Aerostudent one the old forum started this glossary of terms.
--- Basic Chinese Scooter Information - A Chinese scooter is typically the cheap scooters you see around. They are very common on the internet. They are often considered totally worthless by owners/riders of the larger name brands and I must say, they are cheap for a reason. Chinese quality control is coming up as we speak, and we are seeing some vast improvement, but even so, they are not luxurious rides. If you buy a Chinese scooter and expect a Honda, you will be sorely disappointed. It would be like buying a discounted Kia and expecting a Porsche, it just isn’t going to happen. However, if you buy a Chinese scooter and expect a cheap scooter, but that will get you around town with a bit of maintenance and some cheap and easy modifications to increase reliability, then you will probably not be too far off the mark.
Most Chinese scooters use the same GY6 engine, and no matter what name-brand dealers will tell you, you CAN find parts relatively easily, and much cheaper than what similar parts would cost on a name-brand scooter. In fact, you can normally find entire engines on e-bay and similar sites for only a few hundred dollars.
---10W-30 - Or any other variation of oil grade. This is the measure of oil viscosity or "stickiness." See 'Oil Grade'.
---2 Stroke - See 'Two Stroke'.
---2 Up - Two persons riding on a scooter or motorcycle at one time (carrying a passenger)
---3/4 Helmet - A helmet that covers the top, back, and sides of your head but does not cover your face or eyes. Some riders prefer the open-air feeling that this helmet provides. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet
---4 Stroke - See 'Four Stroke'.
---Air Cooled - The engine is cooled by air passing across it. All engines create heat as a byproduct of the combustion process. The heat needs to be dissipated or the engine will get too hot and seize. Most cars / trucks / SUV's are liquid cooled by anti-freeze. The coolant helps carry away the heat. While most scooters are air cooled, some have water cooled engines. See 'water cooled' or
www.bajajusa.com/air%20cooled%20-%20water%20cooled.htm---B&M - Brick and Mortar Dealer. Since many scooters are purchased online, this refers to a dealer that has an actual building. Many users prefer the slightly elevated prices because scoots can be seen and fixed here. Registration is generally flawless and simple if purchased from a dealer. Most B&M dealers will treat you right, but there are still a few shadey ones out there. As with any purchase, use common sense. If it feels fishy, it probably is.
---Belt (or Drive Belt): Is the main drive system of your scooter for getting the power from the engine to the back wheel. It is also a part of the transmission. It is recommended to inspect your belt often, and replace it every few thousand miles. It is also best to keep a spare on hand, as there is the possibility that the belts may break without notice. For GY6 scooters (most chinese scooters) the sixe of belt is easilly identifiable. If you have a short CVT case (see 'CVT') you will have 8 bolts holding the cover on (most likely 10" tires) and you have a 743-20-30 belt, if you have the long CVT case with 10 bolts holding it on (mostlikely 12' or 13' tires), you will have the 835-20-30 (though the 841-20-30 works just the same also).
---Big 4: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki. As compared to "chinese scoots," these tend to be more expensive, but have better quality control and better service at dealers.
---Bone (exclusive to scootdawg forum): A positive form of praise used on scootdawg.com to publicly thank or exalt another member. One per hour may be given or taken away. If someone says something you like, give 'em a bone. Giving or Taking of bones does not affect ones own number of dawg bones.
---Brain Bucket: Half-shell Helmet. See 'Half-Helmet.'
---BRC: Basic Rider Course. May also reffer to Bean, Rice, and Cheese burrito in some contexts. See 'MSF' for details.
www.msf-usa.org/---Break-in: The period of time when your engine is still somewhat tight and everything has to wear into place, generally considered the first 1,000 miles, with the first few hundred being the most critical. There are several views on exactly how and engine should be broken in, but some things can be agreed upon by just about everyone. These are that the oil should be changed often during the break-in period to remove any metal debris (often too tiny to see easily), that the engine should not be run at a constant RPM or speed for very long, and that the engine should not be run for excessive amounts of time for the first few hundred miles, as the engine will run hotter until all the pieces wear into operating clearances.
