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bikerblah · 5 months

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I’m not really a content creator…. Stop laughing!! 😆 Just an OG biker that’s gonna leave a digital footprint for the grandkids to get a kick out of down the road.

I started compiling a list of biker slang and motorcycle lingo , if your on the fringe of the culture, new or even coming back to the biker culture things change , music, fashion, machines and the lingo , most of the terminology and slang that the biker culture speaks is pretty straightforward and you can get by with common sense but I have had some interesting questions lately and thought it would be helpful to put a list together for anyone interested in what certain terms and phrases mean …

* 1%er (One-Percenter): If 99% of motorcycle riders are law-abiding members of society, the rest is the 1%. Advertised through a patch or tattoo, usually on a diamond-shaped back field.

* 1-Kicker: Starts on the first kick. A well-tuned motorcycle.

* 1-piece (One-Piece): "1-piece" outfit of protective clothing, covering the rider from neck to ankles.

* 2-into-1: Two exhaust pipes mated into one pipe, i.e., two header pipes into one muffler pipe.

* 2-Piece (Two-Piece): "2-piece" outfit of protective clothing, consisting of a jacket and pants, often constructed to allow the two pieces to be zipped together at the waist.

* 2-Second Rule: Same as with a car. A tool used to estimate the minimum safe following distance between moving vehicles. Cars following a motorcycle should allow four seconds as motorcycles can stop much more quickly than cars can.

* 2-Stroke: An engine in which the piston assembly/assemblies run two strokes per cycle.A specific kind of engine that made a lot of power combined with lightweight and simplicity. Problem is, they pollute like crazy, so they were essentially legislated out of existence in the United States and the EU. However, they are still used in many Asian countries. In the U.S., some small devices still use two-stroke engines, like weed eaters, but even those are converting over to more eco-friendly four-stroke designs.

* 3-Piece Patch/3 Patch: A configuration of back patches used by some motorcycle clubs with a top patch (club's name), a center patch (club's logo), and a bottom patch (geographical territory). Top and bottom patches are referred to as "Rockers."

* 4-Stroke: An engine in which the piston assembly/assemblies run four strokes per cycle.

* 6-Bends/6-Bend Handlebars: Handlebars that have six bends. Popular in '70s Chopper culture.

* 13: The 13th letter of the alphabet (M). Can stand for motorcycle, marijuana, methamphetamines, Mongols, and mother chapter. You will most likely see this patch accompanied by a marijuana leaf at bike rallies, the individual that is wearing this patch is advertising that either they are partakers of marijuana or they are “holding” and are “open for business” , be careful here , a club member or outlaw biker will never be “dirty earning” or “dealing” in their club cut/colors, no matter what you saw on Sons Of Anarchy, so if you see this 13 on a full patch members cut , DO NOT TRY TO BUY WEED FROM THEM . Show some “class” and ask … “hey neighbor (your not his brother) I’m ignorant and I apologize, but what’s that 13 patch mean ? Most hard core 1% ers would love to tell you about their club and if you approach any of these individuals they will be happy to have a conversation with you , it’s all about respect.

* 81: The eighth letter of the alphabet (H) and the first letter (A). Stands for Hell's Angels

* 99%er: The opposite of a 1%er. Patch often worn by an off-duty biker, first responders, police, firefighters, EMTs/paramedics, and military personnel. Sometimes worn by citizens as a social statement, but this isn't a great idea as 1%ers could consider it antagonistic or as a challenge.

* ADV: Short for “adventure,” ADV means both a kind of bike and a style of riding. ADV bikes can be ridden on- and off-road and are often called “dual-sportbikes” or “adventure bikes.” A ride on such a bike is often called an “ADV ride,” and there are countless ADV groups, websites, clubs, etc.

* AMA: American Motorcyclist Association. This riding organization puts on races, rallies each year. It also lobbies politicians on behalf of riders and offers services such as roadside assistance.

* Airfence: Back in the day, racers could expect to slide into a tire barrier when they crashed in a corner at the track. Well Tires aren’t that soft, and many riders got injured. Enter Airfence, an airbag system for racetracks. When a rider hits an Airfence, it rapidly deflates, absorbing the energy of the crash and lessening the chances of injury.

* Any Number Over/Under: This refers to the length of front forks as compared to the stock length. Ex: "ten over" means 10 inches longer than in stock configuration, "two under" means two inches shorter.

* A's & 8s/Aces & 8s: Deadman's Hand. Legendary poker hand drawn by Wild Bill Hickok just before he was murdered.

* ABATE: The ABATE acronym is understood to have several meanings. ABATE is a social club and lobbying organization that seeks to preserve and regain legal rights on behalf of the motorcycling community.

* ABS: Anti-lock braking system, same as on a car.

* AFFA: Angels Forever, Forever Angels. A sign of loyalty referring to the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. These letters will change depending on the prevailing club of any particular area for example: OFFO Outlaws Forever Forever Outlaws and so on .

* ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. AKA “the Goon Squad”

* ATGATT: All The Gear All The Time. Refers to the wearing of all safety gear (helmets, jacket, etc.) at all times while riding.

* Aftermarket: Parts and accessories that are not OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) made.

* Air-Cooled: Engines cooled by airflow rather than through liquid cooling that is typical of cars; a bit of a misnomer as all engines are also oil-cooled, including air-cooled engines

* Airheads: A term used to refer to older, air-cooled BMW motorcycles.

* Analog Gauges: Mechanical/non-digital gauges.

* Anti-Dive System: A component of some front-end suspension systems designed to reduce front fork compression (dive) when under hard braking.

* Ape Hangers: High handlebars that rise above the rider's shoulders. The rider assumes a posture reminiscent of an ape hanging from a branch. Also referred to as just simply “Apes”

* Apex: The highest point. The apex of a curve is the tightest portion of said curve. It is your job as a rider to “hit” the perfect apex.

