where did the term "works" come from?

The old joke was, they were called "works" bikes because they were alway's "working" on them!

If I remember right, a long time ago the term WORKS meant that your bike had all the lastest goodies ( you had the most tricked out bike or you've got the works) mostly it was the guys who had a dealer sponsor. back then riding for a dealer was like having a factory ride today. anyhow I think that's were the term came from.

The term comes from England originally. The factory operations where the bikes were manufactured was known as the "works". It is used as another term for factory. So, the factory prepared race bikes were known as works bikes. Jeff Smith's World Championship motocross winning BSA's in the 60's would have been prepared at the BSA works........hence they were called works bikes. (There I go...showing my age) Over time the term got extended to not only refer to the bikes prepared at the manufacturing location, but also the bikes which are prepared for competition by the motorcycle company itself.

I am looking at a 2002 John Deere calendar on my wall right now that is labelled "John Deere Waterloo Works", referring to their operations in Waterloo, Iowa. It's a term still used today by some old companies to refer to their various factory operations.

So I got one part right, it was a long time ago :eek:

Originally posted by jeffg
The term comes from England originally. The factory operations where the bikes were manufactured was known as the "works". It is used as another term for factory. So, the factory prepared race bikes were known as works bikes. Jeff Smith's World Championship motocross winning BSA's in the 60's would have been prepared at the BSA works........hence they were called works bikes. (There I go...showing my age) Over time the term got extended to not only refer to the bikes prepared at the manufacturing location, but also the bikes which are prepared for competition by the motorcycle company itself.

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Works for me! No, production for me.. but that will work for me. ;)

(With apologies to Paul Clipper for stealing his material!)