Every culture has its own language and slang language and the motorcycle culture is not different. Case in point: there are certain motorcycle slang terms that are used commonly by old riders or rookies. That said, if you are new to the motorcycling world, don’t feel left out. We’ve compiled some common motorcycle slang words to help you stay connected with your veteran motorcycle rider peers.
Common Motorcycle Slang Words Used by Riders
Following is a list of common motorcycle slang terms used by ace motorcycle riders. Knowing the motorcycle slang lingo will not only help you with the understanding aspect, it will also make you sound like a veteran motorcycle rider.
Tickover
Even many veterans don’t know about this term. You may find the term tickover in some service manuals. The term simply means “Idle” in British English. But it is used all around the world. If you hear someone say the engine is ticking over, it simply means the engine is at idle.
Cogs
Cog or cogs are motorcycle slang terms for gears in transmission. For example, if you hear a veteran say check out my Harley, it has got a new 103 engine and six cogs in the box, it simply means it has six gears in transmissions. On a totally different note, if you’re into Harley motorbikes, check out these interesting facts about Harly-Davidson.
Canyon Bites
This slang term is used for severe motorcycle accidents that take place when riding at really high speeds on rough or twisted roads often found in canyon mountains.
Hack
No, this term does not mean an internet hack, infect, the term is an idiom for a motorcycle sidecar. Another motorcycle slang term used as a synonym for hack is side hack.
Jugs
A jug for a motorcycle is the cylinder. Case in point: the cylinder is a metal tube usually surrounded by cooling fins (also known as air-cooled jugs) or coolant galleries (also known as liquid-cooled jugs) in which the piston travels. That is what jugs mean in motor biker slang lingo.
Suicide Clutch
Earlier, most motorcycle clutches were foot-operated. Also known as rocker clutches, they are still common and have friction discs at the pedal. This allowed the clutch to remain engaged even when the riders removed their foot. The motorcycle slang term for such a clutch is suicide clutch. Case in point: if a motorcycle rider stopped at an intersection, they could lose balance and with the left foot lifted the motorcycle was free to roll ahead.
Slingshot
All GSX-R750 motorcycles made from 1988 to 1991 are known as Slingshots. In that era, Suzuki re-worked the bore and stroke of their 750 engines, making the motors particularly over square. Suzuki and Mikuni worked together to develop carburetors that were capable of working well with the engine. These carburetors were called “slingshots,” by enthusiasts. It was such a trend that even Suzuki decided to put the word right on the fairings of some motorcycles. This motorcycle slang term actually was part marketing, part performance, and a nickname common to many!
Gixxer
Gixxer was slang for Suzuki GSX-R sport bike. These motorcycles were not comfortable, but they were known for their high speeds and road performance with good handling. If you hear anything along the lines of hitting the tracks with a good used Gixxer 750, you know now what they mean. If you wish to buy a used Suzuki motorcycle or any other motorcycle for that matter, here is a list of used motorcycles for sale in the UAE.
Big Dog Rider
Veteran motorcyclists with full control of their ride and aggression on the road are known as big dog riders. The size of their motorcycles doesn’t matter much but their daring, skill and control on high speeds without fearing any accident garnered them this fancy slang motorcycle terminology.
Using motorcycle slang language or not is a totally independent choice, but it’s always good to stay informed. Motorcycle slang term usage or not, just be sure when you’re on the road, you ride safe. Avoid these common causes that lead to motorcycle accidents.
On another note, if you wish to become proficient in car language, you should read up auto blogs, magazines and attend car events, among other things.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on motorcycles and cars.
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