Where did their terms come from?

[Thumperbike]

I know a Farkle is a bike add-on but how did the name come about? How about a pannier? Is it just luggage or specifically sidebags? Is it French or did someone make it up? A pillion is the rider, but why not just say bee-ach?

 

[twowheelnut]

Farkle is generally attributed as being coined by the ST1100 crowd. A combination of functional and sparkle.

Pannier is of French origin, I think. It simply means bread basket. Later adapted into English in the 1200's to refer to side carrying baskets for the horse or beast of burden.

Pillion is derived from an ancient Gaelic term for rug or animal skin. Leather. This morphed into covering for seats. Why it's now just a reference for just the rear seat, I don't know, but the term is used for both seat and passenger.

And you are correct, American biker slang does include the term bitch seat to describe the pillion, but one needs to drop the 'seat' to describe the passenger...

-The Perfesser

 

[skyway]

Farkle is generally attributed as being coined by the ST1100 crowd.  A combination of functional and sparkle.
Pannier is of French origin, I think.  It simply means bread basket.  Later adapted into English in the 1200's to refer to side carrying baskets for the horse or beast of burden.

Pillion is derived from an ancient Gaelic term for rug or animal skin.  Leather.  This morphed into covering for seats.  Why it's now just a reference for just the rear seat, I don't know, but the term is used for both seat and passenger.

And you are correct, American biker slang does include the term bitch seat to describe the pillion, but one needs to drop the 'seat' to describe the passenger...

-The Perfesser

Alright, who's hi-jacked TWN's account?

 

[Ignacio]

I know a Farkle is a bike add-on but how did the name come about?  How about a pannier?  Is it just luggage or specifically sidebags?  Is it French or did someone make it up?  A pillion is the rider, but why not just say bee-ach?

From Wikipedia it seems the term pannier came from (or was used) in France in the 18th century and the Hoop Dresses worn by women that made their ***** look big and wide.

Check the link and Marie Antoinette looks lind of a like a GS with gargantuan panniers on it.

 

[twowheelnut]

Farkle is generally attributed as being coined by the ST1100 crowd.  A combination of functional and sparkle.
Pannier is of French origin, I think.  It simply means bread basket.  Later adapted into English in the 1200's to refer to side carrying baskets for the horse or beast of burden.

Pillion is derived from an ancient Gaelic term for rug or animal skin.  Leather.  This morphed into covering for seats.  Why it's now just a reference for just the rear seat, I don't know, but the term is used for both seat and passenger.

And you are correct, American biker slang does include the term bitch seat to describe the pillion, but one needs to drop the 'seat' to describe the passenger...

-The Perfesser

Alright, who's hi-jacked TWN's account?

This **** has been asked so many times... It becomes burned into the synapse!

Of course, others call it, "Fun With Google", if you don't know the answers off the top of your head...

 

[radman]

And we all know TDubs google is, for him, a constant source of amusement.

 

[panthercity]

Pillion is derived from an ancient Gaelic term for rug or animal skin. Leather. This morphed into covering for seats. Why it's now just a reference for just the rear seat, I don't know, but the term is used for both seat and passenger.

For ther same reason that wimmins are called "seat covers" by those with the lofty view of a trucker...

 

[twowheelnut]

And we all know TDubs google is, for him, a constant source of amusement.

Sorry rad, not google, but rather that would be my [SIZE=21pt]GOOGLE[/SIZE].

 

[Bike Effects]

....Hoop Dresses worn by women that made their ***** look big and wide.

For the most part, our women in this country don't need these anymore!

 

[donaldb]

I always thought it was the reflectors that made my ass look big

 

[toophast]

The Hardley riders have a "bitch strap" ---flat raised leather, about one and a half inches wide and four inches long that runs length wise on the passenger seat so the vibes from the bike are transmitted to the parts of the passenger that are in contact with the strap Suppose it makes her more apt to want to ride "bitch" on a Hardley

Toophast

 

[Thumperbike]

You all are a wealth of information, especially the learned TWN!