Bi-cycle is called a bike, derived from the bi (as in two), then "ke", as in cycle, or cyc.
So why has it become customary to call a motorcycle a "bike"? Shouldn't it be called a "Moke"?
2007-09-01 07:51:39 · 6 answers · asked by tombombadil042 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
As a person who bicycles on occasion, I get annoyed when I say, I rode my bike, and some jack ace says, "oh, you got a bike", then I have to explain that I'm not a retard
2007-09-01 07:53:21 · update #1
Elaine,
huh?!? Did you READ the question, I ride a BICYCLE, not a motorcycle. I've never even had a desire to ride a motorcycle
2007-09-01 12:16:06 · update #2
What I'm saying is...
A Bike should mean bycycle, so when I say "I rode my bike yesterday to the store", people don't think I mean that I hopped on a harley to go get a soda
Make sense now?
2007-09-01 12:30:03 · update #3
If you put the same thinking that someone did who coined the phrase "bike" (bi, cyc), with motorcycle then you'd come up with "moke" (mo,cyc)
2007-09-01 12:32:20 · update #4
Two possible reasons.
First motorcycles are sometimes called motorbikes (not used much anymore though), and therefore bike being short for motorbike, aka motorcycle.
Also, I would think that motorcycles are referred to as bikes because the earliest motorcyles were simply bicycles with engines. It wasn't until the engines became more powerful that the standard bicycle frame was no longer used.
2007-09-02 07:47:03 · answer #1 · answered by FreakEyeRight 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A mototcycle is a motorized bicycle, If bike is short for bicycle, it doesn't seem much of a stretch to refer to a motorcycle as a bike.
2007-09-01 08:01:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, quite a simple question. I can't believe it was so misunderstood!
I don't know why they are both called bikes, but they are.
I like the way you think..."moke" LOL
2007-09-01 17:46:28 · answer #3 · answered by boycat99 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for most women, "cute" means handsome, attractive, ect. If I saw the hottest guy in the world I would say he was cute. It doesn't make much sense now I think about it..
2016-05-18 22:25:55 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess you think Lance Armstrong and the rest of the Tour de France and triathlon marathoners are intellectually challenged because they don't ride a MOTORIZED BIKE!!!!!
2007-09-01 09:18:52 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it were called a "moke", you'd have a lot of asses claiming breach of copyright.
2007-09-01 08:09:19 · answer #6 · answered by picador 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