These Are The Best Motorcycle Upgrades For Beginners (2024)

While a motorcycle will get you from A to B just like any other mode of motorized transportation, more often than not riders nonetheless share a special bond with their bikes that simply doesn’t extend to the majority of other vehicle types. And much more so than cars, motorcycles are routinely modified and customized — a fact that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering everything on a motorcycle is out in the open and easy to access (or at worst hidden beneath an easily-removable fairing or cowl like on a modern sportbike). This is compounded by the abundant size of the two-wheeled aftermarket sector, and the relatively small size of motorcycles themselves, meaning parts are smaller as well and require less raw materials.

But with so many different styles of motorcycle and a seemingly endless array of aftermarket brands vying for your business, knowing where to start when upgrading your bike can feel like a bit of an uphill battle. For this reason, we’ve assembled this handy guide to the best beginner’s motorcycle upgrades. So, whether you seek to bolster raw performance, tack on a few convenient amenities, or simply add a dose of style to personalize your ride and make it your own, we’ve got your back.

What Should I Consider When Buying Mods & Upgrades For My Motorcycle?

Because there are so many different types of mods and upgrades for both modern and vintage motorcycles, it can be a little tricky trying to convey the key areas to consider when shopping, however, there are several factors that are largely shared across the board by these parts and components — elements we’ll be breaking down immediately below in this mini guide to what to look for when shopping for moto mods.

Intention: No matter what kind, every motorcycle upgrade or modification should be guided by one or more specific intentions. This includes attempting to make the bike faster, bolstering its handling or stopping abilities, fortifying the thing in the event of a crash or tip-over, or simply aiming to alter or customize its appearance. This is vital because, depending on what you’re aiming to do, there will always be a specific type of mod or upgrade that does it best, and for the best price.

Ease Of Installation: The difficulty level of installing motorcycle upgrades can also massively vary depending on factors such as what tools are required, how many other parts need to be removed first, and where the component or mod is located on the bike. For this guide, we’ve limited our picks to mods and upgrades that can either easily be performed at home by yourself, or mods that can be done professionally at practicality any motorcycle shop for very little money. Either way, you should definitely consider the ease of installation for any mod and review the tools and equipment that will be required. Fortunately, we’re living in the age of the internet so DIY how-to guides and videos are widely available that explain in great detail exactly how many of these components and mods are installed, used, or added.

Materials: Whether it’s riding gear, accessories, or upgrades for your bike, the materials used to craft a product will almost play a massive role in the item’s overall quality, durability, and performance. For this reason it’s imperative to closely review the materials that are used, as well as the construction techniques used to manufacturer said materials. These areas also play major roles in the pricing of an upgrade or mod, marking just one more reason materials and construction technique should be considered when shopping.

Appearance: Motorcycles are relatively easy to personalize and make your own, which is a great reason to consider aesthetic modifications for the bike such as custom paint, aftermarket lighting, graphics kits, or vehicle wraps. Some riders also like the look of a racier bike — an aesthetic that can be achieved through the addition of aftermarket parts like rear-sets and lightweight wheels that not only look the part, but also bolster performance. At the end of the day, there really is no wrong way to customize or modify your bike, so long as you personally like it. We wouldn’t recommend employing any mods that hinder the bike’s performance, but we also know there are plenty of riders that appreciate the look of a superbike with a stretched swing-arm or chopper with a massively-raked fork, so again, by all means do you. For the sake of this guide, however, we’ll be limiting our picks to components and mods that bolster the motorcycle’s performance, protection, or safety.

Price: Like car mods, motorcycle mods vary pretty tremendously in terms of pricing —making this yet another vital area to review when shopping. When checking out this area you’ll want to compare the product’s price to other similar components of the same type as this should provide you with some sense of its value or at least where it stands in the market. We also recommend factoring-in an upgrade or mod’s lifespan, as certain components and parts can last forever, while others need routine replacing — such as upgraded brake and clutch levers versus upgraded tires or brake pads. You should also consider any elements that a mod may be protecting, as several hundreds dollars may sound like a lot for a set of frame sliders, though this price suddenly starts looking a lot more reasonable when you consider how much it would cost to replace the fairings that would otherwise get thrashed if it weren’t for said frame sliders. Lastly, while it can also be tempting to sell off your bike’s stock OEM parts when replacing or upgrading them to help offset the cost of the new mods, we urge you to hold on to them, as the value of a complete, stock bike is almost always going to be much higher than that of a highly-modded one.

