Looking to buy a Sportster (my first bike); and am trying to get educated as to what the various accessories are on the bikes I'm looking to buy.

Would greatly appreciate a guiding hand on terminology, like what is a SWING ARM, and what is it's purpose. Thank you all in advance.

 

It's the tuning fork looking thing that holds the rear wheel. It is connected to the frame at a lower pivot point and kept in place by your rear shocks.


If you are looking at a used bike and they are stating that they have an aftermarket swingarm, it is most likely designed to allow a wider tire, lengthened for more stability and traction while drag racing, or both.

 

it was a dance move from the zoot suit era, mainly....
though I think they named a motorcycle part after it

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swingarm




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OMG!!!!!! this site is getting worse by the day. It's just crazy how many people are getting bikes and know nothing about them or how to ride. i guess i'm lucky as i grew up on bikes and knew how to ride well before I ever got my first street bike. I'm not trying to be mean, but when I see a post like this I just see bad news wrote all over it.

 

So if you don't know much about motorcycles it's better not to ask questions and learn? just remain ignorant for the rest of your life?
Remember there was a time when you too didn't know what a swingarm was.

 

Generally I agree, "there's no such thing as a stupid question" and that's what forums are here for.
On the other hand, sometimes I have to wonder if there's still people out there that have yet to hear about Google, or is it just a new Spoon-fed generation thing.

 

Not being a smartass: Google swingarm swing arm.... click "images" and scan the pics and see some examples. Then click on "web" and read up on some links. Kind of "eyes on"..... And then cruise back and ask away. This way when someone gives a hand, you will already be a bit more versed and know what they are helping you with. Hope this helps some. Cheers and good luck!

 

Thank god you were born knowing everything. If you don't like people asking questions about motorcycles, perhaps a website designed for people to ask questions about motorcycles is not the best place for you.

 

Heh, I remember when I was little once asking my father where the gasoline kept going because I saw him put it into the car all the time but it never seemed to leak out.

You're exactly right; we all start from zero at some point and it's better to ask than to never know. On the other hand, as cHarley pointed out, Google is a wonderful tool for a lot of these sorts of questions. Still, a Google search probably wouldn't have given the extra information about reasons for an aftermarket swingarm as succinctly and swiftly as UFO did in the second post.