Would You Modify Your Bike?

[DansJaunts]

Story goes my ignition started to die on me - no wonder, it's more than 29 years old with a 50 something year old socialist technology. You need to do all the work yourself, no services. Aftermarket parts die quickly.

Being an electrical engineer/tech maniac I came up with a simple solution, adding an extra capacitor in parallel with the existing one, boosting the lifespan and the efficiency of my ignition. (Test video soon)
It does work a lot better, which of course made me feel good about myself! I also do all the work myself, carb cleaning, general maintenance.

But that also got me thinking - how many of you would go into modifying and maintaining your own bike, taking the risks? By this is mean anything from a simple oil change to a custom ignition.

I have the feeling not a lot of people would because of warranty, being afraid or just simply not wanting to bother with it. But still, I'd really like to know what you guys think!

Don't worry, this is just the first picture of it, it's all properly wired and isolated now

 

[dandoolittle]

I don't with my road bike due to warranty but my race k7 gsxr 1000 yep. I do 90% of work

Even older bikes I'll do my own, although YouTube mechanic taught work

 

[DansJaunts]

I don't with my road bike due to warranty but my race k7 gsxr 1000 yep. I do 90% of work

Even older bikes I'll do my own, although YouTube mechanic taught work

Nice!
And nothing wrong with that, if one has the drive to learn by themselves! I also plan on posting tech things on YouTube once I get my big bike!

 

[SighBored]

If I had the technical knowledge, skill, and proper tools, I'd definitely do my own work.. Unfortunately that isn't the case so it's off to the workshop/garage.

 

[Marbro_za]

I do as much work on my bike as possible. As for modifying, Yeah i have done quite a bit to my bikes aswell

Not professional grade stuff, But if like me, You dont mind driving on something a toddler could have built.. Go for it

 

[lupin]

I may have been known to modify the odd bike along the way.

 

[R-Rated]

Yep. If needed.

I had a 1999 Harley FLTPI (Police bike). I ended up redoing some of the wiring harness in the fairing, installing a factory radio with CB, and intercom.

Then there was the stage 1 kit, mufflers, tour pack, etc

I did not have as much to spend as back then.

 

[MotoMisc]

On my cbr 954 I have only changed signal lights, homemade tidy tail and changed rear light to a china light that was clearly ment for another modell and removed mirrors and clipon mirror =)

On the 600 F4 stuntbike... taken it apart completly and repainted it, fixed valves, stator, drivetrain etc =) it looks like a mess now without fairings tho that I'am gonna fix up this winter.
Also made a homemade wire and coded my own keys to it

 

[Cndn Ray]

Absolutely! As a mechanical engineer (and long before i did an education) I love tinkering on my bikes/cars. If i wanna do something i dont know how, then i hit up google or youtube and start at it

 

[Scootnfool]

Vehicle modifications are half the fun. I have a Leo Vince pipe on mine, NCY shocks, an NCY variator (drive clutch assembly), and a few other odds and ends. I haven't added a bore kit since that's more fiddly than I want to get, but I can't see owning a vehicle of any sort without doing at least cosmetic mods.

 

[Djibalz]

I usually do all the maintenance by myself, but for overhaul and other heavy stuff I ust send it to the authorized shop.

Yes I modify all my bikes that I have owned until now, from only installing crash bar, top box, up to changing the carburettor with a better one (in my opinion) and overbore the cylinder.

 

[HippoDrone]

Although my last service was done by a main dealer, it won't go back to them again as they failed to do the sump nut up properly.... causing a puddle of oil on my garage floor. I am more than happy to do modifications too although my next mod requires welding so will go to a pro bike modifier for that part.

 

[thunderous71]

I would love to do it all myself but the problem is I ride every day and if I mess it up Im in trouble. Also no garage.

Saying that I have done some basics like chain, indicators exhaust etc. Stuff that is easy to fix if you mess up

 

[Garthox]

I ride a dual purpose bike and some of the fun for me is knowing how it work.

Modifying the bike (for camping and offroad) is also enjoyable for me.

That being said, i ourchased a bike knowing that was coming.
If im fortunate enough to have a new bike under warranty, id do only the basics not to void that.

 

[ekstazie]

i try to do all the work myself, got the car as backup when i screw it up.
last winter i rebuilded my brakes, did the clutchpack and oil change.
before i did carb work Cleaning and synchronising, when i don't have the knowledge i google it or look on youtube

stil need to learn myself to film it and edit it.

 

[WingManGT]

I've modified my car quite a bit for the years i had it, so I decided I'll keep my bike as stock as possible. And to be honest I got the bike I wanted since I first saw it come out 14 years ago. The only modification (if you can call it that) is flush mounted indicators and a LED relay to make them work properly. I'm not sure that one can make his bike significantly better than what the engineers designed it to be. As for cosmetic mods, that is all a matter of taster and to make it yours.