swingarmEtymologyFrom swing + arm.nounThe main component of the rear suspension of most modern motorcycles and ATVs; holds the rear axle in place while swinging vertically to allow the suspension to absorb the shock from bumps in the road.“At the rear, you'll find a single, centrally mounted shock, the now-familiar single-sided swingarm and BMW's Paralever shaft-drive system, which does away with most of a shafty's chassis-jacking bugaboos.”