Motorcyclists have a language all their own. Some of it describes the motorcycle, some of it explains what happens on a group ride, and some of it comes from decades of motorcycle, racing and club culture.

If you've ever looked at an event flyer that says “Reg. 9:00 AM — KSU 10:30” and wondered what the hell everyone was talking about, you're in the right place.

This isn't intended to be the definitive dictionary of everything anyone has ever said around a motorcycle. It's a practical collection of the terms, abbreviations and slang you're likely to encounter while riding, attending motorcycle events, working on motorcycles or hanging around the motorcycle community.

Motorcycle slang varies by region, generation and community. Club terminology can vary from one organization to another. Context matters.

1% / One-Percenter

A term associated with outlaw motorcycle-club culture. Its commonly repeated history connects it with the idea that 99 percent of motorcyclists are law-abiding citizens, leaving the remaining one percent outside that description. Considerable folklore has accumulated around the term over the years.

13

Represents M, the 13th letter of the alphabet. What the M represents can vary by rider, club, region and era, so the meaning of a 13 patch shouldn't automatically be assumed.

ABATE

A name used by motorcycle-rights organizations involved in rider advocacy, education, legislation and motorcycle events. Washington riders will frequently encounter ABATE of Washington and its local chapters.

ADV / Adventure Bike

A motorcycle designed for travel that may include pavement, gravel and unimproved roads. ADV motorcycles generally combine touring capability with some degree of off-pavement ability.

Ape Hangers / Apes

Tall handlebars that position the rider's hands substantially higher than conventional handlebars.

ATGATT

All The Gear, All The Time. A philosophy of wearing appropriate protective motorcycle gear every time you ride.

Backpack

Biker slang for the passenger riding behind the motorcycle operator. Passenger, pillion and two-up are other terms you'll encounter.

Bagger

Generally a cruiser or touring motorcycle equipped with saddlebags. The term is especially common around American V-twin motorcycles.

Bike Night

A recurring motorcycle gathering, often held at a restaurant, bar, dealership or other venue. Usually more social gathering than organized ride.

Blessing of the Bikes

A motorcycle gathering that includes a ceremonial blessing of riders and motorcycles, commonly held near the beginning of the riding season.

Bobber

A motorcycle customized in a stripped-down style traditionally involving removal or shortening—“bobbing”—of bodywork and other equipment.

Cage / Cager

A cage is a car or other enclosed vehicle. A cager is the person driving it.

Carb / Carburetor

A mechanical device that mixes fuel and air for an engine. Carburetors were standard motorcycle equipment before electronic fuel injection became commonplace.

Choke / Enrichener

A system used to provide the richer fuel mixture needed for starting some cold carbureted engines. A true choke and an enrichment circuit accomplish this differently, although riders commonly call both a choke.

Chopper

A substantially customized motorcycle, traditionally involving changes to the frame, front end, rake and overall proportions.

Not every customized motorcycle is a chopper, and not every chopper is a hardtail.

Colors

The primary insignia identifying a motorcycle club and its members. Depending upon the organization, colors may include a center patch, rockers, club initials, chapter identification and other patches.

Compression Release

A device that temporarily reduces cylinder compression so an engine can be turned over more easily. Particularly useful with large-displacement or high-compression engines. Compression releases may be manual or automatic.

Countersteering

The steering input used to initiate and control motorcycle lean at normal riding speeds. Pressure on the handlebar initiates lean in the desired direction.

Crappy Pappy

Biker slang for an older driver piloting a large or cumbersome vehicle—often a motorhome, RV or vehicle towing a boat or trailer—slowly or poorly enough to obstruct traffic.

Frequently discovered immediately before the best section of twisties you've seen all day.

Crash Bar / Engine Guard

Protective tubing mounted around portions of a motorcycle to help protect the machine during a tip-over or crash.

Cut / Cuts

A motorcycle vest or sleeveless jacket, particularly one carrying patches, club identification or other insignia.

DILLIGAF

Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck?

A longtime biker expression commonly found on patches, shirts, stickers and motorcycles.

Dice Run

An organized motorcycle ride with designated stops where participants roll dice. The accumulated results determine a score or winner.

Drag / Sweep / Tail Gunner

The rider positioned at the rear of an organized group ride to monitor the group and assist when someone has a problem. Exact terminology and responsibilities vary among organizations.

EFI / Fuel Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection. An electronically controlled system that meters fuel into the engine, replacing the carburetor on most modern motorcycles.

