tourist Trophy racing

Tuck

Aerodynamic riding position

Tuck and roll

Emergency dismount technique

Tune

Adjust for performance

Turn in

Begin cornering

twinkie

Harley twin cam engine (1999+)

Twistgrip

Throttle handle

Twisties

Winding roads

Two-up

Riding with passenger

U

8

UJM

Universal Japanese Motorcycle

Umbrella girl

Model at motorcycle races

Unclip

Release from foot retention

Underbelly

Bottom of motorcycle

Unicycle

Motorcycle during extended wheelie

Unit construction

Engine/transmission as single unit

Upgrade-itis

Constant desire for better components

Upside-down forks

Inverted front suspension

V

8

V-max

Maximum velocity

V-twin

Engine with cylinders in V-shape

Valve train

Engine valve operating components

Vapor lock

Fuel system problem in heat

Vaporware

Announced but unavailable motorcycle

Vibe

Vibration

Vintage

Classic motorcycle

Vulture

Person who buys crashed bikes for parts

W

31

W-twin

Engine with three cylinders in W-shape

W.H.O.R.E.

We Haul Our Rides Everywhere (trailer queen)

war wagon

vehicle transporting club’s gear or bikes

Warp speed

Extremely fast riding

Washed out

Lost traction in corner

Waving

Acknowledging other riders with hand gesture

Waving the flag

Emergency braking with flashing brake light

Weight and see

Wait for motorcycle reviews

Weight weenie

Person obsessed with reducing motorcycle weight

Wheelbase

Distance between axle centers

wheelie

front wheel lift while riding

Wheelie bar

Anti-flip device

Whip

Motorcycle

whiskey throttle

uncontrolled or accidental full acceleration

Whoolie

Alternate spelling of wheelie

Wick

Throttle (turning up the wick)

Wicking it up

Gradually increasing speed

Wide open

Full throttle

Wide tracker

Flat track style motorcycle for street

Wide-open

Full throttle

Widow maker

Dangerous motorcycle

Wilted Wings

damaged club member or bike (club slang)

Wind noise

Helmet aerodynamic sound

Wind screen

Aerodynamic shield

Wind therapy

Mental health benefits of riding

Wind tunnel

Aerodynamic testing facility

Wing

Aerodynamic device

Winterize

Prepare motorcycle for storage

Wobble

Oscillation of front end

Wrench

Mechanic

Wrench time

Maintenance hours

Y

3

Yard sale

Crash with widely scattered parts

Yellow flag

Caution signal in racing

Yump

Intentional jump

Z

2

Z-bar

Z-shaped handlebar

Zoot

Excellent