How to Modify Motorcycles
Well, looks like you have asked yourself “So how the heck do I make this thing go faster?” While this is a very good question, it is one that needs to be approached carefully. The following is some steps you might want to take before you try to push that two wheeled beast a little harder.
The first thing you need to realize is that the manufacturer has already built the bike to its “peak performance”. So for the most part whenever you make a performance upgrade you are actually doing something to the motorcycle that could put more stress on it then the engineer meant for. For example a simple upgrade that a lot of motorcyclists opt for is an exhaust upgrade, while this is actually very harmless it could lead to other problems like to having an incorrect amount of compression or back pressure. Another example is air filters. A lot of guys will get an aftermarket air filter to try and feed their bike a little more air. Remember to ask yourself why would ktm build an air filter that doesn’t give my bike enough air? For the most part the up grader will sacrifice some filter quality for performance and thereby shorten the life of the motor. So before doing anything it’s good to take that into consideration.
Sometimes we motorcyclists get lucky though. Sometimes we will stumble upon small things that are actually better for the motorcycle and only take a few minutes to fix. You have to remember the guys at ktm have to build a bike that can be driven all over the world and sometimes they are not going to take the time to customize each bike to the country it is being driven in. For example I own a 1997 ktm duke 620. It’s a great bike but I noticed it didn’t have the expected power a 620 should have in the bottom end. So I checked on the internet and I found out that ktm put a “weak” carburetor on that motel so it could meet emissions in California. Unfortunately I now have to pay for another different carburetor to unlock that power but at least I know it won’t hurt the bike if I do it. This happens with various models of bikes.
Another thing you might want to do is ask around. Next time you’re cruising into Wal-Mart stop the guy that has the same bike you do and ask him if he has done anything. Another source is the Internet. Generally there are tons of guys out there that have already asked themselves the same question you are. Learn from them, there is no reason to waist the same money and make the same mistakes they have. You can also find a lot cheaper parts when you are asking around. For example I wanted to reject my duke to the altitude I'm living at. While looking around on the forums I realized I could get the jet kit off eBay for half the price it would cost in the store. Small things like that end up adding up in the end. By the way whenever you upgrade your bike make sure you tell everyone else how it went. Chances are some guy is going to be in your shoes soon and he will be very grateful for your incite.
The last thing you have to ask you self is “is it worth it?” You’re going to spend money and time on something that is not technically guaranteed to improve your ride. Take that into consideration but if that’s not a problem for you go for it, because let’s be honest some of us have to have that wheelie at 60 mph power.
