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Valentino Rossi revealed his new crash helmet over the weekend at his home circuit Misano. This latest crash helmet depicts the donkey from the film Shriek on the front with the wording changed from ‘The Doctor’ to ‘The Donkey’ across the back. The new helmet was made after Valentino’s crash at the previous race meeting when he reputedly called himself a donkey!

Irrespective of the new helmet, Rossi made another blistering performance to win at the weekend keeping at the top of the championship leader board. Whilst bespoke crash helmets may not be within everyone’s budget Yamaha have launched a new range of ultra-safe accessories including reflective aprons which have been designed to fit the most popular Yamaha models.

The new aprons have been developed and tested using Yamaha’s custom ‘Stability System’. The new features include seat cover, water resistant pockets and easy key entry along with a fleeced lining to give riders insulation during the winter months. Scooter riders are also able to fit newly designed aprons to their X-Max 125/250 as well as Neo’s 50 four stroke models.

With the number of people switching from four wheels to two in order to cut back on their motoring costs will welcome the possibility of keeping warmer and drier, particularly those using motorcycles to commute.

To further increase safety for motorbike riders, the road safety minister Paul Clark published new ratings for motorcycle helmets at the end of August this year. A further twenty five helmets have been rated by the Department for Transports Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating programme, which means the total number of ratings published, has risen to 150.

Safety aspects are also recognised by insurance companies, however, their focus is mainly for the bike’s security rather than the riders. Although modern motorcycle models all have security systems, by adding approved Thatcham security measures riders are offered discounts by insurers. With a bike being stolen at a rate of one every thirteen seconds in the UK, insurance companies are urging riders to have as many deterrents as they can in order to reduce the number of thefts.

The most effective security measures are considered to be those which openly show passing opportunist thieves they will not be able to simply walk away with a parked bike. One of the biggest problems appears to be with riders of scooters and lower cc bikes, many of which do not have any further security added to them. The simplicity of either pushing a bike away or more commonly picking bikes up and putting them in the back of vans by thieves are easy pickings when scooters or bikes which have no anti theft deterrents.

There are a whole range of security measures riders can take to reduce their motorcycle adding to the list of stolen machines. Enhanced alarm systems can be beneficial if motorcycles are parked in public places, however will be of little affect is the bike is parked in a remote area with few passersby to take any notice of any disturbance from alarms going off. The problem appears to stem partly because the most affordable or free parking places are typically in remote areas which do not have many members of the public to listen to watch for potential thefts.

Identification marking is also being encouraged in order to help return those bikes which are recovered being returned to the rightful owner. Heavy duty chains and trackers are also being recommended by motorcycle insurance companies to reduce the number of thefts and insurance claims made.

If you’re looking for a quote on motorcycle insurance visit Swinton.

British bike manufacturer Triumph weathered the last recession and have now been declared the world’s fasted growing motorbike manufacturer. Which certainly makes welcome news to all those involved with the continuing success of this iconic name within the motorcycling world.

Their sales have grown across the board with 22% of the 50,000 sales going across the pond to the USA.

All though there appears to be gaps within the size range of bikes triumph offer, for now they are focusing on bridging the gap between their 865cc Speedmaster and the enormous 2.3 litre Rocket III. Statistics show that 50% of cruisers have engines which range in size between 1400 and 1700cc as such it is not surprising that Triumph have concentrated on entering this niche of the market by launching the latest Thunderbird.

In order not to become just another attempt at cloning the king of the cruisers the Harley Davidson, Triumph have stuck with the British tradition of parallel twins. The Thunderbird is of course a parallel twin which is liquid cooled. This massive 1597cc cruiser has been specifically designed for Thunderbird owners to customise their bikes with leather saddlebags, polished chrome and stylised foot-pegs. There are over one hundred different accessories available to make each bike as unique and personalised as its owner.

To add to the number of innovative features this bike has to offer Triumph are claiming that it is 20% more fuel efficient than most other cruisers which fits in very neatly with new consumer demands.

Of course the price tag is of little consequence to those who ride this remarkable machine and as it has been designed specifically for customising owners are not going to really worry too much about the cost of insuring their bike.

Any modifications or customisation made will have to be declared to the insurance companies, however those who offer specialised tailor made policies will be very aware that the schedule may have to be constantly upgraded as more and more modifications are made. Many of the modifications made may be offset by the maturity of the riders who will no doubt have years of experience and the vast majority will have a no claims bonus accrued in their favour.

