SEPTEMBER 20169between them. For example, suppose two people have bought the same bike each but had different build and body structure. Each of the bikes would need to be modified to fit the build of each of the owners. If the person is tall and heavier built, the bike would need to have a taller seat, suspension would need to be changed to compensate for the weight, as well as the ground clearance and overall height of the bike to make it suit the tall heavy built rider. If the rider is short and light the suspension would need to be adjusted or changed to accommodate the person to be comfortable while sitting on the bike or riding, while allowing them to be able to place their feet firmly and securely on the ground. Modifying the motorcycle to the shape and size of the rider is what is known as customizing for fit. Function: People buy motorcycles for many reasons. It could be part of their mid life crisis, commuting requirements, status symbol, cross country touring and so on. Each of these scenarios would require the bike needing to function in different relevant ways. For example, if motorcycle is to be meant for cross country touring like riding out from Bangalore to Delhi then there would be few things that would need to be done for the bike. If the person will be riding through the night then the bike would need good bright and powerful lighting. As they would be riding for hours, they would need to be in the saddle for a long time which would mean the appropriate type of seat that will allow them to do so. If the person is taking a pillion along, then a pillion seat will be needed if the bike isn't already equipped with it, and also a backrest so that the pillion is comfortable.In terms of safety, if anything cause the rider to lose control, it is always a good idea to have protec-tion items that would save the crucial parts of the motorcycle from unnec-essary damage, be it frame sliders, engine guards or bash plates For long journeys, the bike would need an additional luggage which would help the rider and pillion take a good amount of the essentials for as many days as they require when they are on the ride. These are only a few things that can be done on a motorcycle in terms of functionality.Performance:A lot of people would want to be able to use as much power as the en-gine can muster on a long ride in or-der to get from one point to the other quickly and efficiently. So that would be where a good set of free flow exhausts with the addition of a good air intake will be helpful. Fuel man-agement system would come in as the first step to unlock the restricted pow-er that the motorcycle comes with. A good side effect of this change is that you get the motorcycle to sound much better and more noticeable than it was initially which is always a good thing. Another step in which a per-son can improve performance of the motorcycle is by changing internal components like cam shafts, bores and piston kits to increase the overall performance of the motorcycle even more than what could be achieved by external modification.Style:This is a very broad topic, where a person can change the look of their bikes in subtle ways like hand grips, foot pegs, different seat covers and leathers, engine casing trims, wheels, custom colors for the body panels and body parts. Going either for a dark and majority black theme, or getting as much chrome on the bike, or maybe even a combination and good balance of both chrome and black. From solid single colors, to dual tones, to fine or bold pin stripe work, even simple graphics and designs that have significance to the person's existence to absolutely over the top elaborate and crazy historical scenes that the rider identifies within their lives. So to get back to the question, `What is motorcycle Customization?' Well, it's all of the above and so much more, which I really don't know if we would be able to fully and properly define in this lifetime. It's hard to pin point any one thing that defines motorcycle customization as for each person who owns a motorcycle, each have particular needsKoushik K. Suresh
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