The most complete and accurate compilation of motorbike component vocabulary

Motorbike component vocabulary

Pronunciation

Word class

Meaning

accelerator

/əkˈseləreɪtər/

Noun

the pedal (= a part that you push with your foot) in a vehicle that makes it go faster

handlebar

/ˈhæn.dəl.bɑːr/

Noun

a bar with a curved end that you hold when riding a bicycle or motorcycle and use to turn the front wheel so that it points in a different direction

clutch pedal

/klʌtʃ ˈpedəl/

Noun

a component in a manual transmission vehicle that is pressed down by the driver to disengage the engine from the transmission

speedometer

/spɪˈdɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/

Noun

a device in a vehicle that shows how fast the vehicle is moving

temperature gauge

/ˈtemprətʃər ɡeɪdʒ/

Noun

an instrument in a vehicle that measures the temperature of the engine coolant

brake lever

/ˈhændˌbreɪk/

Noun

a lever on the handlebar that connects to the brake cable and thus operates the braking mechanism

brake pedal

/breɪk ˈpedəl/

Noun

the pedal that you press with your foot in order to make a vehicle go slower or stop

disk brake

/ˈdɪskˌbreɪk/

Noun

a type of brake where two pieces of material are pressed against a metal disc that is attached to a wheel

drum brake

/drʌm breɪk/

Noun

a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press outward against a rotating bowl-shaped part

view mirror

/vjuː ˈmɪrər/

Noun

mirror mounted on the side, windshield, or instrument panel of an automobile or other vehicle to provide the driver with a view of the area behind the vehicle

warning light

/ˈwɔːrnɪŋ laɪt/

Noun

a light that indicates danger

brake light

/breɪk laɪt/

Noun

one of the red lights at the back of a motor vehicle, that light up when the brakes are used

headlamp

/ˈhedlæmp/

Noun

a large, powerful light at the front of a vehicle, usually one of two

turn signal

/ˈtɝːn ˌsɪɡ.nəl/

Noun

one of the lights at the front and back of a road vehicle that flash to show which way the vehicle is turning

Tail light

/ˈteɪl ˌlaɪt/

Noun

a red light on the back of a road vehicle that makes it possible for the vehicle to be seen in the dark

number plate

/ˈnʌm.bɚpleɪt/

Noun

a sign on a road vehicle that shows its registration number

shock absorber

/ˈʃɑːk əbˌzɔːr.bɚ/

Noun

a device on a vehicle, especially a car or an aircraft, that reduces the effects of travelling over rough ground or helps it to land more smoothly

seat

/siːt/

Noun

a piece of furniture or part of a train, plane, etc. that has been designed for someone to sit on

Motorbike component vocabulary

Pronunciation

Word class

Meaning

engine

/ˈendʒɪn/

Noun

a machine that uses the energy from liquid fuel or steam to produce movement

ignition

/ɪɡˈnɪʃən/

Noun

the electrical system in an engine that causes the fuel to burn or explode in order to start the engine

battery

/ˈbætəri/

Noun

a device that produces electricity to provide power for electronic devices, cars, etc.

clutch

/klʌtʃ/

Noun

a device that allows turning movement to be sent from one part of a machine to another

exhaust pipe

/ɪɡˈzɔːst paɪp/

Noun

the pipe at the back of a vehicle or on a machine through which waste gas escapes from the engine

fuel tank

/fjuːl tæŋk/

Noun

a safe container for flammable fluids, often gasoline or diesel fuel

petrol tank

/ˈpetrəl tæŋk/

Noun

a safe container for flammable fluids, often gasoline or diesel fuel

tyre

/ˈtaɪər/

Noun

a thick rubber ring, often filled with air, that is fitted around the outer edge of the wheel of a vehicle, allowing the vehicle to stick to the road surface and to travel over the ground more easily

wheel

/wiːl/

Noun

a circular object connected at the centre to a bar, used for making vehicles or parts of machines move

spokes

/spoʊks/

Noun

any of the rods that join the edge of a wheel to its center to strengthen it

chain

/tʃeɪn/

Noun

a series of things of the same type connected in a line, or a series of people standing in a line

gear box

/ˈɡɪərbɒks/

Noun

a mechanical device which uses gears to change the speed or direction of rotation in a machine