* Associate: A person associated with a motorcycle club. Used more by people outside of the biker community than by the motorcycle clubs.

* BMW: Bavarian Motor Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. The BMWs of the '60s and '70s have a cult following that continues to this day.

* BSA: Birmingham Small Arms. A British manufacturer of motorcycles, now out of business.

* Backbone: The top tube of a motorcycle frame where the tank is typically mounted.

* Back Warmer: The friend on the back of your motorcycle.

* Backyard: An area that you ride frequently.

* Baffle: A sound deadening wall inside a muffler.

* Bagger: A motorcycle equipped with saddlebags, usually referring to a large motorcycle with hard-side bags and full touring gear.

* Bandana: A square of cloth used for just about everything.

* Bar Hopper: A motorcycle used to ride from bar to bar. Flashy or custom bike not suited to long-distance riding.

* Bark-o-lounger: A large, comfortable motorcycle. Honda Gold Wing

* Basket Case: 1) A motorcycle in a state of dis-assembly, i.e. a bike with its parts in baskets. 2) A person that's a mess psychologically.

* Bead: The edge of a tire that touches the wheel

* Beehive: A beehive style tail light.

* Beemer: A nickname for a BMW.

* Belt Drive: A system that uses a belt to transfer power rather than a chain or shift.

* Bible: Don't leave home without it. Usually your sled’s service manual, but also just a bible

* Big Dog: An American motorcycle manufacturer; closed down in April 2011.

* Big Five: The five major motorcycle manufacturers: Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.

* Big Four: Hell's Angels, Pagans, Outlaws, and Bandidos. The four motorcycle clubs that have been identified as Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs by the FBI. These clubs are prosecutable under the Federal RICO statute. As of 2023 there are now 8 MC’s on the FBI list of criminal organizations, Mongols,Vagos,Black Pistons and Sons Of Silence.

* Big Twin: A large V-Twin engine, especially the larger Harley Davidson engines.

* Bike: An acceptable term for almost any motorcycle, which is also often called a ride, sled, beast, the old lady, sweetheart, my precious, That Broken Down Old Piece of … and so on.

* Biker: A motorcycle rider. Be careful with this term. In general, it means someone who rides a motorcycle, but in the world of those who actually ride motorcycles, it more precisely means someone who is in a motorcycle club. A Hell’s Angel is a biker, An Outlaw is a biker , A Mongol is a biker, but your Uncle Jim who scoots around on his Harley Sportster on the weekends from bar to bar isn’t. Uncle Jim is a rider or motorcyclist. Bikers don’t mind being called “bikers” — that’s what they are — but they generally don’t like to be called “motorcyclists.” But motorcyclists (non-bikers) don’t necessarily mind being called a “biker.” Follow?

* Biker Friendly: A business that appreciates the patronage of bikers.

* Billet: Refers to a piece of metal that's been machined into shape rather than cast.

* Blip the Throttle: A quick twist of the throttle.

* Block: The largest part of the engine in which the cylinder/cylinders are bored.

* Blockhead: A Harley Davidson engine produced between 1984 and 2000.

* Bobber: A Bob, Bobbed, or Bobbing). A motorcycle customized by bobbing (shortening) the fenders. Among the earliest custom motorcycles. Enjoying a resurgence in popularity today.

* Bonnie: General nickname for Britain’s iconic Triumph Bonneville motorcycle.

* Bonneville: This time, we’re talking about a place, not a bike, except to say that the Triumph Bonneville motorcycle is named after the place. That place is the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where riders and drivers take their machines to find out just how fast they can go. Just call it “Bonneville,” and other riders will know what you’re talking about. It’s also known as “The Salt.”

* Bullet bike: This is an outsider’s term for a sportbike, often used by media and non-riders to get attention.

* Boneyard: A salvage yard or the back room at a motorcycle shop where “takeoffs” that are still useable are stored

* Bore: The internal diameter of a cylinder.

* Bottom End: 1) The bottom part of the engine. 2) The lower end of the RPM range.

* Bottom Out: When a suspension system has no more room to travel.

* Boxer: The nickname for the two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine most-associated with older BMWs.

* Braided Hoses: hose covered in braided metal.

* Brain Bucket: A helmet.

* Bro/Brother: A close friend. Another rider.

* Bronson Rock: An improvised tool. Not a term used in spoken conversations, but you'll occasionally read it in forums.

* Broomsticks: Straight handlebars.

* Buckhorns: A style of handlebars that pull back toward the rider, actually resembling a bull's horns. When someone speaks about buckhorns, it's usually in the context of wanting to replace them with something more stylish.

* Buddy Pegs: Footpegs for a passenger.

* Buffeting: Quick-cycling wind turbulence, especially bothersome when following large vehicles. Also referred to as “Dirty Air”.

* Burnout: Spinning the rear wheel while preventing the motorcycle from moving forward (accomplished by applying the front brake or setting the front tire against an immovable object such as a high curb).

* Burning Rubber: Applying enough throttle from a stop that the rear tire loses traction and spins freely, leaving melted/burned rubber on the road surface.

* Busa: A nickname for a Hayabusa (Suzuki GSX1300R).

* CB: Slang for an old Honda, Most vintage Honda models start with CB, as in CB750, CB550, CBX, CB1100F, and so on (and on and on and on). Many current Hondas still start with CB, but in general, it means Honda.

* CB750: Honda motorcycle. The first Sport Bike.

* CC: Cubic centimeter. 1,000 cc = 1 liter.

* CE Armor/CE Certified: A European system designed to rate the effectiveness of motorcycle riding armor. There is no American equivalent.

