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Biker Dictionary

Acronym / Abbreviation / Phrase Description
1%er A biker belonging to an outlaw motorcycle club, like the Hells Angels. The term was coined by the AMA, when they mentioned that these biker gangs represented 1% of the biker population. You will often find a “1%” patch on their vests. Worn by outlaw clubs. Made famous by the media that said 99% of bikers and clubs are law abiding citizens, while the other 1% are not.
2-1
2 into 1		 Two exhaust pipes mated into one pipe, i.e. two header pipes into one muffler pipe.
3 Piece 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.”
ATGATT All The Gear, All The Time – This refers to a safety attitude which presumes that safety gear should always be worn when riding a motorcycle regardless of temperature, distance to be ridden, or peer pressures that might encourage not doing so. ATGATT gear means helmet, vest/jacket, gloves, pants, and boots at a minimum, and may include other saftey gear such as knee/elbow/shoulder/back/chest armor.
Air Cooled Mechanism used to keep the engine at operating temperature by using air flowing over heat sinks (engine fins) to disperse excess heat into the environment directly. 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.
Apes
Ape Hangers
  1. Handlebars that are very high, and which often raise the rider’s hands above his or her shoulders. High handlebars so Biker’s hands are at or above their shoulder height.. Refers to a handlebar style where the handgrips are located at a higher position, so as to enable the rider’s arms to “hang”. (Imagine Clyde from “Every Which Way but Loose” and you’ll understand the riding position)
  2. Very high handlebars. Usually found on choppers.
  3. A term coined at the height of the custom-bike movement to describe tall handlebars that forced the rider to reach skyward to graps the controls, making the rider adopt an ape-like posture.
Baffle Sound-deadening material that sits inside a muffler and quiets the exhaust note.
Bagger A motorcycle equipped with saddlebags, usually referring to a large motorcycle with hard-side bags and full touring gear.
Bead The edge of a tire that touches the wheel
Belt Drive Final drive (sometimes also the cam drive) using a fabric belt to provide power to the rear wheel.
Biker Simply put, a motorcycle operator. True bikers have a passion for the art of motorcycling, and easily get all wrapped up in this passion during even a simple 1/2 mile commute, but they rarely allow their motorcycle to sit for more than a week without taking it somewhere. Anywhere. Just for the simple excuse of a joy ride will do.
Biker Friendly A business establishment that doesn’t treat you like you have the plague when you walk in wearing leather.
Bobber The art of shortening a bike’s appearance by cutting down the size of its fenders. These bikes were also known as “bobbers”. Appeared before choppers. They got the name from the rear fender being cut down to a minimum. And the rest of the bikes were stripped also. This was all part of the early customizing done by the returning WWll flyers.
Body English
Body Steering		 A method used by motorcycle riders to help control lean angle or direction independent of the handlebars by moving body position on the motorcycle.
Cage A car, truck, or van. The sworn enemy of motorcyclists, more commonly known as automobiles. The name stems from being all cooped up inside a closed shell, with no contact with the outside air.
Cager A person driving a car, truck, or van.
California Roll Coming up to a stop sign without stopping but proceeding through at a slow rate of speed.
California Stop Phrase often used by motorcyclists meaning to stop, typically at an intersection, without putting a foot down.
CC Cubic centimeters. A 1000cc engine = 1000 cubic centimeters in volume. 1 cubic centimeter = 0.061024 cubic inches
Centerstand The mechanical stand attached to the frame that holds the motorcycle vertically upright (as opposed to leaned over on the side stand) when parked.
Chain Drive The word chain drive usually refers to primary drive, in which sense it means the chain transferring power to the rear wheel. As opposed to the two alternatives, shaft or belt drive, the chain is a lightweight solution and does not cause lag in throttle response or elevation effects. On the other hand it is a solution that needs a lot of maintenance.
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 most notable feature of a Chopper is its extended fork system.
CI Cubic Inches. A 111ci engine = 111 cubic inches in volume. 1 cubic inch = 16.3871 cubic centimeters.
Colors Patches, logo, uniform associated with a Motorcycle Club.
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 A denim jacket which has had the sleeves cut off. All club patches are sown 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.
