Classic motorcycles come with their own vocabulary, and buying across borders adds the official words of each country. This glossary explains the terms used across the knowledge center. Where there is a longer article, it is linked.
Condition and originality
- Concours. The highest standard of condition, judged at shows. See condition grades.
- Survivor. A bike that still has its original paint and most original parts, with the marks of age.
- Patina. The natural wear of age on paint, metal and leather. Collectors value an honest patina. See originality and patina.
- Matching numbers. The frame and engine are the pair that were fitted together at the factory. See frame and engine numbers.
- NOS. New old stock: unused original parts from the period.
- Provenance. The documented history of a bike: owners, events, records.
- Rider. A bike in good enough condition to use, with cosmetic flaws.
- Project. A bike that needs work before it is complete or roadworthy.
- Basket case. A bike in pieces, often incomplete.
- Barn find. A bike found unused after a long time in storage. Use of the term should be backed by the story.
- Restomod. A restored bike with modern improvements, such as brakes or electronic ignition.
- Special. A one-off bike built by an individual, often combining parts of different makes.
- Café racer. A style from 1960s Britain: a stripped bike with low bars, a humped seat and rear-set controls.
- Over-restored. Finished to a higher standard than it ever had at the factory.
Papers and law
- Oldtimer. The common European word for a classic vehicle. Its legal meaning differs by country. See what counts as a classic motorcycle.
- O plate. The Belgian oldtimer plate whose letters start with an O. See Belgium.
- H-Kennzeichen. The German historic plate, with a flat annual tax. See Germany.
- 07 plate. The German red plate for limited oldtimer use such as events and test drives.
- Carte grise de collection. The French collection registration. See France.
- Kentekencard. The Dutch registration card.
- Tenaamstellingscode. The Dutch registration code the seller gives the buyer to change the name.
- Vrijwaringsbewijs. The Dutch release certificate that shows a vehicle is no longer registered to the seller.
- RDW. The Dutch vehicle authority. See the Netherlands.
- APK. The Dutch periodic roadworthiness test. Motorcycles do not need one.
- BPM. The Dutch tax on first registration. Not due on a motor vehicle of 25 years or older.
- MRB. Motorrijtuigenbelasting, the Dutch road tax.
- DIV. The Belgian vehicle registration service.
- Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II. The two parts of German vehicle papers: the registration certificate and the ownership document.
- Hauptuntersuchung (HU). The German periodic inspection, often called the TÜV.
- V5C. The UK registration document, or log book.
- DVLA. The UK vehicle registration authority.
- MOT. The UK annual roadworthiness test. Vehicles over 40 years old without substantial changes are exempt.
- SORN. Statutory Off Road Notification, the UK declaration that a vehicle is not used on the road.
- FIVA. The international federation of historic vehicle clubs. See FIVA.
- ANF. Autorité Nationale FIVA, the national FIVA authority in a country.
- Turin Charter. FIVA's principles for the use, maintenance, conservation, restoration and repair of historic vehicles.
- VIN. Vehicle identification number, here the frame number.
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC). A manufacturer's statement that a vehicle conforms to an approved type. Old bikes usually have none.
Engine and fuel
- Carburettor. The device that mixes fuel and air. Most classics have one or more.
- Points and condenser. The mechanical switch and capacitor of a traditional ignition. See electrics and ignition.
- Magneto. A generator that makes the ignition spark without a battery.
- Dynamo. A direct-current generator, found on older bikes in place of an alternator.
- Compression test. Measuring the pressure a cylinder can build, to judge the state of rings and valves.
- Leak-down test. A test that shows where a cylinder loses pressure: rings, valves or gasket.
- Top end. The cylinder head, cylinders and pistons. The bottom end is the crankcase, crankshaft and gearbox.
- Rebore. Enlarging a cylinder to fit oversize pistons.
- Primary drive. The chain or gears between the engine and the clutch.
- Ethanol (E10). Petrol that includes up to 10% ethanol, which can harm old rubber parts and absorb water. See what ethanol does to a classic fuel system.
- Tickler. A button on some carburettors that floods the float bowl to ease a cold start.
Chassis and brakes
- Rigid frame. A frame without rear suspension.
- Plunger. An early rear suspension with sliding units.
- Swingarm. The pivoting rear fork of modern rear suspension.
- Girder fork. An early front fork with parallel links.
- Telescopic fork. The common front fork with sliding tubes.
- Steering head. The tube at the front of the frame holding the steering bearings.
- Drum brake. A brake with shoes that press outward inside a drum.
- Twin leading shoe. A drum brake with two leading shoes, for stronger braking.
- Spoked wheel. A wheel with wire spokes, common on classics.
- Shaft drive. A drive shaft in place of a chain, as on many BMWs and Moto Guzzis.
Electrics
- 6 volt and 12 volt. The system voltage. Older bikes are often 6 volt.
- Positive earth. A wiring system where the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the frame.
- Regulator and rectifier. Parts that control and convert the charging current.
- Loom. The wiring harness.
Auction terms
- Lot. An item offered at auction.
- Starting price and reserve price. See starting price and reserve price.
- Proxy bid. An automatic bid up to a set maximum. See bidding at a motorcycle auction.
- Anti-sniping. Extending an auction when a bid arrives near the end.
- Escrow. Money held by a neutral party until both sides have done what they promised.
- Double confirmation. Buyer and seller both confirm the handover before the money is released.
- Hammer price. The winning bid in a live auction, before any premium.
- Buyer's premium. A fee some auction houses add to the hammer price.
- Margin scheme. A dealer's VAT arrangement for used goods in which VAT applies only to the dealer's profit margin.
