New year, new me? Nope. It’s more like New year. NEW BIKE! Did you leave 2022 regretting that you didn’t protect or styled up your bike enough? Well, luckily we are here to help you out! Everyone loves a brand-new bike – but we also know there are some things you need to get it looking and sounding right before you start throwing some miles on.
We put together THE LIST of all the essentials for you…so let the modding begin!
1. Fender Eliminator Kits
Most young motorcycle riders purchase a fender eliminator kit before any other modification. This is because the fenders that come on new motorcycles are bulky, ugly, and generally ruin the appearance of a motorcycle. But be careful when installing a new fender on the rear of a motorcycle.
Some cheaper models don’t properly relocate the tail light or rear turn signals, and this can get bikers in trouble with the police. Quality fender eliminator kits factor in the rear lighting and relocate all the required lights. Also, consider having it professionally installed by a licensed mechanic. This is the best way to ensure that the fender eliminator kit is on properly and safely, and won’t cause problems down the road.
We recommend: Tail Tidy
2. Frame Sliders
Frame sliders are like roll bars for a motorcycle. They help keep your frame away from the ground in the event of a crash or that the bike accidentally tips over. And this simple and inexpensive modification can save big bucks in the event of a crash or tipping.
Get a decent set of frame sliders that stick out only far enough to protect the motorcycle’s fairings from touching the ground at all. Some frame sliders that are sold are made of cheap plastic and do little to actually protect the motorcycle. Spend a little bit of money to get a decent set of frame sliders that will actually do their job and protect the motorcycle. It’s the cheapest insurance money you’ll spend on your bike.
We recommend: Crash Bobbins
3. Air Filter
Standard air filters on motorcycles are, well, standard. An upgraded air filter can do wonders in terms of helping a motorcycle engine’s performance. Decent air filters help the exhaust system on a motorcycle breathe and enable the engine to ramp up and perform better.
A well-ventilated exhaust system is required to get extra air into the motorcycle’s engine and help it perform at an optimal level. Really good aftermarket filters aren’t cheap, but they will pay for themselves over time as most last tens of thousands of miles despite the outlay of cash, you can’t go wrong with a performance air filter for your motorcycle. It sure beats the standard filters in bikes – some of which are made of flimsy paper. Sad but true.
We recommend: Bagoros Performance Filter
4. Tank Grip
For spirited sport riding, you need to lean the bike over quite a bit, and that means relying on your outside knee to hook onto the tank for support (if you’re supporting your weight with your arms through the handlebars in the corners then you’re doing it very wrong).
Tank pads increase a rider’s ability to support themselves by improving grip around the tank. Chances are you’ll never see a race bike or a heavily-modified sport bike without these textured skins which are not only incredibly affordable, but also a cinch to install, and remarkably effective at doing their job.
We recommend: Tank Grip
5. Brake pads and discs
Many riders focus on trying to go faster, but very few ponder the importance of being able to stop. Brakes are, without a doubt, one of the most important components to having a fun and safe riding experience. The last thing you need is a failure that can cause terrible injuries, so it is best to modify and improve the capabilities of your brake systems, even with something as simple as performance pads.
To the untrained eye, this particular modification won’t be noticed, mostly due to their smaller size and being somewhat hidden behind a series of rotors and forks. So, the brakes themselves may not turn many heads, but the newfound ability to stop on a dime surely will.
We recommend: Moto Master
6. Levers
Upgrading your bike’s levers and lines is a fantastic way to improve performance while at the same time making the bike noticeably more responsive. High-end lines (typically of the steel-braided variety) deliver the superior feel and as a result, afford the rider superior feedback — effects that can be amplified by the addition of an aftermarket lever set or master cylinder.
We recommend: Lever Guard
7. Sticker Kit
This one is pure style – stickers are an easy and quite cheap solution if you want to make your bike stand out. Custom paint jobs are expensive and don’t always turn out the way you want but stickers can be applied or removed easily. You can mix and match or choose a set that matches your taste.
Make sure you get high-quality print with vibrant colours and resistant to UV-fading (you don’t want a faded sticker because of sun exposer).
We recommend: Sticker Kit
You’re WELCOME!