* Choke: If your bike has carburetors, it’s got a choke somewhere, and you’re going to need it when starting up your bike if the engine is cold. A choke does just that: it chokes off the air going into the engine, so it has more gas in the mixture, easing starting and cold running. Modern bikes with fuel injection just do this automatically after you push the starter button. Chokes are variable, so some bikes need “full choke” to start or maybe just a smidge if it’s a hot day. If your bike has one, you’ll learn to use it as a matter of ownership , further more in most service manuals this piece of equipment is referred to as the “enrichment cable” or “enricher knob”

* CMA: Christian Motorcycle Association

* Cafe Chop: Converting a motorcycle into a cafe racer.

* Cafe Racer: Motorcycles customized in the style of the British street-racing motorcycles of the 1960s and 1970s. Riders known as “rockers” would modify their bikes for speed (of course) with lower handlebars, rear-set footpegs, loud pipes, and more, riding quickly from nightspot to nightspot — usually a café — to show off and pick up girls was part of the scene

* Cage: Car, truck, or van.

* Cager: Person in a car, truck, or van.

* Cam: A circle or oblong with an off-center point of axis.

* Can: An exhaust muffler, typically an aftermarket muffler for a sport bike.

* Canyon Carving: Hard, fast riding on twisty roads.

* Carb/carbs: This refers to “carburetors” — a component used to mix fuel and air together as it enters the piston chamber , technology that has been used for decades before fuel injection became a thing. They are finicky, and prone to clogging, which is why you need to have some basic knowledge of the eternal combustion engine to actually tune a motorcycle with carbs properly, Some smaller bikes and dirt bikes still come with them.

* Carbon Fiber: A strong and lightweight construction material.

* Cateye: A style the tail light.

* Catwalk: A British term for wheelie.

* Center of Gravity: Balance point.

* Centerstand: A device used to hold a motorcycle upright when it's not being ridden. Serves the same purpose as a kickstand, except that the rear wheel is raised off the road surface.

* Century: 100 mph

* Chain: A metal chain that transfers power to the rear wheel. Similar in design and purpose to a bicycle chain.

* Chain Drive: system that used a chain to transfer power to the rear wheel.

* Chaps: Protective riding gear that goes over pant legs and does not cover groin or posterior.

* Chapter: The local entity of a larger club. Example: XYZ Motorcycle Club, Detroit Chapter.

* Chase Vehicle: Truck that follows a pack of riders on a run to assist with breakdowns

* Chassis: Frame and suspension.

* Chopper: Term for a customized motorcycle that has taken various forms through the years. Originally, anything unnecessary was "chopped" off and then custom features were added. The swing arm and rear suspension is cut out or off the rear part of the motorcycle completely and a replacement hard tail is wielded in place , this shortens the length of the bike and makes it very ridged, hence the terms “hardtail” or “ridged”. The most notable feature of a Chopper is its extended fork system, and a proper chopper will have no front fender , no blinkers, a shortened or chopped rear fender and no gauges, chopper enthusiast have become their sub culture in the motorcycle industry and the Styles are as vast as the individuals that ride them.

* Chrome: Chromium plating used to increase corrosion resistance and enhance appearance.

* Church: A club meeting. Also referred to as “chapel”

* Citizen: A person with no Motorcycle Club affiliation and no criminal record.

* Club: A organized group of people banded together over a common interest. Motorcycle Club is a generally nefarious term referring to Outlaws/1%ers, whereas Riding Clubs are more community-friendly.

* Clip-ons: Handlebars that "clip-on" to the top of the forks. Usually seen on Sports Bikes as they lend themselves to a forward-leaning riding position.

* Colors: Patches, logo, uniform associated with a Motorcycle Club

* Compression Ratio: Refers to the difference between the precompressed volume of air/fuel and the compressed volume of air/fuel.

* Counter-Steer: Counter-intuitive steering system in which a push to the left-side handlebar results in a right-side turn and vice versa.

* Cowl/Cowling: Bodywork pieces that cover the engine and transmission of a bike to improve aerodynamics and visual smoothness. These are the parts removed from a naked bike.

* Crash Bars: Bars that attach to the frame and protrude outward so as to protect the engine in the event of a dump. They do nothing in a real crash.

* Cross Wind: Wind blowing across the direction of travel.

* Crotch Rocket: A sports bike.

* Cruiser: A bike built for cruising the boulevards as opposed to sports riding or long-distance riding. Typically of classic style with a low seat, pull-back handle bars, fancy paint, and lots of chrome.

* Cut-Off Switch: A handlebar-mounted switch that turns off the engine. Also called a kill switch.

* Cuts: A denim or leather vest , the term comes from the 50’s and 60’s when MC’s would “cut” the sleeves off of denim jackets. All club patches are sewn onto cuts, which are worn as the outer-most layer of clothing, even over leather jackets. Most, if not all, outlaw clubs have cuts as their basic uniform.

* DILLIGAF: You may see this most often as a sticker on a fellow rider’s motorcycle helmet, bike, or even as a tattoo or patch on a riders cut. It’s an acronym for Does It Look Like I Give A F*ck. It’s pronounced “dill-eh-gaff,” or pretty much like what it looks like.

* DOHC: Dual Overhead Cam

* DOHV: Dual Overhead Valves

* DOT: Department of Transportation. Most often referring to a DOT-approved helmet.

* Daytona: Daytona Beach, Florida, home of the annual Daytona Beach Bike Week rally(which is actually 2 weeks long) and the Biketoberfest motorcycle rally.

* Decreasing Radius Curve: A curve that gets tighter as you progress through. Sometimes found on cloverleaf-style exit ramps, these turns are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists.

* Digger: A motorcycle with a stretched (lengthened) frame and stock-length front forks.

* Dirt Bike: An off-road bike; not street legal.

* Dive: The tendency for the front suspension to compress under hard braking due to the effects of inertia.

