The Biker Rag

"Biker Lingo"

  The ONLY "other" Language you will ever need !

1% er (One Percenter) Outlaw Biker - A biker who's beliefs and/or actions are outside

(or not accepted by) the common public.

13- 13th letter stands for Motorcycles or Mary-J

Apes or Ape Hangers - 1. Handlebars that are very high, and which often raise the rider's hands above

his or her shoulders. High handlebars so Biker's hands are at or above their shoulder height..

Refers to a handlebar style where the handgrips are located at a higher position, so as to enable the

rider's arms to "hang" Picture "Clyde" from "Every Which Way but Loose" and you'll get a perfect

understanding of the riding position. 2. Very high handlebars. Usually found on choppers.

3. A term coined at the height of the custom-bike movement to describe tall handlebars that forced

the rider to reach skyward to graps the controls, making the rider adopt an ape-like posture.

B. F. H. - Big F@#$ing Hammer used to remove rusted axles, bearing cups from the frame neck etc.

BAB (Born Again Biker) - Someone who has recently returned to riding after a period of absence.

Back Warmer - A girl on the back of your motorcycle.

Bar Hopper Bike - The cool customs and pristine bikes that only come out of the garage Friday and

Saturday nights during the summer (and only if it's real nice out -never in rain) to prowl from bar to bar.

A motorcycle that is not very comfortable on longer rides, yet lavishly styled. Rigid frames and

hardtails fall into this category.

Bark-o-lounger - Honda Gold Wing

Barn Disease - When a bike has been idle a few years and the battery is dead, calipers seized and of course

the carbs are filled with varnish sludge.

Barn Queen - That really pristine bike everyone claims a buddy found in some farmer's barn and bought for $50

Beer Cans - The can shaped covers on Harley FL front forks.

Bible - Repair manual

Big Slab - Interstate Highway

Biker - Simply put, a motorcycle operator. True bikers have a passion for the art of motorcycling,

and easily get all wrapped up in this passion during even a simple 1/2 mile commute, but they rarely allow

their motorcycle to sit for more than a week without taking it somewhere. Anywhere. Just for the simple

excuse of a joy ride will do.

Blockhead - The Evolution? engine (V-Twin, produced from 1984 - ?)

Blue Hairs - Elderly Cage Drivers. 99.9% of gray haired cagers drive a BUICK !

Bologna (Baloney) Skin - Tire tube

Brain bucket - Helmet

BUB - Broke Urban Biker

Bubble Gum Machine  - Law ahead, usually patting the top of your helmet warns those behind you

that a cop is ahead.

Buckhorns - A style of handlebar that comes up higher and sweeps towards the rider, the stance is more

like holding a steering wheel in a car than a handlebar on a motorcycle. A popular style from the 1

960's and 1970's and still in service today.

BUG - Big Ugly Guy- a big, hostile person, as in "So me and my bros had to fight off these Bugs.."

or "You shoulda seen this Bug's ride"

Bullneck - When Harley Davidson 1200 Duo Glide came in 1957 it came with a new feature,

the "Bullneck" is a headlight cover that stretches from the headlight to the steering handle.

The "Bullneck" followed the Duo Glide until the end in 1964, when the Electra Glide continued

with it for some years. "Bullneck" is self-explanatory.

Bus stop - A slow first gear corner.

Bush Pad - Passenger Seat

C.C.I.S. - Cranial Colon Impact Syndrome is a self explanatory term coined by a friend of mine

a few years ago for those afflicted and deserving of such praise or attention.

Cage - A car, truck, or van. The sworn enemy of motorcyclists, more commonly known as automobiles.

The name stems from being all cooped up inside a closed shell, with no contact with the outside air.

Cager - A person driving a car, truck, or van. Cage operator, or driver.

Checkbook Biker - Same as "InstaBiker" Someone who goes down to the dealership and writes

a check for a new bike and new gear.

Cherry Juice - Tranny Fluid.

Chickenwing - Honda Gold Wing

Chromosexual - That one biker who keeps adding more and more chrome, a chrome-overkill.

Church - Club meetings

Citizen - Anyone who is not a member of a Biker Organization.

Class - A Violent Act

Clyde - cage driver (usually the bastard that cuts you off)

Colors - Signifies a motorcycle club or organization patch.

Corn Snakes - Dried cornstalks that blow across the road especially at harvest time..

Coupon - This is a traffic ticket.

CreditGlide - RUB's Ride

Crushers - Cool Shades like the original Ray-Ban Wayfarers

Dammits - Those devices on the back of your pins that you will almost always drop.

Can be used synonymously with Jesus-clips

DBM - Double-breasted Mattress Thrasher - when you're out 'bird' watching.