For spirited sport riding, you need to lean the bike over quite a bit, and that means relying on your outside knee to hook onto the tank for support (if you’re supporting your weight with your arms through the handlebars in the corners then you’re doing it very wrong). Tank pads increase a rider’s ability to support themselves by improving grip around the tank. Chances are you’ll never see a race bike or a heavily-modified sport bike without these textured skins which are not only incredibly affordable, but also a cinch to install, and remarkably effective at doing their job.

TechSpec Snake Skin Tank Pads

Best Tank Pads: Helping to improve your posture and riding position while in the saddle, the TechSpec Snake Skin Tank Pads are a premium pair of ultra-grippy tank pads that mitigate sliding without damaging leather or textile riding pants or suits. Shaped and cut for specific bike models, these tank pads are also applied using a special adhesive backing that allows them to be removed and repositioned if needed — all without damaging the paint beneath. Featuring the brand’s most aggressive grip pattern to date, these tank pads are also made right here in America.

Compatibility: Model-Specific
Grip Pattern: Snake Skin

High-end lines brake lines are able to deliver superior feel and as a result afford the rider superior feedback — effects that can be amplified by the addition of an aftermarket lever set or master cylinder. Because of the performance benefits they offer, more premium motorcycles often come equipped with steel-braided lines in their stock form. And, while it is absolutely imperative that you install this upgrade correctly as failure to do so presents a major safety hazard, it’s not all that difficult and there are plenty of online resources t walk you through it.

Spiegler Front And Rear Steel-Braided Brake Line Kit

Best Lines: These top-shelf lines feature a 96 wire-tight weave stainless steel braid with a DuPont PTFE Teflon lining and high-grade stainless steel crimp sleeves. Made in the USA and offered with a lifetime warranty, these lines vastly improve feel just as much as they help to mitigate fade — both of which are extremely important. They’re also sold with black, white, or silver lines and colored anodized banjo couplings.

Nothing destroys the look of a sexy new bike more than a horrendous stock license plate hanger setup. Fender eliminator kits delete all that atrocious nonsense and replace it with a minimalistic, street-legal means of hanging a license plate and rear-signals while keeping its aesthetic effect as minimal as possible. This really is one modification every rider should opt for.

Yoshimura Fender Eliminator Kit

Best Fender Eliminator Kit: Yoshimura is a legendary name in the motorcycle racing world. Everything the Japanese outfit produces is of the top-shelf variety, whether it’s the brand’s race-style exhaust systems or its simple bolt-on bits like and this fender eliminator kit. It’s comprised of precision laser-cut stainless steel brackets that mount beneath the tail of a bike and hold the kit’s black-anodized, CNC-machined aluminum license plate frame (which is decorated via a silk-screened Yoshimura logo). A micro-LED light in black-anodized, CNC-machined billet housing (with a laser-etched Yoshimura logo) illuminates the plate, too, keeping things undoubtedly on the up and up with Johnny law.

Compatibility: Universal
Construction: Aluminum
License Plate Light: Yes

Like rear-sets, levers, and tank pads, the seat is a point of contact the rider has with the bike, and therefore upgrading this area can dramatically alter one’s interaction with said bike. Add to that the fact that most stock seats are rather thin and uncomfortable (many baggers and tourers excluded), though upgrading them to a more comfortable seat makes putting long hours in the saddle a much more appealing prospect. Aftermarket seats can also lower (or raise) the seat height, making it a great modification for motorcycles for shorter riders. There are also track and/or performance-focused seats designed to allow for more spirited riding.

