23.8.09

What is a Biker?



Thunderous machines shaking the very ground the rough dust covered righteous riders a stride rolling versions of pride. Heavy leather boots jeans weathered discolored and black Tshirt from one of many meets just a little mental imagery. Clad in leather at times chaps, jackets, vests, and gloves some even wear skull caps wrapped and ready for the road ahead. There are many different types of Bikers this is what makes us the strongest active subculture around. Understanding the pleasure only takes one ride the experience will last a lifetime. Where did the term Biker come from well no one really knows for sure. There are even a few people that believe it started with people who rode bicycles which couldn't be confirmed nor denied. These days we come from every walk of life to define it you will have to understand the individuals them selves. Could be easier to understand what we share if it were just the machines there wouldn't be so many different kinds. Parties are great but that's not it either though there are none better. Swapmeets are just a means to an end and we turn those into parties! Riding together whether loose and staggered or tight side by side fills some with pride. Though many of us prefer the solo set just the same. Exhilaration of the ride the sound of the machine cutting the wind the feel of everything coming together, unforgettable moments every one. Some are Christians others are not, all believe in freedom and the right to have it.

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21.8.09

Biker Glossary

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#

 
1%er
Outlaw biker


A

 
AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
 
Ape Hangers
Handlebars that are very high, and which often raise the rider's hands above his or her shoulders.


B

 
B.R.A.G.®
Buell Riders Adventure Group
Baffle
Sound deadening material that sits inside a muffler and quiets the exhaust note
Bagger
In the general sense, a "bagger" refers to any motorcycle that has saddlebags; however, in conversation the term "bagger" is most often used in connection with large touring motorcycles.
BAMBI
Born Again Middle-Age Biker Idiot
* Thanks to DJ Wasielewski
Basket Case
A motorcycle that has been completely disassembled, often in a perpetual state of being rebuilt. The term comes from its usage at swap meets where the easiest way to carry and display such motorcycles is often in a basket.
* Thanks to Tim Smith for suggesting this term.
Big Twin
Any Harley-Davidson® that is not a Sportster®.
Refers to the relatively large size of almost all other Harley-Davidson engines when compared to the Sportster® engine. Sportster® models currently have 883 or 1200 cubic centimeters whereas most other Harleys have 1340, 1450, or 1584 cubic centimeters. The single exception to this rule is the V-Rod® which currently has fewer cubic centimeters (1130 cc to be exact) than a large Sportster, yet is widely considered to be a big twin. Who knows, maybe in a few years' time we'll have to come up with a new phrase to separate the larger motorcycles from the smaller motorcycles …
Blockhead
The Evolution® engine (V-Twin, produced from 1984 – 2000)
Bobber

A bobber is a motorcycle that is customized by removing all extraneous and non-essential parts from the motorcycle. This is done to increase performance (higher power to weight ratio) and to increase handling (lower unsprung weight over the axles). The bobber was originally built in the late 1940s and 1950s by servicemen returning from WWII who were looking for a little excitement. The bobber-style motorcycle is the forerunner of the more modern chopper-style motorcycle.

Bullneck Frame
A bullneck frame differs from a standard frame in the way that the frame is connected to the steering neck. On most models there is a triangular or trapezoidal area between the frame and the steering neck that is indented. On bullneck frames this area is not indented, rather the transitional area between the frame and the steering neck is "filled in" and so is smooth and unbroken.


C

 
Cage
A car, truck, or van
 
Cager
A person driving a car, truck, or van
 
Clone
A motorcycle built to resemble and function like a Harley-Davidson motorcycle without actually being a Harley-Davidson motorcycle (the vehicle title will identify it as something other than a Harley-Davidson)
 
Clutch Booster

A device designed to reduce the effort necessary to engage the motorcycle's clutch mechanism. Often used by people who ride older motorcycles as these clutch mechanisms were notoriously stiff making the clutch lever difficult to pull under normal conditions and exhausting to repeatedly pull in stop-and-go traffic.

Crash Bars
The incorrect term for engine guards. If you want to see a factory lawyer cringe, there's no faster way than saying this term.
 
Crotch Rocket
A motorcycle that is built to be ridden at high speeds, characterized by sporting plastic body panels instead of sheet metal and typically (though not always) painted in seizure-inducing color schemes. Often ridden by a Squiddy.


D

 
DILLIGAF
Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck
DOT
Department of Transportation
 
Double Thumper
A Harley-Davidson or any other motorcycle with two-cylinders.
 
Drag Bars
Low, flat, straight handlebars


E

 
ECM
Electronic Control Module
The computer brain that controls various aspects of your motorcycle's performance including ignition, timimg, and fuel to air ratio.
 
EFI
Electronic Fuel Injection
 
Engine Guards
Metal tubes bolted to the motorcycle's frame that should protect the engine from damage in the event of an accident. They are not designed to offer the rider or passenger any protection in the event of an accident.
 
