What are your 'must haves'?

[Recluso]

So, thinking about the whole next bike thing.

Looking at the world of accessories and mods and sparkly doo-dads that you can get, it got me to thinking - What are your accessory 'must haves'?

Do you go for safety/preservation like engine guards, radiator covers, crash bungs and the like?

Do you go for comfort/streamlining with screens?

Or do you go for the fun performance enhancers like exhaust kits and your power commanders?

What sort of accessories/bolt-ons would would you consider a waste of time and/or money? Which are those you put on every bike without even stopping to consider?

Boring question I know, but I have to admit, after looking at pages and pages of bits and bobs that you can add on here and there, it really got me wondering as to what could be considered worthwhile additions, and what sort of stuff are really just your fluffy dice equivalents.

Part of me is rather interested in how people pimp themselves out. Another part is also not wanting to get ripped off by thinking I MUST have something. And the rest of me is going SO MUCH STUFF I COULD BUY.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[HD]

I don't like the sound of most* standard exhausts, and the same with grips.

*some do sound okayish though
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[WannaBeDude]

Where u find these doo - dads ?
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Jogging on, destination living.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Previously, I'd add an alarm and upgrade the horn as soon as I got a bike, but the only mods I've made to the CB are handlebar risers with an old watch velcroed to it and a short lived screen that I had for about a fortnight before a blind bitch reversed over the bike.

Still mulling over whether to sell it or not, if I don't I may add a small screen again.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Muscle Bike Rider]

For me, heated grips and a wing rack for my top box and panniers are a must otherwise I end up buying them afterwards anyway apart from that nothing really, I like to try the origonal screen and if its no good swap it out for a taller touring screen. Engine bars or crash bungs I always consider but then think its better all round if I'm just careful and dont bin it
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[keggyhander]

Motobatt battery and a stebel horn.

[neil.]

I like the practical stuff that makes a difference - luggage (top box), screen, bar muffs, an alarm, sat nav, fork gaiters and a helmet cam for insurance purposes.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[jimbothe]

Two wheels and an engine are a good start at 'must haves'.

Seriously, never really bothered wth them in the last few years. I like grumbly throaty cans that look standard so I suppose you could class that as a must have.

R&G's 'just in case'.

Decent tyres. Maybe not what you would class as an accessory but if you had good rubber on there but a crap brand and changed them for a good brand then I guess you could call it an accessory....

I used to go in for mini arrow indicators and tail tidys etc but apart from a lot of hassle fitting them and a huge loss when I sold my bikes, it didn't really improve my life.
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[WannaBeDude]

Everything ! - but try no to fall into the OTT look.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[Ayrton]

The only thing i like to have are heated handgrips and maybe a screen.

[Peirre oBollox]

[gorillaonabik...]

Gotta have heated grips, 12v socket for the satnav (how did I get by without it, it's a revelation), fly screen, tank pad, maybe a noisy exhaust (but not too noisy) and in the future I want a little back rest for the passenger, touring luggage and an upgraded seat.

The one thing I absolutely wouldn't have are muffs. Unless maybe if they were attached to Suzy Perry and Kylie...
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[J.M.]

Currently making myself a waterproof phone charger (which can be plugged in/unplugged easily, whilst remaining waterproof) and fitting it to the bike. Phone has GPS but a crap battery, so this solves that issue.

Just fitted an alarm with remote start, too.

I now know how to wire a relay.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Reid]

Phillips X-Treme headlight bulbs are the only mod I couldn't live without. They make such a difference at night I feel almost blind with standard bulbs.

[kawakid]

For me I would always

Change the horn
Crash bars or mushrooms
Heated Grips
Pazzo levers or ebay copies, I can't stand the standard ones.
If there's no hugger then thats a fairly first week must also.

Oh on any bike used for commuting I would uprate the bulbs.


That's about it.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Suntan Sid]

Nothing exciting, but whatever bike I buy, always seems to be lacking in the dust cap department, , so I always end up having to buy replacement ally ones!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[lllN30lll]

Carbon, and f*cking lots of it

[Ericck]

Never used to bother much with accessories or mods but have added a noisy can to my last few bikes, so even the blind cagers know I'm coming
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[lllN30lll]

[Ericck]

[_Troy_]

I had a list of things I was going to do to my new bike, but luckily it came with them all. It has a nice exhaust on there, a double bubble screen and some crash bungs. Those were to be my must haves, but I've also added an alarm.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[bikertomm]

Firstly, I think I'll only ever really modify a bike if I'm happy with it and want it long term or forever.

My list would be as follows;

Tail tidy
Exhaust
Mirrors
(Grips and maybe hand guards)
Possibly even HID's or better bulbs.

That'd see me happy!


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[ajbsmirnoff]

My next mod is to be a sticker from the BCF range. I'm particularly taken with the organ donor and nobcat ones.

Heated grips and a chain oiler on my commuting ninja were pretty good add-ons. Now that I've overbalanced at a T junction and had to lay the bike on its side......putting a slight scratch in the crash bung rather than the fairing.......I'd say crash bungs are a must.

[drew86]

I bought a a new YBR last year and kept it totally standard. mainly because I knew I'd only keep it for a year or so. However, having riden a 'naked bike' for only 1000 miles, i'd certainly recommend at least a small screen to deflect wind from your face. My next bike i'll be keeping for a lot longer so will look for a new exhaust, some crash bung things, some luggage/back box maybe. and if the seat isn't comfy i'll invest in a comfortable seat too.

I'm not really into the whole go faster stripes, LED extras, stickers etc... it tends to look a bit cheap and trashy imo. I do like the matt black/powder coated 'streetfighter' look though.

Hope my humble opinion helps!

[EXC-Rider]

Exhaust
K&N air filter
possibly handle bars
and mushrooms

thats one mods i do when i get a bike but will add more if i fill i need them
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
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