To mod or not to mod? That is the question.

2013 Hayabusa with Brembos

Seeing as it won’t be long before we are no longer able to modify our bikes, thanks to attempts made by the EU to introduce new ‘anti tampering’ legislation, it seems as though time is running out forus to do all the modifications we have been wanting to do to our bikes.

I am lucky enough to have been able to do some great mods to the Hayabusa and experience first-hand the result of changing my bike from the manufacturers ‘standard specification’. But it does beg the question ‘do we really need to change our bike from its original spec?’ After all, £thousands has potentially been spent on its design so you would have thought they would have got it right in the first place. When you think about it, I am just one man, who am I to potentially reverse engineer a machine that has been created by a team of people who take every aspect of the motorcycles design and engineer it with meticulous attention to detail as part of their day jobs? Just because I fancy bolting something different to it, or creating my own fuel map, or allowing it to make more noise by changing the exhaust.

I’ll tell you why…It’s for the sake of individuality. The bike is mine, not Suzuki’s. I want it to be an extension of my persona. One of the reason why I got into bikes in the first place was because I wanted to be a bit different, go against the grain, be a shepherd and not a sheep etc, etc. So it’s only natural to want to take something that is perfectly fit for purpose and change it so it’s fit for MY purpose.

Let’s look at some of the changes I have done to the Hayabusa and consider the advantages/disadvantages of the change:

Carbon Fibre fairing inserts – Looks great, ties in nicely with other carbon fibre parts but fit is nowhere near as flush as stock items and is noticeable every time I get on the bike.

Gilles Rearsets – Striking looks, sublime action (fluid/effortless gear changes) but lowest setting is still higher than stock pegs and no rubber grips means vibes are more obvious.

Ohlins Forks/shock – Infinite amount of adjustability, great looks and improved ride quality whether its high-speed use, commuting or two-up trips. Nothing wrong with the stock Kayaba forks, but the Ohlins are a big improvement. However I think the biggest gains would be made by regular track use at differing venues and other extreme riding styles like drag strips. Daily riding does not come close to utilising the Ohlins full potential. And they come at a price.

Brembo Calipers – Look much more robust, the red Brembo lettering adds kudos and are a big improvement over the stock Tokicos. Again components like these are not cheap but must be recognised as a big improvement as the  latest version of the Hayabusa is going to come with them as standard.

Akrapovic end-cans – Big weight saving (no catalytic convertors), improved noise. Stock cans made the bike sound like a sowing machine. Longer journeys mean earplugs are compulsory, concern of attracting police attention despite being road legal.

All these mods certainly make the bike more unique and stand out from the crowd and in most cases have resulted in some form of improvement. But would I be disappointed with a ‘bog standard’ Hayabusa? definitely not. 

If you do decide to take the plunge and modify your bike, you need to call your insurer first to check your policy will still be valid as some modifications will invalidate some policies. Remember your insurer needs to be notified of ALL modifications whether its fitting an end-can, installing a power commander or changing your brakelines. It’s important to check as well if your insurer will cover the actual mod as some insurers will only replace with standard parts.  

I think modifying your bike in some way to make it more ‘you’ is part of being a biker and bike ownership. Would you rather see a carpark full of identical Suzuki GSF600 Bandits, or a carpark full of modded bandits? Every bike would be different but they would all still be Bandits. Like their perspective owners. All human, but all individuals. I know what I would prefer to see…….