Your Motorcycle in Spanish: Technical Vocabulary
Learn how to discuss your motorcycle in Spanish for your next roadtrip to Latin America!
Knowing the translations of the most important parts of your vehicle is key for your safety. Also, if you are into motorcycles, this is a great excuse to learn Spanish at the same time!
Learn how to say and how to spell phrases anyone can understand in case of an accident or an engine failure, just in case.
I divided this article about your motorcycle in Spanish into the following sections:
- Basics
- Accessories
- External Parts
- Internal Parts
Each has a subcategory with example sentences for you to practice.
Get ready for your upcoming trip and don’t let anything get in the way while talking about your motorcycle in Spanish!
Table of Contents:
- How Do You Say the Basics
- Motorcycle Accessories
- Types of Motorcycles in Spanish
- External Parts of a Motorcycle
- Internal Parts of a Motorcycle
- Mexican Slang
- ¡Vamos a dar el rol!
How Do You Say the Basics
First things first, get to know the road. Before diving into the parts of a motorcycle in Spanish you should know the basis:
| English | Spanish |
| biker | motociclista |
| bodywork | la carrocería |
| championship | el campeonato |
| customized | personalizado |
| distance | la distancia |
| driver | el conductor |
| driving | la conducción |
| license | la licencia |
| motorcycle, bike | motocicleta, moto |
| motorcycle permit | el permiso de la motocicleta, el permiso para la motocicleta |
| obstacles | los obstáculos |
| passenger | el pasajero/a |
| pilot | el piloto |
| plates | las placas |
| protection | la protección |
| racetrack | el autódromo |
| road | la calle |
| speed | la velocidad |
| to drive | manejar |
| track | la pista |
Example Sentences
¿Cuál es el límite de velocidad aquí?
What is the speed limit here?
Si llevas un pasajero, ten cuidado con los obstáculos.
If you take a passenger, be careful with the obstacles.
Olvidé el número de mi placa y dejé mi licencia en casa.
I forgot my plate number and left my license at home.
Te veo en la pista para el campeonato.
I’ll meet you at the racetrack for the championship.
¿Sabe dónde pueden arreglar mi moto?
Do you know where I can fix my motorcycle?
Tuve un accidente, ¿me podría ayudar?
I had an accident, can you help me?
¿Me podría dar el teléfono de emergencias?
Could you give me the emergency phone number?
¿Dónde puedo comprar accesorios para moto?
Where can I buy motorcycle accessories?
Hand-picked for you:
Motorcycle Accessories
This motorcycle in Spanish lesson would be incomplete without the accessories section. They seem to be the least top of mind items but they are fundamental for your protection and comfortability.
| English | Spanish |
| backrest | el respaldo |
| cuffs | el cubrepuños |
| gloves | los guantes |
| helmet | el casco |
| jacket | la chaqueta |
| knee pads | las rodilleras |
| lock | el candado |
| reflector | el reflector |
| sidecar | el asiento lateral |
| trunk | el baúl |
| waterproof pants | los pantalones impermeables |
| wrist rest | el reposamuñecas |
Example Sentences
Trae tus guantes, chaqueta y casco, vamos a dar un paseo en moto.
Bring your gloves, jacket, and helmet, we are going for a bike ride.
¿Tienes algunas rodilleras que me prestes?
Do you have any knee pads I can borrow?
Tengo un reflector naranja en mi motocicleta.
I have an orange reflector on my bike.
¿Por qué pusiste un asiento lateral?
Why did you get a sidecar?
No tuve más opción que conseguir un reposamuñecas, me duelen después de veinte minutos.
I had no choice but to get a wrist rest, they hurt after 20 minutes.
Types of Motorcycles in Spanish
Here are some types of motorcycles in Spanish with their translations. As you can see, a few sound alike in Spanish and English.
| English | Spanish |
| ATV | la cuatrimoto |
| cafe racer | café racer |
| chopper | chopper |
| dual purpose motorcycle | la motocicleta de doble propósito |
| moped | la bicimoto |
| scooter | la motoneta |
| scrambler | motocicleta de motocross |
| track motorcycle | la motocicleta de pista |
See also: A Vocabulary Guide to Roads and Traffic in Spanish
External Parts of a Motorcycle
These are the external parts of a motorcycle in Spanish. They will come in handy when describing your vehicle while on the road.
Dashboard and Around
| English | Spanish |
| breaks | los frenos |
| clutch lever | la palanca de embrague |
| handgrip | la empuñadura |
| handlebar | el manubrio |
| horn | el claxon |
| rearview mirror | el espejo retrovisor |
| lock | seguro |
| turn signals | las direccionales, las luces direccionales |
| windshield, faceshield | el salpicadero, la salpicadera |
External Parts of a Motorcycle in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
| back tire | la llanta trasera |
| brake pedal | el pedal de freno |
| belt drive | la cadena |
| chain | la cadena |
| chassis | el chasís |
| exhaust pipe, pipe | el tubo de escape |
| fairing | el carenado |
| footpeg | la clavija de pie, el descanso de pie |
| front tire | la llanta delantera |
| headlight | el faro |
| kickstarter | el pedal de arranque |
| muffler | el mofle |
| mudguard | el guardabarros |
| pedals | los pedales |
| rear fender | el guardabarros trasero |
| rotor | el freno de disco |
| seat | el asiento |
| steering head | el cabezal de dirección |
| tail light | la luz trasera |
| valve | la válvula |
Example Sentences
Quita el seguro de la moto y ve a llenarle el tanque.
Unlock the motorcycle and fill up the tank.
Se rompió la cadena y se estrelló la luz trasera.
The chain broke and the taillight crashed.
Llevé la moto al servicio para que le revisaran el claxon y los frenos.
I took the bike to the service to have the horn and the breaks checked.
La llanta trasera se reventó.
The rear tire had a blowout.
Necesitas usar las direccionales cada vez que des vuelta.
You need to use the turn signs everytime you turn.
Gracias por reparar la defensa.
Thank you for repairing the fender.
Continue reading: 100+ Words and Phrases Related to Transportation in Spanish
Internal Parts of a Motorcycle
| English | Spanish |
| boxer | el boxer |
| engine | el motor |
| gas tank | el tanque de gasolina |
| transmission | la transmisión |
| twin cylinder engine | el motor de dos cilindros |
| unitized transmission | la transmisión unificada |
| V-four, four-cylinder engine | el motor de cuatro cilindros |
Mexican Slang
Here are some examples of Mexican slang when it comes to your motorcycle in Spanish. Just so you know the most basic and common ones. Of course there is South American and Spanish slang, learn what you need according to your trip.
Rodada
La rodada means to go on a planned, small road trip on a motorcycle. Normally this consists of organizing a group of friends or colleagues to go out for a ride or bike excursion.
La espiroqueta de la chafaldrana
This one is one of the trickiest phrases when it comes to your motorcycle in Spanish. When mechanics know you don’t understand much about cars or motorcycles they use this saying to confuse you and make you believe your vehicle is broken and you need to invest high quantities to restore it.
Dar el rol
Dar el rol is similar to the rodada but is more impulsive and out of nowhere. Vamos a dar el rol is a classic weekend phrase between two friends with no plans. Another difference is that this phrase isn’t exclusive of the motorcycling argot. You can dar el rol walking or in a car.
Check-out: 8 Most Effective Apps to Learn Spanish While Driving
¡Vamos a dar el rol!
Learning the parts of a motorcycle in Spanish is the first step toward speaking Spanish like a native. If that’s your aim, let me tell you it is an amazing idea. Why? Because it will really turn your life around!
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