Evo Evolution
The Evolution engine (V-Twin, produced from 1984 – 2000)


F

 
Fathead
The Twin-Cam engine (V-Twin, produced from 1999 – Current Day)
Flathead
The Flathead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1929 – 1972)
FTP
Fuck The Police
FTW
Fuck The World
Forever Two Wheels


G

 


H

 
H.O.G.®
Harley Owners Group
 
Hard Tail
A motorcycle frame with no rear suspension
 
Hooligan

A "hooligan" motorcyclist. This type of motorcyclist is known for his/her reckless disregard of public and personal safety in the name of going the fastest, cornering the hardest, and generally living life on the edge. They ride to have fun, regardless of the consequences. See also Squiddy. Some of the more famous "hooligan" riders are the StarBoyz, known for doing stunts in heavy daytime interstate traffic.

A "hooligan" style motorcycle. This type of motorcycle has been stripped of all unnecessary parts and accessories so that they can have a higher power-to-weight ratio. This gives them the appearance of being "naked". They have minimal bodywork, a racing-styled seat that typically only seats one person, no passenger pegs, an exposed frame, etc.

Hugger
A type of Sportster, so named because its lowered suspension and lowered seat make it appear to "hug" the road.
 
Huggermucker
Huggermugger
General term refering to either an inanimate object with an unidentifiable purpose, or a human being fitting the same discription


I

 
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.


J

 
Jockey Shift
A shift lever that is actuated by a rider's hand and which sits either behind the rider's leg (in which case the shifting motion closely resembles a jockey whipping his horse … hence the term "jockey shift") or is mounted on the fuel tank.
See also Suicide Clutch.
 
Jug
The cylinder of an engine.


K

 
Kick Stand

A derogatory term for men.

Knuck
Knucklehead
The Knucklehead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1936 – 1947)


L

 
Lunger
Lung-er
Used in statements like "one lunger", "double lunger", "n lunger", etc. where n is the number of cylinders that a motorcycle has. Thus, a Buell Blast is a "one lunger", a Harley-Davidson is a "double lunger" or a "two lunger", a Triumph Trident is a "three lunger", and many Japanese motorcycles are "four lungers".


M

 
MC
Motorcycle Club
 
MMI
Motorcycle Mechanics Institute
 
Mouse Trap
See clutch booster
 
MSF
Motorcycle Safety Foundation


N

 
Newbie
A person who is new to the sport of motorcycling.
A first time Harley-Davidson owner.
 
Nomad
A biker without a home who drifts from place to place.
 


O

 
OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer


P

 
P-Pad
Pillion Pad
The passenger seat
 
Pan
Panhead
The Panhead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1948 – 1965)
 
PhD
A self-paced learning system designed by Harley-Davidson to keep professional dealership technicians current.
 
Poker Run
A poker run is, for the most part, like any old motorcycle run. Instead of just riding from Point A to Point B, however, there are also several stops in between (usually 5 total). At these stops you go in to the checkpoint and draw a playing card from a deck of cards. Depending on the rules, you either keep the card or the person at the checkpoint will mark down what card you drew. You do this at each checkpoint, and by the end of the run you will have 5 cards … this makes up your poker hand. At the last stop you turn in your poker hand, and whoever has the best hand wins.
 
Poor Man's Harley
A Triumph motorcycle.


Q

   


R

 
Rat Bike
A motorcycle that is usually mechanically sound and well-maintained but that looks as if it has been ridden through a war zone or as if it has been assembled from the wrecked carcasses of several other motorcycles. See the Wikipedia entry on this subject for more information.
 
Revolution
The Revolution engine, Harley-Davidson's first water-cooled engine (V-Twin, produced from 2002 – Current Day)
 
Rice Burner
A Japanese-made motorcycle
 
Riding Bitch
A derogatory term for riding on the backseat.
 
RMHD
Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson
 
Rolex Rider
A rich, yuppy (typically older) weekend rider.
 
RUB
Rich Urban Biker
 
Rubber
Tires


S

 
SFFS
Sons Forever, Forever Sons
Set Free From Sin
Saved Forever, Forever Saved
 
Shovel
Shovelhead
The Shovelhead engine (V-Twin, produced from 1966 – 1984)
 
Sissy Bar
Passenger backrest
 
Softail
A motorcycle frame whose suspension is hidden, making it resemble a hard tail
 
Split Tail

A derogatory term for women.

Included here for the sake of completeness, and does not represent the views of Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson.

Squiddy

Literally a "suicidal kid".

A young motorcyclist with little or no riding experience riding a sport bike with a lot of horsepower. A squiddy is characterized by wildly weaving in and out of traffic and doing stunts on public roads (wheelies, stoppies, etc.) Often seen wearing a colorful full face helmet, tank top, shorts and flip flops. Approach with caution … squiddies are unable to distinguish between reality and their video game inspired Biker Boyz fantasies.

