Help. I am a n00b.

[synaptyx]

Here I am minding me own business, enjoying the fact I'm now a biker of about five or six, ahem, weeks (not counting the 2 years on scooters), and all of a sudden a pile of new lingo starts to dribble into my ears. So, without any hint of embarrassment whatsoever ('cos if you don't ask questions, you're doomed to be ignorant forever and all that), can some kind soul please tell me what the hell this all means!?

Can't remember them all, but here's a handful for starters...

Chicken Strips
Highside
Lowside
Counter Steer

Pile them on, the more I learn the better...

[McJamweasel]

Chicken Strips: The unused bit of tyre at the edge; shows how far the bike has been leant over.

Highside: A crash wherre you get thrown over the bike, caused by the rear loosing then regaining grip.

Lowside: A crash where the bike slides from under you, caused by either (or both) tyre losing grip.

Counter Steer: Where you push on the inside handlebar to make you lean over.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[dibbster]

Dammit! McJam you beat me to it.

Anymore for jargon busting?
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[Fallen Angel]

I've got to ask:

Tank Slapper ?

And no naughty answer boys!!!
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[McJamweasel]

Tank Slapper: Where the handlebars violenty shake from lock to lock.
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[MarJay]

A dangerous lock to lock oscillation of the handlebars. Sometimes this happens when landing a wheelie without the bars being straight.

Very severe, and very scary.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Nighteyes]

OK, I'm sure there is someone here who could compose a biking terminology dictionary so people never need to feel embarrassed again by not knowing???
I'd love to, but I'm dippy too about most terms!
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[Ste]

Just to add a little bit to what McJam said, chicken strips (or well the lack of) are what are generally looked for on a bike to tell how good the rider is, and no chicken strips in theory is taken to mean a better or more able rider.

high sides and low sides are both generally happen when a crash occurs in a corner. low side is basically trying to lean the bike too much and you just fall off onto the ground and the bike slides along nicely.

High side, the same trying to corner too fast, the bike again starts to fall and slide but the tyres suddenly start to grip again and throws you over the bike and you go for a nice little flight before gravity kicks in and shows you the way down to the ground, the bike will normally get thrown up as well from when it regains grip and then goes into a nice little flight as well then gets damaged lots when it hits the ground.

Hope this is of some help, and yes if you have any more "bike jargon" which you don't understand just ask and someone will explain what it means.

[dibbster]

"Backing it in" = Allowing the rear tyre to kick out sideways so you 'slide' into/round the turn. This effectively squares off the turn allowing you to get on the power earlier.
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Suzuki RF 600 - The two wheeled Testarossa (Deceased)
Suzuki GSXR - Now stops on a sixpence; SBK3's
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[Shaun]

[G]

I know how, never manged to get the hang off it. Much easier on a trail bike I believe (while mine costs a lot less than my sports bikes at least so I'm more willing to try ).

Come up to corner, knock down to a gear below what you should be in for that corner, or on my dr about 3 gears below. Keep the clutch held in for the last gear at least.

Still brake using your front brake to take the pressure of the rear, maybe use the rear a touch as well.
As you start to turn let go off the rear brake, whereby the engine braking should start the rear wheel sliding, use the rear brake to keep the slide controlled around the corner.


Like wheelies you think you're doing massive slides until you see a picture and realise the rear was only just loseing traction .

[synaptyx]

Thanks folks! Most helpful.

[The Tot]

I don't mean to be ABSOLUTELY stupid but whats a black rat? and does having a sticker on you bike serve as a get out of jail card?? I know this is stupid but i'm just interested and i know bikers are the ones to ask... Gettin my XR125 soon.
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[Kickstart]

Black rat = Traffic copper.

All the best

Keith
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[The Tot]

cheers kickstart
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism