airheads- air cooled cylinder heads

AMA- American Motorcycle Association

ape hangers- very high handlebars, popular on custom bikes

belt drive- power is transferred to rear wheel by a belt rather than a chain or drive shaft

riding bitch- riding on the back seat (pinion) of a motorcycle

bobtail- post WWII craze where most body work was removed from motorcycles; made them lighter and faster

boxer- engine with two opposing cylinders, like most BMW bikes

cafe racer- British biker custom of racing from cafe to cafe, drinking coffee along the way

cagers- automobile drivers

chopper- motorcycles with extended forks, high handlebars (ape hangers) and no rear suspension

clip ons- handlebars that are attached directly to the front fork instead of at the top of the fork; lowers the riding position

countersteer- pressing the handlebar in the direction you wish to turn; press right to go right, press left to go left

cowling- body work that covers the engine, transmission and/or mid portion of a bike

crash bar- bars that surround the engine on cruisers; useful for protecting engine in a crash and for mounting highway pegs to for a more relaxed riding position

crotch rocket- slang term for sport bikes

drag bars- short straight handlebars

drag pipes- straight exhaust pipes with no baffles

dual bike- an be used either on or off road

fairing- body part that protects bike and rider from road debris, wind and weather

hard tail- a bike with no rear suspension

high side- a crash where rider is thrown from the motorcycle and lands in bike's path

knucklehead- Harley-Davidson's first overhead-valve engine

low side- a crash where the bike slides out from under the rider and the rider lands behind the bike

naked bike- a bike with no fairing or other covers

overhead cam- camshaft rides above the valves and directly operates them, decreasing number of parts needed to run the engine

panhead- Harley-Davidson's second overhead-valve engine

RAK- ram air kit

shaft drive- power is driven to the rear wheel by a drive shaft instead of a chain or belt

shaft drive- power is driven to the rear wheel by a drive shaft instead of a chain or belt

Shovelhead- Harley-Davidson's third overhead-valve engine

sissy bar- passenger seat backrest

soft tail- a bike with a rear suspension

springer- a bike that uses large springs on the front forks to dampen road shock

squid- an under experienced rider who is taking too many chances; usually riding a sport bike; think flip-flops and shorts

suicide shifter- hand operated shift arm

thumper- large displacement single cylinder four-stroke engines; make a thumping sound

touring bike- bike suitably equipped for long rides

trike- three wheeled motorcycle with no sidecar

V-twin- engine with 2 cylinders that point at the crankshaft in a v shape