---BTW: By The Way. Online slang that is generic and used in most forums, instant-messaging, and text messaging.
---Cage: This is what most cyclists and scooterists reffer to cars/trucks/SUVs as. Why, you might ask? Because they are! On two wheels there is no massive steel "cage" around you to separate you from the outside world, but you get to experience every bit of freedom as only a 2 wheeler can.
---Cager - Someone who drives a car / truck / SUV. See 'Cage'.
---Carb - 1. Abbreviation of the word Carburetor. 2. Acronym in the state of California for California Air Resource Board. A scooter that is C.A.R.B. certified is approved to meet the stringent air quality standards of California. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Air_Resources_Board
-- CC - The measure of engine displacement on motorcycles and scooters. Engine displacement is the total volume of fuel / air that is drawn into the engine during one cycle. Traditional scooter displacement sizes are 50cc, 150cc, and 250cc. There are many others, but these are the three most common. The greater the displacement, the greater power and speed you have, but the less fuel mileage you will receive. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_displacement
---CDI: Part of the scooter. Capacitive Discharge Ignition. It is a small black box, about the size of a deck of cards found somewhere on your scooter, normally near the engine. It is responsible for creating the spark. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_discharge_ignition
---Chinglish - An unintentional modification of English to be similar to the Chinese language or its usage. Often this term is used as a derogatory term, however, many scooter manuals and documents are written with grammar mistakes due to this. Similar to the English / Spanish conglomeration of Spanglish. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinglish
---Chinometer - Slang reference to the speedometers installed on some Chinese scooters and their inability to report an accurate measurement of distance traveled.
---Chopper - A customized cruiser-style bike traditionally with long forks. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle#Street
---Clone - A term referring to the GY6 engine that was originally manufactured by Honda Motors but is now frequently copied or "cloned" to be nearly identical. See 'GY6'.
---Countersteer - the technique used to initiate a turn on a 2-wheeled vehicle. In order to lean to the left and turn to the left, a slight and momentary turn of the handlebars to the right will cause the scooter to fall or lean to the left. Often, riders do not know they are doing this because the movement is so slight. MSF rider courses train riders how much to countersteer to effectively swerve around obstacles. For further info, see
Wikipedia on Countersteering
Youtube on Countersteering
---Crotch-Rocket - A slang term referring to Japanese-manufactured sport bikes. See 'Sport Bike'.
---CVT: Continuously Variable Transmission. This is the part of you scooter that “shifts” to higher or lower “gear ratios” depending on requirements and engine speed. This can be tuned for better performance, though tuning the transmission will NOT increase actual engine power, but make better use of the power already made. The CVT is found inside the large silver/gray, chrome, or black case (typically called the CVT case or cover) on the left side of the scooter, attaching the engine to the rear wheel. For a great video on how CVT's work, see How a CVT works. For more on the Variator and Transmission, to learn more about CVT's, try here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission
---Dawg / Dawgette - term used to denote one who is a member of the scootdawg.com forum. A scooter rider (or future / aspiring rider) that believes in sharing their knowledge and love for the ride with similar folk by means of the forum.
---DOT: Department of Transportation. The DOT certifies scooters and helmets, in addition to many other "important" things, such as vehicle mirrors, etc. See link
www.dot.gov/---DRL - Daytime Running Lights. Since visibility (or the lack thereof) is a leading cause of rider fatalities and injuries, manufacturers wire headlamps to be in the low position any time the engine is turned on. This remains a controversial issue with some believing that the glare caused to oncoming driver is a greater threat, among several other beliefs. The majority of riders prefer to ride with them as this generally increases visibility. Of greater controversy is the dilemna of brights or low beams during the day. for information on high vs low beams and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp
for information on DRL's.
