Give your motorcycle the custom look.
Customizing motorcycles has been taken to a whole new level! From sport bikes to cruisers, motorcycles of all sizes and makes are being customized so the bike stands out on a road full of stock motorcycles. Customizations on crotch rocket motorcycles is big business and the changes you make to your motorcycle can be as small as changing the cushion in the seat to as big as a complete front-to-back make over. The possibilities are endless!
It used to be a new single-color paint job could separate you from the stock motorcycles in your group but now a single-color paint job is just the beginning. Custom motorcycle painters face the intricate tasks of laying flames in not only traditional fashion, but the new wave of tribal and real flames as well - not an easy task if you do it old school.
You can alway use this trick as a way to add more color and graphics. Try removing the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) decals and replace them with painted decals or have them painted on by hand. now this is really a nice trick look to add to your motorcycle! But the ultimate show stopper is to consider a theme for your motorcycle, which could be any of a vast number of categories: super heroes, sports, demons, fictional characters, etc.
Now that the shell is done you are only getting started with your new look custom motorcycle! If there isn't any chrome or metal polished on your motorcycle, it's time to step into the real world of customizing. Frame, swing arm, forks, triple trees, radiator, engine covers, calipers, rotors and rims can all be chrome-plated or polished.
Keep in mind these are just the big components - there are still the engine components, kick stand, foot peg assemblies, undercarriage components, and don't forget all the nuts and bolts that can stick out like a sore thumb if left unfinished.
If that's too much chrome, perhaps a little splash of color would be better. That’s where powder coating comes in. This unique process offers nearly any color imaginable, so you’re guaranteed to find a color to match your particular motorcycle tastes and scheme.
Next, is the noise exiting the exhaust not what you wanted to hear? If not, that can be changed. Aftermarket motorcycle exhaust systems are one of the most popular custom up-grades most riders make, plus a good performance exhaust system will dramatically increase the bike's horsepower and you will love the throaty sound. And your motorcycle will see an increase in gas mileage. the number and styles available are huge for most street motorcycles including dual exhaust, straight pipes and single-sided exhausts. Any one of these choices can suite your style of bike.
Along with changing the sound of the bike, speed and performance can also be tinkered with. There is always a need for more speed! Fuel remapping (to enhance the fuel for more horsepower) can be installed on the bike, which gives it a little extra boost of power without any major motor work. Having the bike dyno-tested after the fuel remapping equipment is installed will also help program specific settings for the bike.
If this isn't enough horsepower, installing a supercharger or a turbo can definitely speed things up. Other choices could include boring out the cylinders in the block or installing NOS (Nitrous Oxide System) on the bike. Imagine pressing a button and a 150 shot of NOS shoots into your GSXR 1300, allowing the bike to soar down a quarter-mile drag strip in under eight seconds, with or without YOU on the bike so hang on to that sucka!
Most motorcycle owners have also taken an interest in the wide range of new technology either available for your motorcycle or it can be adapted for use on your bike. Unfortunately, motorcycles do get stolen, so alarm systems are quite common now. LED lights, video cams, communication gear and pods are also the "in" thing to have on a bike. The LED lights come in a variety of colors or single-color pods. Now, on to the extreme technology: televisions, game systems and radios are being installed on motorcycles (but most are for show only).
Fabrication has a role to play in customizing a motorcycle. Fabricating pieces to hold G.P.S. systems and nitrous bottles are important, considering there isn't much room on a bike - not to mention having it be safe while riding.
Swing arms can also be stretched (to add a longer wheel base to the rear), generally from 1 to 8 inches but some have taken it to the extreme of 14 inches. The swing arm can be fabricated to be adjustable, which means having the option to return back to stock length or to whichever length is preferred. Stretching a swing arm helps keep the front end down, preventing "wheelies" or flipping the bike over without the use of "wheelie" bars.
A motorcycle can also be lowered for customization, which means the riding height has been lowered. This is done by removing the stock dog bones (links) under the bike with shorter ones. Dog bones can be adjustable to play with different riding heights; for example, if there is a passenger on the back the bike should be higher, or if the owner wants it slammed as far down as it can go for looks. Sometimes, lowering the bike simply helps the rider touch ground more easily.
The aftermarket world for pimping out your motorcycle is huge. Any style of bike out there has some kind of product that can add or change its appearance. Windscreens, mirrors and tires are just some of the common products that can be purchased, but one particularly important aspect of customizing a motorcycle is the rims. When rims are chosen for a bike, the process should take time and consideration. Aftermarket rims for motorcycles are expensive, but once the decision is made and the right rims are picked, the outcome can be very rewarding.
Customizing a motorcycle to stand out from the crowd is hard work, but it can be satisfying knowing that there isn't another motorcycle out there like it. Any which way you prefer to customize your motorcycle, just remember to make it your own.
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