Farkle

An accessory or modification added to a motorcycle. The word is particularly common among ADV and touring riders.

Final Drive

The system that transfers power from the motorcycle's transmission to the rear wheel. Common motorcycle final drives use a chain, belt or shaft.

Forward Controls

Foot controls positioned farther forward than conventional or mid-mounted controls, commonly found on cruisers.

GBNF

Gone But Not Forgotten.

Frequently used on memorial patches, plaques, shirts and other tributes to riders who have died.

GPX

GPS Exchange Format. A common file format for sharing GPS routes, tracks and waypoints.

GMRW uses GPX files extensively with our Washington motorcycle Ride Maps.

Hangaround

In some motorcycle-club structures, someone who associates with a club before potentially becoming a prospect. The exact process and terminology vary by organization.

Hardtail / Rigid

A motorcycle or frame without rear suspension. The rear wheel and axle are mounted to a rigid portion of the frame rather than a suspension swingarm.

Highside

A crash that can occur when a motorcycle loses traction and then abruptly regains it, potentially throwing the rider from the motorcycle.

Highway Pegs

Auxiliary footrests allowing the rider to stretch or change leg position while cruising.

Iron Butt

Commonly refers to serious long-distance or endurance motorcycle riding.

The Iron Butt Association also establishes specific requirements for officially certified endurance rides, so casually saying you made an “iron-butt ride” isn't necessarily the same thing as completing a certified Iron Butt ride.

Jockey Shift / Jockey Shifter

A hand-operated gearshift lever positioned beside or behind the rider and operated by reaching down with one hand.

A jockey shifter is often paired with a foot-operated clutch on custom motorcycles, but the shifter and clutch are two separate things.

Kick-Only

A motorcycle without a functioning electric-start system that must be started using its kick starter.

Kicker / Kick Starter

A lever and mechanism that allows the rider to manually rotate the engine through its starting cycle using their foot.

KSU

Kickstands Up.

The scheduled departure time, not the time you're supposed to arrive.

If an event says “Registration 9:00 AM — KSU 10:00 AM,” registration begins at 9:00 and the motorcycles are expected to leave at 10:00.

Lane Position

The motorcycle's position within its traffic lane. Riders change lane position in response to visibility, road conditions, traffic, cornering and other circumstances.

Lowside

A crash in which the motorcycle loses traction and falls toward the inside of its direction of travel.

Mag / Magneto

A self-contained ignition system capable of generating ignition energy without depending upon a conventional battery-powered ignition system.

Magnetos are commonly associated with vintage motorcycles, racing machines and traditional custom bikes.

MC

Motorcycle Club.

When MC appears as part of club colors or insignia, it may have organizational significance beyond simply describing a group of people who ride motorcycles.

Metric Bike

Traditional American motorcycle slang generally referring to Japanese motorcycles and sometimes more broadly to non-American motorcycles.

Mids / Mid Controls

Foot controls positioned approximately beneath the rider rather than substantially forward.

MLLHR 

 Much Love, Loyalty, Honor & Respect. A sign-off or expression used within parts of motorcycle/biker culture to convey brotherhood, loyalty, respect, and affection.

Old Lady / Old Man

Traditional biker slang for a committed partner. Exact meaning and usage vary among riders and motorcycle communities.

Open Primary

A motorcycle primary-drive system operated without the conventional outer primary cover, leaving components such as the belt or chain and clutch assembly exposed.

An open primary has nothing inherently to do with how the motorcycle is shifted or how its clutch is operated.

Panniers

Luggage containers mounted on either side of a motorcycle. The term is particularly common with touring and ADV motorcycles.

Patch Holder

A member entitled to wear a motorcycle club's primary identifying patch or colors.

Petcock

A fuel valve traditionally used to manually control fuel flow from a motorcycle's fuel tank. Older motorcycles commonly have positions such as ON, OFF and RESERVE.

Pillion

The passenger position or passenger seat on a motorcycle and, depending upon usage, the passenger riding there.

Poker Run

An organized motorcycle ride with designated stops where participants collect playing cards. The resulting poker hand determines the competition.

It's generally about the ride, stops and event—not who gets there fastest.

Primary / Primary Drive

The system that transfers engine power to the clutch and transmission. Depending upon the motorcycle, the primary drive may use a chain, belt or gears.

Prospect

In many motorcycle clubs, a person undergoing a period of evaluation before potentially becoming a full member. Requirements and meaning vary among clubs.