DILLIGAF - Do I Look Like I Give A F_ _ K

Donor Cycle - Firefighter Term for Sportbikes because their drivers tend to kill themselves.

Evo - Evolution? - 1. When Harley-Davidson began using aluminum to build its cylinder jugs, it called

this new engine the Evolution. 2. The Evolution engine (V-Twin, produced from 1984 - 2000)

Farkles - (accessories). Things that can be added to your bike that make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.

The price of which often exceeds the original purchase price of the bike.

Fathead - The Twin-Cam engine (V-Twin, produced from 1999 - Current Day)

Flathead - The Flathead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1929 - 1972)

Fast Riding Award - Speeding ticket

Fender Bunny - Nice babe on the back of a bike

Fender Fluff - Nice lookin' babe on the back

Fiddly-bits - Those chrome do-dads all over saddle bags and seats.

Flathead - Early head design where the valves resided in the block so the head only covered the block

and held the spark plug. Also called L-Head or side-valve.

Flower Pot - A cheap helmet non snell-approved head protection device.

Fluff - Young Girl (Australian)

Fluid Exchange - Stopping for gas and to take a leak.

Flycatcher - Kuryakyn Hypercharger

Flying Colors - Riding while wearing the club/organization's colors

Fog Line - The edge of the pavement.

Free Rider - Someone who shares the same ideas as a gang but doesn't belong to one.

FreshMeat - New young girlfriend.

FTW - F_ _ K The World, also Forever Two Wheels

FUBAR - Which is a very old slang acronym meaning "F_ _ked Up Beyond All Repair or Reckognition.

" Pertaining to the sad, inoperable and unfixable state of someone's bike or engine or whatever.

Full Chat - Riding at top speed for the riders skill level and road conditions.

Garbage Wagon - 1. A stock motorcycle with standard parts intact, very heavily loaded with saddle bags,

chrome and accessories. 2. A scornful term used by some outlaw bikers to describe touring bikes.

Gas Surprise - Running out of gas and moving to switch to reserve and finding to your horror that you forgo

t to switch back to fuel last time you filled up and just blew your reserve.

Gasodometer - Resetting your trip odometer when you fill up to act as a gas gauge replacement.

GBNF - Gone But Not Forgotten

Giblets - Chrome Accessories

Ginmill - Bar

GFxD - God Forgives, (Club Name) Don't (ie. GFPD = God Forgives, Pagan's Don't)

Goggle The Horizon - Is an old biker term that means several things. Keep an eye out or be careful is a

common translation. Believe it or not it did not originate with bikers but with free fall jump school during

Navy Seal Training. Another meaning, in the same vane is 'Keep your head up, don't let anything get you down

. As in 'See ya later, Goggle the horizon.' Meaning, be careful, keep your chin up.

You see in free fall you MUST arch your back and keep your headup.

Greenpeace - The cage in front of you covered with environmentalist stickers and spewing black smoke into your face

Hacker - A sidecar driver or enthusiast.

HairDryer - Turbocharger

Handle - Street name, club member's name

Hardbelly - Young girl with a tight flat belly

Hardly-Ridable - Derogatory term for a Harley

Hardly-Davidson - Derogatory term for a Harley looking motorcycle that is not a Harley-Davidson brand motorcycle.

Harley Wrench - Hammer

Hard Tail - A rigid motorcycle frame with no shock absorbing device on the rear.

Head shake - When the handlebars shake back and forth due to improper set-up or bumps.

Helmet - Skid Lid, Brain Bucket

Helmet-Jinx - The bad luck a biker (who chooses not to wear a helmet) gets when someone mentions that he

should wear a helmet. If someone chooses not to wear a helmet don't jinx 'em.

Hippie Biker (AKA Citizen Bikers) - Soft core biker not 1%er. Predates RUB

Hogwagen - A custom-built trike in which a Harley-Davidson front end and frame is grafted

to a Volkswagen drivetrain (subframe, engine and transaxle).

Hosed - Worn or broken beyond repair

Huggermucker - General term referring to either an inanimate object with an unidentifiable purpose,

or a human being fitting the same description.

Insta-Biker - Anybody who goes down to the local bike shop and buys the Bike, Gear and fake tattoos so

they can hang out with their new ""Bros"" (also Poser)

Ironhead - The first generation of Sportster models (produced from 1957 until 1985). Unlike other models

with nicknames that describe the look of the cylinder heads on particular engine

("Knucklehead", "Shovelhead", "Flathead", etc.), the Ironhead name comes from the fact that the cylinder heads

on these models were cast iron whereas the heads on other models at that time were made of aluminum.