Saddlemen SaddleGel Seat Pad

Best Seat Pad: Saddlemen is one of the most trusted names in the aftermarket seat world, rivaled only by the likes of Corbin. Made in the USA and part of the brand’s Gel Channel range, this plush saddle fits atop practically any bike’s existing seat. The cooling gel construction is capped off with a fleece pad cover as well. It’s admittedly not the best-looking mod, but it makes an enormous difference in terms of comfort — especially when in the saddle for long hours.

Sizing: Semi-Universal (S, M, L)
Cushioning: SaddleGel

Without a cup holder or dash to toss your phone on, your options may be limited when it comes to finding somewhere to stash your smartphone while on two-wheels. Whether your phone is paired with a smart helmet or comm system, having easy access to your phone is a major luxury on a motorcycle that every rider should opt for, especially considering the relatively low cost of entry.

Peak Design Motorcycle Bar Mount

Best Smartphone Mount: Capable of being locked into 24 different positions, the Peak Design Motorcycle Bar Mount is a motorcycle-specific handlebar mount system that’s precision-machined from aerospace-grade aluminum before being further fortified via an anodized finish. The mount relies on Peak Design’s magnetically-coupling Slimlink system which provides a ridiculously secure base for your iPhone while still being incredibly easy to quickly remove using just one hand — even when wearing riding gloves. Pieced together using all PVD-coated stainless steel hardware, the mount is equipped with a best-in-class vibration isolator. It is, however, crucial to note that this mount is only compatible with Peak Design’s Everyday Phone cases —which are admittedly fantastic cases. The mount can also be used with any phone case if you install Peak Designs universal adapter piece which is compatible with the bar mount as well as the rest of Peak Design’s ecosystem of Slimlink products.

Construction: Anodized Aluminum
Compatibility: Peak Design Everyday Phone Cases (Or Slimlink Adapter)
Weight: 5.17oz

When aerodynamic winglets first appeared on Ducati’s MotoGP prototype racers in 2015, we knew it was only a matter of time before they started popping up on production models and as available aftermarket upgrades. And sure enough, that’s exactly how things have played out, as there are now numerous downforce-generating aerodynamic winglets and other elements designed as aftermarket upgrades for many of today’s latest and greatest superbikes and supersports.

Puig Downforce Sport Side Spoilers

Best Aero Element: Harnessing the latest advancements in MotoGP technology, the Puig Downforce Sport Side Spoilers are a set of aerodynamic winglets that can place more than 13lbs of additional downforce over the bike’s front axle. Easy to install and not requiring any cutting or drilling, these aero winglets are composed of polymethyl methacrylate acrylic and don’t feature sharp edges. In addition to affording a motorcycle with a bit of exotic flair, this mod also helps bolster the bike’s stability at speed and mitigate front wheel lofting, as well. What’s more, Puig also produces a range of other winglets and aero blades for today’s latest superbikes.

Construction: PMMA Acrylic
Compatibility: Model-Specific

Adding aftermarket brake and clutch levers is a fantastic way to improve your bike — as evidenced by the fact that it’s one of the most commonly-seen mods that riders make. Made from better materials, aftermarket levers are often adjustable and are sometimes offered in a variety of anodized finish options.

ASV C5 Sport Adjustable Levers

Best Brake & Clutch Levers: Like all ASV levers, the adjustable C5 Sport features billet 6061 aluminum construction and a pivoting-folding lever design that allows the levers to fold up out of the way in the event of a crash, saving them from snapping like stock pieces. These levers are mounted using aero-space grade and stainless steel fasteners while the adjustable set-screw is guided using Chromoly steel precision sealed bearings and chrome silicon cantilever springs. Learning to better feel and understand feedback from the bike is crucial to developing one’s riding skills and this upgrade is a wonderful way to accomplish that, making it an ideal modification for beginner motorcycles.

Construction: Aluminum
Adjustable: Yes
Size: Standard Or Shorty

A sad reality is that bikes are heavy and new riders often drop them. We’ve all been there. And even at low speed or while stopped, a tipped over bike is all bad — especially if adorned in full bodywork or decked out in trick aftermarket bits — which is where crash protection comes into play. Various aftermarket outfits sell pieces designed to protect different areas on the bike like the tank, axles/wheels, and frame, just to name a few. This upgrade not only offers peace of mind but is usually a lot cheaper and requires markedly less hassle than replacing broken plastics and turn signals after dropping your two-wheeled pride and joy.

