5 Easy and Affordable Upgrades to Take Your Harley to the Next Level

Upgrading and customising your Harley can get expensive, but the wide selection of practical and performance aftermarket parts means there are also some great deals. Hog owners don’t need to shell out hundreds to improve the look, feel and riding experience of their bikes. This short list of penny-pinching additions will add extra push when on the gas, enhance safety, and keep your bike running longer without unneeded maintenance or high repair bills.

#1 Change Leaking Petcocks

Before Harley embraced fuel injection in all their bikes, their V-twin engines relied on carburettors to deal with fuel delivery. An often overlooked component here is Harley petcocks. These are essentially fuel regulator valves located between the fuel tank and carburettor and aid the flow of fuel. They’re found on most bikes missing a separate fuel gauge, an essential part that makes cold starts easier, and the fact that you have enough fuel at all times.

To ensure proper fueling, a Harley petcock can be set to three possible positions. The “ON’ position engages a longer tube that draws fuel from higher up the fuel tank, say when you’ve just topped up on gas. This is also the position that you’ll want the petcock to be in when starting the bike or during a ride.

The “OFF” position closes the flow of fuel by disengaging a vacuum diaphragm, essentially reducing or cutting flow to the carb to prevent leaks or overflowing the engine with gas when the bike is garaged. The “RES”, or reserve position, engages a shorter tube from the tank to draw remaining gas when the tank is running low.

Bikes with higher mileage can see the fuel petcock or position levers getting stuck leading to leaks or flooding the engine with fuel. Choosing the right replacement Harley petcocks largely depends on the bike. To ensure proper fit, the size and thread on the tank bung are your first consideration.

Newer bikes have 22mm threads, while bikes before 1975 have narrower bungs. Another factor is whether the petcock has an integrated fuel filter to collect debris. And lastly, get petcocks in the right fuel hose connection diameter. Bikes made after 1975 have a standard 1/4″ line, while earlier models go slightly wider with 5/16″ connections.

Aftermarket brands go with premium materials like chrome or billet steel to ensure good looks and longevity and take out the guesswork during fitment with right, left and straight outlets depending on the bike.

#2 Improve Looks with Custom Gas Tank Caps

Stock Harley gas tank caps are black bland affairs that don’t do much for the overall aesthetic. Regardless if you ride a bike with single or dual caps on the tank. Going aftermarket opens up more choices, with chrome, engraved, matte black, satin, gloss, mesh, serrated or custom caps and materials ranging from aluminium to billet machined stainless steel. Both materials are often combined in unique designs, ensuring the parts don’t rust and have the strength to work in varied road and riding conditions.

When choosing replacement caps, bear in mind that the left-side caps are non-vented while the right-side caps are vented to prevent the buildup of pressure inside the tank. All gas tank caps are either screw-in or pop-up types and come with or without locks.

#3 Enhance Visibility With Mirror Extension Kits

If you’re having a hard time seeing more than your elbows or top cases when peering into the mirrors, then consider a mirror extension kit. This significantly increases visibility to the back by pushing mirrors higher or wider and also improves airflow to prevent buffeting at higher speeds. Parts and adaptors are easy to install with threads that connect to the handlebars, come in matte or gloss finishes to go with the rest of the bike, and in durable aluminium to last.

#4 Get Bigger Bangs with Performance Spark Plug

Spark plugs create the spark that ignites the air and fuel mixture. Inspect plugs at regular service intervals or roughly every 5000 miles, and replace them at 8 to 10000 miles. Fouled, damaged or faulty plugs can cause misfires and off-timing, backfires and popping exhaust sounds, overheating, hard starts and unburnt gas exiting the exhaust. All this hurts the engine and negatively impacts performance.

To get the right plugs for your bike consider thread diameters (either 12 or 14mm for most Harleys). The heat range is indicated by a number between 2 and 12 (ranging between cold and hot plugs and important to prevent premature fouling and pre-ignition), and electrode materials. Copper spark plugs are the cheapest but offer decent heat ranges, high conductivity and decent durability.

There are better options though. Platinum electrodes with copper cores help your Hog’s performance with longer service life, higher voltage ranges for stronger sparks and low maintenance needs. Or choose slightly costlier Iridium types for the best ignition performance, better overall durability with lower wear, improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions in older bikes.

#5 Enjoy Smoother Rides with Synthetic Engine Oil

Engine oil plays numerous roles. It lubricates and cools engine parts, ensures proper sealing and prevents corrosion, excessive vibrations and noise. Motorcycle tyres can be divided into synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral oil depending on the base oil.

Mineral-base oils derived from crude petroleum are suitable for older Harleys, with decent lubrication and cooling in smaller displacement engines. Semi-synthetics offer better performance in lower temperatures, often due to higher additive content to improve lubrication and cooling.

For newer Harleys, your best bet is the fully synthetic engine, which undergoes serious lab mods to get the best performance. They perform better at higher engine loads, offer superior cooling and lubrication and have longer lifespans to keep oil changes to a minimum.

Choose high-quality multi-grade synthetic oil (10W40, 20W40 and 20W50 are prime examples for year-round performance) from established brands, and don’t forget to change the oil regularly.

All listed items, from Harley fuel petcocks to quality oil can usually be sourced for as little as £30. They are sold at specialist Harley aftermarket stockists motorcycle parts and accessory retailers.

About Andrew

Hey Folks! Myself Andrew Emerson I'm from Houston. I'm a blogger and writer who writes about Technology, Arts & Design, Gadgets, Movies, and Gaming etc. Hope you join me in this journey and make it a lot of fun.

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