Jack up - When a club member sets a non club member straight.

Jukebox - Any overdressed bike

Keep the dirty side down - Ride safe don't lay the bike down.

Knuck - Knucklehead - 1. A type of Harley-Davidson engine manufactured prior to 1948, which was characterized

y large nuts on the right side of engine above the cylinders. Appearance is somewhat similar to knuckles.

2. Slang of Harley-Davidson Knucklehead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1936 - 1947).

Name comes from the valve covers that look like the knuckles of a clinched fist. 3. Harley-Davidson's

first overhead valve Big Twin.

Law Maker - Stupid riders that kill themselves on their bikes causing stupid laws to be made 'For our protection.'

Leather - another definition of a Poser or Wannabe

Leathers - 1. The jacket/gloves/etc (safety gear) used by riders that is made out of leather.

2. A safety garment consisting of a skin-tight leather suit, body armour, foam, sturdy stitching and zippers.

Legal Name - Most outlaw motorcycle club members have nicknames or club names which are

called "Legal Names" by club members. They are also called "Street Names."

Limb - Male biker

LxDx - Live Club Name, Die Club Name (ie. LPDP = Live Pagan, Die Pagan)

Lone Wolf Biker - Someone who lives the Bike Lifestyle but chooses not to ride with a club.

Loner - An individual who shares the same values and enjoys the same lifestyle as outlaw gang members

but who prefers to keep a degree of freedom of choice by not formally belonging to one specific club.

Mama - A woman who is available to all Biker Gang members

Mattress Cover or Ground Cover - Young Woman

MC - M/C - Motorcycle Club, referring to the tightly knit brotherhoods of biker gangs.

Mexican Socket Set - Crescent wrench

Mill - Engine

Milwaukee Vibrator - A Harley-Davidson

Money Burner - Anyone who rides a Harley-Davidson

Monkey Butt - What you get after riding your dirt bike all day. Soreness from an

uncomfortable riding position. Can be caused by riding too long in the same position, chafing or rubbing.

Mushrooms or Crash Bungs are terms for the plastic 'bungs' you attach to the frame to protect

the fairing etc in case of a 'spill' or crash.

Mystery Tour- A motorcycle social and travel event in which participants stop at checkpoints to unrave

a clue and solve the mystery of where the tour goes.

NBD - Never Been Dropped - found in used motorcycle advertisements, usually for

bikes that HAVE been dropped.

Nipple Surfing - Refers to sliding across the ground face down after falling off a motorcycle

. Also see "Superman"

Nomad - They are members of a motorcycle gang and will wear the club's colors. The bottom rocker

will read "Nomad." In some clubs they are the enforcers. They do not belong to any one chapter.

He will attend club meetings and pay required dues to different chapters, depending on his travels.

O.F.F.O. (OFFO) - Outlaws Forever Forever Outlaws
Oil Bag - Oil tank

Old Lady - Wife or steady girlfriend of a club member.

One Percenter (1%er) - Worn by outlaw clubs. Made famous by the media that said 99% of bikers

and clubs are law bidding citizens the other 1% is not.

One-way SOB - Selfish, takes but does not give in return

Organ Donor - A biker who doesn't wear a helmet

Originals - A member's first set of colors which are never to be cleaned.

Oscar - Blue haired Buick driver. "Oscar almost turned left in front of me"

Pan Panhead - 1. Slang for the Harley-Davidson engine produced between 1948 and 1965.

Named after the valve covers that look like small turkey roasting pans. 2. The Panhead Engine

(V-Twin, produced from 1948 - 1965). 3. Harley-Davidson's second generation overhead valve Big Twin.

Pannier - One of a pair of packs or baskets hung over the rear wheel of a vehicle (as a motorcycle)

Pasta Rocket - any Italian Sportbike (Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta, Benelli)

Patch holder - a club biker

Pavement Surfing (PS) - Being thrown from your bike and skidding along the highway.

Pinched - Picked up by the law.

PMS - Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. A condition suffered by both male or female riders when they

can not ride their motorcycle due to bad weather, repairs, or other reasons.

P.O.B.O.B. - Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington - the original gang that later developed

into the Hell's Angels.

Poser - A wannabe Biker (i.e. Shiny new leather)

Power Shower - Riding in the rain with anything other then a full face helmet.

Also riding in the rain without rain gear.

Probate - Club membership hopefuls, who ride with the gang during their probationary period.

After this time a unanimous vote must be cast by the membership for acceptance, initiation,

and awarding of colors.

Protein Facial - What you get on the highway without a windshield

PUB - Poor Urban Biker. Generally used as a comeback by Bikers who are accused of being RUB's.