These machines are more than toys for boys, as such the owners will be amongst the most cautious and security conscious bikers on the road. There is no way any serious biker is going to let their precious machine out of their sight and will almost certainly have alarms and mobilises, as well as identification marking which will all help to lower the insurance costs.

With the attention this bike will no doubt draw when it is parked up should be enough to deter any opportunist casual thief, however on the other the end of the scale to ’steal to order’ thieves will be on the look out for anyone who becomes complacent about security for a split second.

Before taking ownership of a bike ensure you sourced a reputable Triumph motorbike insurance company so that you are covered as soon as you receive the bike of your dreams, whether its the latest Thunderbird or a Bonnie.

If you’re looking for a quote on Triumph motorbike insurance visit Swinton.

Arai has been offering amongst the best motorcycle helmets in the market for the past 5 years. This is according to J.D. Power and Associates, which also claimed that Arai helmets have been providing customers with the highest satisfaction when it comes to the overall quality of motorcycle helmets for 5 straight years.

Arai has also been revered as the only helmet manufacturer in the market that offers both 1 and 2-piece dirt motorcycle helmet models. In addition, Arai discount motorcycle helmets have been dominating the top racing tournaments according to popular statistics. These quality helmets can usually be found on most popular parts and accessories sites for a cheap price compared to your local dealer.

These are amongst the latest Arai helmets in the market:

Arai RX7 Corsair FF Solid Helmet: This helmet is considered as a top of the line product from Arai that incorporates the latest technology when it comes to motorcycle helmet development.

The 2005 Arai RX7 Corsair motorcycle helmet boasts a Dry Cool lining material encased in the innovative SNC constructed outer shell on this full-face motorcycle helmet. With a wide array of replicas and designs, this Arai helmet has been amongst the most popular full-face motorcycle helmets to date.

Arai Signet GTR Full Face Solid Helmet: This quality but yet affordable motorcycle helmet was designed to provide sports touring motorcycle riders with a handful of options when it comes to design and comfort.

The Arai Signet GTR full face motorcycle helmet is one of this manufacturers helmets that have withstood the test of time it has continued to be a top pick of motorcycle riders in search for that prime sense of comfort and security that can only be found in an Arai .

Arai s top two competitors in the market place today are Nolan and Suomy. Both of these motorcycle helmet manufacturers are respected in the industry, and this provides motorcycle riders like you a wider range of choices when it comes to cheap motorcycle helmets of the highest quality when you are lucky enough to find these manufacturers products at a discount price rather then having to pay full retail.

Nolan, a began its manufacture of helmets in Bergamo , Italy back in the 1970s, This company since day one started using state-of-the-art materials in order to incorporate optimal quality on its long line of helmets. Today Nolan motorcycle helmets are amongst the best helmets available in the market, and Nolan has plans for continuing its use of innovative technology in order to provide motorcycle riders with quality head gear at half the price of the leading brands in the market.

In fact, Nolan boasts a firm hold on more than 50% of the European market to date. Some of the most popular Nolan discount motorcycle helmets are the Nolan Mimic N-42 N-Com helmets and the Nolan 2007 Cruiser helmets among others. We offer Nolan helmets at a cheap price in our online catalog.

In 1997, Suomy started to produce quality helmets. The company came from a well-known manufacturer of motorcycle accessories, Vigano Accessori, as an initial project that was developed to kick-start its plans of producing quality motorcycle helmets. When Andrea Bartolini won the acclaimed 1999 500cc World Championship while sporting a Suomy motorcycle helmet, this provided Suomy with an instant means of being considered as a reputable name in the motorcycle helmet industry.

Today, Suomy helmets are considered as amongst the best helmets when it comes to helmets currently available, especially for the track. Lots of development technology and quality race designs and replicas are available probably because of Suomy s heavy involvement in racing.

Consistent integration of smooth coating finish and original quality base paints on its motorcycle helmets. Amongst its most popular line of discount motorcycle helmet products are the Suomy Gunwind motorcycle helmet and the Suomy Bostrom Tattoo Spec-1R motorcycle helmet.

For more information on motorcycle helmets by

Suomy,

Arai or

Nolan please visit our online motorcycle parts catalog.

If you love the open road, and want to experience it in the most dynamic and direct way possible, then the chances are, you ride a sport bike. These short wheelbase, lightweight machines offer excellent response to your lightest touch, have a high level of power, and are perfect for riding under almost any conditions.