Putt / Going for a Putt

Old-school motorcycle slang for going for a ride.

Rake

Part of motorcycle steering geometry describing the angle of the steering axis. Rake works together with trail and other dimensions to influence steering and handling.

A motorcycle with its front end extended substantially forward is often described as raked out.

Rat Bike

A rough, utilitarian motorcycle where function, improvisation and continued use matter considerably more than polished appearance.

Reg. / Registration

The check-in period before an organized motorcycle event or ride.

Reg. 9:00 — KSU 10:00 means registration begins at 9:00 and the ride departs at 10:00.

Road Captain / RC

A rider responsible for leading and/or organizing aspects of a group ride. Duties and authority vary between motorcycle clubs and riding organizations.

Road Name

A nickname by which someone is commonly known within the motorcycle community.

Road Rash

Skin abrasion caused by sliding across pavement or another rough surface during a crash.

Rocker

A curved patch commonly appearing above or below a motorcycle club's center patch.

Depending upon the organization, a rocker may identify the club, chapter, geographic area or something else. Its meaning shouldn't automatically be inferred from appearance alone.

Saddlebags

Luggage mounted on either side of the rear portion of a motorcycle.

Scoot

Old-school slang for a motorcycle.

Scooter may literally describe a scooter, but some riders—particularly older riders—also use it casually for motorcycles in general.

Show & Shine

A motorcycle show or gathering emphasizing appearance and display, often including judging or people's-choice awards.

Single File

A group-riding formation in which motorcycles travel one behind another rather than staggered.

Single file may be appropriate when road width, curves, visibility, surface conditions or other circumstances make staggered formation inappropriate.

Sissy Bar

An upright structure mounted behind a motorcycle's seat. Depending upon its design, it may support luggage, provide a passenger backrest or simply be part of the motorcycle's styling.

Slab

Interstate, freeway or other major highway.

Usually implies the road you're taking to get somewhere, rather than the road you actually came to ride.

Softail

A motorcycle/frame design using rear suspension while maintaining much of the visual appearance of a traditional rigid frame.

Softail is also the name of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle family.

Springer

A motorcycle front suspension using external springs, rockers and linkage rather than conventional telescopic fork tubes.

Squid

Derogatory rider slang generally describing a reckless or inexperienced rider, particularly one combining excessive speed or poor judgment with inadequate protective gear.

Staggered Formation

A common group-riding formation in which alternating motorcycles occupy different portions of the lane while maintaining appropriate following distance.

Straight Pipes

An exhaust arrangement with little or no conventional muffling.

Not every loud motorcycle has straight pipes.

Suicide Clutch

A foot-operated clutch arrangement that requires the rider to keep the clutch disengaged with their foot rather than having it remain disengaged on its own.

It's frequently confused with a jockey shifter, but clutch operation and gear selection are separate systems.

Tank Slapper

A rapid and potentially violent oscillation of the motorcycle's handlebars and front end.

The expression is sometimes casually used for other motorcycle wobbles, although not every wobble is technically a tank slapper.

Target Fixation

The tendency to stare at an obstacle, hazard or particular point and unintentionally steer toward it instead of looking through the desired path of travel.

Three-Piece Patch

A motorcycle-club patch arrangement generally consisting of a center patch with separate upper and lower rockers.

The significance of a three-piece design varies by organization and shouldn't automatically be inferred from appearance alone.

Tour-Pak / Tour Pack

A rear-mounted touring trunk positioned behind the passenger seat.

Tour-Pak is Harley-Davidson terminology; tour pack is also commonly used generically.

Toy Run

A charity motorcycle ride or event collecting toys or donations, most commonly during the holiday season.

Trail

A measurement in motorcycle steering geometry describing the relationship between the steering axis and the front tire's contact point.

Together with rake, trail has an important effect on steering feel and stability.

Two-Up

Riding a motorcycle with a passenger.

Twisties

A road or stretch of road containing lots of curves.

The shit we came for.

Waypoint

A specific geographic location stored in a GPS device, navigation application or route file.

Whiskey Throttle

An unintended application or continuation of throttle, often when a rider becomes unstable or frightened and inadvertently rolls the throttle farther open while hanging onto the handlebars.

Wind Therapy

Riding a motorcycle for the simple mental benefit of getting out on the road.

