Recently, I rode my Trike into work after many requests from my co-workers that wanted to see it.  Of course, I wanted to show it off too, since some of them ride there bikes to work.  They ride everything from scooters, to sport bikes and cruisers.

“Tequila Sunrise” pictured at right made quite an impression, I must say!  However, when one of my fellow workers pointed me to his bike, I mistakenly called his handlebars “high risers.”  Without missing a beat, he corrected me!  What?  There’s a different name for those very uncomfortable looking bars?  Yes!

Want to learn the difference between Risers and Ape Hangers?  Or what is a “huggermucker,” “ rainbow,” or “ratbike?”

Find out at a very cool web site called “TMW (Total Motorcycle Website)” where you can find, “The Motorcycle Biker’s Dictionary.”

Not to leave everyone hanging onto their handlebars, the following terminology provides a brief look at what you will find:

Apes or Ape Hangers - Handlebars that are very high, and which often raise the rider's hands above his or her shoulders. High handlebars so Biker's hands are at or above their shoulder height.. Refers to a handlebar style where the handgrips are located at a higher position, so as to enable the rider's arms to "hang" Picture "Clyde" from "Every Which Way but Loose" and you'll get a perfect understanding of the riding position.

Huggermucker - General term referring to either an inanimate object with an unidentifiable purpose, or a human being fitting the same description.
(I know a few of these!)

Risers (See also Handlebar Risers - Designed to correct the ergonomic short comings of your motorcycle, handlebar risers will raise your handlebars vertically to allow you to attain the posture needed for maximum control. Risers can simply extend the bar mounts toward you, or extend up and forward. Risers are designed to be mounted between your stock bar mount and triple clamp.

Rainbows - Oil on the street.

Rat Bike - Bike made from several machines and kept on the road using as cheap as possible and painted matt black. Now has a class of its own and defined as any thing Mad Max would shoot at. (Loved this one!)

Ride Safe, Have Fun!
Pat Gwozdz
President