Be In The Know!

Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to the thrilling world of off-roading, this glossary is designed to enrich your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the sport. Off-road motorcycling encompasses a wide range of disciplines, terrains, and adventures, each with its own set of practices, equipment, and terminology. From navigating rugged landscapes to understanding the nuances of safety gear certifications, our glossary serves as an essential resource. Embark on your next off-road adventure armed with knowledge. Let this glossary be your guide to the exciting world of off-road motorcycle terms, opening doors to new experiences and a greater appreciation of the sport’s rich tapestry.

• Enduro: A type of motorcycle designed for long races that occur on off-road courses, featuring various terrain, including trails, roads, and obstacles.
• Motocross (MX): A form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.
• Dual-Sport: Motorcycles that are street legal but also designed to enter off-road situations. They typically feature mirrors, lights, and other road-going equipment.
• Trail Riding: Riding motorcycles over trails, generally in rural areas. Trail bikes are usually lighter and less powerful than standard motorcycles, tailored to rough terrains.
• Single Track: Narrow trails that are only wide enough for one motorcycle at a time. These require higher skill levels and are more challenging to navigate.
• Berm: A banked turn formed either naturally on the trail or built up on a motocross track. Riders use the berm to maintain speed through turns.
• Whoops: Rows of bumps found on a race track or trail that riders can either roll or jump over. These are a critical test of balance and suspension.
• Loam: Rich, soft soil, often considered ideal for riding because it provides excellent traction and minimal dust.
• Hard Pack: A type of ground or soil that is very compact. It is often slippery and harder to ride on because it offers less traction.
• Ruts: Grooves that form in the trail from wear, generally made by the repeated passage of bikes under wet conditions. Ruts can make handling more difficult as they can dictate the bike’s path.
• Kickstarter: A lever used to start the engine of a motorcycle manually. Modern motorcycles might also have electric starters but many off-road designs keep the kickstarter due to its reliability.
• Knobby Tires: Tires that have large, deep treads providing more grip in muddy, sandy, or loose terrains, which are common in off-road environments.
• Skid Plate: A protective plate installed underneath the engine to prevent damage from rocks, logs, and other ground-level obstacles.
• Suspension Travel: The total distance the suspension forks and rear shock can compress or move to absorb impacts from jumps and bumps on the trails.
• High Side: A type of crash where the motorcycle flips over and throws the rider off the bike towards the direction of the turn. This typically occurs when losing and then suddenly regaining traction.
• Hill Climb: A competition where riders attempt to ride up steep hills without stopping or falling. It tests power and rider skill to maneuver difficult terrains.
• Washout: When the front tire loses traction, usually in sand or mud, causing the rider to lose control and typically slide out.
• Suspension Sag: The amount the motorcycle’s suspension compresses under the rider’s weight. Properly setting the sag is critical for optimal handling and performance. There are two types: static sag (without the rider) and race sag (with the rider).
• 50/50 Tire: A tire designed to perform equally well on both off-road and street environments. The tread pattern balances the need for grip on loose surfaces with stability and wear resistance on asphalt.
• 60/40 Tire: A tire that is 60% optimized for off-road use and 40% for street use. These tires have a more aggressive tread pattern than 50/50 tires, offering better performance on unpaved surfaces while still being usable on the road.
• Baby Heads: A term used to describe small to medium-sized round rocks on a trail that are loosely packed and can be as challenging to ride over as larger obstacles due to their unpredictable movements.
• Two Track: A type of trail that has two distinct paths worn into the terrain by the passage of vehicles. These are wider than single-track trails and can accommodate ATVs as well as motorcycles.
• Slick Rock: Smooth, hard surfaces of sandstone or similar rock types that offer high traction despite their name. Popular in desert riding, such as in parts of Utah, despite the potential for tire wear.
• Silt: Fine sand or soil found in deserts or dried-up riverbeds. Riding through silt can be extremely challenging due to its soft, powdery nature and tendency to swallow wheels.
