Glossary
Rider Glossary
75 rider terms explained in plain language.
ATGATTATGATT stands for "all the gear, all the time" — the practice of wearing full protective…Adventure BikeAn adventure bike is a larger dual-purpose motorcycle built for long-distance travel on…Ape HangersApe hangers are tall handlebars that put the grips at or above shoulder height, so the…BaggerA bagger is a large cruiser set up for distance riding, carrying hard saddlebags and…Battery TenderA battery tender is a smart maintenance charger that keeps a parked motorcycle's battery…Bike NightA bike night is a recurring evening gathering — most often weekly — where riders park up…BobberA bobber is a custom style built by subtracting: fenders cut down or "bobbed", a solo…CE-Rated ArmorCE-rated armor is motorcycle impact protection tested against a European standard, fitted…Cafe RacerA cafe racer is a stripped-down motorcycle style with low handlebars, a solo seat, and…Cattle GuardA cattle guard is a grid of parallel steel bars set into the road at a fence line, spaced…Chain SlackChain slack is the free play in a chain-drive motorcycle's drive chain, measured as…Chicken StripsChicken strips are the unused bands of tread at the outer edges of a motorcycle tire,…Chip SealChip seal is a resurfacing method where a layer of asphalt binder is sprayed onto the…ChopperA chopper is a heavily customized motorcycle with an extended, raked-out front end, a…Clip-OnsClip-ons are handlebars in two separate halves that clamp directly onto the fork tubes…Cold Tire PressureCold tire pressure is the pressure measured before the bike has been ridden, when the…ColorsColors are the insignia a motorcycle club wears on the back of a cut, identifying the…Counter-SteeringCounter-steering is turning a motorcycle above walking pace by pressing the handlebar…Covering the BrakeCovering the brake means resting your fingers on the front brake lever, ready to squeeze,…Crash BarsCrash bars are tubular guards that stand off the frame to keep the engine, bodywork, and…CruiserA cruiser is a motorcycle with a relaxed, feet-forward riding position and an engine…CutA cut is the sleeveless vest a rider wears as the carrier for their patches.DOT-Approved HelmetA DOT-approved helmet is certified by its manufacturer as meeting the United States…Decreasing-Radius TurnA decreasing-radius turn is a corner that keeps tightening as it goes, so the lean angle…DresserA dresser is a touring motorcycle wearing the full touring package — fairing, hard…Dual-SportA dual-sport is a street-legal motorcycle built to ride both pavement and dirt, with…EarplugsEarplugs reduce the sustained wind noise inside a helmet at highway speed, which is a…Engine BrakingEngine braking is the slowing that happens when you roll off the throttle while still in…FairingA fairing is the bodywork around the front and sides of a motorcycle that pushes air…FloorboardsFloorboards are flat platforms fitted in place of footpegs, so the rider can move their…Fork SealsFork seals are the seals at the top of the fork sliders that keep the oil inside the…Friction ZoneThe friction zone is the narrow band of clutch lever travel where the clutch is partly…Full-Face HelmetA full-face helmet is a one-piece helmet that covers the whole head including a fixed…Gauntlet GlovesGauntlet gloves have a long cuff that extends over the jacket sleeve and cinches down,…Grooved PavementGrooved pavement is a road surface cut with lengthwise grooves — usually a work zone…Half HelmetA half helmet covers the top of the head only, leaving the face, jaw, and usually the…Head CheckA head check is turning your head to look directly at the space beside and behind you…Highway PegsHighway pegs are forward-mounted footpegs that let a rider stretch out their legs on long…HydroplaningHydroplaning is when standing water builds up faster than the tire can push it aside, so…Lane FilteringLane filtering is moving between lanes of stopped or very slow traffic, typically to…Lane PositionLane position is where in the lane a rider chooses to ride, adjusted for visibility,…Lane SplittingLane splitting is riding a motorcycle between two lanes of traffic travelling the same…Late ApexA late apex is turning in later than the geometric middle of the corner, so the point…LeathersLeathers are motorcycle jackets, pants, or one-piece suits made of thick…MSF CourseAn MSF course is Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider training combining classroom…Mesh JacketA mesh jacket is a riding jacket built with large ventilated panels so air moves through…Modular HelmetA modular helmet is a full-face-style helmet whose chin bar and shield flip up so the…Naked BikeA naked bike is a street motorcycle without full bodywork — the engine and frame are left…Poker RunA poker run is an organized ride with several checkpoints along the route where each…PreloadPreload is the suspension adjustment that sets how much a spring is compressed before…RallyA rally is a multi-day motorcycle event that draws riders to a town or region, built…Rev MatchingRev matching is blipping the throttle during a downshift so engine speed comes up to meet…Riding BootsRiding boots are over-the-ankle motorcycle boots with ankle support, grippy oil-resistant…Road CaptainA road captain is the rider who plans, briefs, and leads a group ride and sets its pace.Rumble StripsRumble strips are the milled grooves cut into the edge line or centerline of a road to…SaddlebagsSaddlebags are the luggage mounted on either side of the rear wheel.Sissy BarA sissy bar is the upright bar behind the passenger seat, usually padded as a backrest.Sport BikeA sport bike is a performance-oriented motorcycle with a forward-leaning riding position,…SquidSquid is derisive slang for a rider who rides aggressively while wearing little or no…Staggered FormationStaggered formation is a group riding arrangement where riders alternate sides of the…Swap MeetA swap meet is a market where riders and vendors buy, sell, and trade motorcycle parts,…SweepThe sweep is the last rider in the group, whose job is to make sure nobody is left behind.T-CLOCST-CLOCS is a pre-ride inspection checklist covering tires, controls, lights, oil,…Tar SnakesTar snakes are the ribbons of black sealant poured into pavement cracks, which is exactly…Target FixationTarget fixation is the tendency to steer toward whatever you are staring at.The WaveThe wave is the greeting riders give oncoming riders — usually a left hand dropped low…Tour PackA tour pack is the top case mounted behind the passenger seat on a touring motorcycle,…Touring BikeA touring bike is a motorcycle built for long-distance travel, with weather protection,…Trail BrakingTrail braking is carrying some brake pressure past the point where you turn into a…TrikeA trike is a three-wheeled motorcycle that does not have to be balanced at a stop.TwistiesThe twisties are any stretch of road with a sustained run of curves — the part of the map…Two-UpRiding two-up means carrying a passenger.Vanishing PointThe vanishing point is the farthest place ahead where the two edges of the road appear to…WindscreenA windscreen is the clear shield mounted above the headlight or fairing that lifts…WinterizingWinterizing is preparing a motorcycle for a period of storage, including fuel treatment,…