What the technical terms on this page mean.
- Anti-lock braking system. It stops a wheel locking up during hard braking so the rider can keep steering. A single-channel system works on one wheel, usually the front; a dual-channel system works on both.
- Idle-stop-start system. The engine switches off after a short time at idle and restarts when you are ready to go, saving fuel in traffic.
- Continuously variable transmission. An automatic drive with no fixed gears: a belt running between two pulleys changes the ratio smoothly as you accelerate.
- How the engine's valves are operated. OHC and SOHC mean one overhead camshaft; DOHC means two, which usually allows higher revs and more power from the same size.
- Petrol is delivered by an electronically controlled injector instead of a carburettor, which helps with easy starting and steady fuel economy.
- Coolant circulates through the engine and a radiator, keeping temperatures steadier than air alone, especially in traffic or under load.
- Tyres with no inner tube. A small puncture usually loses air slowly, which makes roadside repair easier.
- The weight of the bike ready to ride, with its fluids and fuel, but without a rider or luggage.
- The cylinder's width and the piston's travel. A larger bore relative to stroke tends to favour revs; a longer stroke tends to favour low-speed pull.
- How much the fuel-air mixture is squeezed before it is ignited. It is one of the factors behind an engine's efficiency and power.