* Dome: Helmet

* Donor: A bike from which parts are taken to make or repair another bike

* Doughnut: A 360-degree burnout, just as in a car, but harder to do on a motorcycle.

* Do-Rag: Cloth head covering. The evolved form of a bandana

* Drag Bars: Handlebars that do not appreciably sweep up or back toward the rider.

* Dragging Pegs: Leaning so far into a curve that the foot pegs drag on the road surface. Not a good idea and definitely not done on purpose.

* Drag Pipes: Short, straight exhaust pipes typically seen on Cruisers

* Dresser: A large motorcycle complete with a full touring package (fairing, windshield, saddle bags, and a comfortable seat).

* Drop Seat: A frame style in which the seat-rest has a lowering notch within the frame.

* Dual front disc brakes: If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle or are new to the sport, you may have noticed that some motorcycles have two disc brake rotors on the front wheel. Why? Quite simply, more braking power. Also, the two discs split up the braking forces so any slight “pull” from the braking mechanism is offset. However, brakes are heavy (and expensive), so many bikes with less performance potential or lower prices have just one front disc brake. With the advent of better brake systems and anti-lock braking systems (ABS), most bikes stop just fine with one disc up front. However, top-tier performance bikes or very heavy bikes will usually have a pair of rotors to maximize stopping power.

* Dual Purpose Motorcycle: A motorcycle designed for use on and off-road, with a bias toward for off-road.

* Dual Sport: A motorcycle designed for use on and off-road, with a bias toward on-road.

* Duck/duc: Slang nickname for Ducati (“doo-caw-tee” or “doo-cat-ee,” depending on who you ask), the Italian maker of some of the most expensive, powerful, sweet-handling, and beautiful motorcycles in the world.

* Dumping the Bike: When a bike falls over. Not a crash, as the bike is not under power at the time of the dump.

* Earned or Bought: Refers to patches. Some clubs' patches are earned (the wearer had to complete a specific task in order to earn the patch) and some patches are bought (the wearer does not have to earn the right to wear the patch). If asked by an outlaw if your patches are earned or bought, "bought" is the safe answer. "Earned" could cause you to have to explain yourself, and you won’t have the right answer.

* Easy Rider: Motorcycle magazine and classic movie. Also a respectful title for older bikers.

* Endo: Abruptly stopping a motorcycle so that inertia lifts the back end off the surface. Sometimes this is done on purpose as a stunt, also known as a Stoppie. If an endo is not intentional, it's called an end-over-end.

* Enduro: Used to describe an off-road/trail ride competition and the bikes that are used to compete in these competitions.

* Evolution/Evo: Harley Davidson engine produced from 1984 to 2000.

* Exhaust Wrap: Insulated cloth wrapped around exhaust pipes to retain heat and give an old-school look. Also known as heat wrap, pipe wrap, and exhaust tape. On cars, it's called header wrap.

* Fairing: Bodywork at the front of a motorcycle designed to deflect wind, rain, and road debris.

* Farkle: Doo-dads, kitch, and add-ons that serve no useful purpose. One or two farkles are ok (flags, stuffed pigs, etc.) but don't overdo it. Most serious bikers don't use this term but you'll find it used in forums and occasionally in magazines.

* Fins: Heat sumps on air-cooled engines.

* Fishtailing: Side-to-side sliding of the rear wheel

* Fishtails: Flared exhaust tip that resembles a fish's tail.

* Flathead: An early engine design associated with Harley Davidson engines produced from 1919 to 1973.

* Flat Spot: The point at which no additional power is gained from increased RPMs

* Flycatcher: Hypercharger reminiscent of a racecar's Bird Catcher, but smaller.

* Flying Colors: Wearing your club's "colors."

* Foot Pegs: Pegs where a rider rests his feet

* Fork Bag: A small pouch attached to forks (sometimes handlebars or frame) and used to carry tools and supplies.

* Frisco Style: When a fuel tank is mounted on top of the frame rather than having the frame sunk into the underside of the tank.

* Garage rot: One of the worst things you can do to a motorcycle is to not ride it. It’s one thing if you’ve got a super-rare vintage bike in your living room as an art installation. But if you leave your bike in the garage collecting dust next to your Stairmaster for two years, the brake fluid is going to go bad, brake pistons could stick, piston rings could rust, rust may form in the gas tank, and so on. That’s known as garage rot. Either ride it or store it properly.

* GBNF: Gone but Not Forgotten

* Gearbox/box: Slang for the transmission on a motorcycle.

* Getting Patched: Graduating from prospect to club member (getting your center patch).

* Giggle Gas: Nitrous oxide.

* Get-off: This is another term for “crash” and usually denotes a minor crash. It’s called a “get-off” because the rider “gets off” the bike during the crash (which is what you want to happen).

* Gixer/Gixxer: Suzuki GSX-R.

* Gooseneck: The stretched portion of the frame just behind the neck, originally used by home-builders to stretch the length of the frame without altering its geometry.

* Green Light Triggers: "Demand-actuated" traffic lights sometimes don't recognize motorcycles because motorcycles aren't big enough to trigger the sensor. Green Light Triggers are magnets that attach to the underside of a motorcycle designed to trigger the light to change. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Most of these lights nowadays have light sensors on them, it is now common knowledge that if you are not tripping the weight sensor, you can turn your lights from high beams to low beam repeatedly and cycle the light.

* Gremlin: Blamed for all sorts of mechanical problems. Typically referred to in the context of Gremlin Bells, which are said to protect against Gremlins.

* Grocery Getter: A biker's car, usually a middle-class, family-style car.

* GS: Nickname for BMW GS dual-sport models. Most people are referring to the big GS models, such as the GS1200 Adventure when they say “GS.” BMW also makes smaller GS models as well, and they are highly competent adventure bikes.

* HOG: Harley Owners Group

* Hack: A sidecar. Also a "side hack.

