Gear that stands the test of time: Parts and accessories

Of course, apparel isn’t the only gear with those qualities. The world of parts and accessories has its own heroes, and we’ve rounded up some customer favorites that just don’t quit. Let’s dive in.

Essential riding add-ons

RAM mounts

For a long time, a cell phone’s place was in the rider’s pocket or luggage. With the advent of the smartphone, riders wanted to move their devices into the cockpit where they could be used for navigation, music, and more. RAM Mounts quickly became one of the most prominent options for phone mounting. They also developed a wide range of other accessories.

The X-Grip is the most popular RAM Mount, although the Finger Grip and Quick-Grip options aren’t far behind. A little Googling will usually determine the best fit for your particular phone. RAM also makes cupholders, GoPro mounts, and security devices.

We install RAM Mounts on every bike in the ZLA fleet. That should tell you what we think about the usefulness of these phone holders.

Barkbusters

Aussie-based Barkbusters started in 1984, and their dirt bike handguards became so well known that many riders call lever guards “barkbusters” regardless of brand. 

Besides being one of the oldest names in the biz, Barkbusters is highly regarded for its top-quality handguards and lever guards. A broken lever can turn a fun day in the dirt into a nightmare as you ride back to the truck without a clutch lever, a brake lever, or both! 

Barkbusters offers hand guards and lever guards for most off-road bikes out there, as well as some slick street offerings, like these handguards with built-in turn signals for the Ducati Multistrada. Other, cheaper offerings are always out there. Many riders would rather put the fate of their ride in the hands of the folks who’ve been saving the day for over 35 years.

Vance & Hines Fuelpak FP3

If you own a fuel-injected Harley-Davidson, you’ve probably heard of the Vance & Hines Fuelpak FP3 Autotuner. Plug it into the bike’s six-pin CAN/Bus connector, let the FP3 do its thing, and bam! Your bike is good to go. It’s really that easy to flash your ECM with tunes for aftermarket intakes, exhausts, and more. Just select the aftermarket parts you’ve installed on your bike and the FP3 will auto-tune the rest for you. A Bluetooth connection links the FP3 with Androids or iPhones.

While riding, the FP3 will work to refine your bike’s tune, and it also allows you to access vital performance data right from your phone. It’s even made in the USA. If you own a fuel-injected H-D, an FP3 should be on your radar.

Stompgrip

The history of racing motorcycle development is a long tale of seeking grip. And while Stompgrip won’t add any additional traction to your tires, it does provide a cheap and easy way to upgrade the grip of your knees on the motorcycle. Stompgrip uses a proprietary non-abrasive material with a “volcano” grip pattern to increase rider confidence while hanging off the tank. Their tank pads can be installed in the tank’s knee dents, as well as along the center section in front of the seat. They offer bike-specific kits and universal kits, so no matter what you’re riding, Stompgrip has you covered. Stompgrip uses 3M adhesives to keep the grip in place.

Head to your local track day and see how many riders are rocking Stompgrip. Then consider trying it for yourself.

Sena’s SMH Bluetooth Communicators

Sena’s SMH line of Bluetooth communicators is not the most advanced option on the market today. In fact, it’s getting long in the tooth at this point. Wireless communication tech improves every year.

So why do so many riders rely on Sena SMH units? It’s simply because they’re proven little units that get the job done for most riders. Let’s face it: most of us just need to talk to one or two other riders at most, and those riders are going to be a few bike lengths apart, not miles away. For the rest of the time, we simply need directions and music.

The SMH line proves that you don’t need to pay big bucks for Bluetooth on a bike, and Sena communicators are so common that you’ll rarely find a group ride without someone to pair with. Best of all, you can get a two-unit pack of SMH10s, SMH10Rs, or SMH5s for around the price of a single flagship communicator from Sena, Cardo, or Uclear.

Motorcycle care and maintenance

Pit Bull stands and accessories

Do you frequently put your motorcycle on a stand? Perhaps you’re a racer, or maybe you do a lot of your own mods and maintenance. Pit Bull makes motorcycle stands that will stand the test of time. Frankly, they’ll probably outlast your bike.

Pit-Bull’s famed gold and red stands are made in the USA using premium materials. They’re designed by riders, for riders, and very little has changed in their design over the years. A nice touch is the availability of removable stand handles for working in close spaces. Opt for this feature if you have a small garage, or if you’re putting your bike on stands in an area where someone could trip over the handle. It’s the little things that set a good stand apart from the cheap stuff. Pit Bull also offers a line of trailering accessories that are built to the same standards. Don’t suspend your motorcycle off the ground without considering a quality stand.

Motion Pro anything

Founded by ISDT-winner Chris Carter in 1984, Motion Pro consistently delivers the tools preferred by professionals and normies alike. They do cost a bit more than generic import tools on eBay, and that’s because they're quality tools stand the test of time. Their most popular product is arguably the indestructible BeadPro tire breaker set. The PBR chain tool isn't far behind, and we fully endorse the RimShield II for any tire changing job with levers. Come to think of it, those would be three of the first tools we’d buy if we were setting up a garage.

In addition to tools, Motion Pro makes parts that meet or exceed OEM quality. They’re probably best known for their silky smooth cables.

