Motorbike or Motorcycle?

**racerhead** · 6th January 2009, 08:07

Originally Posted by mashman

Motorcycle, as it can be a valid argument when police pull you over in a cycle lane (not that you have any over here... old habits and all)!!!

Ha not a bad idea

Does it work?

**pzkpfw** · 6th January 2009, 08:23

It rhymes with "pickle".

**fliplid** · 6th January 2009, 08:48

"bike"- they can figure it out.

**Badjelly** · 6th January 2009, 09:08

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Motorcycle when speaking to Americans.

Pronounced "motorsickle" I hope!

**Sparrowhawk** · 6th January 2009, 09:08

My household calls the bikes by their names - Lucy, Ginny, and sometimes Rosey (thanks Donor!)

It gets people that don't know us real confused (our fambily & friends are used to it by now). A few weeks ago we were at an extended family bbq and my wife says "you going to take Lucy out tonight?" and the eyebrows started to raise. When I replied "Nah, I was going to take Rosey if you're not going to ride her" the jaws dropped

**Duke girl** · 6th January 2009, 09:12

When going for your bike licence it is written on the form you fill out Motorcycle Licence as well as your Licence you carry with you while riding it is a Motorcycle Licence. If I was talking about a bike shop I would say motorbike not motorcycle shop. So it comes down to what people feel comfortable in calling it themselves. Bike, motorcycle or motorbike in all I think we all know what 1 is talikng about when it comes to 2 wheels.

**firefighter** · 6th January 2009, 09:21

I just say bike, and everytime people assume pedal power, despite my spare tyre......

....it's bleedin obvious really that i'm no road racing bicycle freak who rides from one side of auckland to the other just to get around!!!

**Duke girl** · 6th January 2009, 09:27

Everytime I see someone on a pushbike I yell out to them to put a motor into it and they just look at me stupidly.

**Big Zappa** · 6th January 2009, 09:35

Motorcycle. Because it sounds classy.

**Badjelly** · 6th January 2009, 09:43

Originally Posted by Duke girl

Everytime I see someone on a pushbike I yell out to them to put a motor into it and they just look at me stupidly.

Are you sure they're the stupid ones?

**firefighter** · 6th January 2009, 09:47

I wonder if Burt Munro pronounced it "motorsickle" like mr Hopkins did.

**McWild** · 6th January 2009, 11:03

In my experience, everytime I talk about my bike to non riders/people I don't know they assume I mean a bicycle. Hence many awed expressions when I say, "Yeah just went for a bike ride over to Diamond Harbour this morning."

So motorcycle to clear up any doubts, bike for clever people.

**Her_C4** · 6th January 2009, 11:50

Originally Posted by Richi

i just say 'my bike' most people assume i bicycle everywhere ohwell they can think what they want

I always said 'bike' until my accident last year (oops year before) I had to explain to the boss why I spent a week in hospital and three months off work for a 'bike' accident.

Now, when I go back for treatment, specialists etc I am careful to say 'motorbike' or 'motorcycle' to save time and further explanations as it can get rather tricky as they assume it was a bicycle accident, and I assume they read my rather large file....