• Mousse Bib (or just “Mousse”): A foam insert that replaces the inner tube in a tire, virtually eliminating the possibility of flats. Ideal for off-road racing where punctures are common.
• Tubliss: A tire system that eliminates the need for a traditional tube. It uses a high-pressure inner tube to secure the tire to the rim, providing a tubeless-like performance with the benefit of running very low tire pressure for increased traction without the risk of pinch flats.
• Mousse Balls: Small foam balls used as an alternative to traditional air-filled tubes or mousse bibs. They are placed inside the tire, and the number of balls can be adjusted to affect ride stiffness and performance.
• Smart Carb: A type of carburetor designed to automatically adjust the fuel/air mixture according to altitude and temperature changes, optimizing performance and fuel efficiency without manual adjustments.
• EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection): A system that replaces carburetors in modern motorcycles. EFI delivers fuel directly to the engine through injectors, controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), improving efficiency, performance, and ease of starting, especially in varying conditions.
• DOT (Department of Transportation): A certification for helmets in the United States indicating that they have met specific safety standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation for street legal use. Helmets with DOT certification have been tested for impact absorption, penetration resistance, and strap retention.
• Snell: A certification granted by the Snell Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that sets voluntary standards for motorcycle helmets and other types of headgear. Snell certification is considered to be more stringent than DOT, with additional testing and higher performance requirements.
• OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle): A broad term that includes any vehicle designed for off-road use, such as dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), snowmobiles, and 4×4 trucks. OHV parks and trails are designated areas where these vehicles can be ridden legally.
• Hare Scramble: A type of off-road motorcycle race that varies in length and time, typically taking place on a closed loop through wooded or rugged natural terrain. The course may include obstacles such as mud, hills, and rocks. Riders are released in waves and must complete multiple laps, with the event ranging from short sprints to several hours long.
• AMA (American Motorcyclist Association): A not-for-profit organization based in the United States that, among its many roles, sanctions motorcycle sporting events, advocates for motorcyclists’ rights, and promotes motorcycle safety and education. The AMA also maintains standards for racing and organizes recreational events.
• GPS (Global Positioning System): A satellite-based navigation system that provides geographic location and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth. In off-road motorcycling, GPS devices are used for navigation and tracking, helping riders find their way on remote trails and recording their routes.
• OsmAnd: An open-source mapping and navigation application for Android and iOS devices that uses GPS. It offers detailed offline map data which is particularly useful for off-road riding, hiking, and outdoor activities where internet connectivity is limited or non-existent. OsmAnd supports GPX files for route planning and tracking.
• GPX (GPS Exchange Format): A GPX file is an XML schema designed for storing GPS data like routes, waypoints, and tracks. These files are used to share and exchange GPS information between applications and devices, enabling users to download and follow specific routes on GPS devices or smartphone mapping apps such as OsmAnd during their off-road adventures.
• Sanctioned Event: A sanctioned event is an organized activity that is officially recognized and approved by a governing body. In the context of off-road motorcycling, it typically refers to races, rallies, or rides that are authorized and regulated by an organization such as the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). These events follow specific rules, safety standards, and often require participants to be licensed or registered members of the sanctioning entity.
• Self-Guided Tour: A self-guided tour is a type of adventure where riders follow a predetermined route at their own pace without a professional guide or a group. Riders use maps, GPS systems, or GPX files to navigate these tours. A self-guided tour allows for greater flexibility and the opportunity to explore off-road trails independently while still benefiting from a structured path that has been previously planned.
• ADV (Adventure Motorcycle Riding): Adventure motorcycle riding, often abbreviated as ADV, is a style of riding that encompasses both on-road and off-road travel. ADV bikes are designed to handle a wide variety of terrain, making them suitable for long-distance travel that may include dirt roads, mountain passes, and other challenging surfaces. This category of motorcycling emphasizes the exploration and enjoyment of remote areas, often involving camping and self-sufficiency over several days or weeks.