When a classic bike isn’t maintained well, its performance may suffer. But even well-maintained classic bikes can also be vulnerable to damage. This is why it is always important to look for better ways to upscale your bike:
1. Consider Customization
Like your favorite pair of shoes or t-shirt, your bike reflects your personality. To ensure your bike effectively reflects your personality, you will need to customize it. One way to customize your bike is to add graphics, such as YZ125. Graphics are like tattoos on our body, making them a way of adding a little touch or flair. The best thing about them is that they are temporary – meaning you may change them anytime you want. They range from detailed graphics to simple patterns and shapes.
2. Swap out Spacers and Stem Cap
Do away with boring spacers and caps on your motorcycle and opt for exciting ones. There are many options you may choose from, including custom-made caps. Custom-made top caps with a race team or your name on it can give your motorcycle a flair.
3. Upgrade to Tapered Roller Bearings
If your bike has steering head bearings, consider upgrading to tapered roller bearings. These bearings last longer, outperform old ball bearing setups, and handle steering loads better. For a start, you can use an All Balls steering bearing kit. The kit is excellent and includes instructions, spacing washers, races, and bearings.
4. Check the Front Suspension
Check for play in the fork lowers. This is easy to do especially when a front wheel is off, enabling you to independently feel each one. Most forks feature a replaceable bushing to enable you to ensure your fork slides and lowers to smoothly move up & down, without slacking. This is the best way to make sure damper rods are not rusty and move freely. In addition, this is a perfect time for replacing your dust wipers and fork seals. With a fork tube remaining in the clamps and sliders removed, consider laying straightedge on every side of the fork tube so as to ensure they don’t bend.
5. Fix the Brakes
Early disc brakes and weak drum brakes are two major issues facing brake systems in a bike. Modern alternative disc materials and pads will sort out early disc brakes, whereas good maintenance will work wonders on drum brakes. Careful adjustment and lubing of cam lever arms and cables, a newer inner drum surface, and fresh brake shoes can help to maximize the efficiency of the brake drum setup. You can also upgrade calipers as well as other components.
6. Replace Boring Bolts
One of the subtle ways of making your motorcycle look good and minimize weight is to consider replacing your boring bolts with titanium ones. With the help of an expert, you can swap everything from rotor bolts and stem bolts to linkage bolts to give your motorcycle a professional look. Remember, these bolts come in various colors so they can match your bike as well as slightly minimize weight compared to standard bolts on motorcycles.
To upscale a bike doesn’t have to be complicated. With ways like replacing boring bolts, fixing brakes, swapping out top caps, and adding graphics, you can easily make your bike look brand new.
