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ABS
- 1. Anti-lock braking system. System that senses when a
tire is about to loose traction during braking and decreases
braking force, preventing tire lock up. 2. The ABS detects when a
wheel is not turning and releases pressure to the brake on that
wheel, preventing a skid. 3. A component added to the braking system
that detects wheel lock up. The system then modulates the brakes at
that point with the idea of stopping you faster than you could
yourself.
Accelerator pump - Extra pump in
the carburetor to temporarily increase the amount of
fuel delivered to the air stream.
Aerodynamics - In motorcycle context, good aerodynamics
means that the motorcycle is designed to have as little resistance
from the air as possible. This is essential to achieve great speeds.
The manufacturers often make use of wind tunnels during the
development of a new motorcycle.
AFFA - Angels
Forever Forever Angels
Aftermarket -
The sector of the market that sells parts and accessories other than
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer... ie, Honda, BMW, Suzuki,
Harley-Davidson, etc.)
ATGATT - All
The Gear All The Time - This refers to a safety attitude which
presumes that safety gear should always be worn when riding a
motorcycle regardless of temperature, distance to be ridden or peer
pressures that might encourage not doing so.
ATM - All
Things Motorcycle
Air
- 80% nitrogen, 19% oxygen, some carbonic gas and minor trace
elements.
Air cooling
- Mechanism used to keep the engine at operating temperature by
using air flowing over heat sinks (engine fins) to disperse excess
heat into the environment directly.
Air fuel
ratio - Proportions in which air and fuel are mixed to
form a combustible gas.
Airheads
- A term for older, air-cooled BMW Boxer Twins.
Air Intake
Valves - Reed Valves
Air lock
- Similar to vapor lock, a pocket or air develops that blocks
the normal flow of a fluid, such as in a hydraulic brake line.
Common in two stroke engines when the oil injection system is
allowed to run dry.
AirTex
- Mesh-like, highly tear-resistant Dynafil polyamide weave.
Alloy
- A solid or homogenous solution that is a mixture of two or more
metals to create a combined metal with better characteristics for a
specific purpose.
Alternator
- Modern replacement for the dynamo generator, producing large
quantities of alternating current to run the electrical systems of a
motorcycle.
AMA
- American Motorcycle Association.
Armacor
(GORE-TEX® Armacor) - A new kind of highly tear-resistant material
combining Kevlar® and Cordura® with the first class weather
properties of GORE-TEX® in a 3-layer laminate.
Ammeter
- Gauge that measures amps in electrical current.
Analog
gauges - Shows information in a continuous forum, often a
dial; often considered the opposite of digital gauges. Old school
gauges.
Anch's or Anchor
- Brakes
Anodizing - A
technique used to coat the surface of a metal with an oxide layer.
It may be used to increase corrosion resistance, increase wear
resistance, allow dyeing or prepare the surface for other processes
and coatings including paint. Anodization changes the microscopic
texture of the surface and can change the crystal structure of the
metal near the surface. The process derives its name from the fact
that the part to be treated forms the anode portion of an electrical
circuit in this electrolytic process.
Anti-dive System
- A front-end suspension component that reduces how much the forks
compress under braking, popular with
motorcycless
Apes or Ape Hangers
- 1. Handlebars that are very high, and which often raise the
rider's hands above his or her shoulders. High handlebars so Biker's
hands are at or above their shoulder height.. Refers to a handlebar
style where the handgrips are located at a higher position, so as to
enable the rider's arms to "hang" Picture "Clyde" from "Every Which
Way but Loose" and you'll get a perfect understanding of the riding
position. 2. Very high handlebars. Usually found on choppers. 3. A
term coined at the height of the custom-bike movement to describe
tall handlebars that forced the rider to reach skyward to graps the
controls, making the rider adopt an ape-like posture.
Aperture - An
opening, hole or port.
Apex - The
vertex of tightest (middle or centre) point of a curve.
API -
American Petroleum Institute.
ASE -
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Aspect Ratio
- The ratio of the height of the wall of a tire to the width of the
tread expressed as a percentage. Section height divided by section
width equals aspect ratio. If the section height is one half the
section width, the aspect ratio is 50%.
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