* Hairpin: A very tight turn.

* Hamsters: A high-profile group of custom motorcycle enthusiasts, easily recognized at events by their distinctive uniform: A yellow t-shirt with the Hamsters' logo. Membership includes: Arlen Ness, Dave Perowitz, and Donnie Smith.

* Hand Signals: Beyond the left-turn, right-turn that you were taught when riding a bicycle; can be used to communicate formation, hazards, travel routes, etc.

* Hang Around: a person that "hangs around" a motorcycle club and may be interested in joining.

* Hard Tail/Hardtail: motorcycle with no rear suspension.

* Harley Davidson: the largest American motorcycle manufacturer.

* Heel-Toe Shifter: gear-selector lever that allows the rider to push down on the rear portion of the lever rather than pulling up on the front.

* Helmet Head: your hair after wearing a helmet.

* Helmet Stickers: biker equivalent to bumper stickers except 1. bikes don't have bumpers and 2. like tattoos, one's not enough.

* High Side: accident in which the motorcyclist goes over the motorcycle (and then sometimes the motorcycle goes over the motorcyclist—you get the picture). Opposite of a low side.

* Highway Bars: bars that connect to and extend away from the frame in a semi-circular arch. Highway bars allow for leg stretching room on longer rides, offer convenient mounting points for auxiliary lighting and they can offer some protection during a dump.

* Highway Pegs: foot pegs mounted so as to allow leg stretching room. Highway Pegs are much small than Highway Bars.

* Hog: nickname for a large motorcycle, usually a Harley Davidson.

* Horizontally Opposed: engine configuration in which cylinders are set 180 degrees apart.

* IC: pronounced (I Seee) , Independent contractor , Contrary to popular belief, motorcycle club members actually have more rules and bylaws to abide by than a citizen. When there is a task,chore, or problem that a club need’s handled, an IC is employed . Because of the RICO statue most IC’s have no affiliation with any one club. These individuals are the most dangerous hard cores in the culture, they do not answer to any authority , they don’t have to ask for permission to beat your ass, and they are usually not wearing any identifiable patches, they are only identified by earned ink , if even that , it would vary depending on the club and for that you would have to ask the club , and I highly recommend against that , look for blood drops , hash marks , tear drops on the face, neck, or hands. You can run in rough circles in this culture your whole riding life and never knowingly be aware of such individuals. They don’t broadcast their business, however having a few to many beers at the local “open house” and shooting off your mouth would not be good trade craft. Remember it’s about respect.

* I Rode Mine: T-shirt slogan worn to shame those that trailer their bikes to rallies.

* IOMTT: Acronym for the Isle of Mann Tourist Trophy race, which takes place on a small island each year. It is one of the most exciting, insane, and insanely dangerous races in the world. Riders pilot 200ish-hp sportbikes at up to 230ish mph around a 37-mile road course that is made up of city and country roads. There is little margin for error, and many riders have died on the course. Also known simply as “the Isle of Man” or the “IoM.”

*Independent: A biker with no club affiliation.

*Indian: An old American motorcycle manufacturer.

* Ink: A tattoo.

* Ink Slinger: A tattoo artist.

* Inline Four: An engine configuration in which all four cylinders are aligned in a row.

* Inline Six: An engine configuration in which all six cylinders are aligned in a row.

* Inline Triple: An engine configuration in which all three cylinders are aligned in a row.

* Inverted Front End/Inverted Forks: A front-end suspension system in which larger tubes are at the top and smaller tubes are at the bottom.

* Iron Butt: A motorcycle run that covers 1,000 miles in 24 hours. The Iron Butt Rally covers 11,000 miles in 11 days.

* Ironhead: Harley Davidson Sportsters produced from 1957 to 1985.

* Jet: Ports in the carburetor through which fuel flows

* Jet Needle: Controls the flow of fuel through the jet.

* Jockey Shift: A gear selector fitted directly into the top of the transmission.

* Jugs: Cylinders.

* Katoom: Pronounced “kah-toooom.” Slang for bike maker KTM.

* Kawi: Pronounced “cow-ee.” Short for Kawasaki.

*Kicker/Kickstart: A motorcycle with no electric starter that must be manually kick-started.

* Kickstand: A mechanical device that enables a motorcycle to balance in an upright position when not being ridden. In most service manuals this is referred to the “jiffy stand”.

* King and Queen Seat: A one-piece seat with a saddle for the driver, a passenger saddle behind, and a high, padded backrest raised about six inches above the driver and attached to a high Sissy Bar. In the '70s, no chopper was complete without a king and queen seat.

* Knucklehead: Harley Davidson engine produced from 1936 to 1947.

* Kuryakyn: A well-respected manufacturer of custom motorcycle bolt-on parts, especially among Harley Davidson enthusiasts.

* Kit: A Britishism and general term for “gear” that’s catching on in the U.S.

* KLR: Short for the Kawasaki KLR 650, one of the first purpose-built dual sportbikes. Not fast, complicated, or especially stylish, it’s the Jeep of the dual-sport/ADV world and has been in production for about 30 years in pretty much the same form. Riders have circled the globe on their trusty KLRs, which have a well-deserved reputation for toughness, simplicity, and low cost.

* Lace: To lace a wheel is to install the spokes.

* Lane Splitting: Driving between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction either at speed or when traffic is stopped

* Laughing Gas: Nitrous oxide

* Laughlin/Laughlin River Run: An annual motorcycle rally in Laughlin NV.

* Lay It Down: A crash in which a biker slides with one leg under the bike, typically done purposely to avoid a worse collision. When done accidentally it's called a " low side."

* Leathers: Riding clothes made of leather.

* Lid: Helmet

* Line: The intended path of travel.

* Lone Wolf: A biker with no club affiliation.

