The Ideal Dirt Bike Upgrades to Enhance Your Ride

Dirt bikes already come decently dressed straight from the factory, but to make the bike your own and get that racing edge, a few inexpensive mods go a long way. Graphics kits in colourways and designs to accentuate names, numbers or your riding style are readily available for current and older MX and enduro machines.

And they do a marvellous job at keeping the plastics protected from scratches, rocks and everyday wear and tear. Pair this with the right seat cover to add more grip and control on tougher trails, and continue the customisation theme by bolting on traditional or wrap-around handguards to keep fingers and hands clear of spraying rocks and debris. Of course, before any ride, also inspect bike basics like brakes, the suspension setup and tyre pressure.

The Basics of Dirt Bike Graphics

Bike brands already have their own distinct colours. Honda goes with red, Yamaha blue, Kawasaki green, Suzuki yellow and KTM orange. But this is just the plastics, with a mix of subtle details and colours to draw attention to design specifics. If you’re into racing of any type, then graphics help to stand out of the crowd and get riders noticed. For motocross, you’ll be looking at eye-catching and durable MX graphics kits with stickers, decals and printed backgrounds covering different bike parts.

Deciding Between Full and Partial Kits

Choose a full graphics kit that covers common parts like the radiator shrouds, airbox covers, fork guards and side panels, swingarm sides, and have custom-designed number plates at the front and sides. Kits can also include seat covers, tank graphics, and headlight surrounds to complete the picture of a neater, clean looking bike.

Partial kits consist of fewer parts, though still cover the fenders, fork tubes and have included front number plates. Motocross riders can also mix and match partial kits with separate number plate kits in designs and colours that fit the bike (and the occasion) and add factory or retro kits for added style. Choosing between the two basic kit styles is down to personal preference and how much of the bike you want covered.

Materials and Thickness

These are the main factors when deciding between different types of MX graphics kits. Choose from high-adhesion vinyl bases or proprietary media in the backgrounds and laminate in the tops. Combine the materials to get an appealing 3-D effect guaranteed to turn heads. Vinyl is resistant to scratches and debris, and can be optioned in varying colours.

Top laminate layers add more visual presence, come in matte or gloss finishes, increase UV protection and shield the plastics from the elements. They also prevent fading in the vinyl backgrounds. Thickness determine the level of protection, and how long graphics last between races. Thicker materials are better for harder, competitive rides, can stand more abuse, significantly reduce scratching or damage to the plastics, and generally last longer.

Standard thicknesses are usually 6mils (150 microns) for the vinyl base and 15mil (375 microns) for the laminated layer. Going thinner (in a combined thickness of 12mil or 300 microns) reduces overall protection, but means lower prices. Alternately, riders can choose heavy-duty and costlier kits with thicknesses of 32mil or 812 microns.

Why Have Seat Covers

Dirt bike seat covers are another aesthetic and personalisation option. A good seat cover also helps with comfort, grip and control on tough rides while protecting the original seat from wear and tear that comes with rubbing and shifting weight front and back for cleaner riding lines.

Choose from OE replacement covers designed to the exact specs and dimensions as the original seat when going for a factory look. Textured gripper covers are great if you’re up for more control and grip, and personalised types go well with a custom dirt bike graphics kit. Waterproof covers are perfect for riding in wet conditions, and thermal covers are the go-to choice for staying cool in summer and warm in colder weather.

Here too, main buying considerations are materials (rubber, vinyl and fabric are common), the level of padding and required comfort, a custom fit to rule out misalignment and spoil the overall look, and specifics like grip levels and waterproofing for versatility in different riding conditions.

Complete the Look With Custom Handguards

Handguards do exactly as they say on the box – guard your hands from rocks, mud, shrubs, trees and debris. The parts attach to the handlebars, and shield the main controls (throttle, clutch and brakes), allowing optimal bike control in the event of falls or accidents. Guards also double as weatherproof parts to protect the hands from rain and wind, preventing cold and numbness.

There are two basic types: the open hand guards which are often seen on motocross bikes, and full wrap-around handguards which besides the plastic front shield also include an aluminium bar that wraps around your hand from the bar-end to the handguard mount. Both can be fitted with graphics and customised details like numbers or sponsor or team names to complement the look of bikes already dressed in custom seat covers and in partial or full graphics kits.