10 Best Customisations for Your Motorbike

We’re big fans of S&S Cycle products, and while searching for a top-quality air cleaner and performance upgrade for a customer, we came across this fantastic blog: 10 of the Best Ways to Customize Your Motorcycle.

It’s a great rundown of some of the best ways to personalise your ride, from performance boosts to aesthetic upgrades. Here is their summary of the most popular customisations  - just keep your budget and preferences in mind when choosing an upgrade for your motorbike.

10 Best Customisations for Your Bike!

1. Exhaust System Upgrade

Upgrading the exhaust system can enhance your motorcycle's performance by optimizing exhaust gas flow. Aftermarket exhaust systems are designed with larger diameter pipes, smoother bends, and high-flow mufflers, allowing for better scavenging of exhaust gasses and reduced backpressure. Improved exhaust systems provide increased horsepower and torque, especially at higher RPM ranges. 

In addition to a performance boost, many riders opt for an exhaust system upgrade to get a more aggressive and distinctive exhaust note out of their bike. Aftermarket exhausts usually produce a deeper, throatier sound compared to stock systems, which can be extremely satisfying. 

2. Performance Air Intake

Upgrading the air intake system allows for increased airflow to the engine, resulting in improved combustion efficiency and increased horsepower and torque. Aftermarket air intake kits typically feature larger, less restrictive air filters and intake tubes compared to stock components, allowing for a greater volume of air to enter the engine.

Performance air intake upgrades come in a variety of styles and configurations to suit different motorcycles and riding preferences. Depending on your specific needs and desired performance gains, you can choose from high-flow air filters, velocity stacks, ram air intake systems, or cold air intake kits.

Performance air intake upgrades are often relatively easy to install, making them a great starter upgrade. Many aftermarket air intake kits come with detailed installation instructions and can be installed with basic hand tools in a short amount of time.

3. Suspension Upgrades

Upgrading the suspension can result in better handling characteristics, including improved stability, cornering ability, and responsiveness. Aftermarket suspension components, like adjustable shocks, forks, and steering dampers, allow you to fine-tune your motorcycle's suspension to your exact preferences, which makes for a much more comfortable ride. 

4. Handlebar Upgrade

Upgrading the handlebars improves ergonomics by allowing for a more comfortable and natural riding position. Different handlebar styles, like ape hangers, drag bars, or t-bars, offer varying degrees of reach, height, and wrist angles so you can ride more comfortably and for longer. You might also find that a different handlebar style or shape offers improved handling characteristics, especially during cornering, braking, and low-speed manoeuvres. 

When changing out your handlebars, don’t neglect the risers and bushings as well. Many different riser options exist to position the bars better to fit your needs and comfort. Risers can be taller or shorter than stock, raising or lowering the handlebar position, or can also come with a “pull back” that positions the handlebars closer to the rider as well.

5. Custom Seat

A custom seat is a great way to make your bike truly yours. You can choose from a wide variety of materials, colours, stitching patterns, and other elements to make a seat that complements your aesthetic. Unlike stock seats, which are designed to accommodate a wide range of riders, custom seats can be tailored to fit your specific body dimensions and riding position, making your ride much more comfortable in the long run.

6. Engine Tuning

Engine tuning is a comprehensive customization process aimed at optimizing the performance, power delivery, and efficiency of your motorcycle's engine. One of the primary goals of engine tuning is to increase the power output of your bike. By optimizing fuel delivery and ignition timing, you can maximize combustion efficiency with this upgrade and extract more power from the engine, resulting in improved acceleration and top speed.

Engine tuning can also improve fuel efficiency by optimizing fuel delivery and air-fuel mixture ratios. By achieving more efficient combustion, you can reduce fuel consumption and extend your motorcycle's range on a full tank of gas. 

7. Camshaft Upgrade

A camshaft upgrade is a significant performance modification that can have a notable impact on the power and torque characteristics of your motorcycle's engine. A performance camshaft can also enhance throttle response by providing more precise control over the intake and exhaust valves, making your motorcycle feel more responsive and lively, particularly during acceleration.

Depending on the specific camshaft profile, the power delivery characteristics of the motorcycle may change. For example, a camshaft upgrade may shift the power band to higher RPM ranges, providing more top-end power but potentially sacrificing low-end torque. Make sure a camshaft upgrade is compatible with your riding style before leaning into this upgrade.

8. Custom Wheels and Tyres

Custom wheels and tyres are a popular customization option for motorcycle enthusiasts looking to enhance the appearance, performance, and handling of their bikes. Upgrading to custom wheels and tires can dramatically change the look of your motorcycle, giving it a unique and personalized appearance. Custom wheels are available in a variety of styles, finishes, and sizes, so you can truly get creative with this type of upgrade.

Custom wheels and tyres can also improve your bike’s performance and handling. Lightweight forged wheels, for example, reduce unsprung weight, which can result in better acceleration, braking, and handling characteristics. Upgraded tires with advanced rubber compounds and tread patterns can provide better grip, traction, and stability, especially in wet or challenging road conditions.

9. Lighting Upgrades

Upgrading the lighting system can significantly improve visibility for you as the rider and for others on the road. Brighter headlights, LED bulbs, and auxiliary lights can enhance visibility in low-light conditions, increasing your safety and reducing the risk of accidents. LED turn signals, brake lights, and running lights also make your bike more noticeable.

Lighting upgrades can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your motorcycle. Custom LED accent lights, underglow kits, and illuminated logos can add a unique and personalized touch to your bike, especially at night. Some jurisdictions have restrictions on the colour, brightness, and placement of aftermarket lights, so you should research and adhere to applicable laws before making any lighting modifications.

10. Big Bore Kits and Other Engine Options

Many riders complete the above list over a number of years and still find themselves wanting more. While you can get more by selling your motorcycle and starting over, a more cost-effective solution is to build up the engine you already have! A big bore kit can increase your cubic inches and thus improve your performance by swapping out your stock cylinders and pistons for oversized options. You can also change out the flywheel with a stroker kit to get some more power out of it. 

The “final stage” for many that reach this point is to completely replace the engine with an aftermarket option, such as our V111, T124, or new MK136. This offers the best of all worlds: You can keep the bike you’ve built to fit yourself, get more horsepower and torque out of it, and get the entire engine covered by a manufacturer's warranty. 

Thanks S&S for a great summary of ways to customize your motorbike. You can read the full article here: 10 of the Best Ways to Customize Your Motorcycle