Word

Pronunciation

Word class

Meaning

Piston

/ˈpɪstən/

Noun

a short, solid piece of metal that moves up and down inside a cylinder in an engine to press the fuel into a small space and to send the power produced by it to the wheels

Piston ring

/ˈpɪstən rɪŋ/

Noun

a metallic split ring that is attached to the outer diameter of a piston in an internal combustion engine or steam engine

Carburetter

/ˈkɑːrbjʊˌreɪtər/

Noun

a device used by a gasoline internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine

Valve

/vælv/

Noun

a device that opens and closes to control the flow of liquids or gases

Throttle Valve

/ˈθrɑːtəl vælv/

Noun

a mechanical device whose function is to regulate and maintain the downstream pressure so that the inlet conditions for the expansion are constant

Exhaust Valve

/ɪɡˈzɔːst vælv/

Noun

a valve that releases burned gases from a cylinder

Connecting rod

/kəˈnektɪŋ rɒd/

Noun

an engine component that transfers motion from the piston to the crankshaft and functions as a lever arm

Gear driven camshaft

/ɡɪər ˈdrɪvn ˈkæmʃæft/

Noun

a system where the cam and crank gear are meshed together directly or are meshed to an idler gear or gears

Crankshaft

/ˈkræŋkʃæft/

Noun

a long metal rod, especially one in a car engine, that helps the engine turn the wheels

Flywheel

/ˈflaɪˌwil/

Noun

a heavy wheel in a machine that helps the machine to work at a regular speed

Cylinder

/ˈsɪlɪndər/

Noun

a solid or hollow tube with long straight sides and two circular ends the same size, or an object shaped like this, often used as a container

Sparking Plug

/ˈspɑːrkɪŋ plʌɡ/

Noun

an electrical device used in an internal combustion engine to produce a spark which ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber

Clutch

/klʌtʃ/

Noun

a device that allows turning movement to be sent from one part of a machine to another

Motorbike component vocabulary

Pronunciation

Word class

Meaning

Displacement

/dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/

Noun

the weight of liquid that is forced out of position by an object that is floating on or in it

Engine type

/ˈendʒɪn taɪp/

Noun

The type of machine that uses the energy from liquid fuel or steam to produce movement

Max Power

/mæks ˈpaʊər/

Noun

how much power the engine can be through

Compression ratio

/kəmˈpreʃən ˈreɪʃioʊ/

Noun

the ratio between the volume of the cylinder with the piston in the bottom position

Max Torque

/mæks tɔːrk/

Noun

the highest amount of rotational force that an engine can produce at a specific engine speed

Bore & Stroke

/bɔːr & stroʊk/

Noun

Bore: The measurement of the inside diameter of a cylinder

Stroke: The distance a piston travels from either tip of the cylinder to the bottom or vice versa

Piston Top speed

/ˈpɪstən tɑp speed/

Noun

The max speed

Valves per cylinder

/ˈvælvz pər ˈsɪlɪndər/

Noun

The number of Valves in each cylinder

Fuel system

/fjuːl ˈsɪstəm/

Noun

the combination of parts needed to carry fuel into and out of the engine

Fuel control

/fjuːl kənˈtroʊl/

Noun

The device to solve those problems by acting as an intermediary between the operator's controls and the fuel valve

Lubrication system

/ˌluːbrɪˈkeɪʃən ˈsɪstəm/

Noun

controlling the volume and pressure of the lubricant to be applied to the surfaces of the moving machine parts in contact

Cooling system

/ˈkuːlɪŋ ˈsɪstəm/

Noun

keeping the engine running at its designed operating temperature

Rake

/reɪk/ 

Noun

a garden tool with a long handle and long, pointed metal parts sticking out in a row at the bottom, used for making the earth level or for collecting leaves, etc.