Their shape makes them handle exceptionally well, and their race evolved engineering makes them an absolute joy to ride when the conditions are right. Having a sport bike will allow you to really get close to the road on tight corners, and enjoy plenty of power for straight line speed wherever you are going, and with their modern brakes, aerodynamic fairings, and wide tires, these bikes have never been safer to ride.

For most owners, the chance to upgrade various aspects of their motorcycle means that there are plenty of sport bike accessories available that will allow you to enjoy a certain amount of customization although most of the after market parts that are available for race derived motorbikes are intended to improve performance, rather than to change the look too much, there are some like custom windshields, huggers to name a few.

One of the most popular sport bike accessories that owners like to add to their machine is a sports exhaust. By opening up the outflow from the engine, the back pressure can be altered in order to get more power and therefore more speed.

A sports exhaust will allow the engine to run at a much higher power level than normally, and this will result in better top end performance, as well as changing the engine sound expect noise from your bike when you install a modified exhaust system! Not to mention stock systems are generally much heavier then a aftermarket exhaust system.

The fairing on a racing style motorcycle protects you from the rushing air, and improves the aerodynamic efficiency of the bike, making it more stable, at speed, and easier to ride at the same time. There are many after market modifications available to bike owners that will improve the look of their bike as well as offering even more wind protection.

There are plenty of cosmetic sport bike accessories available that do little for the performance of your motorcycle, but will make it look fantastic and much racier when you hit the road. Tings like anodized pegs and huggers. Not to mention Carbon fiber bits which are like chrome on cruisers to a sport bike.

From really subtle seat cowls that gently change the look of the rear end of your bike to make it look more like a racer from Moto GP through to smaller license plates to reduce drag at speed, there are numerous mods available from the front to the back of your bike.

A great sport bike accessory that will protect your bike, as well as making it look good is a hugger. These small plastic parts replace the standard rear mud guard with a much shorter version for the rear wheel. When fitted, they will allow you to reduce the weight of your sport bike, and also allow you to get a more stripped down look without compromising on the protection from the elements that a proper mud guard offers your engine.

Most modern sport bikes come with a full fairing that makes them look sleek and protects you from the wind at high speed. One place where the modern fairing typically lets you down in terms of the look is in the clear plastic windscreen that is fitted.

If you want a great looking front end, why not replace the clear plastic windshield with a coloured one. You can choose from a range of colours to make sure you get one that matches the tone of the rest of your bike, or just go for a dark tinted one that will keep the sun out of your eyes at high speed. As well as being a great looking sport bike accessory, a windshield can really improve your enjoyment of riding the bike at all times.

For more information on
motorcycle

sport bike accessories like

Fenders and

Steering Dampers please visit our online motorcycle parts catalog.

There are many ways to improve the looks of your bike. One of the easiest upgrades which usually improves the looks of your bike as well as the comfort of the ride for the rider and passenger alike is to get a new aftermarket motorcycle seat.

There are so many manufacturers of quality aftermarket motor cycle seats one is bound to carry a seat that will fit any American made or metric cruiser as well as sport bikes.

It seems more important to get a new seat or seat cover for a cruiser rather then a sports bike but if you have ever been on a sport bike the riding position is very aggressive so a comfortable motorcycle seat is vital to really enjoy your ride in the long run. Seat covers accessories are readily available for makes like, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati, Aprillia, Benelli, Kawasaki, Harley Davidson, Victory and Honda just to name the motorcycle makers that I can think of.

Another way of improving the comfort of your bike for passengers is to get a sissy bar on your cruiser. This will allow the passenger to have a backrest instead of having to hold on to the rider.

Back rest inserts are also available for seats made by Corbin, Mustang and Sargent for both the rider and the passenger.

Seat covers filled with a gel like material are also another way to improve the comfort of rider and passenger alike. If you do decide to go with a sissy bar for your cruiser I would also recommend a sissy bar pad as another accessory.

You will find that some of your high end exotic bike makers will provide you with a fairly comfortable stock seat however you have to realize that companies like mustang do nothing but make seats so if you really want a quality seat that has been engineered and thoroughly thought thru you will find a company like Corbin, Mustang or Sargent have it down.

Their whole existence as a company revolves around making a quality seat where you motorcycle manufacturers will generally spend their time on engineering a highly tuned motor cycle that is aerodynamic, fast and reliable and not a comfortable seat.

