Dirt biking is not just about the thrill and exhilaration of the ride, but it also involves a love for customization and personalization. Dirt bike owners always look for ways to improve their bikes’ performance and aesthetics, and they often turn to modifications.
What are Dirt Bike Modifications and what they do?
Modifications refer to any changes, upgrades, or enhancements done to your dirt bike that alter its original state. These modifications can affect various aspects of your ride, including speed, handling, and braking. In this article, we will take a closer look at what dirt bike modifications are and why they are essential.
1. Performance Mods:
One of the primary reasons why dirt bike owners opt for modifications is to improve performance. These modifications include upgrading your bike’s air intake, suspension, exhaust, and its engine’s overall tuning. Air intake upgrades allow more air into your engine, improving its overall performance. Suspension upgrades can improve your bike’s handling, reducing the impact of bumps and rough terrain. Exhaust upgrades can increase your bike’s horsepower, making it more powerful on the road.
2. For Safety Reasons:
Dirt bike modifications are also done for safety reasons. For example, some riders install handguards to protect their hands and fingers from debris and accidents. Many dirt bike enthusiasts also add skid plates to protect their bikes’ engines from rocks and other debris on the road.
3. Customization:
Customization is an essential reason why dirt bike owners choose to modify their bikes. Choosing a personalized paint scheme or graphics makes your bike stand out from the others. Custom rims, seats, and other accessories can also add to its overall aesthetics.
4. Upgrades for Comfort:
Dirt biking can be taxing on the body, so some riders go for modifications that offer a more comfortable ride. Upgrades like anti-vibration grips, softer seats, and suspension upgrades can increase comfort levels.
5. Cost-effective improvements:
Lastly, modifications can be an affordable way to improve bike performance. Upgrades like new tires, air filters, and changing your chain drive ratio can give your bike an added boost without breaking the bank.
Best 5 Dirt Bike Modifications to Keep you Excited
Suspension setup
Suspension plays a crucial role in handling, cornering, and overall stability of the bike. And, a suspension setup that is optimized for your riding style can give you a significant edge over other riders. Here’s your guide to optimizing your dirt bike suspension setup for a better riding experience.
Step 1: Understanding Suspension Basics
The suspension is mainly made up of forks and shock absorbers, which control the up and down motion of the bike when you hit bumps. Understanding the basics of suspension will make it easier for you to set it up for better performance. The three fundamental factors to consider are: 1) spring rate, 2) damping and 3) preload.
Step 2: Determine Your Riding Style
Your riding style determines how your suspension should be set up. Off-road riding requires soft suspension, while motocross needs a stiffer setup. Knowing your riding style and the terrain you’ll be riding on will assist you in determining the perfect suspension setup.
Step 3: Adjusting Spring Rates
Spring rate plays a crucial role in the suspension setup. It affects the balance of the bike and the grip of the tires. A rider weighing less will need a softer spring setup, and the opposite holds for heavier riders. Swapping softer or harder springs will make the suspension better.
Step 4: Damping and Preload
Damping limits the oscillation of springs and reduces their recoil action. Damping is split into compression damping, which deals with bumps and pitting, and rebound damping, which handles compression extension. Preload is the force with which the spring is set before the ride. Adjusting both will increase or decrease the overall stiffness, which translates to better handling or more comfort, depending on what you’re looking for.
Step 5: Ride Your Bike and Adjust It
After making the necessary adjustments, it’s time to take the bike out and test it on the terrain you’ll be riding on. You can also tweak individual settings to best suit you. Don’t hesitate to make changes until you get the perfect feel for your dirt bike.
Handguards
Firstly, handguards are an essential dirt bike modification as they help protect your hands from flying debris such as rocks, branches, and mud. By installing handguards, you can comfortably accelerate with an improved grip, knowing that your hands are well protected. As a dirt biker, you need to have control over your bike, and handguards help you to achieve that effortlessly. Moreover, handguards can be a lifesaver when it comes to accidents. If you fall or crash, your hands will be entirely covered, reducing the chances of injury.
