Question 1

Carburetor

Accepted Answer

A device in an internal combustion engine for mixing air with a fine spray of liquid fuel.

Question 2

Fuel Injector

Accepted Answer

An electronic device that sprays fuel into the engine to allow it to burn more efficiently.

Question 3

Four-stroke Cycle

Accepted Answer

The four stages (intake, compression, power, exhaust) that an internal combustion engine goes through to convert fuel into power.

Question 4

Two-stroke Cycle

Accepted Answer

A type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle in only one crankshaft revolution and with two strokes, or up and down movements, of the piston.

Question 5

Valve Timing

Accepted Answer

The timing of the opening and closing of the valves in a four-stroke cycle engine.

Question 6

Compression Ratio

Accepted Answer

The ratio of the volume of the cylinder and the combustion chamber when the piston is at the bottom, to the volume of the combustion chamber when the piston is at the top.

Question 7

Overhead Camshaft (OHC)

Accepted Answer

A design in which the camshaft is placed in the cylinder head above the pistons and valves.

Question 8

Overhead Valve (OHV)

Accepted Answer

A design in which the valves are placed in the cylinder head, but the camshaft is in the block.

Question 9

Reed Valve

Accepted Answer

A type of check valve most commonly used in two-stroke engines to control the fuel/air mixture.

Question 10

Rotational Balance

Accepted Answer

A state where the mass distribution about the rotational axis results in no vibration.

Question 11

Counterbalancer

Accepted Answer

A mechanism designed to balance out the forces produced by the engine's pistons to reduce vibration and improve rider comfort.

Question 12

Master Cylinder

Accepted Answer

A control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure (from your foot or hand) into hydraulic pressure in order to move other devices, such as brake calipers or wheel cylinders.

Question 13

Brake Caliper

Accepted Answer

A device that houses the brake pads and pistons. When the brake lever is applied, the pistons push the brake pads onto the brake rotor to slow down or stop the motorcycle.

Question 14

Brake Rotor

Accepted Answer

The part of the braking system that the brake pads squeeze against to slow down or stop the motorcycle.

Question 15

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

Accepted Answer

A system on some motorcycles that prevents the wheels from locking up (or skidding) while braking.

Question 16

Suspension Fork

Accepted Answer

The part of a motorcycle that connects the front wheel to the rest of the bike and allows for steering and suspension.

Question 17

Rear Shock Absorber

Accepted Answer

The part of a motorcycle that absorbs bumps from the rear wheel and helps keep the tire in contact with the road.

Question 18

Swingarm

Accepted Answer

The main component of the rear suspension, on which the rear wheel is mounted.

Question 19

Frame

Accepted Answer

The main structural component of the motorcycle, to which all other parts are attached.

Question 20

Subframe

Accepted Answer

The removable, structural part of a motorcycle's frame, usually at the rear, designed to support the seat and rear bodywork.

Question 21

Wheel Bearings

Accepted Answer

Bearings in the wheel hub that reduce friction and allow the wheel to rotate smoothly.

Question 22

Air Filter

Accepted Answer

A device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air.

Question 23

Oil Filter

Accepted Answer

A filter designed to remove contaminants from engine oil, transmission oil, lubricating oil, or hydraulic oil.

Question 24

Transmission

Accepted Answer

The part of a motorcycle that transmits power from the engine to the rear wheel.

Question 25

Clutch

Accepted Answer

A mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a driving shaft to a driven shaft.

Question 26

Final Drive

Accepted Answer

The last set of gears/shafts before the power from the engine is transferred to the wheels. This usually consists of a drive chain and sprockets or a drive shaft and bevel gears.

Question 27

Drive Chain

Accepted Answer

A metal chain that transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel.

Question 28

Drive Belt

Accepted Answer

A belt that transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel, typically used in place of a chain for lower maintenance and quieter operation.

Question 29

Sprocket

Accepted Answer

A wheel with teeth that meshes with a chain or other perforated or indented material.

Question 30

Drive Shaft

Accepted Answer

A mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, often used instead of a chain and sprocket in some motorcycles for final drive.

Question 31

Ignition Timing

Accepted Answer

The timing of when a spark will occur in the combustion chamber (during the compression stroke).

Question 32

Spark Plug

Accepted Answer

A device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air mixture.

Question 33

Ignition Coil

Accepted Answer

An induction coil that transforms the low voltage (12V) power from the battery to high voltage (10k-30kV) needed for sparking the plug.

Question 34

Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

Accepted Answer

A type of electronic control unit that controls a series of actuators on an internal combustion engine to ensure optimal engine performance.

Question 35

Fuel Pump

Accepted Answer

A device that moves fuel from the tank to the engine.

Question 36

Throttle Body

Accepted Answer

The part of an air intake system that controls the amount of air flowing into the engine, in response to driver accelerator pedal input in the main.

Question 37

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)

Accepted Answer

A sensor used to monitor the throttle position of a vehicle.

Question 38

Battery

Accepted Answer

A device that stores electrical energy and can deliver that energy through a controllable electric current.

Question 39

Regulator/Rectifier

Accepted Answer

A device that converts the alternating current (AC) output of the stator into direct current (DC) to charge the battery and power the motorcycle's electrical systems.

Question 40

Stator

Accepted Answer

The stationary part of an alternator that generates AC voltage in a rotating magnetic field.

Question 41

Rotor

Accepted Answer

The rotating part of an alternator that produces a rotating magnetic field.

Question 42

Alternator

Accepted Answer

A type of generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in the form of alternating current.

Question 43

Starter Motor

Accepted Answer

An electric motor that rotates the internal combustion engine to initiate the engine's operation under its own power.

Question 44

Brake Lever

Accepted Answer

A lever for actuating the front brake of a motorcycle.

Question 45

Brake Pedal

Accepted Answer

A pedal for actuating the rear brake of a motorcycle.

Question 46

Clutch Lever

Accepted Answer

A lever for actuating the clutch of a motorcycle.

Question 47

Gear Shift Lever

Accepted Answer

A lever for shifting gears on a motorcycle.

Question 48

Speedometer

Accepted Answer

An instrument that measures and displays the speed of a vehicle.

Question 49

Tachometer

Accepted Answer

An instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine.

Question 50

Fuel Gauge

Accepted Answer

An instrument that indicates the quantity of fuel in a fuel tank.

Question 51

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Accepted Answer

A system that reports real-time tire-pressure information to the rider of the vehicle, either via a gauge, a pictogram display, or a simple low-pressure warning light.

Advanced Motorcycle Mechanic - Red Seal Exam Prep Flash Cards