Motorcycle-Glossary.com » O

OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:00:49 +0000

A company that purchases products or components from another company and resells them with their own name or logo on them is an OEM. As an example, Harley makes a motorcycle out of parts and Harley is the OEM for that motorcycle. Users then may modify or add parts to the machine. Most likely the added parts are not OEM but are after-market parts.

Off-Road Bike

admin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:00:15 +0000

A motorcycle designed for use in the dirt or off-pavement. They are typically not street legal, but sometimes they have lights and larger gas tanks.

OHC: Overhead Camshaft

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:00:23 +0000

A camshaft in an internal-combustion engine that is mounted within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drives the valves or lifters directly instead of using pushrods.

OHV: Overhead Valve

admin — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:00:49 +0000

A type of piston engine that places the camshaft in the cylinder block and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder head to actuate the valves. Lifters or tappets reside in the engine block between the camshaft and pushrods.

This contrasts with an overhead cam (OHC) design which places the camshafts above the cylinder head and drives the valves directly or through short rocker arms. In an OHC engine, the camshafts are normally part of the cylinder head assembly, while in an OHV engine the camshaft (rarely more than one) is part of the main engine block assembly.

Also called “pushrod engine” or “I-head” engine.

One Off

admin — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:27 +0000

A product or part that is not designed to be mass produced. It can refer to a one-of-a-kind bolt-on accessory or a fully customized motorcycle.

One Percenter

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:00:31 +0000

Many years ago, the AMA stated that 99% of motorcyclists are law abiding people and only 1% cause trouble. Those riders who felt they were in that 1% assumed the name “One Percenters” and started wearing patches denoting themselves as such.

On The Box

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:00:53 +0000

A top-three finish that puts a rider on the victory podium. “I was happy just to get on the box today.”

On The Gas

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:00:27 +0000

When a rider is going very fast. “I tried to pass him, but he was really on the gas.”

On The Pipe

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:00:57 +0000

When a rider or bike is going very fast. This expression refers to when a competition bike’s two-stroke engine is operating at optimum rpm. Exhaust pipes for these motorcycles are designed to work best at certain engine speeds. When a motorcycle is on the pipe, it is running at the rpm that gives maximum horse-power. “He was really on the pipe during the first five laps.”

Open Cradle Frame

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:00:56 +0000

Motorcycle frame without tubes running under the engine. The engine unit bolts into place between the front downtube and the swingarm pivot area as a semi-stressed or stressed member.