Puppies - Female Breasts.

Purple hooters - Topless female rider in cold weather.

Q-Tip - Elderly cage driver (also see Blue Hair). Considered dangerous (by bikers) as they are

unpredictable driving on the road as their eye sight, hand-eye cordination and decision making abilities are

hindered by age. The term Q-Tip comes from the usual white hair color. They Drive BUICK's !

the Queen's own (AKA the Queen's Carrige) - Any British bike.

Rainbows - Oil on the street

Road Agent - Another term for Highway Patrol Officer or State Trooper.

Road Gator - 18-wheel Tire Pieces (they will jump up and bite you !

RUB - Rich Urban Biker. A term usually used by real Harley Bikers to describe the weekend wannabe

accountant types who buy a Harley ''cause they can and the status of it, but couldn't tell a camshaft from

a brake pad. Bikers that ride with more money than knowledge, experience, and ""street saavy"".

Scoot - Slang term for a motorcycle.

Scooter Trash - Any Biker.

Screamin' Night Hog - A biker when traveling long distances, prefers to ride at night (avoiding the

heavy traffic and usually at high speeds).

SFFS - Multiple meanings: 1. Sons Forever, Forever Sons 2. Set Free From Sin 3. Saved Forever, Forever Saved.

Shiney Side Up (Keep The Shiney Side Up) - Drive Safe, Don't Lay the Bike Down. Friendly parting expression.

Shooters on Scooters - motorcycle cop

Shovel - Shovelhead - 1. Slang for Harley-Davidson engines produced between 1966 and 1984,

so named because of the shape of the head resembles a coal shovel. The Shovelhead engine

(V-Twin, produced from 1966 - 1984.) 3. Harley-Davidson's third generation overhead valve Big Twin engine.

Silverhair Hiway Patrol (SHip) - Bluehairs that attempt to enforce a maximum speed limit of 35mph

no matter what the posted limit is. Generally followed by a small parade of vehicles,

they often speed up upon encountering a passing zone.

Skid Lid - Slang term for a helmet.

Skin - New paint job

Slabbing it - Taking the Interstate Highway

Slam or Slammer - 1. Jockey Shift. 2. To lower a bike's suspension (or in extreme cases remove it entirely),

also a remark made to someone with intent to make comments, sometimes of a rude nature,

to elicit laughs from those who hear/read it.

Sled - Slang term for a motorcycle.

Slinky Riders - Riders in a group ride who consistently fail to maintain interval with the bike to their front

are "slinky riders" and are a severe hazard to others.

Smell Me Bars - Ape Hangers

Snakes (road snakes) - The serpentine tar strips sometimes used to fill cracks on a racetrack or on a highway/road

Split Tail - a female passenger or your squeeze.

Squid (Squiddy) - Acronym, SQUirrely kID. 1. In reference to younger MC riders with little respect

to posted speed limit laws, self safety or safety of others. 2. Inexperienced newcomer, someone trying

to ride beyond his skill level with arms flailing (like a squid) to try not to fall. This may be just a Southern term.

State Patrol Formation - Staggered group riding formation - L-R-L-R-L-R...

Static - Harassment by law enforcement

Stay Vertical - Stay upright, don't crash

Stewartized - When some Bikers take great pains and expense to color coordinate their bike colors,

leathers, helmet, boots, gloves. Named after Martha Stewart.

Stick it - What a cop would do to check for Straight Pipes is stick his nightstick in the end of the

exhaust pipe and if it didn't stop and went all the way in, ya got a coupon for straight pipes (a fix it ticket).

Suck to the Bulls - Talking friendly with law enforcement. (Best way to talk to them).

. Also see "Nipple Surfing"

Super Slab - 1. Interstate. 2. A generic term for any multilane, high speed, limited access highway,

including a freeway, toolway, motorway, parkway, or superhighway.

Swapping Paint - Two riders bump in to each other while racing. Also known as love nudges.

Sweep - The last (and most experienced) rider in a group ride.

T.W.O - Two Wheels Only, anyone who ONLY rides a bike (no car)
Taged - As in tag you're it. Old term for finding out there is a cop or narc undercover in your bar or club. (South)

Tail Gunner - The last rider in a group.

Tar Snake - An uneven, slippery patch in a road crack

T-CLOCK (see also T-CLOCS)- Older term used to help remember your Pre-Ride inspection -

Tires, Controls, Lights (and electronics), Oils, Chassis (and chain),Kicksatand Up

Team - A subgroup of four motorcycles within a larger group ride.

The Bicycle Lane - The space in-between those double yellow lines usually in the center of a two lane

black top roadway,riding in the bicycle lane predates lane splitting and is sometimes the only alternative

when cage traffic is slow or stopped.

The Big Road - The Interstate

The Main Jet - No not the one in your Carburetor , The Main Jet is another word for the Interstate Highway.

The Man - Police or Law Enforcement Officer

The Mann - Artist David Mann

Thirteen (13) - It is for Mother Club e.g. The original chapter of the club and the ruling body of the club. If a member

is wearing a 13 he is a member of the Mother club and is a boss of the club.

Too Late Light - Oil Pressure Warning Light

Toos - Tattoos

Trailer Boy - Someone who trailers there bike long distances and then wants everyone to believe

they rode many miles to get there.

Trailer Queen - Pristine antique bike brought to competitive old bike meets, and rolled off its trailer

or out of the back of a van for judging, and rolled back in immediately after. Rarely, or never, seen to

actually run. Back home, it lives under a cover in the owners barn/garage.

Trailer Twinkie - Any person whom is physically able but would rather trailer or haul their bike than ride it. .

These people usually come up with some poor excuse to justify trailering and have been the culprits that have

caused Bike Week to be referred to as Trailer Week by some. Most likely they are posers and waxers.

True Blue - A Biker who travels long distances or takes long bike trips.

T-Shirt Biker - Someone who has the leather jacket, chain drive wallet, T-shirts and all, but no scooter (motorcycle).

Tune up - When a senior club member sets a junior club member straight.

Tuppermobile - Any Bike that has plastic arm rests for passengers (like Honda Goldwing)

Turn Out - When all members come together in the case of an initiation for a new member.

Twenty Twenty (20/20) - A Harley Rider ( $20,000 for the Harley, $20,000 for a pickup to tow it with)

Twenty-two (22) - Someone who has done time

Two Second rule - This is the minimum spacing in seconds between moving motorcycles. While in formation,

maintain a 2-second interval from the rider in front of you. It is measured by counting "one-thousand one,

one-thousand two" as you see the rider in front of you pass a sign or landmark. Stop counting when you pass

the same marker. Under poor weather conditions, maintain longer intervals consistent with safety.

Two Up - A term for carrying a passenger on the back of the bike.

Urban Tumbleweed - Plastic grocery bags/sacks that either fly up onto a hot exhaust or into your face.

W.H.O.R.E - We Haul Our Rides Everywhere. Those people that trailer their bikes to about 2 miles from

an event, and then unload them and gently ride them in, only if there isn't going to be any rain, dust or dirt roads.

Wannabe - A person who "wants to be" a biker. Refers to a person who does not ride at all, but who behaves

as though he or she does. This person will often be seen "dressing like a biker" by wearing black clothes,

motorcycle-themed shirts, and leather jackets. "Wannabes" are also noted for their unusually strong opinions

about motorcycle related issues (which motorcycle brand is the best, helmet laws, etc.) though they may

have no first-hand knowledge of the issue in question.

War-Horse - Well-ridden, road-worn bike (usually a chop)

War Wagon - A vehicle used to transport the club's arsenal during an outing when trouble is expected

from other clubs.

Wave (The Wave) - Slowly becoming a lost art, but the true biker clings to this practice. It involves raising

a hand to greet a motorcyclist traveling in the opposite direction. Not to be performed under braking or

turning maneuvers. The wave can be above below or above the handlebars. Please do wave to every

fellow biker regardless of the type of motor they are riding.

Waxer - Someone who would rather wax his bike than ride it

Waybackmachine - Any streetdriven "overmotored" road rocket that makes most fast vehicles seem to

move backwards...wayback.....ie. V Max, Blackbird, Huyabusa, GSXR, Ninja......

Wear Bar - Raised ridge in the tire tread to indicate when the tire needs replacement. All tires should be

replaced when tread depth is 1/32nd of an inch or less.

Weekend Warrior - 1. Insta-biker types. 2. Someone who only rides their motorcycle on the weekends.

WFO - Wide F_ _ king Open (throttle)

Whisper-Glide - Goldwing or other large quiet Touring bike.

White Plate - Antique Flat track races

Wind Shield - Wind Screen. In the old days, you could not have one in most clubs !

Wind Triangle - A wind triangle is a simple triangular-shaped piece of cloth or leather worn

around the neck for protection.

Wind Walker - Anybody who rides, helps and is friendly to all other Motorcycle Jockeys.

Wingabago - Gold Wing motorcycle, with all the extras.

Wings - Emblem worn by 1%ers, as a pin or patch (cloth) attached to the colors.

All wing earning must be witnessed.

WTF - expression - What the f_ _ k!

Yard Shark - Dogs that come out of nowhere and try to bite your tires.