---Drop-Ship: Drop shipping refers to the practice of sellers not stocking actual goods. Purchase orders are redirected to manufacturers, who then ship the scoot to the buyer directly. Most often there is little-to-no dealer support from the company you 'buy' the scooter from. Though there are some out there that have excelent customer service, they are few and far between. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping
---Dual-Stage: Tail lights on scooters have a dimmer setting for a running light and a brighter, second stage for braking.
--- Euro Style - A classic style of scooter. See 'Retro'.
---FF (helmet): Full Face Helmet. See 'Full Face Helmet.'
---Forks - The two (or occasionally one) bars that connect the front wheel axle to the frame and support the front-end of the scooter or motorcycle. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_fork
---Four Stroke - A single piston, internal combustion engine that is commonly used to power small vehicles or yard equipment. The number of strokes refers to the 4 step process of intake, compression, combustion, exhaustion. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-stroke
---FUD - Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. A marketing style intended to influence public opinion by inserting negative comments into marketing media. Often, this fear, uncertainty, and doubt is unfounded.
---Full Face Helmet: A helmet that covers your entire head and has a bar across your chin and mouth. Generally, these have plexiglass or plastic shields to cover your eyes, preventing bugs, rock, and other unwanted debris from hitting your face. Increases dificulty of eating, drinking, smoking, and ordering those BRC burritos. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet
---FWIW - For What It's Worth
---Gear: Generally refers to safety gear worn to protect the rider. Usually includes helmet, jacket, pants (often jeans), over-the-heel boots, gloves, and eye protection (such as goggles, if FF helmet is not worn). Most riders recommend wearing the best proctective gear you can at all times. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_safety_clothing
---Gear Oil: Different from the regular motor oil that keeps the engine running, the gear oil keeps the transmission lubricated. Some engines use the same type of oil as the engine, some don't. Check with your dealer or check you manual (if read-able) for what specific weight to use. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_oil
--- GPS - Global Positioning System - Many scooterists and cagers utilize satellite positioning devices to direct their travels by means of a moving digital map. These can be mounted to the bike or used in cell phones (while safely parked!). See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS
---GY6: This term is typically used to refer to the engine design that is used for most 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc scooter. Though a few do use different designs, most Chinese scooter will use a GY6 design. While the GY6’s exact origins are unknown to me, it is a long time tried-and-true engine design used and perfected by Honda. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_GY6_Engine
---Half-Helmet: Helmet that only covers the top and a small portion of the sides of your head (from the base of the skull and up in the back, and the forehead up in the front, just over the ears on the sides). Must have straps that are fastened and be DOT approved to be legal, if helmet is required by local law. This kind of helmet is the minimum for protection. Many of these helmets are not Snell approved. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet
---HUA - Head Up *{backside}* - A slang acronym referring to someone who is not paying attention to their current activity. Commonly this refers to drivers of vehicles that are paying attention to things not including driving and looking out for scooterists and motorcyclists.
---IMO - In My Opinion. A shorter version of the previously mentioned IMHO.
---IMHO: Generic online and text-messaging slang. 'In My Honest Opinion,' sometimes used as 'In My Humble Opinion.'
---Iridium Spark Plug: This is the version of the standard plug, but in Iridium instead of copper, platinum, or other metals. Iridium is considered to give a more consistent spark, as it requires less voltage to create the spark. Generally the results of using Iridium instead of standard plugs is seen mostly in engine smoothness, but fuel economy and power may be increased slightly. For the 125cc and 150cc GY6 engines, the sparkplug is NGK CR7HIX (NGK is the brand, CR7HIX is the part #). Many of the companies listed on the forum carry this.
---Lean: In any internal combustion engine, air and fuel are mixed as they are fed into the combustion chamber (area above the piston). When this air mixture ignites, it burns quickly and the expanding gases push the piston outward, turning the engine. If this Air/Fuel mixture is less than 14.7 (parts air) to 1 (part fuel), the mixture is considered lean. Lean mixtures produce hotter combustion gases, so the piston can melt in certain cases. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_mixture for more details. Also, see 'Rich.'
