BCF's opinions on modding your bike

[J0Al1]

There is something to be said for 'all the gear, no idea', which is true in many sports. A generalisation of course.

[Albigularis]

[Vracktal]

Most of my mods to the BMW are 'tall person' extras- flat track bars so my arms are less cramped, relocated rearsets, USB + 12v charger etc. Also changed the colour on a few parts like the pannier rack and rear tail piece (silver > black). Also put a homemade exhaust on with a hacked together baffle to get rid of the boxer engine weedy buzz sound.

On the KLE it's a bit more extensive, got a screen I found at a scrapyard fitted, different sprockets to lower motorway RPMs, engine from a newer bike, crash bars from an ER5, extra running lights, homemade touring seat, heated grips. Next mod will be supermoto wheels as I don't really go offroading anymore.

Personally I think modding your bike is a good way to get it more suited to your riding style, as long as you don't assume any of them add value and are prepared to have to put it all back to stock when you sell it.
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2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[J0Al1]

I put frame sliders (which paid off) and a sticker on my last R6.
The sticker was to cover a crack on the screen before I sold it.

[Snop Doog]

I'm all in for modding. With my CBF 125 I have already got new mirrors. The next mod will hopefully be a Scorpion exhaust. But because it's only a CBF I'll stop the mods there

I'll probably go the same minimal route with my A2 bike. But if that A2 bike is an SV650 then I plan on getting angel eyes for it.

Whatever my full licence bike will be, R.I.P anything stock.

[notbike]

[wr6133]

[Albigularis]

[wr6133]

[The Tot]

I'm more of an OEM+ man myself. I'd like to keep my vehicles largely stock, but I typically mod mine to improve ergonomics and day to day usable performance.

So the R1 has

Double Bubble Screen - standard screen was way too low for motorway cruising, causing no end of buffeting.

Shorty levers - The ergonomic shape of the levers gives be better feedback and control over stock.

R&G crash bungs - Wafer_thin_ham can vouch how useful they were on the R1!

HID headlights - I don't want to open a can of worms here, but I have them on because the roads around here are pitch black, very twisty and very hilly.

Performance & Aesthetics

Yoshimura Carbon Slash Cuts - Because they were going for a really cheap price

Akrapovic Carbon Exhaust Heat Shield - They came with the used yoshis, so I weren't complaining!

Power Commander III - Sort out the surging and hunting at low revs.

Tail Tidy - Just to clean up the look of the already sexy rear end.

Rear Seat Cowl - Gives me another fag-packet's worth of storage space under the seat - Handy for a wallet!

And that's about it really. I was going to go down the route of the LED indicators, but the OEM jobbies are a nice enough size, very bright and very noticeable. I think Yamaha are pretty good at making indicators a reasonable shape and size (Honda, Take Note!). One less excuse for a SMIDSY.

From a distance, I want people to think that it's a standard bike, but then small details will draw them in. Same principle with my car. 35mm drop for better feedback on braking and cornering, and a modest 17" set of JDM alloys to complete the look.

OEM+ is the way - no anodized tat! Anybody would guess they're standard!

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/10984578_10153162075555712_1312730729010714521_o.jpg
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The Tot 2007 Yamaha R1 4C8 2002 Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer &
www.youtube.com/Titot182 for your bike gear reviews and pop punk covers
Earl Of Easycore Pop Punk Will Never Die!

[Commuter_Tim]

[stevo as b4]

Got no problem with anyone modding anything really!

I'd just say that I learned a long time ago, but only as you can from wasting £££'s and ££££'s that if you want to modify something for power and performance gains, then it's best to start with something that's more than capable enough for your needs, as you can't be disappointed then.

Put a £300 exhaust on your CBF125 and it will just be loud and you'll go meh! very quickly. But put a new system on a 198bhp ZZR1400, and though you might not notice the extra 10-15bhp? your never going to be disappointed with the performance are you?

I also have this weird thing, where I look down on people that buy flash new Hot hatches thinking that they are the bollocks for handling and performance as std out of the box. Yes some cars are supposed to be sublime as std like the Megane RS250, Focus RS etc, but all these std car's with just a few mechanical mods could probably release a lot more potential.

It doesn't need to be a mega hatch either, I mean I bet the Suzuki swift sport driver, or Fiesta Zetec S driver would be having far more fun with a few quid spent on their ride to maximise the engine's and chassis potential maybe?

Some folk don't know or understand modding or that it can be done, or just aren't interested. But I think the Ibiza Cupra owner with a few quid spent on his car, would be having more fun than the M3 owner with a box stock out the showroom and same as all the other M3's example?

The above are not the best examples, but it's the way I think though.

As for bikes, well there's more scope for making them individual and unique/personalised far more easily and cheaply than it is for cars. But if I had a 200x more capable new Fireblade, even though I might not care for engine/exhaust/electronics tuning, id still want my carbon hugger, tiny personalised rear plate, and a dark tinted screen/headlight maybe?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Too many of the aftermarket bits added are very cheap and nasty bits of tat (small indicators being the worst for that). Quite difficult to really improve a decent standard bike without making things worse in other areas.

