Aftermarket Kit

[vt6]

Main topic question really..Is it worth spending on aftermarket stuff for a road bike? Mainly things like upgraded pads, discs, braided hoses just little bits and bobs. Or is the stuff on modern sports bikes more than enough for an average joe?

Opinions?

[robbieguy2003]

I think most people replace it as stuff breaks/needs to be replaced rather than tricking it all up straight from the shop.

Guess for most riding you won't notice it that much, if you're pushing to the edge on the road all the time then you'll either come off or you aren't really pushing to the edge.

The gear on a standard sports bike is always good but people have said before, it's all made to a budget and as such its rarely a money is no object project. Manufacturers also have to meet strict emmission and safety standards - the requirements/constraints put on aftermarket manufacturers are normally much slimmer - race exhausts for instance.

Guess it depends on your preference for keeping it original or tricking it up.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Thom]

i like a bike to be my own so tinker with it, but i also do it for comfort, styling, performance, or because im always on a tight budget.

For example my gs500, because i couldnt afforda sports bike i cafe racered it. lowered and stiffened the front forks, fitted clip ons, altered the seat, etc etc
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Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[G]

The 675 suggests that often it is worth it; it comes with braided pads, trackday tyres and the like.

As far as bikes in the last five years or so, I don't think it's really needed.

Most modern sports bikes will lift the rear wheel at 150mph and more; you don't really need more than that!

The only bit that often can make a decent difference is suspension I reckon.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Personally I think the only bits that can be improved upon from the factory are tyres, suspension and fitting braided brake lines if the bike's over a few years old. That's it.
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