---LED: Light Emitting Diode. A small diode (droplet shape) that emits light. These are commonly used on scooters because of their low usage of electricity and because of their increased brightness over incandescent bulbs.
---LOL: Generic Online/texting Slang. 'Laugh Out Loud' or 'Laughing Out Loud.'
---Maxi-Scooter - A larger scooter ranging from 250cc to 839cc. These scooters tend to have their engines mounted to the frame instead of the swing arm and trend toward the more expensive side. However, the twist and go style is maintained over motorcycles with similar engine displacement and capabilities. See link for details en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle)#Maxi-Scooters
---MC: abbreviation for MotorCycle.
---MCO: Manufacturers Certificate of Origin. Often needed to register your scooter.
---Mod: Context dependent: Modification, such as scooter performance enhancement. or: Moderator, which are the rule enforcers for forums.
---Modular: A helmet that is roughly half-way between a 3/4 helmet and a full-face helmet. The front portion of the helmet (including chin protector) flips up when preferred, and locks down into place when riding. Research benefits and drawbacks before purchasing. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet
--- Moped - Generally a 2-wheeled vehicle with bicycle pedals and a low-powered motor of 49cc displacement or less. Some states require licenses to ride these since they have a motor. Some (uninformed) people refer to scooters as mopeds. The term moped comes from the words motorized pedal bike or motorized velociped. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moped
---MPG - Miles Per Gallon. A measurement of how much distance a vehicle will travel given one gallon of fuel.
---MRP: Martin Racing Performance. A brand name performance parts company. They have fairly high standings in the scooter performance crowd.
---MSF: Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Sponsors of the MSF Safe Rider Course. Averages about $250 in many states, but available in almost all. VERY useful in teaching riders of all skill levels (never ridden to frequently ride) how to safely maneuver their bike. Many programs provide bikes to be used during the course. See the MSF website for details:
www.msf-usa.org/ Taking one is highly recommended.
---MSO: Manufacturers Statement of Origin. Often needed to register your scooter.
---Newbie - someone who not just recently joined the pound but the world of scootering. This can be a subjective term. Someone scootering for 30 years may not view a 5 year rider as a veteran, while someone scootering for 1 year may be a veteran to others.
---Noob - Variation on Newbie. See 'Newbie'.
---Oil Grade - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) produces a numerical grading of oil based on its viscosity (the property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow...in essence, the internal "stickiness" of the fluid). Some grades can have a W after the grade (10W-40) that aids in cold-weather starting. "Viscocity is graded by measuring the time it takes for a standard amount of oil to flow through a standard orifice, at standard temperature. The longer it takes, the higher the viscocity, and thus higher SAE code." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil#Grades
--- Oil Mist - On many chinese scooters, oil from the crankcase is routed to the airbox and sprayed onto the air filter. If the tube comes loose or if the airbox is open, oil mist can be sprayed on your engine. See link for one method of remedy (oil mist canister):
scootdawg.proboards59.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=talk&thread=13842&page=1---Organ Donor: Generally sportbike riders, but bike type doesn't matter. People reffered to as Orgon Donors habitually practice unsafe riding habits such as riding 90mph on the freeway while splitting lane, wearing shorts, sandals, and a tanktop as their only 'proctective' gear.
---OTOH - On The Other Hand. Looking at both sides of the issue.
---PDI: An inspection/preparation normally done to your scooter by the dealer, or a mechanic. They will be checking various parts of the scooter such as wiring, screws, and nut and bolts, as well as changing out the oil for good oil, inspecting and possibly changing the fuel filer, fuel lines, and vacuum lines. For more in-depth info, and instructions if you wish to do it yourself read “Big Guy’s PDI Instructions” at x1scooters.com/scooterpdi.html
---Petcock - A small valve used to control the flow of fuel to the carburetor so it does not flood. Can be vacuum controlled or manual (as most motorcycles are). See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petcock
--- Pics - Pictures or images. Often used to display visual images.
---PM: Private Message. While most people use the threads to communicate to large groups of people, some choose to send a private message to another individual. This is available by clicking on the person's username and then "send personal message."
