Yo! 
How youse doin’? Not for nuthin, but people have been asking me all week to do an article on Biker
Basics.  A sort of “MC 101”, if you know what I mean.  So I got to thinking.  I know … a dangerous path to
go down … yet here we are.

What if you weren’t born into this lifestyle or you didn’t grow up around it?  What if you didn’t have the
information imprinted in your DNA?  Or what if you had and just wanted it explained?  Then one day,
when you had been riding for 15 minutes, or 15 years, you couldn’t help but notice those tough looking
guys, wearing their cool leather vests, with all those neat colored patches on the back, riding their loud
motorcycles, and you needed to know. 

So you jumped on your sled and followed those guys to the local bike night, pub or nearest
Confederation meeting and saw the fun that they were having and you wanted to know how to fit in or
how to join one of those clubs.  I’m just sayin’.
Well, this is gonna take a while, so it’s gonna be a multi-part series.  And don’t think they’ll be in any sort
of order, or even all in a row, because except for my OCD, my mind has no sort of order.
Let’s start with the lingo.  Every cool sub-culture has its own language and bikers are no exception.  This
is by no means going to be an all inclusive, end-all, list of all lists.  This is just what I happen to remember
from people asking me, “Yo, what does that mean?”  It’ll be enough to help you understand what’s
going on; or get you into trouble.   Also, that it’s the way that I understand it.  Someone else might use
these words differently.  Remember, too, that I speak Brooklynese, so if someone gives you a dirty look
after using one of these words or expressions, just say, “...you guys” afterwards and hope you can pull it
off.

But don’t go thinking that I’m gonna teach you the Patchholders-only, super-duper, highly classified,
secret cabal, decoder spy ring handshake, though, ‘cause some things are still sacred. 
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
Biker bitch – A female who has always had a high interest in motorcycles
Bitch pegs – The high passenger foot pegs
Bobber – Old school name for a bike that was stripped and “bobbed”.  Originally so named for the
“bobbing” (cutting down in size) of the fenders.
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 meetingChromosexual – 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 – 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 F*@k”
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
Eight hundred pound vibrator – A term for Harley-Davidsons given to them by female passengers
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 bothInk – 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”.  It is not, “MG”)
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 – Or “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
Parsley – Doesn’t have anything to do with biking.  I just wanted to see if youse were paying attention. 
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
Rice burner – Term used for Japanese motorcycles, implying that they run on rice instead of gasoline
Righteous name - See “Road name” - A name given to you by your brothers or club.  A nickname 
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
safetyThree 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.
Tramp stamp – The term for the tattoo on a girl’s lower back, above her butt crack
Wolf ticket – A threat made by someone with little or no power or authority about what he or someone
else might do in response to a behavior he perceives as disrespectful to his imagined authority.   (i.e. 
“Bill was handing out wolf tickets when he heard the rest of us calling his new motorcycle a rat bike”. 
Not to be confused with a real threat made by someone with power in response to a truly disrespectful
act.  i.e. “Bill just called Flaco’s old lady a whore and said her tramp stamp made her look like a true
tramp” – In this case, Flaco would not be handing out wolf tickets).

Dragonslayer FireBam

http://bamrubenstein.caimanhunter.com/i … /lingo.pdf