Motorcycle Slang: Dirt Bike Terms Every Rider Should Know

Introduction

Dirt bike or Off-Road riding are thrilling sports that come with their own unique set of terms and slang. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned rider, learning these terms can only help your conversations and enhance your riding experience. This blog post will delve into essential dirt bike terms, helping you navigate the world of off-road riding with confidence.

Essential Motocross/Dirt Bike Terms

Casing/Cased:

• Definition: Casing a jump means to come up short on a jump, usually where the frame or engine case smacks the ground from the suspension collapsing under heavy compression.

• Example: "He cased the jump and damaged his bike's frame."

 

Clapped Out:

• Definition: Slang term to describe a bike that is old, worn out, and/or not maintained. Typically used by off-road and track riders.

• Example: "That clapped out bike has seen better days."

 

Goon:

• Definition: When a good rider rides like a new rider in a comical fashion.

• Example: "He was gooning around on the track for fun."

 

Roost:

• Definition: Accelerating with so much power that the rear tire throws dirt behind it, preferably into the face of a following rider.

• Example: "He roosted the rider behind him on the dirt track."

Roosted:

• Definition: Getting hit in the face by dirt and rocks, "the roost" from a rider in front of you.

• Example: "I got roosted pretty badly on that last turn."

 

Scrub:

• Definition: Dual meaning moto term to describe a rider that lays the bike over last second scrubbing speed off on a jump and absorbs the suspension rebound with their body to keep a low trajectory. This allows the rider to stay low in the air, propel forward and get power back to the ground faster. This term can also be used to describe a rider lacking riding skill.

• Example: "He performed a perfect scrub over that jump."

 

Spode:

• Definition: Common insult used to ridicule a motocross rider who is lacking severely in the skills department.

• Example: "Look at that spode casing all the jumps."

 

Holeshot:

• Definition: The first rider to get to the first corner at the start of a race.

• Example: "She got the holeshot and maintained her lead throughout the race."

 

Lapper:

• Definition: A rider in a race that is a full lap down from the leader.

• Example: "He became a lapper after falling behind early in the race."

 

Pinned:

• Definition: When the throttle is completely wide open. Common term for racers.

• Example: "He had the throttle pinned on the straightaway."

Conclusion

Understanding these dirt bike terms will not only make it easier to chat with fellow riders but also improve your overall riding experience. Whether you're hitting the track or exploring off-road trails, knowing these terms can help you navigate the world of dirt bike riding with greater confidence. Stay tuned for more posts in our series, like Street Bike Slang Every Rider Should Know, covering various aspects of motorcycling culture and terminology. Are you a new rider or considering getting into riding? Make sure to check out our post about what you need for your basic MSF Basic Rider Course.