When it comes to the types of handguards, they can be classified into two primary categories, namely aluminum and plastic. Aluminum handguards provide more durability, whereas plastic handguards are cheaper and more lightweight. Both versions perform the same function of providing protection, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Additionally, it is also essential to choose a handguard with a versatile design to accommodate brake systems and controls, usually found on the handlebars.
Now that you know why handguards are crucial and the types of handguards available, let’s move on to installing them. Fortunately, handguard installation is relatively simple and can be completed within a couple of minutes. First, place the handguard mount on the handlebar and screw it into place. Next, insert the handguard and lock it into the mount that you just installed. Ensure that the handguard is secure and can withstand the riding adventures that you’re planning.
Skid plate
1. What are Skid Plates?
Skid plates mount over your bike’s frame, protecting your motor and tranny from rocks, tree stumps, and other debris as you bike. These plates are typically constructed from either plastic or aluminum, two of the most long-lasting materials that don’t weigh down your motorcycle, ensuring optimal performance.
2. Benefits of Skid Plates:
One way to keep your bike protected is to fit skid plates into it. Such plates can absorb minor collisions that may occur when a bike runs over rocks or other hard objects. Consequently, skid plates can protect your bike from these hits and keep it in good working condition for longer.
3. Types of Skid Plates:
You can choose different types of skid plates based on your needs – standard, full-coverage plates, and glide-plates. Full-coverage plates encompass the primary and auxiliary protection, ensuring that even the smallest parts of your bike are shielded from impacts. Standard plates cover just one primary section, while glide plates serve to slide over larger debris that may harm the frame of your bike.
4. How to Choose Your Skid Plate:
Choosing the right skid plate for your bike involves considering the type of riding you enjoy and the terrain you typically bike over. If you love to be adventurous and take on rocky terrain, you may need a sturdy, full-coverage skid plate. However, if you prefer milder terrain, glide plates might be a great addition to your motorbike. Additionally, you should consider the weight of the plate: you don’t want a plate that’s too heavy and hinders your bike’s overall performance.
5. Installation of Skid Plates:
Many bikers are skeptical about installing skid plates on their motorcycles. While the installation process is easy, it’s best to let professionals take care of the installation aspects. Professionals know the structures of different dirt bikes and which type of plate suits your needs best. Therefore, it’s best to seek professional help.
Hour meter
Without proper monitoring, it can be hard to tell if your modifications are having the intended effect. This is where an hour meter comes in handy. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how you can use an hour meter to get the most out of your dirt bike modifications.
1. The Importance of Monitoring Your Hours:
Over time, dirt bikes experience wear and tear, and their performance can decline. An hour meter helps you keep track of the number of hours you’ve put on the bike, giving you a better understanding of when it’s time for maintenance. This is especially important if you’ve made any modifications to the bike, which can put extra pressure on certain parts.
2. How to Install an Hour Meter:
Installing an hour meter is a straightforward process that shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. Depending on your bike model, you may need to remove the seat or the gas tank to get access to the spark plug wire. Once you’ve identified the wire, simply connect the two wires of the hour meter to it. If you’re unsure about the process, don’t hesitate to consult a professional mechanic.
3. Using the Hour Meter to Test Modifications:
One of the advantages of an hour meter is that it allows you to test your modifications in a controlled environment, making it easier to detect if they’re effective. For example, if you’ve installed a new air filter, you can compare the number of hours it takes for the filter to clog up with the stock filter. If the new filter lasts longer, you know it’s more efficient.
4. The Benefits of Tracking Your Riding Time:
In addition to monitoring your modifications, an hour meter can also help you keep track of your riding time, allowing you to plan maintenance schedules more efficiently. You can also use the hour meter to set goals for yourself and see how much you’re improving. For example, if you want to ride for 50 hours a month, you can use the hour meter to track your progress.
