In my time as a journalist, one of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked is how to avoid getting bored of your motorcycle. I’ve heard from people who have upgraded to mid-weight motorcycles after “getting bored” of their 150s and 200s. Even with motorcycles like the KTM 390 Duke, that come with a steep learning curve, the boredom will come. In fact sooner for riders who are putting more hours to improve their riding. In practical terms this means that you will be visiting showrooms for a new bike, or at least dreaming of it ever three to four years. For a lot who are reading this article, that could be difficult for a number of reasons. An upgrade to a higher segment means shelling out more cash in almost every step of the process. Back when I was 23, this was probably the most daunting thing ever. But the answer wasn’t exactly a new bike, but a few changes to the one I got bored of. Let’s break it down. 

1. Quick Throttles

A quick throttle was probably one of the first add-on I installed in my 390 Duke and the results were notable enough to be mentioned in this article. If you haven’t heard of it yet, a quick throttle essentially reduces the amount of twist required on the throttle grip to reach max juice. 

Quick throttles are inherently installed on dirt and high-performance bikes where the rider is assumed to be fairly skilled. Let’s say it takes about a 60 degree twist to reach max performance on a low displacement motorcycle. With a quick throttle, it’ll be 30. 

It is crucial for a rider to understand that motorcycle handles operated on a horizontal plane. This is why extracting the maximum out of a motorcycle without a quick throttle becomes unintentionally difficult. An extended throttle twist means that you will be moving your wrist beyond it’s flexibility and in the process, end up rotating your shoulders as well. On a horizontal plane, this compromises your seating position early out of a corner which subsequently compromises your exit speed. 

There is a valid rationale behind quick throttles being reserved for experienced riders. A quick throttle cramps up all the power of the motorcycle in a shorter twist of the throttle. So in 30 degrees you have the entire band of 175bhp at your disposal. Which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Without a quick throttle, the rider has more leeway to make errors in instances of bumps or sudden changes where the wrist might be subjected to sudden movements.

In summary, learning how to manage a quick throttle not only poses a new skill challenge to your riding but also develops a skill that is very much useful on the  race track if you plan to visit it as you grow as a motorcyclist.

2. Heel Plates

Body positions and body grip is one of the first things taught at riding schools. The textbook rule for this is quite simple. Your beltline separates the role. Everything above your beltline, including your hands, shoulders and eyes is responsible for controlling the motorcycle. Below the beltline, your knees and ankles are responsible for gripping the motorcycle. So, the tighter you grip your motorcycle with your lower body, the more control you will have over it. Think of it as a feeling of being a single unit with your vehicle. 

But how does it translate in terms of hardware? Now personally, my riding style is quite aggressive. This means that I like to keep the ball of my feet on the foot peg and push my knees into the tank to grip it more tightly. My 390 Duke had a sore spot when it came to the same. You see, the heel plate of the 390 Duke was too small, which often left my foot hanging in the wind, slightly compromising the feel of control. This might not be a problem in most motorcycles that come with neutrally set foot pegs where the swing arm pivot plate is placed more in front. 

Hence, if your motorcycle has a less than ideal size of a heel plate, try putting something a bit bigger to have plenty of space to rest your heel during spirited riding. My complaint with the 390 Duke was an easy fix when I swapped its heel plate for a unit from the Yamaha R15. 

Another added advantage would be avoiding scratches on the motorcycle. Most riding boots today have screws on the side which might end up scratching the body if the heel plate isn’t big enough. A bigger heel plate will avoid this and take the scratches instead. Over time, your heel plate will look quite worn with the scratches. Personally, it is not something that bothers me as it shows me how hard I have ridden my bike. 

3. Fork Seal Covers

Many motorcycles today come with upside-down forks. Its advantages are well documented. However, considering that the fluid is suspended above the seal, there is a risk of a leak. In structure, there is a dust cap that prevents filth from reaching and tearing the seal. But, we know how filthy it gets after a day of showers. 

A no-brainer for this would be installing a fork seal cover soon after purchasing the motorcycle. Most of them are made of neoprene. The material is quite flexible and will grip the fork leg quite  

tightly, keeping loose dirt and stuff off the stanchion leaving it clean and allowing your fork seals to run for a really long time. 

4. Bespoke Ergonomics

Riders need to understand that a manufacturer will always keep the wider customer pool in mind while designing a motorcycle. Aspects like the seat height and distance from the handlebar is demographic-specific for the countries that they are sold in. However, while you might fall in that wide bracket, the vehicle is still not made for you specifically. Manufacturers know this, which is why most of the hardware that is involved with your riding posture and experience can be tweaked. 

Comfort is subjective so we would advise you to tinker around these adjustments to come to a point where everything feels natural. Not just for a short city commute, but also for rides where you’re spending four to five hours on the saddle. The end goal is simple, if you’re conscious about your posture while riding, it’s not natural and another variable that you constantly need to note while riding. Eliminating these kind of variables is the best approach. So pull or push the handlebar, tinker around with the suspensions and make sure that the bike is made for you.

Another argument in this aspect would be our ability to adapt. No doubt, even with a bad posture, your body will get used to it. But if you can spare that pain by loosening and tightening a few screws then why not? It is fast and cheap and the time that you would otherwise spend in adapting to the motorcycle can actually be spent in improving your skills. 

5. Gripping the Motorcycle

We have discussed how the upper and the lower body contribute towards motorcycling. But we feel like there’s another aspect that is not talked about enough among new motorcycle riders, which is gripping the tank. Now, in a riding school textbook you might just have a fleeting glimpse over this, but we are here to tell you that it’s much more than that. The primary goal here are two things. One, to feel as comfortable and natural as you can on the saddle and two, to have better control over the vehicle while at it. 

Gripping the tank with your knees is one of the most crucial things in the early lessons of any riding school. Don’t get me wrong I have seen plenty of cruiser riders with their legs flared out and while I do not point any fingers at them, it should be done with utmost caution. 

A proper way to grip the tank would be to point your knee inwards and try to push it inside the tank. Your muscles are not really used to this kind of force. Hence, it might be strenuous in the first week you try it out. However, once it becomes a part of your muscle memory, you will see the potential that you just unlocked by merely having more control over your bike. 

Now the tanks on most motorcycles these days are polished. Which means locking your knees and gripping with your thighs might be difficult because of how slippery it is. The ideal solution would be to get tank grippers from one of the big brands out there. In my KTM, all I used was a few strips of bathroom tapes. Stick it in a pattern and it does the exact same job that any tank gripper would do. 

Summary

This article should postpone your boredom for some time before you decide to hop on to a new one. Sometimes, it’s just about making a few smart tweaks. Quick throttles can significantly enhance your bike’s responsiveness by reducing the throttle twist required for maximum output, perfect for those seeking a more exhilarating ride. For better control and unity with your machine, improving body grip, particularly through modifications like larger heel plates, can make a world of difference. Protecting your bike’s forks with seal covers is a practical move, ensuring longevity and performance, especially in messy conditions. Embracing bespoke ergonomics by adjusting your motorcycle to fit your body perfectly can eliminate discomfort and distractions, allowing for a more focused and enjoyable ride. Lastly, mastering the art of gripping the motorcycle, potentially with the aid of tank grippers or even DIY solutions like bathroom tapes, can drastically improve control and stability. These adjustments and skills not only enrich your riding experience but also deepen your connection with your motorcycle, proving that joy in motorcycling often lies in the finer details and personal touches.