Story by Peter Martin.
"After many years of Motocross and Road Racing, I have a few ideas on how to set up a Motorcycle so that it is easier to control, affordable and more enjoyable to ride. Please enjoy my comments."

How you set up a bike will depend on what you ride, where you ride and how agressive you are on the bike. Just throwing parts on can be costly, so where do you start and what will make the biggest difference? How do you make a bike easier to ride and control?

The most adjustable part of a motorcycle is the rider. As 4 Time World Superbike Champion Carl Foggarty's Telemetry Engineer told me, "Our whole job is to make the rider comfortable on the bike, if the rider is comfortable he is confident and in control, he will be faster and more focused."

It worked for Carl, so where do you start...

1. CONTROL:
If there were only three things I could do to a bike, this would be my list:

1. Fit adjustable rear sets - Serious racing teams change the OEM foot rests for these very good reasons; feet must have a solid platform, feet must be in the right position for balance and control, the rider must feel comfortable. Change to the good quality Rear Sets we offer to make this important improvement possible.

2. Front Brake Master Cylinder - You must be able to 'feel' what the tyre is doing under braking. With the Beringer front brake master cylinder 'I feel' in control and 'I feel' comfortable in all conditions. This is because I can acturately feel what is going on at the tyre through the Brake Lever.

3. Fit a Slipper Clutch - Do yourself a favor, make braking and corner entry less complicated, less risky and more controlled, this is esspecially more important on a large capacity V Twin with high compression lock up.

2. RIDABILITY:
Set the bike up, make the bike fit you:

Fit adjustable Clip-ons. Lightech Clip-ons can be adjusted to suit YOUR BODY and your riding position.

Move the Control levers, so you can get YOUR HANDS in the right position for Clutch and Braking.

I say it again, fit adjustable Rear Sets so you can get YOUR FEET in the right position.

Get the suspension set up for YOUR weight, YOUR riding style and where YOU ride.

If you need smooth gear changes or make fast gear shifts or you want to be kind to your Gearbox, put an SP Quickshifter on the bike.

Change anything that takes your awareness or attention when you ride. Find out what takes your attention. Change what takes your attention. Fix it so your focus is on what is ahead.

3. UN-SPRUNG WEIGHT:
Un-sprung weight is the enemy of good handling, lighten everything under the springs:

Invest in Forged Aluminium Wheels - PVM Wheels are stronger and lighter to improve handling, they give excellent feel to the rider. We do not recommend Carbon Wheels.

Fit lighter Sprockets, sprocket flanges, carriers and chain.

Replace with lighter Bolts, especially the large bolts, consider Titanium, it's lighter but wears with use.

Beringer Brake Discs and Calipers for lighter weight and much better braking.

Fit lighter brackets, clamps, hoses and parts. Lighten everything under the Suspension Springs.

4. MECHANICAL & MOTOR (BACKGROUND):


Einstein said "For every action there is an equal or unequal reaction". This applies to Motor improvement. If you significantly increase Horsepower, you must strengthen other parts of the motor to cope with the power increase and expect both higher maintenance frequency and cost.

Unless you have unlimited track and Dyno time, let others do the Development. Find out what parts others are fitting to your Model and look at the changes, always check they are using the right parts and find out why.

Maximise what is already there, tune to enhance and maximise what is there first.

Understand the character of the bike, understand how you ride and look at how to maximise both. Sometimes simple changes gain more performance.

Bolt on Accessories are usually better and less costly than custom made parts.

Learn to do your own basic Servicing, get a 'friendly' professional to do the important work.

4. MECHANICAL & MOTOR (ACTUAL):


The easiest HP increase (other than a good exhaust) is to Port and Flow the Heads.

Fit parts including a compatible Exhaust system, ECU and Filters to enhance air flow.

If you lighten the Flywheel so RPM can increase faster, consider fitting a Slipper Clutch to compensate the increase in compression lock.

If you are busting to spend or looking for big improvements, then methodically ensure constant air flow starting with air ducts, air box, throttle body intake, larger intake valves, intake cam timing, intake cam duration, high compression pistons, larger exhaust valves, exhaust cam timing, exhaust cam duration, and exhaust system.




REMEMBER: For every action there is an equal or unequal reaction. When you increase Horsepower, you must strengthen other parts of the motor to cope with the increase. You must also expect higher maintenance frequency and cost.

On our bikes, we choose to keep improvements simple, we look at what will give the most gain for the least consequences. Our improvements are based on what will enable the rider to improve before we increase motor performance. The rider is the most adjustable part on a motorcycle, potentialising the rider's ability influences the range of products we use and sell.

Sportsbike and Ducationly are Distributors of Motorcycle Accessories and will gladly take orders and provide assistance regarding the parts and accessories we sell. Sportsbike and Ducationly do not offer a Workshop Service and are not qualified to answer technical questions.