Graves Diamond Frame Sliders

Best Frame Sliders: Made in America, the Graves Diamond Frame Sliders are designed to protect a bike in the event of a crash or tip-over by redirecting forces from the tank or bodywork onto these strategically-positioned sliders. Set on an anodized support bracket that can serve as a backup slider if the main slider is destroyed or eaten away, these frame sliders can also be installed without any cutting or trimming — unlike a great many frame sliders that require drilling out holes in the bike’s bodywork. These items have also been engineered to mitigate catching or flipping during a low-side or slide. Tack on a pair of bar-end caps and a set of swing-arm spools and you’re good to go.

Construction: Aluminum
Compatibility: Model-Specific

More than any other modification, nothing will improve a bike’s performance as much as higher-quality motorcycle tires. Furthermore, you’d be hard-pressed to find another modification at this price point that will afford such a marked change in performance. Thanks to their ability to bolster traction and grip, higher-quality tires will not only vastly improve a bike’s cornering abilities but also instill markedly more confidence in the rider, thereby enabling them to better evolve their riding abilities.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa Tires

Best Tires: Born out of extensive experience in WSBK competition, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa Tires are some of the grippiest scoot shoes money can buy, while still being plenty appropriate for street riding. Thanks to a clever rain-sipes design, and the use of the Italian outfit’s black carbon nanotechnology, the DRC IV’s offer stellar traction, even in wet conditions. Rated for speeds exceeding 168mph, these tubeless moto tires use a multi-compound setup (dual-compound front, triple-compound rear), with sticky racing-slick-style outer walls for optimal grip in the corners, and a harder, more enduring center patch to increase its lifespan. The incredible levels of grip that these tires offer do come at the expense of a shorter lifespan, though it’s an expense that we feel is unquestionably worth the tradeoff.

Road Legal: Yes
Speed Rating: 168+ MPH

Playing with a bike’s gearing allows you to change its acceleration and top speed performance. By increasing acceleration, however, the bike’s top speed will suffer, however they can also be geared to bolster top speed at the expense of low-end acceleration. Because it’s always recommended to change your motorcycle’s chain any time that you’re changing the front and rear sprockets, we’ve opted for a bundled kit that included all of these components. .

Vortex V3 SSA Chain And Sprocket Kit

Best Sprocket & Chain Set: Before diving headfirst into modifying your motorcycle’s gear ratios, it’s typically best to first get your feet wet by installing a normal chain and sprocket. And everything needed to do so is contained within Vortex Racing’s V3 SSA Chain And Sprocket Kit. Allowing you to keep your bike’s stock gearing, this kit is comprised of an induction-hardened steel front sprocket with drilled holes for weight savings, and a rear sprocket that’s crafted from Vortex’s signature aerospace-grade F5 aluminum before being finished in a black hard-coating. Also included is a black or gold-anodized RX3 or SX3 chain that both offer a tensile strength rating of over 8,000lbs, plus benefit from the use of a tri-glide seal that provides a trio pockets of lubrication in order to cut down on friction and heat buildup. Both lighter and stronger than OEM chain and sprocket sets, this kit also ships with an included rivet-type master link.

Compatibility: Model-Specific
Construction: Aluminum & Induction-Hardened Steel

If you want to make the most of an aftermarket exhaust system — or just the bike’s engine in general — you’re going to want to tune your motorcycle’s electric control unit (more commonly known simply as an “ECU”). This can either be done by a company that specializes in this — or by a particularly knowledge friend — or can be accomplished via the addition of what’s called a piggyback module. These fuel mapping mods enable users to maximize power and performance, maximize fuel efficiency, or strike some balance between the two. It is, however, worth noting that these devices only work on fuel-injected bikes.