Dry weight

/draɪ weɪt/

Noun

The weight without the excess fluid that builds up between dialysis treatments

Overall height

/ˈoʊvərˌɔːl haɪt/

Noun

The distance from the highest point to the ground

Overall length

/ˈoʊvərˌɔːl leŋθ/

Noun

The distance from the front point to the back point 

Overall width

/ˈoʊvərˌɔːl wɪdθ/

Noun

The distance from left point to right point

Ground clearance

/ɡraʊnd ˈklɪərəns/

Noun

the least distance between the lower end of the vehicle body or chassis and the road

Seat height

/siːt haɪt/

Noun

The distance from seat to the ground

Wheelbase

/ˈwilbeɪs/

Noun

the distance between the front and the back wheels of a motor vehicle

Fuel capacity

/fjuːl kəˈpæsɪti/

Noun

the total amount of fuel that can be contained

Motorbike component vocabulary

Pronunciation

Word class

Meaning

automatic

/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

Adjective

An automatic machine or device is able to operate independently of human control

central locking

/ˈsentrəl ˈlɒkɪŋ/

Noun

an electrical door locking mechanism that enables drivers to secure every door in their vehicle from one device

manual

/ˈmænjuəl/

Adjective

done with the hands

tax disc

/tæks dɪsk/

Noun

a small, round sign that you put in the corner of the front window of your car or other vehicle to show that you have paid the tax to use it

sat nav (satellite navigation)

/ˈsæt næv/

Noun

a system of artificial satellites capable of providing geospecific positioning everywhere in the world

start

/stɑːrt/

Verb

Begin to operate

accelerate

/əkˈseləreɪt/

Verb

When a vehicle or its driver accelerates, the speed of the vehicle increases

brake

/breɪk/

Verb

a device that makes a vehicle go slower or stop, or a pedal, bar, or handle that makes this device work

turn

/tɜːrn/

Verb

to (cause to) change the direction in which you are facing or moving

ride

/raɪd/

Verb

to sit on something such as a bicycle, motorbike, or horse and travel along on it controlling its movements

stop

/stɑːp/

Verb

to not move any more or to make someone or something not move any more

park

/pɑːrk/

Verb

to put a vehicle in a place where it can stay for a period of time, usually while you leave it

overtake

/ˌoʊvərˈteɪk/

Verb

to go past something by being a greater amount or degree

repair

/rɪˈper/

Verb

to put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again

maintain

/meɪnˈteɪn/

Verb

to keep a road, machine, building, etc. in good condition

check

/tʃek/

Verb

to make certain that something or someone is correct, safe, or suitable by examining it, him, or her quickly

refuel

/riːˈfjuːəl/

Verb

to put more fuel into an aircraft, ship, etc. so that it can continue its journey

change gears

/tʃeɪndʒ ɡɪərz/

Verb

Change into another power mode

balance

/ˈbæləns/

Verb

to be in a position where you will stand without falling to either side, or to put something in this position

steer

/stɪr/

Verb

to control the direction of a vehicle

signal

/ˈsɪɡnəl/

Noun

an action, movement, or sound that gives information, a message, a warning, or an order

clean

/kliːn/

Verb

to remove dirt from something

customize

/ˈkʌstəmaɪz/

Verb

to make or change something according to the buyer's or user's needs

upgrade

/ʌpˈɡreɪd/

Verb

to improve the quality or usefulness of something, or change it for something newer or of a better standard

ride pillion

/raɪd ˈpɪljən/

Verb

travel seated behind a motorcyclist

Picture

Word

Motorbike component vocabulary

Meaning

Example

Accelerate

When a vehicle or its driver accelerates, the speed of the vehicle increases

The rocket engines started to accelerate, propelling the spacecraft into space.

Brake

a device that makes a vehicle go slower or stop, or a pedal, bar, or handle that makes this device work

The driver applied the brakes to slow down the car before reaching the intersection.

Turn

to (cause to) change the direction in which you are facing or moving

She turned the steering wheel sharply to make a right turn onto the main road. 

Ride

to sit on something such as a bicycle, motorbike, or horse and travel along on it controlling its movements

They rode their bicycles along the scenic trail, enjoying the beautiful views.

Stop

to finish doing something that you were doing

The traffic light turned red, and all the vehicles came to a stop at the intersection. 

Picture

Word

Number plate

Gear box

Handlebar

Turn signal

Seat