There are many reasons to customize your bike, whether it’s to do with your riding style, the type of motorbiking you do (racing, touring, dirt biking, or casual adventuring), your comfort and safety, or your aesthetic preferences. Likewise, the possibilities for motorcycle customization are never-ending (especially for those who like to restore, tinker, or DIY).
Whether you’re upgrading your trim level at the dealership, working with a shop or mechanic, restoring a vintage bike, or building your own entirely from scratch, here are some considerations when it comes to customizing your motorcycle.
Sourcing the Parts
If OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are important to you, a dealership or reputable motorcycle parts store will be the best place to look. But if saving money or customizing beyond what’s available from a specific brand is the priority, there is no shortage of aftermarket accessories out there. Just be sure to check the specs to make sure they’ll fit your bike, and ensure that any parts and customizations meet safety standards and other regulations (usually to do with lighting, braking, and noise emissions) in your area.
Riding in Comfort
Things like changing your seat and attaching a backrest, or adding a passenger seat or pillion can influence your riding position to make your ride more comfortable; the same goes for adding a windshield or wind deflector (if your bike doesn’t already have one) for long rides. Changing out the hand grips for a smaller or larger set (you can even get heated ones for an extra touch of luxury) can be nice too, as can replacing your handlebars – they come in a variety of different widths, heights, and styles. Footpegs or footrests for yourself and your passenger are another nice touch.
Safer, Smoother Rides
Upgrading key parts of your bike, like the clutch, brakes, mirrors, headlights, turn signals, chain and sprockets, suspension, and wheels can make a huge difference in the performance of your motorbike, not to mention the quality and safety of your ride. The changes you make here will depend largely on the type of motorbiking you do: customizing a dirt bike might look like adding mudguards to prevent splashes, whereas optimizing a highway hog might involve extending the floorboards for a comfier ride.
Adding Capacity
There are a ton of storage options specifically designed to be attached to bikes, including saddlebags, rack bags, tank bags, tail bags, luggage racks, and pouches – but there are also ways to add capacity to the bike itself. Consider changing out the fuel tank or upgrading the battery so you can ride for longer.
Better Control
Replacing your foot controls to better suit your foot size (and the types of shoes you wear while riding) can give you a better handle on your bike. The same goes for your front and rear brake levels, your clutch lever, and your shift lever – if your hands can’t comfortably grip or manoeuvre the ones that come with your bike, you may want to consider switching them out.
High Performance and Need for Speed
This is where things can get quite specialized (and potentially, quite expensive, too), but it might just be worth it. Adding a fairing to your bike’s frame can deflect wine and reduce drag if speed is a consideration, while replacing your exhaust pipe with something more lightweight can take some of the bulk off your bike (as well as change the noise your bike makes – for better or for worse).
Upgrading (and regularly changing) your motorcycle’s air filter can improve engine performance – and, speaking of engines, those can be changed out for maximum performance, too, whether by replacing the whole thing or tweaking the individual components. Upgrading tires is another impactful customization that many motorcycle owners opt for.
Tech It Up a Notch
Adding or replacing speakers to improve your motorcycle’s sound system is another common choice. But there are other options for teching up your bike, including investing in things like cruise control (whether at the dealership or by adding an aftermarket option), Bluetooth-enabled helmets, speakers and headsets, or a USB charger for your phone.
Riding in Style
From decals, stickers, and graphics to engravings and paint jobs, there are infinite ways to personalize the aesthetic of your bike. Seat covers, lighting, and rim tape are some other ways to up the style factor on your bike – and don’t forget a custom license plate, which can add a lot of personality. Finally, no bike is complete without its rider – so don’t forget to express your style with your own choice of (roadsafe) accessories while riding!