The Bandit has been modified. Probably spent more modding it than the bike was worth at the time. Hell of a lot more power than standard but still looks relatively standard (I have some CNC machined engine outer covers which look nice, but too obvious so still sat in their packets). But it ways it is worse than standard. Rediculously heavy clutch and throttle, noisy exhaust, fiddly choke (slide carbs), etc.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Tungtvann]

Cans because the originals sounded shit. Tail tidy because the old one was acting as a wind break. That's about it, wouldn't do much else to this bike, probably wouldn't do much more to any bike.

Obviously doesn't bother me what people do to theirs, some things are a bit silly though. Spending thousands on a bike which isn't worth that much seems a little pointless, but if I buy a bike that has got some decent mods already, bonus for me I guess, but I wouldn't pay loads more for one.

[pdg]

I'm not entirely sure what's going on here - whether it's a "should I modify my bike?", or if it's more along the lines of "will people take the piss if I modify my bike?"

Either way, it's your bike so do what you want to it. As has been said, you will never ever recoup the costs if you ever come to sell it, but people who buy a bike with an eye on resale value are plain stupid anyway...............

To over 99% of the population, a modified bike is as much 'a bike' as the factory fresh completely stock example. It's only other bikists that might spot something different.

My bike is a bit modified, and there are some more modifications 'coming soon' - I'd bet that even most other bikists couldn't spot them without me pointing at them, then explaining what is different. It's not that they are particularly minor, it's more that "nobody" knows how mine is supposed to be standard anyway. I don't care if it might or might not affect the 'value' either way, I'm very unlikely to sell it.

The vast majority of things listed so far in this thread aren't really 'mods' in my eyes either (I'd never make it in insurance) - so you fitted a different screen and a rear mudguard? Whoop. Same goes for heated grips, 'fender extenders', stickers, etc. etc. It's all just swapping bolt-on bits really.

Also, as far as weight-saving-to-improve-performance goes - I can save you thousands in carbon, aluminium and titanium with one piece of advice. Force out a decent crap before you for a ride, there you go, saved a kilo in weight.
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[finniee]

Over the next few weeks pay dependent as well as some personal things that need paid for, I plan to :

Add led lights to improve seeing in the dark as most of my riding is done at night.
Possibly a brighter light behind the dials.

Crash bungs have been sorted.

Wanted to add a aftermarket can such as a scorpion, but I cant justify it on a 125.

[Fisty]

Why do I mod? Because I can, I get a perverse pleasure from making something better than it left the factory. Yes Suzuki designed this bike but the did it to a budget and to certain regulations. Now it is in my hands I can do as I please with it.
I like to make my bikes handle better and if needed add more power. It's almost like a challenge, can I make this bike better than something newer for less money? Of course I fucking can.

My TL1000R so far has......
Full Yoshimura system
Ohlins rear shock
Standard forks rebuilt with ohlins internals and nitride coating
K&N Air filter
Power commander 3 & dyno time
1080cc big bore
Carillo H section con rods
Yoshimura Cams
Titanium valves
Lighter Valve springs
Lightened and balanced crank
Ported and polished heads
Undercut and superfinished gearbox
Barnett clutch
Nissin 6 pot calipers
Galfer wavey discs
Scotts steering damper
Brembo brake pads
Brembo 19x20 radial master cylinder
PT Radial clutch master cylinder
Gilles rearsets
Double bubble screen
Earls braided hoses
Renthall Chain and sprockets
Modified airbox
Harris carbon front mudguard and hugger

I love it and will continue throwing cash at it until I buy a Busa. Pic is before some of the mods. It is not to everyones tastes but I am proud of it.
ALL of the engine work I have done myself, and spent may hours scouring breakers/ebay for parts to make it my own.

It may be a TL, but it is MY TL.

Pic before some of the mods have been fitted.

https://i.imgur.com/iO44Fv5.jpg
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[G]

[Fisty]

[G]

Well, I hadn't formed an opinion until you wrote that, which suggests to me the answer is "more than I could have bought a better bike for" .

[Musketeer]

When I buy bikes I avoid modified ones.
The only mods I woyld consider are: exhaust, braided brake hoses (but must remain black), lighter chain and sprockets, some form of crash protection.
I don't fancy any engine modifications (valves, valve springs etc.), anodised tat, stickers everywhere, tatty paint, knackered fairings, streetfighers, etc. unless I'm after a very cheap,repairable track bike potential.
If somebody sells a bike with db screen or anodised crap then I expect to pay less for the bike unless the original parts come with it as well.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[MCN.]

[Fisty]

[MarJay]

I have modified my Street Triple. R and G crash protectors and an Arrow full system. The arrow was second hand and very cheap, and the R and G's appear to be strong and may protect my bike in a low speed spill.

I doubt I could have bought a better standard bike for the same money. Some bikes beg to be modified, such as Buells which are awesome in many ways and dire in others. The clutches on both of my previous Buells were so heavy I had to modify them to save my left wrist from extreme pain. Also I fitted adjustable belt tensioners to extend the life of the belt.

None of those things were particularly done for performance reasons, more for usability and practicality reasons. Even the arrow exhaust is a whopping 7kg lighter than the standard system on the Street Triple. I'd say that was a better benefit than any bhp or noise gain.

Although it does sound awesome.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

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