Most common and stupid modifications on bikes.

Modifications, or as we commonly call them 'mods', are expected to be done in order to get some increase in our bikes' performance or even looks but what if they do more harm than benefit? Are they justified? Are they worth their ill-effects or cost?
Here we mention a few very common but worthless modifications done on bikes these days.

Aftermarket Fairings
The main motive behind a fairing of a bike is to increase its aerodynamics and help it go faster; but there are many factors kept in mind by the manufacturers while adding the fairing like the added weight, and the most important one being cooling of engine. Some people have got this so wrong that all they think a fairing does is make the bike look bigger and better. Every once in a while you will come across low capacity bikes with large, cheap made fairings which neither do any good in aerodynamics but also ruin the power-to-weight ratio of the bike by adding the extra weight. Also, it hampers the cooling of the engine as most of the lower capacity bikes are air-cooled and need good amount of air flow around the engine. Every time a 5 kilo fairing is added to a 150cc bike, a true biker dies somewhere in the world.

Tip: If you want to make your bike go faster, focus on removing extra weight instead of adding it!

Un-tuned Exhausts

We all know how free-flow exhausts can do wonders for a bike’s performance and bring out the beautiful sound of a bike’s engine. Making exhausts however is a precision job, as they actually need to be made in a manner that facilitates the exit of exhaust gases faster than your stock pipes. A lot of things like back pressure, the material used and its quality come into play. Many people however just want a louder exhaust; this is where a lot of people go wrong. A loud exhaust doesn’t always mean better performance! One needs to get an exhaust that was designed specifically for your bike’s engine and aids performance. The popular phrase says “Loud pipes, save lives”; what it doesn’t mention and takes for granted is that you should have the sense of getting an exhaust that does not kill you engine.

Tip: Always try and go for branded exhausts which have been properly tested. If you get one locally made ensure the fabricator knows the math behind it.

Dummy Engine Covers



Dummy Engines or fake engine covers that people think make their motors look like V-Twins’ are almost disrespectful. Not only to the concept of V-Twin’s but also to whatever humble bike one uses them on. Most of the bikes these are used on are air-cooled engines and these dummy engines restrict the flow of air. That isn’t the only downside to these terrible cosmetic add-ons. They also add a small but unnecessary amount of weight to ones bike and most bikers understand that weight is the arch enemy of speed; an enemy that must at all times be beaten.

Tip: Cherish your air-cooled single-cylinder, the appearance of a twin-cylinder may be tempting but using a Dummy engine cover is not the solution.

Fake body Kits
There are people who are trying to make their bikes look good and then there are those who are almost embarrassing the biker community. There are no prizes for guessing that those who use fake body kits fall into the latter category. You may have seen bikes that look like R1s and Hayabusas but are actually 100-150cc commuters under the skin.

These bikes are usually slower than even their stock counterparts and come nowhere close to the real deal. What makes these bikes even stupider is that fact, that their owners spend a lot of money in trying to make them look like genuine superbikes (But end up with a disproportionate product of pure ugliness!). In that same amount of money, a smart enthusiast could’ve gotten enough performance modification to bump up the power of these bikes. There is no substitute for real power. Amen.

Tip: Do not burn your money on fake body kits, use that money on smart add-ons or better yet save up to buy an actual sportsbike!

Brand Stickers

When you see a sticker that says “Monster Energy” or “K&N” on a race bike it actually means that the bike uses parts from those brands or has been sponsored by them. Slapping on stickers of popular brands makes sense if you’ve actually gone and got one of those products on your bike. However, true-blue stupid doesn’t even identify these brands. What we’re pointing towards here isn’t even the ghastly Ducati stickers on 8 Bhp bikes but those owners who proudly declare their bikes Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s.

Tip: If you like stickers get stickers of your own brand or at least get a sticker that doesn’t declare your bike a four-wheel drive vehicle.

What’s the most surprising and stupid bike modification you have ever seen on a bike? Share your stories with us in the comments section below.

Courtesy: Biketoq