Seat Covers are usually made to re cover your existing motorcycle seat. When you buy a seat cover to re cover your stock bench it will usually come with all the necessary materials to do it yourself. For example Sargent has seat covers available for Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and BMW motor cycles.

Many of their covers are available in a classic or an upgraded version with several color choices for the bead as well as there being a choice on some covers to use a carbon fx vinyl insert. this is a material that is made to look like carbon fiber which is the equivalent of chrome on Harleys to sport bike riders.

So no matter what kind of bike you ride Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW or a nice American made bike like a Victory a seat upgrade is a worthwhile investment in the long term enjoyment of your ride.

For more information on

motorcycle seats and

saddles for bikes please visit our
online motorcycle parts
catalog.

Just like so many industries these days the bike helmet industry is filled with many competitors. Many well established companies are making biker helmets today. Also new quality helmet makers are emerging on the scene.

Scorpion is probably the most notable. This company makes discount motorcycle helmets in a sense. I say this because the quality of the helmet that they produce would usually go for double from any other brand name manufacturer of biker helmet.

They are able to accomplish this by making all of the parts for their bike helmets in house where most of their competition buys all of the pieces that make up a helmet and then assemble them in their factories. By eliminating the middle man Scorpion saves a lot of money and can therefore offer their motorcycle helmets at a much cheaper price then their competitors.

Suomy motorbike helmets are another great quality helmet. These are usually a bit more expensive, however all of their products are made of the highest quality materials available in today’s market. Suomy is very well known in the racing circuit and also makes a lot replica helmets.

So if you want to wear the same helmet that your favorite motorbike racer wears Suomy will likely have a replica for you to purchase. Just to name a few of their replicas in there line you have a Capriossi, Bostrom or a Hodgson replica to choose from. That is just to name a few. Suomy bike helmets are extremely light weight and are therefore very popular. They are all DOT approved.

Many parents these days are taking their kids on the back of the bike which is a great way to get the next generation interested in riding when they get to be of age. In order to have kids on the back you will need to invest in a kids motorcycle helmet in order to assure their safety and to obey the law since all states require kids to have a kids helmet.

Afx makes several nice kids helmets as do a few other makers of helmets. The price of one of these is generally in the $40 to $100 range for a reasonably priced kids helmet.

Nolan another manufacturer makes a wide variety of motorbike helmets for all types of riders. They produce Full face as well as half face helmets. A vintage line is also available. Nolan is probably best known for their modular flip up models which allow you to flip up the entire front of full face helmet therefore making it no problem to take a drink or just popping the lid to get some air without having to take the helmet off and on all the time.

This feature seems trivial but if you are a biker that rides long distances you will quickly learn to appreciate this handy feature. Many other manufactures have also now adopted a modular model in to their product line.

Bell is another maker of fine quality motorbike helmets. They not only make products of this kind for the motorbike industry but also for bicyclist. They truly have a diverse offering of head protection for anything bike related whether it be motorized or powered by your own energy. Bell not wanting to leave anyone on wheels out also offers head gear for BMX and Skate Boarders.

For more information on

motorcycle helmets and

head gear for biker please visit our

online motorcycle parts catalog.

When it comes to comfort when riding a aftermarket bike seat is a must. Motorcycle Seats are produced by a variety of manufacturers. The main ones being Sargent, Corbin and Mustang.

When choosing a motorcycle seat there are really two factors that come in to play. One is definitely the look of the seat on your bike and the other is the comfort level that can be achieved by the upgrade.

Most of your bike seats these days are made of a memory cell foam or some such material that is highly durable. It will actually almost act like a second shock absorber. I upgraded from my stock bench to a Corbin seat and it was a night and day difference.

Corbin Seats use a material called comfort cell foam which is built to be firm so even after hours of riding it wont sink, where your stock bench’s foam would loose firmness within 30 minutes and you would be sitting on the plastic pan that the bike seat is made from.

Sargent seats are either covered with leather or a synthetic material that is made to look like leather.

No matter what you ride Corbin will have a bike seat that is made to fit your bike. Almost all motor cycle manufacturers have a Corbin upgrade that will bolt right on available to them. This goes for cruisers as well as sport bikes alike.

Sargent motorcycle seats also come in a variety of flavors, however their selection tends to lean more towards sport bike owners then cruisers. Sargent also caters to the exotic bike owners.

Seats are available for makers like Aprilla and Ducati. This manufacturer uses a material called super cell foam in their seats which is designed to give incredible comfort even for long distance rides.

