C
Cafe Chop
Customizing a motorcycle to a cafe racer.
Cafe Racer
Motorcycles customized to appear like the racing bikes from the
1950's and 1960's. These bike earned this nickname by riding
from cafe to cafe in Europe.
Cage
Nickname given to a car, truck, or van.
Cager
A person driving a car, truck, or van.
Cam
A rod with lobes on it that opens the valves in a motorcycle
engine.
Canning it
Slang for riding a bike hard. Also referred to as Thrashing it.
Canyon
Carving
Riding extremely fast along the tight curved roads in a canyon
or mountainous region.
Carb
Carburetor, Fuel Management System
Carbon Fiber
A material used in more and more modern motorcycles due it being
strong and light.
Carburetor
A device that mixes fuel and air in correct
proportions to create the controlled explosion in the combustion
chamber.
Carving
Used in the driving world in general, refers to hard cornering
at fast speeds taking the straightest possible line through a
curve.
Centerstand
A stand that supports the motorcycle in an upright position.
Catwalk
More commonly known as a ‘wheelie’, riding the motorcycle
on just the rear wheel.
Chain
Term usually used to describe the final drive system of a
motorcycle. The advantages of have a chain final drive system
are its lightweight system and it’s responsiveness to throttle
control. The disadvantage is a higher maintenance schedule of
oiling and tightening. Also see final drive. Also known as a
Chain drive system.
Chase
Vehicle
The vehicle following a group of riders to help with or pick-up
any motorcycles with mechanical problems.
Chassis
The frame and suspension on a motorcycle.
Checkbook
Biker
A person who rides more for the image rather than the passion.
Also see InstaBiker, Rolex Biker and Weekend Warrior.
Cherry
Juice
Nickname for Transmission Fluid.
Cherry
Tops
Nickname for Police cars.
Chicken
Strips
The tread left on the sidewalls of a sportbike’s tires. Riders
use this as a gauge of how far the bikes owner is willing to
lean over in a curve, hence a sign if their riding courage.
Chickenwing
Nickname for the Honda Gold Wing motorcycle
Chopper
A particular and distinct style of customizing a motorcycle.
Originally taken from the first people to modify motorcycles,
the returning veterans from World War Two who ‘chopped’ their
bikes by taking off everything but the necessities. The image of
the chopper is continuously changing.
Chrome-Slut
Nickname given to bikers, usually ride cruisers, who add or
chrome every component on their motorcycle. Also referred to as
Chromosexual.
Clip-ons
Handlebars that attach directly to the fork tubes rather than to
the top yoke and hold the fork tubes together.
Club
Short name for a Motorcycle Club, an organization of riders who
have common interests both inside as well as outside the pastime
of riding. Membership and the wearing of club patches (or
colors) is usually a part of belonging to a motorcycle club
(MC).
Clubber
A rider who has a club affiliation.
Clutch
The device that engages the engine and transmission transferring
power to the drive system of the motorcycle, allowing the rider
to change gears. Usually operated by the lever on the left hand
side of the handlebar.
Coasters
Plates used to block the holes when removing Reed Valves.
COG
Kawasaki’s
Concours Owner's Group
Colors
Sewn on patches that identifies or represents a motorcycle club.
Generally consists of three patches worn on the back of a
leather jacket or vest; a logo in the center with smaller
patches above and below it (called upper and lower rockers).
Combustion
chamber
The part of the cylinder where the fuel charge burns and pushes
the pistons down.
Coming on the Cam
The term used when a four stroke reaches it powerband.
Coming on the Pipe
The term used when a two stroke reaches it powerband.
Commuter
A rider who uses his motorcycle to ride to work.
Compression
A condition in which the volume of fuel and air in an engine
cylinder is reduced as a result of increased pressure by a
piston. The compression ratio of an engine is the ratio of the
volume above the piston at the bottom of its compression stroke
to the volume above the piston at the top of its stroke.
Compression ratio
The compression ratio specifies how much the fuel is
compressed when the engine's piston is at its highest point.
Connecting rods
Rods that attach the crankshaft to the pistons.
Contact Patch
Area of the tire which has contact with the road while you ride.
Cordura
A high tenacity, air textured nylon fiber with superior abrasion
resistance over any other fabric currently used in motorcycle
apparel. Cordura sets industry minimum standard for apparel
material abrasion and tear strength.
Counterbalancer
A weight inside an engine to help cancel some of the inherent
vibration.
Countersteering
A method of causing the bike to lean into a turn, and is
initiated by pressing on the handgrip in the direction of the
turn. For example, if riding into a left turn by pressing
against the left side of the handlebars the motorcycle is pushed
into leaning over to the left, allowing a more efficient and
safer turn. Also see gyroscopic precession.
Coupon
Nickname for a traffic ticket.
Cowling
Piece of bodywork that covers the engine area.
Crack It
To rev the engine.
Crash Bars
The Chrome tubing seen at the front of a cruiser, originally
designed to protect the engine if the motorcycle were to fall
over.
Cross
Extreme motorcycles designed for driving in rough terrain or on
motocross tracks.
Crossover
The piping that connects the front & rear cylinder exhaust
pipes.
Crotch
Rocket
Nickname for Sportbikes.
Crowns
Top of the pistons.
Cubic Inch
Wars
Used when talking about the competition between mass
motorcycle manufacturers to produce the largest displacement OEM
MC engine.
Cruiser
Term used to describe a style of motorcycle as produced by
Harley Davidson and Yamaha’s Boulevard series.
Cycle
Refers to the up and down motion of the piston, although the
terms cycle and stroke are used interchangably when referring to
engine types.
Cylinder
A part of the engine that handles the combustion portion of
producing power.
Cylinder Block
The block of metal that holds the pistons which move up and
down.
Cylinder head
Piece of the cylinder. Also see cylinder.
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