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26 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 41 B I K E R J A R G O N BIKER J ARGON Every subculture has its own lingo. Bikers are no exception. Are you on the fringe of a motorcycle society? Have you heard a biker speaking and would like to understand what he was talking about? Would you like to gain insight into the biker mindset? Do you just like words? Here you'll find an introductory dictionary of commonly used road-motorcycle terminology and biker slang, compiled with the average "Citizen" in mind. Citizen: (noun) A person with no known affiliation with a Motorcycle Club. • 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 to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance), to suspend or extinguish (an action), to annul, to deduct or subtract and others. 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. • ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. • ATGATT: All The Gear All The Time. Refers to the wearing of all safety gear (helmets, jacket, etc.) at all times while riding. • AMA: American Motorcyclist Association. 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 system designed to reduce front fork compression (dive) when under hard breaking. • Ape Hangers: High handlebars that rise above the rider's shoulders. The rider assumes a posture reminiscent of an ape hanging from a branch or as praising the Lord. • Apex: The highest point. The apex of a curve is the tightest portion of said curve. M o t o r c y c l e L i n g o By Axle Addict • Associate: A person associated with a motorcycle club. Used more by people outside of the biker community than by the motorcycle clubs themselves. • BATf: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. • 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. • 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. • Big Twin: A large V-Twin engine, especially the larger Harley-Davidson engines. • Biker: A motorcycle rider. • 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 of custom motorcycles. Enjoying a resurgence in popularity today. • Boneyard: A salvage yard. • 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. • 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. • 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). Pick up our next issue of WOG Mag for Part 3 of the Biker Jargon series. 26 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 41