Not only does this manufacturer make one hell of a comfortable seat the quality and looks are also part of the package making this one of the premier makers of seats in the world.

Little things like synthetic material that imitates a carbon fiber look or the Italian flag being sown in to the front of the seat make this not only a comfortable bike seat but also a great looking upgrade that help give your bike a custom look.

Mustang motorcycle seats are mainly available for cruiser’s instead of sport bikes. Mustang manufactures many a motorcycle seat that is made to look like the old school bike seats that you would see on bikes from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. They are great if you are trying to achieve and old school look for your chopper.

Not only do they make the saddles they also make sissy bar pads and backrest. Mustang currently has motorcycle seats available for Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Victory Cycles. Mustang seats are made with special controlled-density foam therefore assuring riding comfort even on long rides.

When you do decide on a bike seat no matter who the manufacturer is it is always recommended that you find out about the manufacturers warranty. Also with some seats extra hardware is required to mount it on to your bike.

I think most important of all is that you get some feedback from others that have similar seats. You can find reviews online at different social sites that are geared towards bikers.

For more information on

motorcycle seats and

saddles for bikes please visit our
online motorcycle parts
catalog.

Replacing the standard system with a new motorcycle exhaust system is probably the first modification most bikers make to their ride. Generally motorcycles exhaust are replaced for two main reasons.

One is to enhance the performance of your machine. Since generally one of the items that restrict the highest performance on a bike is the exhaust. Once this is removed and replaced with a performance system you will have significant horsepower gains.

Now generally you will have to have your ride remapped in order to take advantage of the removal of the restrictive original system. The other reason stock gets replaced with a new motorcycle exhaust system is the sound. Due to restrictions the sound of your bike is really baffled so it does not have that nice aggressive growl that most of us really go for.

With a new aftermarket exhaust the motorbike will run and sound way better. Also lets not forget that these new exhaust will be much lighter then stock. For example when I replaced my stock cans on my Ducati with some Aluminum ones I dropped almost 20 pounds of my bike. That is a lot of weight to loose on a vehicle that weighed 500+ pounds stock. This was an older model so re jetting was in order. This modification combined with some race carburetors made a huge difference.

Most of today’s motorcycles exhaust are designed to give you a great sound as well as performance. The stock exhaust is usually top of the line but due to government restrictions the systems take all the oompf out of your machine, or at least restrict what it is capable of. With so many makers of exhaust systems these days its hard to figure out what is best for your bike.

Here are some suggestions if you have a sport bike. Scorpion motor cycle exhaust are a great choice for most sport bikes. They make many top of the line exhaust systems. A variety of materials are used to make these motorcycles exhausts. Scorpion uses aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber is the chrome of the sport bike world so it is widely used. This material is highly durable and lighter then plastic so it is a great choice when you are looking to reduce weight on any type of vehicle. Carbon Fiber is not only popular in the sportbike world but also many car enthusiast are using this material to use heavy fenders and hoods on their vehicles. Not to mention that some of the top makers of sports cars make sports cars whose chassis consist mostly of this material.

Your other choices for a quality exhaust for a sportbike are going to be an Akrapovic, Yoshimura, or a Jardine system. All are of quality and made from quality materials.

For Cruisers like a nice Harley Davidson there are several choices available. Since weight is not a factor for motor cycles of this type most of your exhaust systems consist of a chromed stainless steel.

More important in this application is the look, sound and lastly the power increase. Samson makes some really nice pipes for these bikes as does Vance and Hines as well as Supertrapp. For your metric cruiser crowd you have Cobra, Jardine, Hard Krome, and Vance and Hines. All of these manufacturers make a great product that is designed to give you years of trouble free service.

For more information on

motorcycle exhaust systems please visit our online
motorcycle parts catalog.

When choosing a motorcycle tachometer there is a vast selection of manufacturers to choose from. Autometer tachometers are a brand that is well known amongst both motorcycle and car racing buffs. The other majoro manufacturers of tachs are: Pro1, Shindy, Dakota Digital gauges and Lightning Performance. Each of these companies makes a quality Tach for bikes.

Autometer makes Tach’s for cars and has expanded to making them for motor cycles as well. This line is called Pro-Cycle. When it comes to choosing the right Tach it is important to keep in mind the application that you are going to use it for. An easy choice is a digital Shindy unite. They are fairly easy to install and have a range of up too 19,000 RPM. Since most bikes have high revving engines it is important to find one that suits your application.

