The Best Accessories for Your Motorcycle

There are a lot of great accessories out there for motorcycles today. In the last two years, I have purchased a lot of great after-market items for my stock Honda Shadow. While motorcycle dealerships have a lot of high-priced accessories, most accessories can be purchased on online auction sites in great used condition for a fraction of the original price. You can also find most of the things you need from sites like CruiserCustomizing.com. Here is my list of the must-have accessories for any bike.

The first, and perhaps most important item is a windshield. If you have purchased a stock bike, you may find that the wind and drafts from large vehicles beat you up pretty badly on rides. Finding a good windshield, from a dealer such as Memphis Shades, can eliminate most of this air flow, and deflect it around the sides of the bike. Make sure you pick a windshield that is the proper size - most experts recommend a windshield that is no taller than your eyes. In certain cases, you can also store a cup of coffee between the windshield and handlebars, but make sure that there is no room for the coffee to slip out. Don't ask me how I know about that.

You also might enjoy a good set of engine guards. These not only add extra chrome to your bike (you can never have too much chrome), but they are also an added safety feature. In the event your bike goes down, engine guards will keep your leg from getting crushed. The engine guards will also protect your bike from damage.

A sissy bar is another great accessory. This improves the look of most bikes and is also another safety feature. If you carry passengers on your motorcycle, a sissy bar will support them from behind, and keep them from falling off the back of the bike. If you don't carry passengers, a sissy bar is great for carrying cargo, especially if you don't have saddlebags. Simply put your items inside a cargo net, and strap it to the sissy bar. In addition, if you are a member of the Patriot Guard or a similar organization, a sissy bar is great for supporting an American flag during rides. You can pick up a sissy bar from Cruiser Customizing.

In addition to a sissy bar, consider adding a luggage rack to your bike. This is a must-have, especially on longer trips. I use my luggage rack to hold my backpack that I take to work every day. My friend has even used his luggage rack to hold a sandwich from Quizno's one day on a short ride across town. Simply strap your items to the luggage rack using a cargo net or bungee cords, and you are good to go.

Saddlebags and other cargo storage systems are also great accessories. You wouldn't believe all the items that come in handy on rides. I currently have only a small bag that straps to my luggage rack. You can get all kinds of great leather bags for your bike from Willie and Max - located on the web at www.willieandmax.com.

You might also check into new exhaust for your ride. While stock pipes have come a long way in the last few years, there is something to be said for after-market choices. Currently, I have drilled out the baffles on my stock exhaust, and my bike sounds great. If this is not an option for you, check into a good set of pipes from such manufacturers as Vance & Hines.

There are a lot of ways you can spend your money, especially when it comes to your motorcycle. Whatever you do, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer.