Motorcycle modification is a touchy subject and almost all bikers at some point think of modifying the looks, performance, ergonomics etc. of their motorcycles.

Naturally I have gone through the similar phase, though I did managed to resist the temptation of doing any major modifications, I have done several minor ones like getting a dual sports tyre, powerful headlight, spot lamp for even more illumination and several internal component upgrades.

After having done these and seeing some of my friends do even more modifications, I have come to the conclusion that in majority of the cases, it is best to avoid doing any major modification, here is why:

Majority of the mechanics/modifiers are nincompoop: This is the single biggest thing to keep in mind, while thinking of modifying your motorcycle. While majority of the mechanics claim they know about motorcycles and know how to modify them, the fact is, a vast majority of them don’t know a thing and would end up messing up your motorcycles current setup and in a worse case, even damage a few components.

Aftermarket parts are of bad quality: A vast majority of the after markets parts, especially those meant for motorcycles are of bad quality. This is mainly due to the fact that, these are manufactured by small companies, who neither have the skills to manufacture quality products nor the inclination to think about their reputation and consumers.

OEM parts are the best compromise: While our motorcycle might not be manufactured with the same quality and proficiency as some of their imported cousins, they do offer the best compromise between quality, performance, durability and cost. Add to this, they are tested rigorously by motorcycle manufacturers to ensure they do their intended job efficiently and work in harmony with each other.

Performance modifications are actually bad for performance: As strange as it may sound, majority of the off the shelf motorcycle modifications available in the market, actually reduce the overall efficiency and performance of your motorcycle engine! Take for instance free flow exhausts and filters, if one does not do proper jetting and tuning with them (majority don’t), they actually make the engine lean. This can lead to slower pickup, reduction in top end, damage to valves and carburetor and overall decrease in engine efficiency.

Modifications = no warranty: While it may come as a shock to some, majority of the motorcycle manufacturers will not honor your motorcycle’s warranty if it is modified. This is given in their terms of service (usually present in your motorcycle’s user manual) and usually they are pretty strict about it, since instead of fixing your bike for free, they can give you a large bill for it.

So if you value your motorcycle and intend to keep it for a few years to come, don’t modify it unnecessarily!