Formerly known as “The Paris Dakar” and now as “The Lisbon Dakar Rally,” or “Dakar Rally,” and also simply referred to as “The Dakar.” It is an off-road competition comprised of cars, motorcycles, and trucks held annually in January. The race is open to amateur and professional entries and amateurs typically make up about eighty percent of the participants. Founded in 1978, this endurance race runs from Europe into Africa over several thousand miles along remote routes that include hostile dunes, rocks and mud. The competition is gruelling and a number of participants have died due to injuries sustained in the race. Originally, the competition was from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal. However, due to politics and other factors, the course, including origin and destination, have varied over the years.
Means of controlling speed of movement of the steering or suspension.
A motorcycle event and rally held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. Approximately 500,000 people make their way to the rally area for the 10-day event. The festivities include motorcycle racing, concerts, parties, and street festivals. The event is usually held on the first full week of March and contends with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as the most popular motorcycle rally in the United States.
Valve gear operation in which the camshaft actively closes as well as opens the valves.
Tubular frame design common until World War II and derived from the bicycle layout. The engine cases often form part of the structure. In profile it resembles a diamond shape
Alloy frames featuring large one-piece sections constructed with a high-vacuum mold process, reducing porosity and eliminating air pockets that can result when pouring molten aluminum. These large sections are then combined with a minimum of welds, or even bolted together, to create the frame. The result is a lighter, more rigid, more finely tuned frame of higher production quality.
The size of the engine; specifically, the total volume found in the cylinders. This is usually expressed in cc (cubic centimeters) or ci (cubic inches). Generally, the larger the displacement, the more powerful the motor.
An internal combustion engine device which distributes high voltage in the ignition system to the spark plugs, in the correct firing order.
Designation for engines that utilize one camshaft to open the engine intake valves and another to open the exhaust valves. This optimizes valve timing for better performance. (Compare SOHC).
Highly combustible alcohol/methanol-based fuel mixture.
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) rates motorcycle helmets. The rating is based on dropping the helmet containing a simulated head from a height of 10 feet.
Large multiple jumps that allow riders to fly through the air rather than traversing each jump one at a time. Triple jumps are the signature obstacle of Supercross, requiring cool nerves and precise throttle control.
To become ineligible. “I thought I won, but I got DQ’ed.”
Normally a large fully equipped bike with fairing, saddlebags, and a trunk.
Side-sprung girder forks. Druid were the original makers.
As opposed to a “wet clutch” which is immersed in a cooling, lubricating fluid, which also keeps the surfaces clean and gives smoother performance and longer life, a “dry clutch,” is not bathed in fluid that robs it of some energy. Since the surfaces of a wet clutch can be slippery (as with a motorcycle clutch bathed in engine oil), stacking multiple clutch disks can compensate for slippage. A Dry Clutch is more like the clutch found on an automobile that separates the engine from the transmission. There is a dry connection between the engine and transmission. (Compare Wet Clutch).
An oil lubrication system for four-stroke and two-stroke internal combustion engines that incorporates an additional oil reservoir as compared to a wet sump system. Rather than the oil being collected in a conventional oil pan, or sump, for engine lubrication, oil is pumped into a secondary reservoir and then pumped to the engine bearings, effectively eliminating the oil starvation a wet sump system suffers when subjected to high-performance acceleration, braking, and cornering.
Street legal motorcycles that provide varying levels of off-road capabilities. Not as focused as pure off-road or pure street motorcycles. Also known as dual-purpose.
This is when a rider revs up the engine and quickly releases the clutch, launching the bike off the line.
Double, having two parts. Applies to frames with two down tubes, and chains with double rows of rollers.
Electric generator that produces alternating current.
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