Legal land on the street The bike scene has one of the biggest mod cultures in motorcycling, and if you don’t believe me, it’s been a minute since you’ve been on the forums. You’ve had to tighten your belt to buy a bike, but now every other owner is insisting that you need a complete exhaust, fuel programmer, and damper. That’s going to cost you a fortune, and often the owner will invest in an expensive kit and put the bike up for sale before even changing the oil a second time.
We’re obviously not against mods at Bike EXIF, but there are plenty of ways to get the most out of your bike without racking up triple-digit credit card statements. Whether you’re looking to prep a bike for the trails or freshen up the latest bike on the market, here are some of our favorite cheap mountain bike mods.
New graphics Mountain bikes are built to take a beating, and if you’ve never had to kick dirt off your footpegs and brush off plastic, you haven’t ridden one properly. Those spills start to show up after a while, and stress lines and gouged graphics are telltale signs of a used bike. Replacing these with OE parts can get expensive quickly, but there are affordable options for refreshing a used bike and adding some flair.
Instead of starting from scratch, consider adding a custom decal kit for a fraction of the cost. A reputable place mountain bike graphics companies like OMX Graphics There are hundreds of designs available for your bike and OMX offers free customization on all of their designs.
Add your name, phone number or sponsor and they’ll even let you customize the designs yourself with different colors and even holographic vinyl. Each design is printed from a high-tech, USA-based Quality mediaand will definitely outperform OE graphics.
Listed at $179 for a complete set, OMXGraphics’ kits are super affordable—and include all the customization you could want. Installation can be done in under an hour, and aside from a few cans of SC1 Max.You will have a hard time transforming your bike any faster.
New knob Dual sport tires are expected to last a long time, as they are expected to be fairly safe on the road while being consistently compared to dedicated all-terrain tires off-road. Given the nature of their use, expect to find the bars wearing out sooner than you expect, and worn knobs are neither pretty nor safe.
Unless you invest in a second set of wheels (and the time to swap them out), your legal options are limited to DOT-certified tires when your bike is on pavement. Always a compromise, dual-sport tires are often described in terms of off-road capability versus on-road performance. For example, a 90/10 tire is designed for 90 percent off-road use and 10 percent pavement use. Since I prefer to smash my bike on dirt, I choose a tire that has more pavement capability than I need.
For serious off-road use, you’ll be fine with any intermediate-spec tire for most conditions, and you can go a step further by paying attention to the rubber compound and lug spacing. In terms of 101, softer tires will grip rocks and smooth surfaces better, while harder tires will dig better into dirt. You’ll also want a tire with more lug spacing if you’re going to be riding on loose surfaces and sand.
While it requires a bit of strength and swearing, there’s no reason you can’t handle it. change tire at homeDepending on the type of rubber you choose, a tire replacement will cost around $200 to $300, and there are few better investments than where the rubber meets the road—or lack thereof.
Get a pair of tweezers We don’t usually think much about mountain bike seat covers unless they’re torn, faded, or otherwise unsightly, but if you ride through the pits at any AMA mountain bike event, you won’t see an OEM seat cover. The pros know there’s something to be gained from a saddle, and it can also make you go faster.
OE seat covers don’t put much effort into them, and they’re often made of thin material that doesn’t grip well under hard acceleration. Anytime you slide back on the seat, you’re using your hands to get back into position, and that contributes to arm flailing and slowing you down over time. A good seat cover allows you to grip the bike more with your legs and has grip-enhancing features on the top to keep your butt in place when you’re twisting the throttle out of a corner.
Look at OMXGraphics’ custom mountain bike seat coversYou can see different ways to add grip to your saddle. Grip material on the top and sides of the saddle helps you grip better, and you can add more grip with a full rib design or a triple rib design on the top. Just identify the area you want to add grip to and get started.
They’re made from durable, water-resistant grip material, and like their graphics, every panel and ledge on the seat is customizable to your liking—and included for free. Replacing your old cover with a standard grip will cost you $55, and a five-ledge, full-armchair is $75.
If you love it, protect it Breaking parts will end your day early, so it’s worth investing in some protection for the most vulnerable parts of your bike, which are usually the engine, radiator and hoses. If you’re anywhere other than an MX track, we consider skid plates and guards a must.
Rocks, fallen trees, and other rough terrain can put your frame and engine housing at risk, and that’s a bill you don’t want to pay. While your bike may come with a basic plastic plate on the underside of the engine, don’t confuse it with a proper skid plate.
Ditching the OE parts and opting for a full-length skid plate is one of the best investments you can make in the longevity of your mountain bike. Stay away from aluminum plates, which are heavy, resonate at high speeds, and can warp the mounting points on your frame. We find that polyethylene options are lighter and better in every way.
With the heart of your bike protected, consider other expensive components like the radiator, as these can be punctured by sticks and rocks, or bent if you drop your bike. Aluminum guards cost half the price of a new radiator in some cases, and they will ensure your day doesn’t end with coolant on the ground.
Another item that most ATV riders should have is a set of hand guards or bark guards, and a good set can be had for as little as $50. Bare aluminum bars will protect your hands from trees and hold your poles if the bike falls over. Additional plastic guards provide even more protection and add a little flair.
Keep it in check Comfort is key to building confidence on your bike, and since manufacturers build motorcycles for the masses, tweaking your handlebars, levers and foot controls to your liking can make a world of difference. It can be as simple as adjusting the levers and shifters to be easier to reach, but if you have a little extra cash to spend, handlebars are the best bang for your buck.
The first time you drop your mountain bike, you’ll quickly realize that OEM handlebars and cheap replacements are the weak point of mountain bikes. They’re often made of steel with thin welded crossbars that bend like noodles even with the slightest drop. There’s also a good chance that the original handlebar shape doesn’t suit your size and riding style, messing up your ergonomics and causing you to tire faster.
Checking a friend’s setup can help identify problem areas, as you may prefer less sweep or need more rise to accommodate your height. Mountain bike handlebars vary greatly in rise, sweep, grip area, and width, but armed with these measurements, you’re sure to find a curvature you like.
You can spend a fortune on anti-vibration bars or oversized bars (and they sure are cool), but brand-name aluminum bars cost $50 to $75.
Freebee: Tune Your Suspension Now This is probably the biggest improvement you can make to your bike’s handling, and it doesn’t cost a dime. If your bike has adjustable suspension, mess around with the knobs to adjust the sag, rebound, and compression. Adjustable suspension is designed to be adjusted, and since every rider (and every bike) is different, there’s a lot to be gained from getting your bike to handle even when it’s airborne. It just takes a little trial and error.
Loose particles behind the bar Your bike is capable of more than you think out of the box, but there’s no denying that certain components on your road-legal bike come with cost and compliance. Addressing these weaknesses and setting your bike apart from the pack is a rewarding experience, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
You can spend at least $750 on these budget mountain bike mods, without sacrificing quality or risking a street repair fine. You can’t say the same about that trendy titanium mega-bomb exhaust tip and carbon header you’ve been eyeing, can you?
Our view is that you should invest your money wisely and spend more time on saddle building skills, because unless you have optimized and mastered your current setup, more power is probably not the answer.