Don't Confuse These

This particular collection of motorcycle terms gets mixed together constantly:

Jockey shift = how you select the gear.
Suicide clutch = how you operate the clutch.
Open primary = how the primary drive is enclosed—or isn't.
Kicker = manually turns the engine over for starting.
Compression release = makes the engine easier to turn over.

A motorcycle can have one, several or all of them.

Seeing an open primary tells you nothing about how the motorcycle shifts. Seeing a jockey shifter doesn't automatically mean it has a suicide clutch. And a compression release doesn't start the engine—it simply makes a high-compression engine easier to turn over.

Motorcycle Club & Patch Terminology

Motorcycle-club terminology deserves some additional caution. Meanings and traditions can vary between clubs, chapters, regions and generations. Some expressions follow widespread patterns while others belong specifically to individual organizations.

A patch, acronym or piece of clothing also shouldn't automatically be interpreted as proof that someone is a member of a particular club.

FF / Forever Forever

A common motorcycle-club loyalty expression built around the name or initials of a particular club.

The basic construction is:

[Club] Forever — Forever [Club]

For example:

AFFA — Angels Forever, Forever Angels
BFFB — Bandidos Forever, Forever Bandidos

Other motorcycle clubs use the same FF construction with their own initials. The important thing is understanding the pattern rather than trying to memorize every possible combination.

SYL / Support Your Local

A common motorcycle-club support expression meaning:

Support Your Local [Club]

The club's name or initials are incorporated into the abbreviation.

For example, SYLB can mean Support Your Local Bandidos, while other clubs use the same construction with their own identifying letters.

An SYL patch, sticker, shirt or other item expresses support for the organization named. It should not automatically be interpreted as proof that the wearer is a patched member of that club.

Support Patch

A patch, shirt, sticker or other insignia expressing support for a particular motorcycle club or organization.

A support patch does not necessarily indicate membership in the organization being supported.

Nomad

In motorcycle-club usage, generally a member who isn't attached to a conventional geographic chapter or who belongs to a designated Nomad chapter.

Exact organization and meaning vary by club.

Clubs by Invite Only

Language sometimes appearing on motorcycle-club event flyers indicating that attendance by other clubs is by invitation rather than generally open to every club or to the public.

These events may advertise a date, general area or other information publicly while distributing the exact location privately to invited clubs or participants. Consequently, a flyer without a street address isn't necessarily incomplete.

When “Clubs by Invite Only” appears alongside other restrictions such as “No Cops, No Lops,” it generally signals a private or controlled-attendance club event rather than an ordinary public motorcycle gathering.

No Cops, No Lops

An old-school phrase sometimes appearing on private motorcycle-club event flyers indicating restrictions on who is welcome at the event.

“No Cops” is straightforward. The precise expansion and use of “Lops” is less consistently documented in publicly available sources, and club terminology can vary. Rather than pretending there's one universally documented definition, GMRW treats the phrase according to its practical context: an attendance restriction associated with private club events.

It is often seen alongside wording such as “Clubs by Invite Only,” which further indicates that the event isn't intended as an ordinary open-to-the-public motorcycle gathering.

Reading a Motorcycle Event Flyer

A few common pieces of flyer shorthand tell you quite a bit about an event.

Reg. 9:00 AM — KSU 10:00 AM means registration begins at 9:00 and the ride leaves at 10:00.

Rain or Shine means the organizers intend to hold the event despite ordinary changes in weather.

Clubs by Invite Only means exactly what it sounds like: other clubs attend by invitation.

And a combination such as “No Cops — No Lops — Clubs by Invite Only” should not be read like ordinary ride instructions. It is telling you that you're looking at a private or restricted club event, and the location or additional information may intentionally be distributed through private channels.

That's also why not every motorcycle flyer floating around Facebook belongs on a public motorcycle-events calendar.

A Word About Motorcycle Slang

Motorcycle language isn't standardized.

It developed over generations in garages, racetracks, motorcycle clubs, dealerships, bars, rallies, group rides and alongside broken motorcycles on the side of the road.

Some terms are nearly universal. Others are regional. Some belong primarily to a particular generation of riders. Club terminology can be organization-specific, and plenty of biker folklore has been repeated so many times that nobody remembers where the hell it started.

That's part of the culture.

The GMRW Rider Glossary isn't intended to settle every barroom argument ever conducted over a V-twin. It's here to help riders understand the terminology they're likely to encounter while riding motorcycles and participating in the Washington motorcycle community.

And when we discover another good one, we'll add it.

Kickstands Up. Don't Miss the Ride.