Performance upgrades your motorcycle needs
Motorcycle performance upgrades can make a tremendous difference in how your motorcycle handles and performs on the road. It’s important to note that performance upgrades are considerably different from regular comfort modifications like stiffening the suspension or adding aux lights. Performance upgrades entail upgrading the engine or engine components, modifying the exhaust and air system, upgrading the chain and tyres and the braking system. These upgrades assist in achieving and enhancing maximum performance from your motorcycle. Read through this article to find out how you can improve your bike’s performance with some simple modifications.
Before making any upgrades on your motorcycle, you should read through the owner’s manual to make sure you’re in compliance with all safety requirements and warranty policies. You should also consult with a mechanic or other expert to find out if the upgrades are right for you and your bike. When you’re ready to get started, there are a few things you can do to improve your bike’s performance which we’ve listed out for you.
Air filters are probably the easiest and most affordable upgrade you can do on your motorcycle. With just a few screws undone, you can swap your stock filter for an aftermarket one. Think of these filters as the lungs of your motorcycle, if you restrict the air intake, it directly results in lower performance due to lack of air which results in incomplete combustion of fuel.
Some of the best air filters for bikes in the market today are K&N and BMC air filters. Our expert riders claim that BMC air filters have the correct mesh density for India in contrast to other filters, which means a longer service life. An added benefit of these aftermarket filters is that they are reusable, which theoretically means they’ll last the entire life of the motorcycle if serviced and maintained well.
Irrespective if you’re riding a modern Italian, Japanese or German motorcycle, it’s going to be saddled with a heavy unattractive silencer that’s intended to meet the emission and sound norms of your country. So you might be wondering why you would want to change the exhaust on your bike? Well, to put it simply, for more power. The OEM exhaust system on your bike is not free flowing causing a slow flow of exhaust gases which reduces power by a considerable amount. To simplify, think of it as covering your nose while you try to exhale your breath. By bolting on a full system or even a slip-on exhaust, you’re assisting your bike to get rid of the exhaust gases quicker.
Our expert riders claim that the best exhaust systems for bikes are Akrapovic, SC project, Arrow, Hp Corse, Two brothers and Red Rooster Performance. These exhausts not only purge exhaust gases quicker but are lighter and quite attractive. Additionally from our experience, these aftermarket exhausts make it a lot safer to ride in cities since pedestrians and other motorcyclists can hear the bike approaching.
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- Engine Management Systems
On modern-day motorcycles, flashing the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) or adding a Piggyback Power Commander module are the two ways you can alter your bike’s fuel and air composition. This customised ratio results in more power and crisper throttle response. In simple terms, doing this adjusts the parameters of your bike that unlocks all the potential of your motorcycle that was previously locked due to government restrictions, liability and reliability concerns on the part of the manufacturer. We’ll be diving into the differences between flashing and Piggyback modules in a later article.Â
In our experience, DynoJet and PowerTronics are the biggest names for Piggyback Power Commander. PowerTronics generally come installed with 2 set configurations (maps) that you can pick from. You can also create your own personalised map or download one from the internet that another user has created.
- Brakes
If you really want to improve your bike’s performance then you should consider upgrading your motorcycle’s braking system. If you’re planning on heading to the track or making a long touring plan then you should probably think of switching to steel braided lines if your bike comes with the rubber lines. And swapping with organic or metallic brake pads at the front and rear. We’ll explain the brake system a lot more in-depth in our upcoming articles.
Brake pad manufacturers like Galfer, CL brakes, SBS and Pro Spec offer the best value for money in our experience. With just a few of these upgrades, you can significantly improve your bike’s responsiveness which not only makes your ride safer but also quicker into the turn and on the exit.Â
Conclusion
It’s important to note that performance upgrades have to be done in connection with each other to achieve the desired performance results, otherwise you’d be leaving power on the table, unutilised. This simply means, only upgrading to a full system exhaust will not increase power dramatically. The advised method would be to upgrade your air filter, add a piggyback ECU and then add the full system exhaust (Slip-on exhausts do not require any ECU modification). A better fuel-to-air ratio in sync with an exhaust system ensures better power and performance.Â
How to buy Performance Upgrades for your Motorcycle on Custom Elements?
If you’re looking to unlock your bike’s full potential and get a competitive advantage over other bikes, it might be a good idea to buy yourself some top-class performance upgrades from a reputed online marketplace like Custom Elements. You can find a wide selection of elements that you can pick from top manufacturers ranging from PowerTronic ECUs to BMC air filters and even the best exhaust systems for bike from Akrapovic, SC project. There are also a couple of search filters that you can use to narrow your search. Once you find the right product, proceed to check out.
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Disclaimer: The views & opinions put forward in this blog are purely from a personal perspective of the author & do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever.