See also Hooligan.

Stock
A motorcycle set up to OEM specifications with no alterations
 
Straight Pipes
An exhaust system with no baffles (technically illegal in most areas)
 
Suicide Clutch
Suicide Setup

An early-style gear shift mechanism. Unlike modern motorcycles, early motorcycles used a foot-actuated clutch and the gear shifting was done with the rider's hand via a long gear shift knob that was connected directly to the transmission (much like a manual transmission on a car).

Because the rider had to remove one of his hands from the handlebars in order to shift — a dangerous prospect given that most of the thoroughfares of the day were rutted, unpaved dirt roads or brick and cobblestone streets — many people felt that motorcycle riders were literally "taking their lives into their own hands" … hence the term, "suicide clutch".

See also Jockey Shift.
 
Suicide Handlebars
An extreme style of "ape hanger" handlebars that raises the rider's hands at or above the level of his own head while riding.
 
Sushi Wagon
An import motorcycle of Japanese origin.


T

 
Thumper
A single-cylinder motorcycle. So called because of the distinctive "thump, thump, thump" sound that these motorcycles make when running.


U

   


V

 
VIN
Vehicle Identification Number


W

 
Wannabe
Literally a person who "wants to be" a biker. Generally speaking a "wannabe" 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.
 
Weekend Warrior

Someone who only rides their motorcycle on the weekends. Depending on the context, a weekend warrior can be typified as either:

  • A person who wants to appear to be much more "hardcore" than he or she really is. This type of person rides a motorcycle because it makes a strong fashion statement … as such, they ride only on the weekends because that is the time that more people will see them.
  • A person who has a "normal" job and a "normal" life, but who secretly wishes he or she could be a biker all the time. To this type of person, a motorcycle is an escape from normalcy.


X

   


Y

   


Z

 
Zoom-Splat
Any of the various racing style motorcycles usually ridden by a Squiddy on city streets.



 
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13.8.09

What are patch holders 1%er and MC

MC 1%er club members also referred to as patch holders are serious Bikers they ride hard and play hard. Respect is mandatory they are sworn Brothers and represent their patch and colors. Some home grown, some National there are even International Clubs the road they ride is done with pride.

1935 The McCook Outlaws Motorcycle Club became the first

MC (Motorcycle Club) patch holders have rails above and below stating club and territory that they claim as their own. Starting your own Motorcycle Club may seen fun but there are rules to this and you must come correct. Knowing who holds the rights in your part of the country is your first business at hand. Arrange a meeting to discuss terms if any they will accept and working out the details and follow through. Should you decide to just go out get a patch made with some nice looking rails and start blazing trails around the territory. Don't be surprised if you end up with a black eye and picking your patches of the ground. Some will give you a heads up others won't. Patch History goes back many years 1935 The McCook Outlaws Motorcycle Club was established out of Matilda`s Bar on old Route 66 in McCook, Illinois. Outlaws made history not only the first Motorcycle Club but the first patch holders and you may not know the first to have MC on their patch though it stood for McCook. Hells Angels claim to be the first Motorcycle Club and were formed in 1948 March the 17th not first but very well known. Becoming a patch holder can be very difficult if not impossible for some, more serious clubs pick you not the other way around. Brothers make you earn your right by going through a probationary period this can last months even years to gain the privilege of wearing and sharing their Brotherhood and patch colors. MC life is not for everyone take a long look at your self before you decide, it's a long hard ride with benifits and a price.

HA MC wall graffiti second oldest Club

  Mind your own business stay out of theirs should come across one and your told to move along start walking. Choosing not to wear a patch doesn't make you meek but the ones that do are not among the weak. AMA (American Motorcycle Association) in 1947 referring to the Motorcycle Culture & Lifestyle, to the press, suggested that out of 99% of all motorcycles riders, only 1% are Bad. Thus the Outlaw Bikers Gangs were labeled as the 1%ers. Which are just that a small percentage of Bikers. Don't have to wear a patch to be a 1%er nor do have to be bad to be a Biker. Though get used to the fact that a real Biker can spot a wanna be quickly though maybe friendly will keep some distance between you on the road.  You'll hear other terms like wanna be some referred to as yuppie bikers even weekender. How can you tell if your a wanna be? Well you can trade your clothes for leather but it's how you handle the bad weather. Check out some of the MC links and get to know a little more about them don't be surprised to find it's not for you that's why there are so few. Push comes to shove a 1%er is worth at least three weekenders, if it comes to war seven or more. Wanna join up don't think, know what your doing and how to handle your self and your machine. Remember there is nothing wrong with a wanna be, just how close you ride next to me. Click the list link below and check out some of the MC clubs web sites and look them over.

Motorcycle Clubs Listed in Alphabetical Order

Motorcycle Clubs Listed in Alphabetical Order

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