* Low Side: A crash in which a rider slides with one leg under the motorcycle, opposite of a "High Side."

* Magic button: “Easyrider” or “Old Head” slang for the starter button. For decades, motorcycles were kick-start-only machines. While they weren’t the first by a long shot, Honda made electric starting commonplace on motorcycles.

* MC and M/C: A motorcycle club. There are no admitted "Motorcycle Gangs" just as there is no admitted Mafia.

* MFFM: Mongols Forever, Forever Mongols

* Meet: A scheduled social event or "meeting." Social... this is not "Church."

* Megaphone: A flared exhaust tip

* Metric Cruiser: Cruiser style bike of foreign manufacturer

* Mod or mods: Two things here. “Mods” as describing a rider is a British term for someone who rides a scooter in nicely dressed attire , “mods” is short for “moderns” ,usually as part of a club and were direct rivals of the British “Rockers” motorcycle clubs. A sharp sense of style and a sweet customized Vespa or Lambretta scooter are required. Mod” or “mods” as it applies to machinery is another way of saying you’ve customized (modified) something on your bike.

* Monkey Butt: The unpleasant "end" result of a long ride.

* Moped: A small motorcycle that also has bicycle pedals — and can be pedaled. Mopeds usually have 50cc or smaller engines, and so they aren’t very fast. However, there is a whole hop-up culture around mopeds, so you can actually see some pretty insane customs here and there. Some people call the lightest of the lightweight scooters “mopeds,” but unless they have pedals, they are still technically scooters.

* Motard: Pronounced “moe-tard.” A motard motorcycle is essentially a dirtbike or dual-sportbike that has been converted to street use and only street use. It’s not a dual-sport. Motards retain the tall stance, long suspension, thin profile, and lightweight of a dirt bike, but have sportbike tires, reworked suspension, lights, signals, etc. Once a fringe bike type pieced together by garage builders, motards are crazy fun to ride because they are so light, fast, and maneuverable. That makes them great as city bikes, but not so great for distance, although many people kit them out for long trips because they are so much fun to ride. You can get factory motards from a few major bike makers, including Ducati, which makes the rightly named Hypermotard.

* Motorbike: Term for a motorcycle used largely across the pond by our English and Aussie brothers and sisters.

* Motorcyclist: Politically correct and all-encompassing term for people who ride motorcycles, typically used by people outside the riding sphere. Like “biker,” some riders don’t mind being referred to as motorcyclists, while others do. It might be easier to just say “motorcycle rider.” Motorcyclist is also the title of a popular motorcycle web magazine, which was originally called American Motorcyclist.

* Mother/Mother Chapter: An original chapter of a Motorcycle Club.

* MotoGP: MotoGP (Motorcycle Grand Prix) is the top tier of motorcycle racing. Much as Formula 1 or IndyCar is to car racing, MotoGP is where the best of the best, both in terms of bikes and riders, meet to do battle. The races are held all over the world at the best tracks and consistently attract 100,000 or more fans on race days. Only in the U.S. is MotoGP relatively unknown and overshadowed by car-based motorsports such as NASCAR and Indy racing. There is usually one MotoGP race a year in the States: at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. If you can go to a race, be sure to do it. And bring earplugs. Other popular racing leagues include Moto2 (600cc machines) Moto3 , MotoAmerica and World Superbike, which is also known as SBK.

* MSF: MSF stands for Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Formed in the 1970s, the MSF offers basic and advanced riding instruction. The MSF supplies the motorcycle (usually 250cc beginner bikes) and teaches proven riding skills. It’s not as easy as you might think! Once you pass the beginner class and have a few hundred miles under your belt, take some advanced MSF classes to up your skill level. It’s well worth it.

* Naked Bike: Bikes with little to no cowl or fairing. Often achieved after a bike is laid down. The damaged body pieces are removed and then not replaced either due to their cost or just because the owner decides that he likes the new look.

* Neck: The front of a motorcycle frame behind the steering head.

* Nitrous Oxide/N2O: Oxygen-rich gas fed into the fuel/oxygen stream to increase horsepower.

* Nomad: 1) "Nomad" on a bottom rocker patch means that motorcycle club member travels between geographical chapters. Kind of like working in a secretarial pool, a Nomad goes where he's needed. 2)"Nomad" on a top rocker patch or car plaque means "Nomad" is the name of that club.

* NOS: 1) New Old Stock: old parts that are still in stock; 2) Nitrous Oxide System.

* OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer.

* OFFO: Outlaws Forever, Forever Outlaws.

* OHC: OverHead Cam.

* OHV: OverHead Valve.

* OMG: Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. You won't see this advertised on patches or tattoos, but you'll see it in books and magazine magazines/web articles. Always used to refer to someone else; 1%ers may mention their Club, but will never say they're part of a gang.

* Oil Bag: An oil tank.

* Old Lady/Ol' Lady: A wife or long-time girlfriend. Has nothing to do with age and is not a derogatory term.

* One-Off: A one-of-a-kind fabricated part or one-of-a-kind motorcycle.

* Organ Donor: A biker who doesn't wear a helmet.

* Originals: The original colors presented to a new Motorcycle Club member.

* P: when worn as a patch on Originals/Colors, it means Chapter President.

* Pannier or panny/pannies: Fancy French motorcycle slang for saddlebags or luggage located on either side of a bike’s passenger seat. With the rise of dual-sport riding, panniers now refer more to hard-sided cases, while traditional leather or soft-sided bags are still called saddlebags.

* Pancake Engine: horizontally opposed engine.

* Panhead: Harley Davidson engine produced from 1948 to 1965.

* Pasta Rocket: Italian Sportbike.

* Patch Holder: member of a Motorcycle Club. Also referred to as a “full patch”.

* Patched/Patched In: graduating from Prospect to Motorcycle Club member.