Autometer Tachometers are mostly electronic and come in a variety of sizes and variations. There is bound to be one that suits your application. Autometer also makes tachometers that have integrated shift lights or you can buy the shift light kit by itself. In order to use a shift light you will also need a RPM activated module and a RPM Pill module kit. You can also choose from a black or white face as well as the diameter of the gauge.

Pro1 RPM Gauges are made to be integrated in to the riser of the bike they are to go on. Pro One makes several kits that are mostly geared towards metric cruisers. The Gauge is encased in a Billet Aluminum housing which is then either polished or ball milled for show quality looks.

Dakota Digital Tachometers are a multifunctional digital gauge that can be switched from voltmeter, oil pressure, water temp or oil temperature as well as fuel level or air pressure readings depending on the model. These are the types of gauges you generally see on custom choppers. They are bullet shaped and quite small. Dakota digital gauges usually easily mount on to your handlebars.

Shindy makes electronic and digital tachometer gauges for motor cycles. Both electronic tachometers by Shindy come in a black case with a white face. You can either choose a 15 or 18,000 RPM model. The other Shindy is a digital tach that is very compact and will work with virtually any model bike except for those with point ignition systems, Honda V-type 4-cylinder models (VFR750F and Honda Magna).

Lightning Performance makes a pretty cool looking electronic tachometer. I am currently of currently aware of 3 different Lightning Performance tach’s. They are all micro gauges and are easily mounted on to a handlebar. They integrate very well in to most motor cycles lines. Lightning Performance Electronic tachometers are CNC machined from a 5 lb brick of billet aluminum which is then chrome plated for a show quality finish.

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a tachometer whether its a electronic or digital tachometer is to find one that has the right RPM’s for your cycle. Looks are definitely also a factor, however most of your aftermarkets RPM Gauges are pretty stylish so the only real question is electronic or digital?

For more information on

digital gauges or

electronic tachs please visit our
motorcycle parts catalog.

One of the easiest things to modify on a motor cycle is the exhaust pipes. It is probably one of the first things that are done by most riders. Mainly to improve performance as well as the sound of the bike.

A quality set of aftermarket motorcycle exhaust pipes will drastically improve both of these things including removing unwanted weight from your cycle. On cruisers weight reduction is not a concern, however on a sport bike you want to shave as much weight as possible of your bike to improve performance. Because of this many of your aftermarket motorcycle exhaust pipes for sport bikes are made from lightweight material like aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber. On the other hand on cruisers you will find that most of your exhaust systems are made from stainless steel or some sort of chromed metal. The main focus on pipes for cruisers is sound, looks and performance.

These days motorcycles have become such a popular mode of transportation which has created a huge industry for makers of parts. Because of this there are many manufacturers to choose from when buying an aftermarket exhaust. Different manufacturers tend to be popular with different bikes. For cruiser bikes Jardine, Cobra, Hard Krome, Shogun and Vance and Hines are very popular. Most of these manufacturers of aftermarket pipes also make systems for sport bikes.

Your most popular manufacturers for sport bikes are Akrapovic, Yoshimura, Vance and Hines, Cobra, Scorpion and Three Brothers. Most of these guys have been around for sometime and also make other accessories for bikes. Cobra for example not only makes motorcycle exhaust but also a large variety of other aftermarket parts like Light bars, Backrest, tachometers, freeway bars floor board kits and the list goes on and on. Then you have others like Akrapovic that are race bred and specialize in performance exhaust systems.

Really when choosing a aftermarket motorcycle exhaust you need to consider what you want out of the pipes. Do you want performance or are you looking for looks? Maybe a deeper growl is your objective. Because of the restrictions in stock systems using one of these systems will greatly improve the sound of your bike. It really does make a huge difference and will take a super quiet ride and turn it in to a screaming demon. Especially when it comes to v twins the results will be night and day.

Generally making this modification to your motor cycle is fairly easy and can be handled by yourself, however if you do not feel comfortable most shops will tackle the job for around $80-$150. Now you will usually have to remap your fuel injection system in order for your vehicle to run right. If you still have Carburetors then they will need to be re jetted.

Remapping is usually fairly easy if you get a power commander because you can go to their website and download a new map for your particular bike, re jetting maybe best handled by a shop but if you are mechanically inclined is usually not a big deal. You will usually need a stage I or II kit to make your bike run right and get the most out of an aftermarket exhaust.

For info on motorcycle aftermarket pipes by

Vance and Hines,

Jardine or

Cobra please visit our
motorcycle parts catalog.