ATV Slang Terms
Just become the owner of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)? Congrats! You’ve got a lot to learn before you’ll be a powersports expert, including how to talk about your new ride. The powersports world has its own slang just like any other community, which means you’ll need to brush up on some important terminology to avoid embarrassment or confusion.
Holzhauer Pro Motorsports here in Nashville is proud to be your Illinois Kawasaki ATV dealer. To help you demystify the world of powersports lingo, we’ve assembled this list of common ATV slang terms so you can be in the know when it comes to conversing with other quad enthusiasts!
Vehicle Terminology
AATV (Amphibious All-Terrain Vehicle): an unusual powersports vehicle that has six to eight wheels and other qualities that make it capable of crossing water as well as dry land.
Four-Wheeler: a common term for ATVs, along with quad. This term might seem a bit on the nose, but ATVs initially had only three wheels when they came on the scene in the late 1970s and four-wheeled versions didn’t come out until around 1985, so the distinction was very important at one time and the name has stuck, even if the less stable three-wheelers have been swept into the dustpan of history.
Modified: any ATV that has been altered in some way from its factory condition with aftermarket parts or enhancements. This often refers to improvements in the engine capacity or suspension of the quad.
Stock: any ATV that hasn’t been modified with aftermarket parts by the rider; a vehicle that is the same as it was when it rolled off the factory assembly line.
ATV Parts
Go Juice: a whimsical term for gasoline.
Knobbies: the standard all-terrain tire installed on most ATVs; these tires have knobs to help you gain traction.
Nose and Tail: the front and rear portions of an ATV, respectively.
Plastic: the body of an ATV, which is often constructed from a sturdy plastic rather than metal.
Skidplates: the metal plates that protect the undercarriage of an ATV from damage.
Riding Terminology
Bottoming Out: the hard landing that uses up your suspension’s travel from an especially high jump. This is generally not very good for your vehicle!
Goosing It: applying the throttle in short bursts in order to make the ATV jump forward in spurts.
Off-Camber: any part of a trail that is on the side of a steep slope; riding your ATV over an incline like this increases your risk of rollover.
Paperweight: an amusing term for any ATV that’s been wrecked or has broken down and is beyond repair, rendering it useless.
Poker Run: a type of race or rally that has riders travel between five to seven different stops, picking up a single playing card from a standard 52-card deck at each stop to form a five-card poker hand (for seven-card rallies, two are discarded). Once all riders have arrived at the final destination, the player with the winning poker hand wins.
Rollover: rolling or tipping your ATV over onto its side—or worse, turning it completely upside-down!
Roost: the dirt or debris trail that an ATV’s tires kick up when they spin on dry ground; a shortening of “rooster tail,” which the dirt trail resembles to some degree.
Whoops: the bumps on an ATV trail or track that riders jump their vehicles over. They are generally spaced between five and ten feet apart, and they may be anywhere from one to three feet in height.
Yard Sale: any crash that leaves a scattering of debris and broken parts in its wake.
Knowing and understanding these terms should help you to talk about your ATV with other enthusiasts. Seeking Kawasaki ATVs for sale near St. Louis? Visit our dealership in Nashville, Illinois, today to check out our full stock of new and used ATVs for sale, including Kawasaki models. Holzhauer Pro Motorsports proudly serves the city of Carbondale, Illinois.