* Patches: sewn onto vests or jackets – some have hidden meanings; some are just for fun.

* Peanut Tank: distinctive style of fuel tank. The quintessential Sportster tank; also popular on Choppers and Bobbers.

* Peg/pegs: Short for footpegs.

* Period Correct: a motorcycle built to reflect customizations that were trendy when the bike was new.

* Petcock: fuel valve.

* Pillion: This is another name for the passenger on your motorcycle.

* Pillion Pad: a pad attached to a fender that acts as a passenger seat.

* Pin It: speedometer needle is as far as it will go.

* Pipes: exhaust system.

* Poker Run: run where participants stop at predetermined checkpoints to draw a playing card; after five checkpoints, the participant will have five cards. Whoever makes the best poker hand from his five cards wins.

* Poser: pretend biker.

* Powerband: a bike’s power output characteristics based upon its RPMs.

* Power Plant: engine.

* Power Train: everything that makes the bike move.

* Primary Drive/Primary: mechanical device that connects the engine to the transmission.

* Property Of: displayed on a shirt, patch or tattoo to show who the woman “belongs to.” Example: “Property of Turk” means that woman has associated herself with Turk and is “his”, yes this is a real thing , more over the “property” patch acts like a coat of arms if you will in public or open bike events to remind you that , this one is off limits.

* Prospect: A prospective club member.

* Pussy Pad: The seat on the back of the bike, usually where a biker’s ol’ lady rides.

* Rally: A big group ride, often organized around a location with camping/hotels and loops to local scenic rides. Rallies can be you and 10 buddies on an annual ride, or an event like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with thousands of riders. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but try attending at least one — or plan your own with friends. It’s a great way to be among others who love to ride as much as you hopefully do.

* Rat bike: A rat bike is any motorcycle in good to crappy condition that you don’t really care about. That said, some people care plenty about their rat bikes. But for the most part, rat bikes are machines for just gettin’ around, and if it gets crashed, tipped over, snowed on, or some drunk idiot pukes on it, oh well. Just hose it off, and it’s good to go. Be sure to own at least one rat bike in your riding career.

* Rear-sets: Where you put your feet while riding is important and ranges widely depending on what kind of bike you ride. Cruisers tend to place the feet forward (ostensibly for comfort and the right look) while your feet are up high and back on a sportbike. Other bikes put your feet somewhere in between those extremes. Many sportbike owners purchase customizable “rear sets,” which allow them to move the footpegs and bike controls around a bit depending on what kind of riding they’re doing (such as up high and back for a track day session, or lower and more comfortable for commuting). Rear sets can be works of art on their own and are typically easy to install.

* Rider: Anyone riding a motorcycle. You drive cars. You pilot airplanes. You ride motorcycles.

* Ring-ding: Slang for a two-stroke motorcycle, which used to be common but is now mostly resigned to vintage status after being legislated out of existence (they are quite good at polluting the air in their immediate vicinity). The term comes from the “ringing” sound the engine makes. Also known as buzz bombs, skeeter bikes, and fog machines. Ride behind one, and you’ll understand why.

* Road rash: What’s left after the stripping away of skin from unprotected parts of your body as you slide down the roadway during a crash. Wearing the correct gear prevents road rash, which is painful, takes forever to heal, leaves scars, and could give you a nasty infection. It also tells everyone you foolishly didn’t gear up for your ride.

* Rocker: A curved patch that is usually placed on the side or back of a cut. Usually designates the club’s name. Also a Group of Riders in Britain that reviled the “mods” rockers got their name from the top end rockers of their engines, the leather jacket and blue jean look was standard uniform and lots of hair grease.

* Rubbie: Pronounced “rub-ee,” not “ruby.” Not used as much as it used to be, “rubbie” is somewhat derogatory slang for Rich Urban Biker, or those riders who buy expensive Harleys and then ride them only to coffee shops, bars, or hardly at all. Rubbies will sometimes even call themselves such, so it’s not like it’s a terrible thing to be called. At least they ride. Sometimes.

* Slicks: A special kind of tire with no tread pattern. Used in racing, slicks afford the maximum amount of contact and traction between a tire and the racetrack. They are not street legal and wear very quickly (usually only lasting for one race) and are no good in the rain.

* Sergeant-at-Arms: The member who handles club rules, patches, etc. Also sometimes weapons. (In some MCs, the SAA and Enforcer are interchangeable terms for the same role.

* Sis/Sister : A close friend, another biker

* Squid: This is a mocking term for sportbike riders who are long on talk and short on skill, and generally means “idiot rider.” Also, squids typically don’t wear safety gear when riding. The term comes from what happens when said idiot piles his sportbike into the back of a dump truck while showing off for the ladies, breaking every bone in his body (thus, a body like a boneless squid). This term is also used to describe Harley riders who wear shorts and no helmet at Sturgis, Daytona, Thunder Beach pretty much anywhere that will allow unskilled,inebriated, out of shape senior citizens , to cruise or “duck walk” a strip playing obnoxious oldies music on financed motorcycles that they trailered and that wear no gear . Also referred to as “glamour boys” and or “posers”, don’t worry if you actually ride your scoot with at least a helmet and jacket and get the “ear buds” concept , your not a squid.

* Stoppie: A reverse wheelie. While a wheelie stands the bike up on the back wheel, a stoppie stands it up on the front. Made possible by advances in braking technology, it is still enormously difficult to do a stoppie. Do it wrong, and you trash your bike and possibly injure yourself. Do it right, and you’re a god among men and women

* Sturgis: Short for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but ostensibly, it’s the small South Dakota town that hosts one of the largest and most famous motorcycle rallies in the world. About 250,000 riders typically attend each year, so book those hotel rooms early (like, 10 years early) or prepare to camp. Sturgis is primarily a Harley/cruiser-dominated event, but all bikes and riders are welcomed. Bring earplugs. And money. And aspirin.

* Sportster/sporty: The “entry-level” Harley-Davidson (before the Street line appeared). Sportsters began production in 1957 as a lighter-weight speed machine and have been in HD’s lineup since. While they are smaller than the full-size (or “big-inch”) Harleys, they aren’t exactly small, with the smallest Sportster model coming in at 883cc. There is also a 1200cc version and 883cc bikes can be up-converted to 1200cc pretty easily. Sportsters have traditionally been the most affordable Harleys to buy and a favorite of women riders, although, if you’re a guy, have no shame in getting a Sportster. They are (relatively) light, lean, and fast for a Harley and are great for cruising in the city while also having some long-distance capability.

* Standard: A “regular” motorcycle that isn’t specialized for one type of riding. Until the 1980s, most all street bikes could be described as “standards.” Now, they are quite rare, but they are making a comeback.

* Sweeper: A long, broad, constant turn. There are many kinds of turns out on the road or at the track, but a sweeper lets riders maintain high speed and push their cornering skills to the limit. Ask any performance rider, and they’ll likely tell you a sweeper is the sweetest kind of corner.

* The ton: These days, even the smallest of sportbikes can easily top 100 miles an hour. But way back when, owning a bike that could go that fast — known then as “doing the ton” — meant you had something pretty special. It might blow itself to bits if you went that fast for long (or at least some parts might fall off), but being able to hit triple digits when most bikes could barely do 80 was an accomplishment.

* Tiddler: A term meaning “small bike” or “beginner bike.” Typically, street bikes under 250cc qualify as tiddlers.

* Track day: Track days are organized riding events at actual race tracks. No matter what you ride, consider getting your bike out on a race track. While track days are dominated by riders on amped-up sportbikes, track days are great for learning the limits of your bike — any bike — and improving your riding skills. Instructors will help diagnose your riding problems and give you tips to improve your experience. Track day skills translate directly to improved street riding, and there’s nowhere else you can safely push the limits to the maximum without fear of cops, dumb-ass car drivers, obstructions, and speed limits. Well worth the time and investment and quite possibly the most fun you can have while clothed. Check with your closest track or a local riding club to see where track days are taking place near you – and then go attend one, no matter what you ride.

* Trike: A motorcycle with one wheel in front and two in the back, just like that trike you rode as a kid. Newer rigs with two wheels upfront and one in the back are typically referred to as auto cycles.

* Treasurer: The member who takes care of funds. Also organizes activities, fundraisers, and other club events.

* Torque: Engines/motors make power primarily in two distinct ways: horsepower and torque. Torque is the “twisting force” an engine is able to achieve as opposed to a measure of work, which is the horsepower figure. You can have a zillion horsepower, but if you have no torque, you’re not going to get going very quickly. Torque is also called “grunt” because it usually lives in the lower registers of an engine’s powerband and can be felt at low revs, especially in single and twin-cylinder engines. Sportbikes tend to have a lot more horsepower than torque to achieve high speeds; cruisers flip that equation for better acceleration (grunt) and “cruise-ability” at legal-ish speeds. Every engine is a mix of horsepower and torque, but a lot of riders will tell you that a bike can never have too much torque.

* Twisties: Slang for roads with a lot of curves.

* UJM: Motorcycle slang acronym for Universal Japanese Motorcycle. For a while there (mostly in the 1970s), if you took the badges off of a large selection of motorcycle models from Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha, they were so similar most people would have a tough time differentiating one model or brand from another. Common traits included steel frames, inline-4 engines, disc brakes, and so on. Those bikes became known as Universal Japanese Motorcycles because it seemed like any of the bikes could have come from any of the big four Japanese bike makers. Today, we call UJMs “standard” motorcycles. Beginning in the 1980s, motorcycles began to become specialized (sportbikes, touring bikes, cruisers, etc.), so today, a purely standard “new” UJM motorcycle is pretty rare, but there are a few out there.

* Vintage/classic: In general, an old motorcycle. What constitutes “vintage” varies from brand to brand and rider to rider (or collector to collector). The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club sets vintage as a bike 15 years or older, while for others, bikes made before World War II are true vintage bikes. In general, if it doesn’t have modern electronics, uses drum brakes, and fires on a points ignition system, it’s probably vintage. But it will depend on whom you ask.

* V-Twin: This engine configuration, which consists of a two-cylinder motor with the cylinders in a V format, is the predominant engine type found in cruiser motorcycles. In fact, it’s the only kind of engine Harley-Davidson makes. Almost every other motorcycle maker makes their own V-twin as well, but the Harley motor is the most iconic. V-twin engines can produce a lot of torque and are therefore ideal for cruising around as they can accelerate quickly at low revs. However, Ducati also makes a V-twin, but since the cylinders are split at exactly 90 degrees, they call their engine an “L-twin.” V-twins are also known for their robust, booming sound signature.

* Vice President: Second-in-command, usually coordinates Church and other events, and also takes over President roles in case that member can’t perform his duties.

* The Wave: Once you start riding, you’ll notice that other riders on motorcycles will wave or make a gesture (peace sign, thumbs up, etc.) of some sort as you pass by each other. Why? It’s called The Wave, and it’s just a friendly way to say you are a member of a select group of adventurers: a motorcycle rider. So wave back. This phenomenon is mostly restricted to North America (Brits use something much more subtle: “the nod”); in other parts of the world, riding motorcycles is as common (or more so) than driving cars, so they don’t tend to wave or they’d be doing it all the time.

* WFO: Acronym for Wide Fucking Open, or full throttle.

* Z-bars: A set of tallish, angled handlebars, usually found on a chopper or cruiser. You’ll know them when you see them.

Till next blah , Ride Safe Ride Sober 🤘😎

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