5. Some Hour Meter Features to Look Out For:
When choosing an hour meter, there are a few features you should consider. First, make sure it’s compatible with your bike. Second, look for a meter that’s easy to read and has a backlight for night riding. Finally, consider getting a meter that logs the RPMs, which can give you more detailed information about your bike’s performance.
Handlebars and grips
One of the significant adjustments you can make is to upgrade your handlebars and grips. These two elements may seem insignificant, but they play a crucial role in enhancing your performance and overall experience. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why you should consider modifying your dirt bike’s handlebars and grips.
1) Improved Control
Changing your bike’s handlebars and grips can significantly improve your control over the bike. Comfortable handlebars enable you to hold onto the bike more securely, ensuring that you get a good grip. Upgraded grips will also reduce hand fatigue, allowing you to have a better handle on the bike’s movements. With improved control over your dirt bike, you’ll be able to take on rough terrain with higher speeds and more stability.
2) A Better Fit
The handlebars and grips that come with your dirt bike may not fit you properly. They might be too narrow, too wide, or simply uncomfortable, which can make it challenging to ride for prolonged periods. Modifying your handlebars and grips can give you a better fit, reducing discomfort and fatigue as you ride.
3) Customization
Dirt biking is a personal experience, and customizing your bike is one way of making it more unique to you. Upgrading your handlebars and grips can give your bike a more personalized look while also improving your performance. Choose handlebars that match your riding style and a grip that suit your preferences. This way, you’ll have a comfortable ride that’s also uniquely yours.
4) Superior Shock Absorption
Bumpy terrains can take a toll on your wrists, elbows, and even your entire body. The right handlebars and grips can make a significant difference in your comfort level as you ride. A good set of handlebars will absorb more shock, ensuring that you experience less jarring and vibration when riding. Upgraded grips offer more cushioning, so you can have a comfortable and safe ride on challenging terrains.
5) Enhanced Safety
Finally, upgrading your handlebars and grips can enhance your safety when dirt biking. With comfortable handlebars and reliable grips, you’ll be able to have a better handle on your bike, reducing your risk of accidents, especially on more challenging terrains. Your hands will remain secure on the handlebars, ensuring that you stay in control of your dirt bike at all times.
Other dirt bike modifications to consider
Exhaust Modifications
Exhaust Modifications are amongst the most popular dirt bike modifications. Aiming to improve the flow of exhaust gases, leading to improved power across the range. An aftermarket exhaust pipe should be your first consideration when modifying your dirt bike. With a new exhaust, you will experience better sound, power, and fuel efficiency.
Carburettor upgrades
A well-tuned carburettor can produce the perfect fuel and air mixture required for consistent power. In most cases, dirt bikers choose to replace their stock carburettors with FCRs, Lectrons, or PWKs. However, if you are new to dirt biking, it is best to consult with a professional mechanic before getting your carburettor replaced.
Graphics Upgrade
Graphics Upgrades are essential for dirt bikers who have a keen sense of style. Graphics kits help to make a strong statement with your bike. They help to reflect your personality and your style on your dirt bike. If you are looking to give your dirt bike a refreshed and unique look, consider installing a new graphics kit.
Braking Systems Upgrade
Another popular modification is the braking system upgrade. If you frequently ride in challenging terrains, it is recommended to get an aftermarket brake system installed. An upgraded brake system will stop irregular brake fading, rider fatigue, and enhance your riding experience. Remember always to consider the overall weight distribution of your dirt bike when thinking about upgrading your brakes.
Conclusion:
Modifications aren’t just about making your dirt bike faster or more beautiful. A well-done modification can also make your ride safer, more comfortable, and cost-effective. Whether it’s for added performance, safety, customization, comfort, or affordability, modifications can take your dirt biking experience to the next level. If you’re thinking about dirt bike modifications, make sure to consult with experts and research before making any changes to ensure you’re making the right choices for your bike.
