Off-Road Motorcycle Glossary
Enduro, motocross and trials use a lot of shorthand. This plain-English BRAAP Scotland glossary explains the terms you are likely to hear at Scottish events, practice days and club paddocks.
If you are new to off-road motorcycling, the language can make the sport feel more complicated than it is. Use this page as a quick reference, then follow the links into BRAAP's detailed guides when you want the full explanation.
General event terms
Paddock
The area where riders park, prepare bikes, sign on and work from during an event.
Signing on
The event administration process where a rider confirms their entry and completes the required paperwork before riding.
Machine examination / scrutineering
A pre-event check used where required to confirm that a motorcycle and/or riding equipment meets the event regulations. Always follow the organiser's current instructions.
Supplementary regulations / final instructions
Event-specific information issued by the organiser. This is where riders should check arrival times, classes, start procedure, fuel arrangements and other requirements rather than relying on what happened at a previous event.
SACU
The Scottish Auto Cycle Union, the governing body associated with many motorcycle sport events and clubs in Scotland. BRAAP links to official SACU information where it is the relevant source.
Enduro terms
Time Card Enduro
An enduro format built around a route, time controls and scheduled arrival times. Riders must manage the course and their time rather than simply racing every mile flat-out.
Read the full Time Card Enduro guide
Time control
A point on a Time Card Enduro route where a rider's scheduled and actual arrival time is recorded.
Special test
A separately timed competitive section used within some enduros. The liaison or route between tests has a different purpose from the timed test itself.
Hare & Hounds
A mass-start or grouped-start cross-country enduro format where riders complete laps of a marked course over a set event structure.
Enduro Sprint
A format based around repeated timed tests rather than a traditional long Time Card route.
Mousse
A foam tyre insert used instead of a conventional inner tube by many off-road riders to remove the risk of a normal punctured tube.
Why do Enduro riders use mousse inserts?
Motocross terms
Practice day
A track session for riding rather than a race meeting. Venues can split riders into groups by age, bike or ability and may require advance booking.
Your first Scottish motocross practice day
Moto
A motocross race. A meeting may use more than one moto for a class, with the event format deciding how results are combined.
Start gate
The physical gate used to start a motocross race, with riders lined up behind individual positions.
Holeshot
The first rider into the opening corner or designated first-turn point after the start.
Tabletop
A jump with a filled-in or flat top between the take-off and landing, rather than an open gap.
Ruts
Grooves cut into the track surface by repeated motorcycle traffic. Riders often use established ruts for guidance and grip through corners.
Trials terms
Section
A marked observed part of a trials event that riders attempt while trying to avoid penalty marks.
Observer
The official positioned at a trials section who watches attempts and records scores according to the event rules.
Clean
Completing a trials section without losing marks.
Dab
Putting a foot down for support while attempting a section. The scoring consequence depends on the applicable rules and what happens during the attempt.
Route / class markers
Different classes can use different coloured or marked routes through a section so riders face an appropriate level of difficulty.
Read the beginner's guide to motorcycle trials
Bike and riding terms
Small wheel / big wheel
Common shorthand used around youth and smaller off-road motorcycles to describe wheel-size variants. The exact dimensions depend on the model, so do not treat the label alone as a rider-size guide.
What size dirt bike do I need?
Two-stroke / four-stroke
Two common engine types used across off-road motorcycles. They have different characteristics and maintenance needs; neither is automatically the correct beginner choice for every rider.
Knobbly / off-road tyre
A tyre designed with prominent tread blocks for grip on loose surfaces such as dirt, mud, sand and grass.
Liaison
A connecting part of an event route used to move riders between competitive sections or tests rather than being the main timed competition itself.
Still not sure where to start?
Pick the discipline first, then learn the event language as you go. You do not need to understand every term before trying off-road riding.
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