Motorcycle manufacturers often use different names to describe the same part, so it can be confusing knowing what to call them. To help identify the used motorcycle parts you need we have listed our 'preferred part names' below, along with their definitions and common alternative names. Click on the links in the table below to navigate to the relevant section:
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| LIGHTS & INDICATORS (1) | (back to top) |
| headlight / headlights | [ headlamp / headlamps / front light / front lights] |
| headlight shell | [ headlamp bowl / backing / housing ] Rear bowl-shaped part of headlight assembly on traditional unfaired bikes. Usually incorporates the headlight mounting points, often in plain black plastic |
| headlight rim | [ headlamp bezel ] Metal rim which holds the lens to the headlight shell on unfaired bikes. Usually chrome finished |
| headlight lens | Clear plastic or glass lens with patterned surface designed to bend the headlight beam |
| pilot light | [ parking light / side light ] Small light at the front of the bike activated the ignition switch. Usually situated above headlight on faired bikes |
| headlight bracket | [ headlamp mounting brackets ] On faired bikes this part often supports the clocks & sometimes the mirrors as well (when it is better described as a front sub-frame). Naked bikes can have one or two (i.e. RH & LH) brackets which usually attach the headlight to the forks |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| LIGHTS & INDICATORS (2) | (back to top) |
| rear light | [ tail light / brake light / stop light / rear lamp ] |
| rear light lens | Red coloured lens or clear type if fitted with red coloured bulbs |
| rear light bracket | [ rear light mounting bracket ] Usually metal / chrome on traditional naked bikes & custom-cruisers. Tends to be made from black plastic on sports bikes. Often mounts the number plate as well as the rear light. If it also holds the battery it is usually called an undertray |
| number plate light | Small light mounted above the number plate to illuminate the registration details |
| indicator | [ winker / flasher / turn signal ] Remember to specify whether RH or LH, front or rear. Sometimes incorporated into mirrors as combined units |
| indicator relay | [ flasher relay ] Open & closes the electrical circuit to make the indicators flash |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| LOCKS | (back to top) |
| lockset & keys | [ lock set ] Complete set of locks from a bike e.g. ignition, tank cap & seat locks |
| ignition switch | [ ignition barrel / ignition lock ] Turns on the electrics in order to start the bike |
| ignition switch & immobiliser system | [ HISS kit - Honda term ] Incorporates ignition switch & chipped key (fitted with a transponder) that matches a specific ECU. The transponder in the key & ECU have to match in order for the engine to spark. Often sold as a kit including the full lockset & ECU |
| filler cap & key | [ fuel cap / filler lock / tank lock / petrol cap ] |
| helmet lock & key | A lockable anchor point to secure a helmet strap to the bike |
| seat lock & key | Often sold separately to the actual seat catch mechanism |
| glove box lock & key | [ glove pocket lock / storage compartment lock ] Lock for glove box on scooters and sports touring bikes (e.g. Kawasaki ZZR600, Honda ST1300 Pan European) |
| steering lock & key | Some older bikes have a separate steering lock - modern bikes usually incorporate this function into the ignition switch |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| POWER VALVE | (back to top) |
| power valve | [ powervalve ] Small pivoting valve located in the exhaust port of two stroke engines. Used to control the exit of exhaust gases. Can be a single blade or twin blade ‘2 stage’ type (YPVS = Yamaha, KIPS = Kawasaki, SAPC = Suzuki etc) |
| power valve control unit | [ powervalve brain ] Electronic unit controlling the power valve opening / closing on two stroke engines] Small pivoting valve located in the exhaust port of two stroke engines. Used to control the exit of exhaust gases. Can be a single blade or twin blade ‘2 stage’ type (YPVS = Yamaha, KIPS = Kawasaki, SAPC = Suzuki etc) |
| power valve servo motor | [ power valve actuator ] Small electric motor which physically opens & closes the power valve on two stroke engines using cables |
| power valve cables & pulleys | Mechanism for opening & closing the power valve on two stroke engines |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| REAR SUSPENSION | (back to top) |
| rear shock | [ rear shock absorber / rear damper unit / monoshock ] Single / mono-shock suspension consisting of a spring and oil & gas filled damper unit. If it has a separate gas canister it is termed a ‘remote reservoir’ type. Can be adjustable or non-adjustable |
| rear shock linkages | [ rising rate linkages / rear suspension linkages ] Connects rear mono-shock to swing arm. Usually consists of a rocker linkage and two ties bars or ‘dog bones’ |
| rear shocks | [ twin shocks / rear dampers / rear shock absorbers ] On bikes with two shock absorbers. The shocks mount either side of the bike directly between the swing arm & frame without linkages. Termed ‘piggy-back shocks’ if they have a separate gas canister next to the upper mounting point |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| SEATS | (back to top) |
| seat | [ saddle ] Sometimes known as a dual-seat as it provides both rider & pillion positions in one unit (e.g. Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer / TDM850 / TDM900) |