Dynojet Power Commander V

Best ECU Tune: What Xerox is to copiers and Kleenex is to tissues, Dynojet is to piggyback modules, being the undisputed leader of this space with its Power Commander V. This USA-made offering allows for up to two dozen separate fuel tables. On top of the ability to flip between two different fuel maps on the fly, this item also lets you select a map allowing for maximum power or maximum fuel economy. Thanks to OEM-style connectors, the installation of this item is also a breeze. Best of all, the Power Commander V is able to link to the Dynojet C3 Mobile App which lets users control and adjust the module using their Apple or Android smartphone. The Dynojet Power Commander V is also compatible with the company’s available quick-shifter — another stellar upgrade we’d recommend considering a little later down the road.

Maps: 24
Custom Mapping: Yes
Smartphone Compatibility: Yes

A great way to improve a stock bike or an older model — be it a sportbike, cruiser, adventure model, dual-sport, or standard — is with new LED lighting. Not only will these parts help you to better see and be seen, but they also straight-up look the business and typically ask less of your bike’s electronics and charging system. Whether it’s a headlight, taillight, auxiliary lights, or turn signals, this is a great way to improve your bike’s appearance while simultaneously injecting some safety and practicality into the mix.

J.W. Speaker 8700 Evolution 2 Dual Burn LED 7″ Headlight

Best Headlight: Widely recognized as one of, if not the most premium aftermarket headlight company in the game, J.W. Speaker makes a variety of top-shelf lights including “active” models that are lean-angle sensitive and look into corners as a bike is leaning/turning. DOT-compliant, made in the USA, and capable of fitting most standard 7” headlight shells, J.W. Speaker’s 8700 Evo Dual Burn LED packs a myriad of high-output LEDs with a 1,260-lumen high beam and a 750-lumen low beam. The part’s “Dual Burn Technology” affords a rider with the best aspects of the high and low beams at the same time.

Max Lumens: 1,260
Compatibility: Model-Specific
DOT Compliant: Yes
Connection: Plug-N-Play H4-Style Connector

Particularly helpful for those residing in cities with rough road — or those looking for more stability at high-speeds — a steering damper is a supplementary suspension component that helps to stabilize the bike’s fork and front-wheel when traversing rough roads or terrain. By smoothing out and stabilizing the bike’s steering, these moto devices also help to reduce rider fatigue as the bike doesn’t need to be muscled or wrestled around to the same extent. Additionally, this is also another component that often comes stock on some of the more high-end performance models currently win production.

Öhlins Steering Damper

Best Steering Damper: Since its inception in 1976, Öhlins has been producing some of the world’s finest suspension equipment, so it probably won’t come as a shock to hear that the Swedish suspension specialist’s steering damper is absolutely top-notch. Using identical seals to the one’s found on MotoGP and WSBK racers, the Öhlins Steering Damper is fully adjustable and feature a simple turning knob setup with 18 different settings. From tank slappers to mild head-shake upon corner exiting, this component massively stabilizes the bike’s performance. Comprised of precision-machined components, this item is also sold with all necessary mounting and installation hardware.

Construction: Billet Alloy
Compatibility: Model-Specific

Bikes are incredibly enjoyable and are a stellar means of cramming some fun and adventure into your daily routine, though unfortunately, they don’t afford too much in the way of storage. The good news is plenty of aftermarket manufacturers are well aware of this and offer a wide array of motorcycle backpacks, hard-cases, and tank and tail bags. If you plan on using a motorcycle for more than just the occasional Sunday morning ride, you’ ’re going to want, nay, need some luggage.

Givi Outback 42 Liter Monokey Top Case

Best Hard Luggage: Crafted entirely from aluminum, the Givi Outback 42 Liter Monokey Top Case is an ultra-rugged piece of locking hard moto luggage that offers a generous 42 liters of internal storage space — which is more than enough to fit a full-size helmet while still having plenty of room left over for your gloves, goggles, and other gear.Able to accommodate over 20lbs of kit, this piece of luggage was designed for adventure use and features heavy-duty hardware and rubber bumper guards at all corners. In addition to being produced in black or bare aluminum color options, this top case is also sold with an optional padded backrest for passengers. What’s more, Givi also sells a set of matching 37-liter or 48-liter hard side cases from the same Outback lineup that can collectively afford up to a whopping 138 liters of secure, weatherproof, lockable storage space. Additionally, once you arrive at your destination, this top case also doubles as a solid camp chair or field table.

