10 Best Motorcycle Accessories for 2022

10 Best Motorcycle Accessories for 2022

A new motorcycle is a fresh canvas for a rider to customize and protect. Sometimes you have a plan going in, and sometimes you don't. We put together a handy list of the 10 best parts to noodle when considering your next step.

• Radiator / Oil Guard
• Public roads are littered with pebbles, rocks, and garbage. Debris can be kicked up by the tires as you ride. To maximize cooling, the radiator and oil coolers of modern motorcycles are positioned directly behind the front tire putting them in line to catch any debris as it is kicked up. A small hole in a radiator or oil cooler can put you on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Something as simple as a quality motorcycle Radiator / Oil Guard can keep you rolling down the road. Radiator / Oil Guards can either blend into the look of the bike or be an opportunity for a splash of color. 

• Turn Signals
• DOT standards dictate the size and shape of turn signals for motorcycles sold in the USA. That's why they all look the same and are pretty ugly. Whether making your turn signal disappear with the Rizoma Light Unit turn signals or a more visible sequential signal with the Rizoma Vision turn signals, there are many options available. The addition of LED signals are brighter and more noticeable than stock signals.

• Mirrors
• There is no easy way to say this: Stock mirrors are ugly. They are often parts bin pieces and work well enough. Adding mirrors can emphasize a particular style, or even add an aerodynamic advantage to your motorcycle. Bar end mirrors will streamline the cockpit and clean up the lines of your motorcycle, while the Rizoma Stealth Mirrors can pivot between a mirror and an aerodynamic wing that provides appreciable downforce to the front of the motorcycle.

• Paddock Stand Spools
• Paddock stands are a great tool to get the motorcycle up off the ground so you can change a tire, lube the chain, or simply store the motorcycle off of its tires so they don't flat spot. Paddock stand spools are a simple accessory that bolts directly into the swingarm and provides a pivot point for the paddock stand. Additionally, it does add a bit of secondary protection alongside our next item on the list.

• Axle Sliders
• Front axle sliders and rear axle sliders can help protect forks, wheels, and brake components off of the ground in the event of a slide. These are very simple sliders that will fit to the end of each axle and act as a sacrificial piece that can promote the slide to minimize the chance of the bike digging in and flipping. Simple sliders that blend into the background are available as well as options that add a touch of color to your bike.

• Frame Sliders
• Frame sliders are another layer of protection for the frame of your motorcycle. This is another item that promotes the slide and keeps the motorcycle sliding instead of tumbling. Frame sliders are positioned midway up the bike so it will slide on the frame slider instead of the bodywork. While this may not save your body work, they are designed to keep the frame safe. Body panels are a lot easier to replace than frames.

• Tail Tidy
• Another ugly part of a stock motorcycle that comes from the factory is the license plate holder. The DOT dictates that it is in a specific place on the motorcycle, so with sport bikes, the plate holder often looks like an erector set coming off the tail of the bike. Cleaning this up is one of the first items to tick off the list. There are several options that emphasize the lines of the motorcycle. Evotech offers very simple options while Rizoma has more design-forward options.

• Exhaust System
• The exhaust is one of the most noticeable items that you can add to your motorcycle. Stock exhausts are restrictive and quiet as they have to be 50-state legal. Adding an SC-Project to your motorcycle can free up horsepower, lower the overall weight, and let the motorcycle sing! Whether you are wanting your bike to sing at the top of its lungs with a CR-T or a bit quieter with the SC1-R, benefits are plentiful with a new exhaust.

• Tank Grips
• Tank grips will help the rider lock themselves onto the bike while hanging off during aggressive riding. By using high-grip rubber and a pattern that promotes grip, tank grips will allow you to be in greater control of your motorcycle, decrease body fatigue and improve weight adjustments of the rider.

• Carbon Fiber Bodywork
• Stock body panels are generally made of injection-molded plastic and produced en masse. Carbon body panels are a wonderful way to set your motorcycle apart from the crowd while making it lighter. Reducing weight will improve the power-to-weight ratio and thus make the bike faster. Ilmberger and Rizoma make some of the best carbon fiber on the market. Ilmberger also manufactures the stock carbon for BMW and Ducati.  

And there you have it... The 10 Best Accessories for a Motorcycle.