Glossary of motorcycling terms

This is a glossary of motorcycling terms.

advanced rider: In the UK, an advanced rider is either a police pursuit/surveillance rider or a civilian who has passed an advanced driving test via the British Motorcyclists Federation Blue Riband award, Institute of Advanced Motorists or RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders.^{[citation needed]}
ape hangers: Aftermarket handlebars installed on motorcycles that are taller than stock handlebars. Generally, they are shoulder-height or higher for the rider. Some U.S. states and international laws restrict the height of a motorcycles handlebars.^[1]
colors: Leather or denim vest often worn by members of motorcycle clubs, especially, outlaw motorcycle clubs, identifying the club and displaying various insignia ^[2]
crotch rocket: Slang for a sportbike perceived as overpowered^[1]
hang-around: Term used by some motorcycle clubs to denote someone who has stated a clear intention of becoming a prospect with the likely follow-on intention of becoming a full patch member of the club. May be one of several stages some clubs require members to pass on their way to becoming full-patch members.^[3]
nomad
one percenter: A member of an outlaw club or gang.^[4]
prospect: Term used by some motorcycle clubs to denote someone who has stated a clear intention of becoming a full patch member of the club. Typically, the bylaws or other governing document\policy will dictate how long someone must be a prospect and what is expected of them during this period. May be one of several stages some clubs require members to pass on their way to becoming full-patch members.^[3]
Rich Urban Bikers (RUBS): A cruiser bike buying demographic, typically middle aged male in a white-collar work with a disposable income and usually, grown-up children.^[5]
Riding pillion (a.k.a. riding bitch; riding two-up): The act of riding as a passenger on a motorcycle sitting on the pillion (a.k.a. "bitch") seat immediately behind the driver of the motorcycle.^[6]^[7]^[8]
Road rash: An injury caused by scraping your skin on the road surface. This is likely because the rider wasn’t wearing the right protective gear. ^[9]
Spill: Refers to falling off your bike or taking a tumble, as in to ‘have a spill’. ^[10]
Sweep: The last, or tail, rider in organized group of motorcyclists riding on a public road. Like the leader, the sweep is experienced and aware of the planned route, and may carry supplies for first aid or breakdowns.^[11]^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b Holmstrom, Darwin (2001), "Appendix D: cycle babble glossary", The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles (2nd ed.), Alpha Books, p. 403, ISBN 0028642589
^ Smedman, Lisa (2007), From boneshakers to choppers: the rip-roaring history of motorcycles, Annick Press, pp. 57–60, ISBN 978-1-55451-016-0
^ ^a ^b "Levels of Club Affiliation". Wolfpack Motorcycle Club. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
^ Dulaney, William L. (November 2005), "A Brief History of "Outlaw" Motorcycle Clubs", International Journal of Motorcycle Studies, The Life story caused something of a tumult around the country (Yates), and some authors have asserted that the AMA subsequently released a press statement disclaiming involvement in the Hollister event, stating that 99% of motorcyclists are good, decent, law-abiding citizens, and that the AMA's ranks of motorcycle clubs were not involved in the debacle (e.g., Reynolds, Thompson). The American Motorcyclist Association says it has no record of ever releasing such as statement. Tom Lindsay, the AMA's Public Information Director, said 'We [the American Motorcyclist Association] acknowledge that the term 'one-percenter' has long been (and likely will continue to be) attributed to the American Motorcyclist Association, but we've been unable to attribute its original use to an AMA official or published statement—so it's apocryphal.'
^ Berkman, Leslie (May 6, 1991), "Ritzy Riders : Rubs, or Rich Urban Bikers, Mount Their Harleys Dressed in Designer Jeans Instead of Black Leather", Los Angeles Times
^ Green, Jonathon (2005), Cassell's dictionary of slang (2nd ed.), Sterling Publishing Company, pp. 1190–1191, ISBN 0-304-36636-6, retrieved 2010-09-03
^ Partridge, Eric; Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (2006), The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: A-I Volume 1, Taylor & Francis, p. 166, ISBN 0-415-25937-1, retrieved 2010-09-03
^ Veno, Arthur (2010), The Brotherhoods: Inside the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (3rd ed.), Allen & Unwin, p. 257, ISBN 978-1-74237-122-1
^ "Ride on: A guide to biker slang and terminology". 16 September 2021.
^ "Ride on: A guide to biker slang and terminology". 16 September 2021.
^ Smith, Jenny (October 31, 2019), "Group Riding Best Practices", Rider
^ Quick Tips: MSF's Guide to Group Riding (PDF), Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 2 March 2023

[idiot-1] Holmstrom, Darwin (2001), "Appendix D: cycle babble glossary", The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles (2nd ed.), Alpha Books, p. 403, ISBN 0028642589

[smedman-2] Smedman, Lisa (2007), From boneshakers to choppers: the rip-roaring history of motorcycles, Annick Press, pp. 57–60, ISBN 978-1-55451-016-0

[wolfpack-3] "Levels of Club Affiliation". Wolfpack Motorcycle Club. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2016.

[Dulaney2002a-4] Dulaney, William L. (November 2005), "A Brief History of "Outlaw" Motorcycle Clubs", International Journal of Motorcycle Studies, The Life story caused something of a tumult around the country (Yates), and some authors have asserted that the AMA subsequently released a press statement disclaiming involvement in the Hollister event, stating that 99% of motorcyclists are good, decent, law-abiding citizens, and that the AMA's ranks of motorcycle clubs were not involved in the debacle (e.g., Reynolds, Thompson). The American Motorcyclist Association says it has no record of ever releasing such as statement. Tom Lindsay, the AMA's Public Information Director, said 'We [the American Motorcyclist Association] acknowledge that the term 'one-percenter' has long been (and likely will continue to be) attributed to the American Motorcyclist Association, but we've been unable to attribute its original use to an AMA official or published statement—so it's apocryphal.'

[5] Berkman, Leslie (May 6, 1991), "Ritzy Riders : Rubs, or Rich Urban Bikers, Mount Their Harleys Dressed in Designer Jeans Instead of Black Leather", Los Angeles Times

[6] Green, Jonathon (2005), Cassell's dictionary of slang (2nd ed.), Sterling Publishing Company, pp. 1190–1191, ISBN 0-304-36636-6, retrieved 2010-09-03

[Dalzell2006-7] Partridge, Eric; Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (2006), The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: A-I Volume 1, Taylor & Francis, p. 166, ISBN 0-415-25937-1, retrieved 2010-09-03

[Veno2010-8] Veno, Arthur (2010), The Brotherhoods: Inside the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (3rd ed.), Allen & Unwin, p. 257, ISBN 978-1-74237-122-1

[9] "Ride on: A guide to biker slang and terminology". 16 September 2021.

[10] "Ride on: A guide to biker slang and terminology". 16 September 2021.

[Smith_1999-11] Smith, Jenny (October 31, 2019), "Group Riding Best Practices", Rider

[MSF-12] Quick Tips: MSF's Guide to Group Riding (PDF), Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 2 March 2023

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See also

References