---PPL: People. A somewhat pointless abreviation that is generic online and text messaging slang.
---Retro: Scooter Style: Made to look like the old scooters, they often have flatter front ends and smaller wheels. Often referred to as Euro style as well.
---Rice Burner - A slang term referring to Japanese-manufactured sport bikes. See 'Sport Bike'.
---Rice Rocket - A slang term referring to Japanese-manufactured sport bikes. See 'Sport Bike'.
---Rich: In any internal combustion engine, air and fuel are mixed as they are fed into the combustion chamber (area above the piston). When this air mixture ignites, it burns quickly and the expanding gases push the piston outward, turning the engine. If this Air/Fuel mixture is greater than 14.7 (parts air) to 1 (part fuel), the mixture is considered rich. Rich mixtures give less fuel-efficiency because the combustion gases are cooler. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_mixture for more details. Also, see 'Lean.'
---Road Rash: The often incredibly painful experience of reducing the volume of skin by means of abrasion. Generally, any unprotected body surfaces will experience said phenomenon in the event of a crash. Road Rash is one of the reasons that wearing your gear (see 'Gear') is highly recomended. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_rash
---Rollers/Sliders: Roller Weights or Dr. Pulley Sliding Weights. These are a vital part of your transmission. As the engine speeds up, the weights (Sliders or Rollers) will slide to the outside edge of your variator, effectively “shifting” the transmission as the engine speeds up. The ‘Rollers’ and the ‘Sliders’ both slide, so generally sliders are considered better than rollers, due to them being designed to slide in the fist place. They tend to last longer, but offer no significant improvements in performance. See link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission#Toroidal_or_roller-based_CVT
---RPM: Revolutions Per Minute (Rev/Min). This is how many times the crankshaft goes around per minute. Or how many time the piston goes up and down per minute.
---Saddle Bags - Generally two equal-sized bags connected with some material or cording that "straddle" the seat compartment of a scooter or motorcycle, allowing riders to increase their luggage carrying capacity.
---Snell: Snell Memorial Foundation is a non-profit group dedicated to providing safety standards for helmets. See
www.smf.org/---Spark Plug: The spark plug is found on the right hand side of the GY6 engine, and is normally accessible through the access port near the floorboard of the scooter. For the 125cc and 150cc GY6 engines, the sparkplug is NGK CR7HAS, C7HAS, or CR7HIX (Iridium version). See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_plug
---Sport Bike - Fast, light, and sleek; these motorcycles are intended purely for performance and appearance. Traditionally, riders must lean over the fuel tank in a tipped-forward position. This is often uncomfortable for long periods of time, however, increased performance is noted. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle#Street
---Sport Style: Scooter or other vehicle that is intended to look like a racing vehicle, some actually perform like racing vehicles as well.
---Squid: Derogatory term generally used to as an insult, implying that the recipient of this term cannot ride properly or rides in an unsafe manner. See related wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_(motorcycle)
---Stunter(s): Usually sportbike riders, but sometimes drift over into other bike styles. These riders perform stunts, often in unsafe venues, such as the local highway, though there are some professional stunters that will perform only at safe venues, such as bike shows, fairs, etc). On the streets they often ride in packs. Some from the pack will block trafic making room for the other members to perform stunts, often paired with someone in a car to video the stunts. See ridiculous stunter here (How absolutely not to ride!): break.com/index/insane-motorcycle-stunt.html See also 'Road Rash'.