Death Wobble An almost uncontrollable shaking or oscillation that affects the front wheel of a motorcycle. This uncontrollable shaking can be either motorcycle or rider induced. Many riders who are faced with this unfortunate event are typically not able to avoid going down.
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.
Feathering the clutch Gently releasing the clutch and keeping it in the friction zone to apply more (or less) engagement of power applying the brake.
Friction Zone The part of the clutch lever travel from where the clutch just starts to engage until it is fully engaged. Riders use the friction zone to get the bike in motion.
Gremlin Blamed for all sorts of mechanical problems. Typically referred to in the context of Gremlin Bells, which are said to protect against Gremlins.
Hard Tail A rigid motorcycle frame with no shock absorbing device on the rear.
High Siding
  1. Wrecking a bike by flipping it over. Usually caused by releasing the rear break during a skid.
  2. Pitching a bike over and away from the direction you are turning. The dangerous kind of crash.
  3. When a sliding rear tire suddenly regains traction while the motorcycle is leaned over, causing the motorcycle to violently snap from leaning side to the other side (the high side).
HOG Harley Owners Group. Also a nickname for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
KSU Kick Stands Up. Typically associated with a time, which represent the expected time of departure.
Lean Condition where the optimum mixture of fuel and air is not being fed into the engine (too much air, not enough fuel); opposite of rich.
Low Side A crash in which a rider slides with one leg under the motorcycle, opposite of a “High Side.”
Lugging the Engine
  1. Letting the RPMs fall a lot lower the engine’s powerband (so it has very little acceleration).
  2. Operating the engine at lower than normal RPM.
  3. Being in a gear too high for your speed. The engine “lugs”, rattles or bogs suggesting you to downshift to a gear better suited to your current road speed.
MC Motorcycle Club. Referring to the tightly knit brotherhoods of biker gangs.
Outlaw Often associated with motorcycle “gangs” the term actually denotes a motorcycle club that has refused to become a member of the AMA. Hells Angels, Outlaws, Banditos, and similar motorcycle clubs are “outlaw” clubs in this regard.
Pasta Rocket Any Italian Sportbike (Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta, Benelli, Moto Guzzi)
Pillion A passenger on the motorcycle.
Pillion Pad A small seat attached to the rear fender of a motorcycle to provide seating for a passenger.
Poker Run A poker run is, for the most part, like any old motorcycle run. Instead of just riding from Point A to Point B, however, there are also several stops in between (usually 5 total). At these stops you go in to the checkpoint and draw a playing card from a deck of cards. Depending on the rules, you either keep the card or the person at the checkpoint will mark down what card you drew. You do this at each checkpoint, and by the end of the run you will have 5 cards … this makes up your poker hand. At the last stop you turn in your poker hand, and whoever has the best hand wins.
Poser A wannabe biker, or a biker with all the gear (shiny and new) but rarely rides. Usually found at motorcycle shows with very low-mileage, full-chrome motorcycles.
PUB Poor Urban Biker. Generally used as a comeback by Bikers who are accused of being a RUB.
Pucker Factor Refers to a very close call. “I had a pucker factor of 10 around that corner.”
RUB Rich Urban Biker. A biker who rides an expensive motorcycle only on the weekend, and never very far.
Two Up Carrying a passenger on your bike.
Slip-On A type of muffler that installs onto the exhaust pipe, usually replacing the stock component.
Snakes
Tar Snakes		 The serpentine tar strips sometimes used to fill cracks on a racetrack or on a highway/road. In warmer or wetter climates, these can become quite slippery, and therefore dangerous.
Soft Tail A motorcycle frame whose suspension is hidden, making it resemble a hard tail.
Squid A biker who rides with no protection, and/or rides very dangerously.
Tail Gunner The last rider in a group. This rider is typically responsible for acquiring a new lane when the group changes lanes, rendering assistance to any rider who must leave the group, assessing the skill level of new riders to the group, and communications with the lead bike rider about traffic conditions behind the group. This rider is often the ‘safety officer’ for that group.
Tank Slapper A high-speed wobble resulting in the handlebars banging against the sides of the fuel tank. Usually an extreme Pucker Factor.