The Grunge Brush

Ah, The Grunge Brush! If you don’t use one, it’s because you haven’t tried one yet. (Or because you have a belt- or shaft-drive bike…) The Grunge Brush is an invaluable tool for chain maintenance. Soak the chain with your cleaning agent of choice, prop the rear wheel up, give it a spin (by hand!) and let The Grunge Brush clean your chain the way your dentist scrapes that plaque off, but without all the disappointment and blood and tiny paper cups. Seriously, the Grunge Brush is built to last, and if you want your kids to fight over it when you’re dead, get the aluminum version. Just drop a new set of brush tips in when you’ve worn them out. A crowd favorite and a must-have for any garage, The Grunge Brush never says die.

Battery Tender line

In the same way that some call all handguards “barkbusters,” many people refer to any brand of battery charger as a “battery tender.” Technically there’s only one brand that carries that name, and they’ve earned their reputation by building some of the best battery equipment out there. Battery Tender makes a full range of battery maintainers and accessories that deliver top quality and unquestionable performance. This is the best way to ensure that your battery will be ready to rip at any time.

Pro Taper straps

You can’t always ride where you’re going, and that means you’ll need a truck, a trailer, a hitch rack, or a van, plus some good straps. Here at RevZilla, we have our choice of bike straps, and year after year, we trust the Pro Taper straps to move our bikes.

Pro Taper is best known for their handlebar innovations, so it makes sense that they’ve also mastered the straps used to secure a bike by its handlebar. Pro Taper doesn’t rely on gimmicks to get the job done, just quality materials and thoughtful design. The straps have generously sized hooks and built-in loops for moving motorcycles. The hooks are on swivels for perfect positioning. No ratchets or gizmos with these straps. Simply pull until tight, then secure the excess strap with the handy Velcro keepers. At around $30 per pair, we’ll take these over cheap ratchet straps any day.

Tires

Shinko tires

When Yokohama got out of the motorcycle tire game more than 10 years ago, Japanese company Shinko bought all their molds and technology and started making the same tires in South Korea. They still use many of those designs today. This means that they can keep prices low in exchange for older but proven tire designs. Older tire molds also mean that Shinko is a good tire source for older motorcycles with obsolete wheel sizes, like 16-inch fronts and 18-inch rears.

To their credit, Shinko has introduced some tire designs of their own. Their greatest hits include the long-lasting 705 dual-sport tires, the 777 cruiser tires (also available with whitewalls), the 804/805 big block ADV tires , and the 712 classic tires. We like Shinkos for when cutting-edge performance isn’t needed, but a long-lasting tire is preferred.

Continental Twinduro TKC80 Tires

If you want an ADV or dual-sport tire that’s perfectly balanced between street and trail, we’re not sure that there’s a better choice than the Continental Twinduro TKC80s. These DOT-rated adventurers are not as aggressive in the dirt as a full-on knobby, nor do they fully hang with sport-touring tires on the street, but if one tire to do it all is what you seek, the TKC80s should provide around 3,000 miles of dirt performance, and 5,000 miles of street use, whichever comes first. They’re available in tubed and tubeless versions to suit your ride.

Dual-purpose tires are always compromises (we’ve got an article all about that here). The TKC80s offer one of the most agreeable compromises on the market today. It’s the “old standby” tire of the ADV/dual-sport world.

Michelin Pilot Road tires

On the street side, we have the Michelin Pilot Road tires. They’ve been favorites of sport, naked, and sport-touring riders for years. While the most recent version, the Road 5, has dropped the “Pilot” part of its name, we view it as the successor to a long line of sporty, grippy tires that can also handle foul weather.

Some tires start off well in wet weather, then get much worse as they wear down. Not so with these tires. We consistently recommend the Pilot Road line for those who expect to put a solid number of street miles on their bikes in a variety of conditions.

There are many variants of the Pilot Road family to suit a decently wide range of modern tubeless machines. You’ll want to check out the Road line for just about any street bike on 17-inch wheels. They do offer a few tires for 18- and 19-inch fronts, as well.

Michelin Commander tires

Here’s one for the cruisers. The Michelin Commander is an absolute legend in the cruising world, thanks to its excellent longevity and confident grip. Michelin Commanders will pop up in just about any discussion of the best cruiser tires.

The Commander tires are currently in their third generation, although they haven’t changed much. The big change over the Commander IIs was the split to two Commander subtypes: Commander III Cruiser, and Commander III Touring, so check the weight ratings before ordering.

The Commander tires are near-universally recommended, well proven, and priced right. What’s not to love?

Kenda Trakmaster tires

If you want bang-for-the-buck dirt tires that can hold their own and even go on the road occasionally, you want Kenda Trakmasters. Kenda currently produces the K-760 Trakmaster IIs, the latest in a legendary line of dirt rubber.

Price is only part of the Trakmaster’s appeal. They range from $20 to $75 per tire, which is awesome for the prolific dirt rider, but there are plenty of other affordable dirt tires out there. What makes this one so special?

The Trakmaster manages to be better than the sum of its parts. It doesn’t have the latest tire compounds or knob design, but it really hooks up. It doesn’t have space-age construction, but its six-ply carcass resists most assaults. And the fact that it’s DOT-rated is the cherry on top for trail riders and hardcore dual-sporters. They’re not all that bad to pull off the rim for that trailside flat, either. Give ‘em a try.

We found that all these parts and accessories stand the test of time, and we’re betting you will, too. Don’t miss our guide to motorcycle apparel that stands the test of time, too.