---Suck-Squeeze-Bang-Blow: An awkward sounding statement that is often used to describe the basics of how your typical 4 stroke engine works. See also 'Four Stroke'. -SUCK: (intake valve opens) air/fuel mixture is taken in by the piston being depressed in the cyclinder, causing the pressure to decrease and the air/fuel mixture to be drawn in (intake valve then closes). -SQUEEZE: (both valves are closed) The piston is now forced toward the top of the cylinder and the head, causing the air/fuel mixture to be compressed (see 'Compression'). -BANG: With the piston nearing the top of the cylinder, and the air/fuel mixture nearing max compression, the spark is utilized to ignite the air/fuel mixture, which does NOT explode, as some people often think, but it does burn and rapidly expand, forcing the piston down (this is your power stroke, i.e. where the power of the engine comes from). -BLOW: (exhaust valve opens) the piston coasts back up to the top of the cylinder, this time forcing the burned air/fuel (exhaust) out of the exhaust valve, through the exhaust port, and into the exhaust pipe, muffler, and the great outdoors. The exhaust valve then closes, the intake valve opens, and the process is repeated.
---Tank Slapper - A phrase describing the rapid oscillation (back and forth) of primarily the handlebars of the bike. Originated on motorcycles, where the fuel tank sits between the handlebars and the rider and is slapped by the handlebars as they oscillate. Control can be regained if speed and grip are adjusted. Left uncontrolled, this usually leads to a fall that can be deadly. Refer to 'MSF' or other safety sources for proper methods of regaining control. See also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_slapper#Wobble_or_shimmy
---TIA - Thanks In Advance. Upholding the decorum & good manners we see on this particular forum.
---Touring: The "Touring" label usually means a longer body with more room, comfort, and luggage capacity. Generally, these are meant to travel longer distances comfortably.
---Tupperware: Not normally the true "tupperware" brand plastic containers, but close. Some people use this term to reffer to the plastic shells that encase out scooter's insides (i.e. engine, wires, etc.). If you think about it, it is a fairly accurate description, but the true tupperware is more durable. ;D
---Turn Signal Buzzer - A sound emitting device designed to alert a rider to the position of the turn signal. Accidentally left turned on when not in use, turn signals can cause fatal collisions because other drivers misjudge your actions.
--- Twist and Go - Refers to a scooter's simple method of forward motion: twist the throttle and move forward. This is why some people refer to scooters as two-wheeled golf carts. Most motorcycles use manual transmissions that require balancing the clutch with the left hand with the throttle on the right.
---Two Stroke - A single piston, internal combustion engine that is commonly used to power small vehicles or yard equipment. The engine cycle is accomplished by "using the beginning of the compression stroke and the end of the combustion stroke to perform the intake and exhaust functions." See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_stroke
---Two Up - slang term referring to riding with a passenger (2 people up on the scooter).
---URL - Uniform Resource Locater. The internet "address" in its full length. In essence, the full
www.randomwebsite.com/whatever---Variator: This is the part of the Transmission that houses the Rollers/Sliders, and uses them for “shifting.” The variator is found in the CVT case, on the forward portion of the scooter. It is often upgraded as an aftermarket performance part that will increase acceleration mainly, but may also slightly increase top speed as well. An impact wrench is the best, fastest, and easiest way to get in off for either belt replacement or roller inspection or replacement, or for performance part swapping and tuning.
---VIN: Vehicle Identification Number. Identifies your vehicle.
---Water Cooled - The engine is cooled by water passing near it. All engines create heat as a byproduct of the combustion process. The heat needs to be dissipated or the engine will get too hot and seize. Most cars / trucks / SUV's are liquid cooled by anti-freeze. The coolant helps carry away the heat. While most scooters are air cooled, some have water cooled engines. See also 'air cooled'.
--- Wave, The - Many people who ride 2-wheeled vehicles give a simple wave of the left hand, a nod of the head, two fingers off the handlebar, or other variations of signaling to other riders. This is done as a gesture of good-will and understanding for what the other riders experience. Many feel that Some riders choose not to wave back due to safety concerns, lack of enthusiasm, or several other methods.
---WOT: Wide Open Throttle. Having the throttle in the Wide Open position, same as 'floored,' or 'petal-to-the-metal' in cars.
---Wrencher (sometimes simply called a wrench): Some people reffer to mechanics as a wrench or wrencher.
---YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary. Your results or opinions may be different than mine. Ironically, rarely used in reference to actual gas mileage.
;D