Capacity: 42L
Construction: Aluminum
Locking: Yes

A proper riding technique is extremely difficult to achieve without the correct sizing/geometry setup. Getting a bike to properly fit your height is crucial to achieving this, and one surefire way of making this happen is to invest in aftermarket rearsets. These are basically knurled, performance-oriented foot-pegs for sport riding. They often are made of high-end materials and offer far more adjustability than stock items. And, on top of improving your riding, they undeniably add a dash of race track-style to your bike.

Rizoma EVO Rearset

Best Rear-Sets: Pretty much everything that Rizoma produces boasts a stunning design, and the brand’s EVO Rearsets are no different. While costlier than many of the competitor’s offerings, these Italian-made controls and CNC-machined from a solid block of aluminum billet before being adorned in Rizoma’s own proprietary anodization treatment. Boasting top-shelf corrosion-resistant hardware and laser-engraved branding, these rear-sets are made in Italy and also come equipped with 360-degree-adjutable, rubber-coated shift and brake pedals. The knurled construction of the set’s footpads provide stellar grip and make it incredibly easy for the rider to move around on the bike while the machined heel-guards help improve proper positioning while also adding a dash of style. While they don’t come cheap, they also don’t come much better than this.

Construction: Billet Aluminum
Compatibility: Model-Specific

Few things will alter the riding characteristics of a bike more than reducing unsprung mass, and it’s hard to think of a better place to start than wheels. You can add an incredible amount of lightness by utilizing aftermarket wheels which will, in turn, improve agility. No matter what style of bike you’ve got in the garage, upgraded wheels will yield astounding results. And, there are tons of fantastic aftermarket wheel options out there for every genre of scoot.

Rotobox Bullet Wheels

Best Wheels: Whether or not you’re an expert on motorcycles, you can simply glance at the Rotobox Bullet Wheels and know you’re looking at something special. Not only do these ultra-thin ten-arm wheels sport a super unique design, but said design has also been brought to life using super lightweight carbon fiber —a construction that allows the front and rear wheels to tip the scales at just 5.99lbs and 6.17lbs, respectively. A true marvel of modern engineering that hugely cuts down on unsprung mass, the Bullet wheels also come equipped with a sprocket with ceramic bearings. Offered in matte, satin, or gloss finishes, these wheels are also sold with a choice of custom-configurable graphics, wheel wraps, valve, and hub color options.

Construction: Carbon Fiber
Compatibility: Model-Specific
Total Weight: 12.16LBs
Bearings: Ceramic

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to bolster a bike’s horsepower and increase its speed and acceleration is to install an aftermarket exhaust system. Slip-on mufflers do provide some benefit, though if you really want to extract maximum power you’ll want a complete exhaust system that includes the header, mid-pipe(s), and muffler(s). Not only do these items add a substantial amount of horsepower and torque, but they also look significantly better than a motorcycle’s stock exhaust — not to mention they sound a whole helluva lot better, too.

Akrapovič Evolution Exhaust System

Best Exhaust System: The flagship offering from what’s unequivocally one of the most respected aftermarket exhaust manufacturers on the planet, the Akrapovič Evolution Exhaust System is a full system that includes titanium headers and mid-pipes that feed into a patented hexagonal muffler with a carbon fiber end-cap. This exhaust weighs substantially less than any OEM system, plus adds a significant amount of power. The thing also looks phenomenal — and sounds even better. It does come at a fairly exorbitant price, though based on the myriad of different ways that it can improve your motorcycles — from how it looks to how it sounds to how much power it makes — we feel it’s an investment that’s pretty easy to justify. This exhaust is also produced for a wide array of different model-specific variants rather than being a universally-fitting design.

Compatibility: Model-Specific
Construction: Titanium & Carbon Fiber