You know all this lingo already. But maybe some Cager will read this and decide to abandon his or her Civilian ways. They’ll need to learn some of this before they buy a bike. After all, the more motorcycles, the merrier!
Aftermarket – Parts and accessories other than OEM – See “OEM”
AMA – The American Motorcycle Association
Apes – Handlebars that are very high
Ape hangers – See “Apes” – Handlebars that are very high
Back warmer – A girl on the back of your motorcycle
Born Again Biker – Someone who has recently returned to riding after a period of absence
Bark-o-lounger – Honda Gold Wing
Bar hopper bike – The spit shined and polished bikes that only come out for show-off purposes (Shows, Bike nights, etc…)
Basket case – A bike whose pieces are all in a basket or could fit in one
Beemer – BMW motorcycle
Bible – Repair manual
Big Twin – Any Harley bigger than a Sportster
Biker – A person with a passion for Harleys; who owns a bike, not just a t-shirt; and needs no “excuse” to ride. People who have been doing it since before the Yuppie incursion
Biker friendly – A business that likes serving bikers and has no problem with colors and leathers
Bottom rocker – The bottom-most patch on a set of colors. It is usually the neighborhood that a club, or a chapter of a club, is claiming to ride in. See “Colors”
Brain bucket – A helmet
Bro – Short for brother. Used by one club member to or about another club member. Used to describe the kind of relationship club members have with one another; like family; brothers. It is not a good idea to call someone “bro” unless you are a part of their circle of clubs or club members.
Cage – A car, truck or other 4-wheeled vehicle
Cager – A person who only rides in a cage
Center patch – The insignia of the club. The middle patch between the top and bottom rocker, centered on the rider’s back. Sometimes given a name and sometimes called the “center pie”
Center pie – See “Center patch” – The middle patch between the top and bottom rocker, centered on the rider’s back
Chase vehicle – The vehicle, usually a van or truck, which follows a pack of riders to assist in case of bike trouble
Chopper – A motorcycle that has a greater angle on the front forks than is usually seen. So named because, originally, the front end was “chopped” (cut) off and welded back on at a wider angle
Church – The weekly (or monthly) mandatory club meeting
Chromosexual – The motorcycle rider who keeps adding more and more chrome to his bike, indifferent or regardless of its performance
Civilian – The non-riding general public
Coupon – Traffic ticket
Colors / Colours – A distinguishable set of patches and emblems worn on the back of vests by members of a motorcycle club. The emblems may also be called “patches”, “rags” or “cuts”. Club Colors are differentiated from organizational patches by the “MC” or “M” and “C” cubes next to the center pie.
Crash bars – Engine guards
Crotch rocket – Slang term for a sport-type motorcycle. Originally, so named, because it seemed that in order to ride it, you had to bend over so far that the engine and tank section were up your crotch
DILLIGAF – An acronym for “Do I Look Like I Give A Fart”. Fart? Really?
Do-rag – Cloth covering used over hair to prevent excess dirt or wind damage
Dresser – A large motorcycle designed for long-distance riding. It is “dressed up” with hard saddle bags and a windshield
Easy Rider rifle rack – A set of aftermarket, forward foot pegs extended way out in the front of the motorcycle down tubes.
Featherwood – A female who is incarcerated
Flathead – Harley engine manufactured from 1930-1948
Flying Colors – Wearing the club’s patches
Full dresser – See “Dresser” – A large motorcycle designed for long-distance riding.
Hardbody – Typically used to describe a good-looking young lady
Hardtail – A rigid motorcycle frame with no shock absorbers
H.O.G. – Harley Owners Group – copyrighted trademark of the organization that sends the official Harley Davidson magazine to members who pay yearly dues
Hog – See “Big Twins” – Any Harley bigger than a Sportster
House mouse – A female who tends to drift from person to person within a club; a female who is responsible for taking care of the club or clubhouse, cleaning up after parties and tending to any needs of the Patchholders; or both
Ink – A tattoo (or multiple tattoos)
Ink slinger – A tattoo artist
Japanese racing boots – Flip flops (bath slippers often worn by riders of Japanese sport bikes, usually with short pants and full face helmets)
Kickstand – When used as a Road name, it’s the guy you don’t want to park your motorcycle next to. He got this name because on more than one occasion he forgot to put the kickstand down before walking away from his bike. Everywhere you go someone will know someone called, “Kickstand”.