| front seat | [ rider’s seat / front seat pad ] On a bike that has a separate seat for the rider & pillion (e.g. Honda RVF400 NC35) |
| rear seat | [ pillion seat / rear seat pad ] On a bike that has a separate seat for the rider & pillion (e.g. Yamaha TRX850 FZR400) |
| solo seat | On a bike with no capacity to carry a pillion - common on Sports Production (SP) race replica models (e.g. FZR400RRSP) |
| bum pad | Small pad to support the rider’s lower back - usually on solo-seat bikes (e.g. Yamaha YZF750-SP) |
| sissy bar | [ backrest ] Provides back support for pillions - common on custom / cruiser bikes (e.g. Yamaha XV535 XV750 XV1100 Virago / Suzuki VS750 VS800 Intruder / Honda VT600 / VT750 VT1100 Shadow / Kawasaki VN750 VN800) |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| SWINGING ARM | (back to top) |
| swinging arm | [ swing arm ] Large alloy or steel arm which pivots on the rear of the main frame (or engine). Holds rear wheel in place & provides lower mounting point for rear shock absorber(s). Can have two arms (conventional design) either side of the rear wheel (e.g. Suzuki GSF650 GSF1250 Bandit), or single-sided type (e.g. Honda VFR400 R NC24 / Triumph 955i Daytona / Speed Triple 1050) |
| single-sided swinging arm | [ single-side swing arm / Pro-arm - Honda term ] Where the swinging arm only extends along one side of the bike (usually LHS), exposing the rear wheel on the opposite side (e.g. VFR750 90-97 / Bros 400 650) |
| swinging arm spindle | [ swing arm pivot / axle ] Secures swing arm to frame or engine allowing it to pivot (can be one bolt or separate RH & LH) |
| chain buffer | Plastic cover that mounts to swing arm to prevent damage from drive chain |
| torque arm | [ rear brake arm ] Rigid arm that mounts between swinging arm & rear brake calliper (or brake plate if drum type). Secures the rear caliper in the correct position (e.g. Yamaha FZR400R / Suzuki GSXR400) |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| WHEELS | (back to top) |
| front wheel / rear wheel | Can be cast alloy / mag wheels (e.g. Honda CB Two Fifty Seven Fifty) or wire spoked on trail (e.g. Kawasaki KLR600 KLR250 KLX650), motocross (e.g. Yamaha YZ250F / YZ450F) & classic styled bikes (e.g. Triumph T100 Bonneville / Legend TT 885 / Adventurer / Thunderbird Sport 900) |
| hub (front or rear) | Centre part on wire spoked wheels (spindle/axle goes through centre) |
| wheel spindle (front or rear) | [ rear axle / front axle ] Holds front wheel to forks or rear wheel to swinging arm |
| wheel spacers (front or rear) | Metal spacers / bushes that hold the wheel in the correct position on the spindle |
| speedo drive | [ speedometer drive gear ] On mechanically driven speedometers this part usually locates on the LHS of the front wheel. It drives (turns) the speedo cable when the front wheel rotates. If the bike has an electronic speedo it has a speedo sensor which is usually located on the front wheel or front sprocket cover |
| speedo sensor | [ speed sensor ] For bikes fitted with an electronic speedo. Detects the speed of the bike (e.g. from the front wheel / front sprocket rotation) and sends the signal to the speedometer |
| tyres | [ tyre / tire / tires ] It is important to specify the size & specification of tyres you need (this is found on the tyre’s sidewall). The size is either millimetric (e.g. 180/55 ZR17 TL) or imperial (e.g. 3.00-18 52P TT). All tyres have a speed rating identified by a letter (e.g. P = up to 93 mph, Z = over 149 mph etc). The ‘R’ in 180/55 ZR17 means it is a radial tyre, the ‘-’ in 3.00-18 tells you it is a cross ply (bias ply) construction. Bias-belted tyres are less common now (e.g. indicated by ‘B’ in 110/80 B19 59Q TL), but are still used by some large trail bikes or custom-cruisers. TL means a tubeless tyre, TT is for tyres that need to be fitted with a tube. ‘M/C’ indicates a motorcycle tyre |
| PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| WIRING | (back to top) |
| wiring loom | [ wiring harness ] The main wiring system usually incorporating all the electrical plugs / connectors |
| front sub-loom | [ front wiring loom / headlight sub loom / clocks sub loom ] Wiring & associated electrical connectors for the headlight and/or clocks - usually detachable from the main wiring loom and therefore often sold separately |
| rear light loom | [ rear sub loom / rear wiring harness ] Wiring sub-harness for the rear light |
PREFERRED NAMES | [ ALTERNATIVE NAMES ] & DESCRIPTION |
| TWIST & GO TRANSMISSION | (back to top) |
| clutch | [ rear pulley / rear clutch ] Provides drive to the rear wheel. Mechanism works by using centrifugal force (as engine speed increases) to engage pivoting clutch shoes against an outer clutch housing (bell housing). Once engaged, the clutch housing provides drive to the rear wheel. When the engine speed (and centrifugal force) decreases, retrun springs disengage the shoes from the clutch housing cutting drive to the rear wheel |
| variator | [ front pulley ] Continuously alters the drive ratio to match engine speed. Varying centrifugal force (dependant on crankshaft rotation speed) causes weighted rollers to alter the profile of the variator / pulley upon which the drive belt sits. The diameter of the variator increases and decreases with engine speed, continuously altering the drive ratio between the variator and clutch |
| gearbox | [ final drive gears / reduction gearbox ] Transmits drive from the clutch to the rear wheel. Usually consists of an input shaft (driven by the clutch), an idler shaft & gear (driven by the input shaft), and an output shaft / rear wheel axle & gear (driven by the idler shaft) |