Your Opinions on Modifications Please

[N4CR]

Yeah what bugjuice said, if it's modded to make it go better when you need it etc, all good. Don't just make it go in a straight line (unless you are aiming for drag stuff etc). Ultimately have more fun in corners anyway, without loosing your liscence eh

Good one CaN, I'd love some ohlins for my ZXR.. anyone know if it exists? Ohlins rear is what i'd need, front is perfectly fine as is.

And BJ, would you buy a bike with a WINJA'd rear tyre ?

[Lou Girardin]

I wouldn't discount a modded bike. But I'd be ultra cautious, especially after my experience with Bandit 1. The previous owner had modded the airbox and rejetted it using info off the net, no dyno time. It was so lean that it's a wonder it didn't burn holes in pistons, a tribute to bulletproof Suzook engines.
I think Can's gone the right way about things, make it handle and stop. Then make it quicker if you need to.

[bugjuice]

And BJ, would you buy a bike with a WINJA'd rear tyre ?

I actually semi-did. I've bought a bike that has some mods, and the frame was split, cos he was doing wheelies and stressing the bike out. I've bought a new frame and stuck it back together. But I've forked out for his dickin around. The rear wheel was taken off so I could fit a new tyre, and it could stand up by itself, it was that square.

Forks have been rebuilt, and a lot of bearings replaced. There was no meat on the brake pads, and just generally neglected. If it had been a complete bike, I wouldn't have bought it

[Wolf]

I think Can's gone the right way about things, make it handle and stop. Then make it quicker if you need to.

Yep. Handling and braking mods, to me, are way more important than "performance"/speed mods. Most the mods I would want for a decent Road-Trail would be for better handling and improving it for adventure riding (including a centre-stand for roadside repairs in the middle of nowhere, extra crash protection, extended bash plates, appropriate storage for tools, tentage and supplies (for longer tours) and comfortable seating). I am not interested in racing and most decent Enduros are more than adequate to propel bike, rider and any necessary kit over pretty much any terrain at a decent pace. The legal open road limit is 100km/h which is way too fast for some of the rougher locations (terrain, the bike's handling and the rider's ability would be the limiting factors, not the engine) and pretty much any 250 is capable of at least that so I'd go with the improved shocks and whatever other tweaks make the bike better suited to the job than the factory standard.

If the bike were for use on the track, or it were a pure MX racer, then I would go for performance mods after ensuring its handling and stopping were the best they could be, but neither case is likely for me.

Good on you, CaN, for putting your focus on handling and safety. I've known some people who've performance modded their cages to get more "go" out of them without considering that the car needs to be able to handle at the higher speeds and acceleration and would need better braking from those higher speeds. Best performance modded vehicles have had the full works done - engine, brakes and "running gear".

IMO, unless you're planning on racing on a track, you'll get more enjoyment out of money spent on handling.