Lane splitting – When a motorcycle rides the dotted or broken line between cars going in the same direction
Lid – A helmet
MC or M/C – Motorcycle Club (not “gang”)
MC cube(s) – The single “MC” patch or the two “M” and “C” patches located somewhere on a set of Colors
Milwaukee vibrator – A Harley-Davidson
OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer
Old lady / Ol’ lady – Wife or steady girlfriend. Has nothing to do with her age
Old School Biker –See “Traditional Biker” – A biker who lives by the protocols and traditions as set down by the returning GIs after WWII as it relates to behavior and respect.
One percenter (1%er) – A member of a motorcycle club, or the club itself, that does not necessarily conform to the general public’s perception of what is acceptable behavior. The term was made famous after the AMA expressed that 99% of motorcycle riders are upstanding citizens and only 1% acted outside commonly accepted practices
P-pad – A smaller seat for a passenger located behind a bigger operator’s seat Pack – The group of motorcycles riding together as a unit
Patch holder – A full member of a motorcycle club
Patch over – When one or more members of a motorcycle club are incorporated into another club. The member(s) take the new colors and “patch over” their old ones
Patches – See “Colors” – A distinguishable set of patches and emblems worn on the back of vests by members of a motorcycle club. Could also be called “colors”, “rags” or “cuts”
Peckerwood – A term of endearment used by incarcerated females for an incarcerated male
Pillion pad – See “P-pad” – A smaller seat for a passenger located behind a bigger operator’s seat
PMS – An acronym for Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. A condition suffered when a biker has not been able to ride for an extended period of time
Probate – Club membership hopeful
Property patch – Worn to signify that the wearer is the Ol’ Lady of a club member. Although some people feel that this is degrading to women, some property patch wearers feel that this is a security blanket; as long as they have a Patchholder’s name on their back no one will bother them, where ever they may be.
Prospect – A prospective member of a motorcycle club
Rat bike – A motorcycle that’s been kept running, or together, by any means possible, usually with mismatched parts or parts that are not usually found on a motorcycle
Road captain – Usually a well respected veteran biker who rides in the back of the pack and maintains the safety and unity of the group
Road name – A name given to you by your brothers or club or because of something you’ve done that makes you stand out. A nickname. (See “kickstand” for a better explanation)
RUB – An acronym for Rich Urban Biker. A term used to describe the people who buy Harleys to look cool and who have more money than the passion a biker has for riding
Run – An organized ride
Scoot(er) – Term for a Harley
Sissy bar – The bar that comes up off the fender behind the passenger seat
Shovelhead – A type of Harley engine produced from 1966 to 1984
Sled – Term for a Harley
Snitch – Someone who tells private or inside information about club member(s) to a law enforcement agency or other outside organization, which will use that information against the other club member(s).
SQUID – Slang for squirrelly kid – A motorcycle rider with little respect for speed limits, traffic laws or safety
Three piece patch – See “Colors” – A distinguishable set of patches and emblems worn on the back of the vests by members of a motorcycle club. Sometimes, in reality, there are three, four or five patches on the back of the vest, but the term refers to, specifically, the top & bottom rockers and the center logo
Top hat – The hard luggage bag found above the back fender on a “Dresser”
Top rocker – The emblem located at the top of the back of the vest, which is usually the name of the club and is usually crescent shaped.
Traditional Biker – See “Old School Biker” – A biker who lives by the protocols and traditions as set down by the returning GIs after WWII as it relates to behavior and respect.