“Must Have” Street Bike Accessories

By Payam Shafinia
Marketing Coordinator, After Sales
Yamaha Motor Canada

For many, Spring brings the first outing in a while with an old favourite or a brand-new motorcycle you’ve anxiously been waiting to ride through the winter. I was lucky enough to have a new ride this year and couldn’t hit the road without a few accessories I consider “Must Haves” – a handful of items that always seem to end up on my bike within a week of leaving the showroom. Of course, this is just the beginning. There will be plenty of opportunities to personalize even further down the road.

Tank Bag

Unless you bought yourself a touring rig, chances are your OEM storage options are limited. Most modern bikes provide minimal space for carry-ons. A small tank bag can offer just enough space for your phone, wallet, sunglasses, or even a small lunch or rain suit depending on the size.

Keep in mind that magnetic mounted tank bags can’t be used on bikes with aluminum tanks or plastic cowls over their gas tanks. Many manufacturers now offer units that mount to your fuel filler cap, which keeps the bag off your shiny new gas tank. These can be easily removed for re-fueling or transport.

Engine Case Covers

Most motorcyclists will experience a low-speed tip over or low side at some point. If you’re lucky, this may only cause a bent lever but easily could crack your clutch or stator cover, ending your weekend plans or stranding you miles from home. A quality engine cover not only helps protect your OEM covers from abrasion if the bike slides on pavement, but also helps spread the load of the impact should the bike accidentally fall off the side stand. This simple bolt-on could really save you in the long-term.

Frame Sliders

Many riders install frame sliders to help provide relatively inexpensive protection for more expensive, fragile components in the event of a minor crash. While frame sliders won’t protect all of the motorcycle’s body work, they can help minimize cosmetic damage and provide a bit of a buffer between the pavement and vital components. The extra buffer against the pavement can protect a clip-on, lever or foot peg, saving you from being stranded on the side of the road after a minor tip over.

When considering your options, keep in mind that metal sliders tend to transfer most of the impact straight to the frame, which can compromise vital components. When the contact material is made from plastics, such as Drelin, the softer material glides across the pavement much better and helps absorb some of the initial impact.

Swingarm Spools/Hooks

Fewer and fewer motorcycles are equipped with factory-installed centre stands these days due to additional weight and reduction in ground clearance. Most motorcyclists use rear work stands instead. These stands lift the rear end off the ground and allow users to service the chain and other items. They also hold the bike perfectly upright so it takes up a little less space in a crowded garage. The addition of swing arm spools or hooks will allow you to use one of the many rear stands available on the market.

Oil Change Kits

There are plenty of DIYers out there who like to perform their own oil changes, but things can get a little complicated if you have multiple vehicles in the garage. Keeping track of all the different lubricants, oil filters and gaskets can be a bit of a hassle. How often have you gone to the garage to perform an oil change, only to realize you already used the last oil filter or drain plug gasket? Pre-packaged oil change kits are a great way to ensure that all the necessary parts are always on hand when you need them – and you usually get handy extras like rubber gloves, specifications and oil change reminder stickers.