But not all motorcycle accessories are created the same.

While some accessories are cosmetic, there are a few that are must-haves. These motorcycle accessories really improve the comfort, performance, or style of the bike. With these accessories, you cannot go wrong:

• The Butty Buddy: Most OEM motorcycle seats are not built for passenger comfort, especially for longer trips. And sometimes, you have to bring your significant other on a motorcycle road trip. The Butty Buddy is a removal seat enhancement for passengers and is even installable on chopper style bikes. Your passenger’s butt will thank you.
• HP Tools Extreme Motorcycle Tire Repair Kits: Running over a nail and getting a flat on your bike really sucks. With these kits (with a few exceptions) you can get back on the road and get to a repair shop to properly repair or replace your motorcycle tire. The kit is small enough to fit in small tool pouches too.
• Voyager Trike Conversion Kits: I’m not a big fan of trikes but these kits can turn a touring motorcycle into a stable trike at the lowest possible cost. The good thing about these conversion kits is that they do not remove the motorcycle’s rear tire and can be taken off easily.
• Rear Lowering Kits: For shorter riders, nothing makes a biker more comfortable than a rear lowering kit. These kits are under $30, can lower a bike 1-3 inches, and can be installed in less than 30 minutes. There are similar kits available for metric cruisers as well.

Depending on your riding style and your bike, these motorcycle accessories can be great for you. Make sure to do you research and ask around before you buy.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

In many cases, custom builders have become celebrities. Jesse James, The Teutel Family, the Detroit Brothers, Arlen Ness, and others have now become household names. Some custom builders gained fame and fortune through TV shows that moved them, their companies, and the entire custom motorcycle industry into the mainstream.

But the big question is, which builders are the best? That question is nearly impossible to answer since judging custom builders is largely subjective. However, here are some that are recognized as innovators and front runners in the industry.

• Redneck Engineering: Despite the name, the guys at Redneck have taken frame building and turned it into an art form. Their style is highly recognizable giving their brand a level of distinction and a leg up on the competition.

• Wicked Custom Cycles: Most custom cycles are made from American motorcycle components but these guys use the Yamaha V-Star 1100 as their base motorcycle model.  Wicked Customs is doing some amazing things with metric cruisers.

• Detroit Bros.: The Detroit Bros are relative newcomers to the custom fabrication world but they have made such a big mark that they have a show called Motor City Motors on the Discovery Channel.

• Arlen Ness: He’s probably the most influential custom builder in the industry. His work is considered artistry and his brand is one of the most well known in the industry. From bikes to components, Arlen Ness is the man.

• Orange County Choppers (OCC): Unfortunately the show that made Orange County Choppers a global phenomenon, American Chopper, was cancelled from The Learning Channel and Paul Jr. left the show and company. Fortunately for bikers, OCCs bikes are better than ever.

Despite this legacy, Harley Davidson has gotten old.

In post WWII America, young veterans seeking to live on the edge sought Harley Davidson motorcycles as their symbol of rebellion. At this time, an explosion of motorcycle clubs hit the streets from California to Maine. In later decades, movies like The Wild One and Easy Rider cemented Harley Davidson and the biker lifestyle in American culture.

So, how did Harley get old?

Somehow, Harley Davidson failed to capture younger motorcycle riders after the 1970s. As a result, Harley’s customer base is mainly made up of men in their 40s and older. While this customer base is loyal, Harley cannot survive and compete with other motorcycle companies that seem to have more success with younger bikers.

It’s not that Harley Davidson isn’t trying. They have been trying to gain increased brand recognition with the mixed martial arts community as a sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) major events. This organization attracts men from 18-35 and is the fast growing sport in the United States.

But will they buy Harley Davidson motorcycles?

Harley needs to find ways to get younger potential motorcycle buyers to see the value of their motorcycles. Popular TV shows featuring Harley motorcycles like Sons of Anarchy help but they have to be much more proactive. Without an active approach, Harley’s market share will continue to erode.

I’d like to see Harley do more hands on events. I’d like to see them have more free test ride events in conjunction with motorcycle rider safety courses and partnering with more organizations. I think the main issue is that new and younger riders have the wrong impression about Harleys. They probably think that Harleys are too expensive and do no have the performance and reliability of metric cruisers. Test rides will put that feeling to rest.

There are literally thousands of accessories for motorcycles and almost every piece on a bike can be exchanged with an aftermarket item. Here are a few items that would be an excellent addition to any bike:

• HID Headlights: High Intensity Discharge lights provide 300% more light than regular halogen bulbs. This increased light discharge allows for greater forward vision at night and also makes the motorcycle visible to motorists at a greater distance. This increased safety measure is a great way to avoid potential night time accidents. Purchasing and installing a HID motorcycle kits is a smart move.

• LED Lights: Light emitting diode (LED) lights provide greater visibility than regular bulbs. Not only can LED lights be used for rear running lights, brake lights, and turn signals but they can also be used as accent lights. By adding LEDs around your bike, it will have a much bigger visible footprint and will be much more easily seen; especially at night.

• Louder Pipes: For years, bikers have said that loud pipes save lives. While there is very little data to support this claim, one thing is true. Loud pipes can be heard at longer distances than many stock brands; especially on metric cruisers. There are dozens of brands to consider that offer a variety of style, noise level, and performance features.

• Carbon Fiber Helmets: High grade carbon fiber is much tougher that fiber glass and plastic helmets. As a result, they provide more protection at a smaller size. Even some carbon fiber novelty helmets have provided a remarkable level of protection.

• Oil Coolers: For air cooled Harley Davidson motorcycles, keeping the oil between 190 and 230 degrees is critical to keeping the motorcycle operating perfectly. Oil coolers help prevent oil from overheating and potentially damaging critical engine parts. Installing a motorcycle oil cooler can greatly extend the life span of an air cooled motorcycle.

If you want the same look for your metric cruiser or Harley it can be achieved. All you need is the fat tire kit, some know-how, or a good mechanic and it can be done.

You will also need a lot of money.

Standard fat tire kits costs generally cost between $1500-$4000, not including labor costs or the time to install the part. This also doesn’t include other items that may need to be replaced like, seats, lighting, and paint. The cost of the upgrade is also largely dependent on the tire size and type of bike.

This is not an upgrade for every bike. Some metric cruisers with shaft drives generally need to convert to a chain driven system to accommodate the larger tire. This increases maintenance costs. It may be cheaper to upgrade to a different motorcycle than to upgrade to a fat rear tire.

Since 2002, the Yamaha Roadstar Warrior has been one of the most original, most powerful, and most highly sought after metric cruisers. While it has never been a huge seller like the Honda VTX line, the Warrior has been a favorite in the used motorcycle market.

There are several distinctions that make the Warrior very different from most metric cruisers.

• Style for Miles: The 2010 Roadstar Warrior is a stunning motorcycle with performance to match. Since the Warrior is not as big a seller as Honda and Suzuki, the Warrior provides a stylish options opposed to ‘ordinary’ metric cruisers.

• Air Cooled Engine: Most metric cruisers have liquid cooled engines and feature a large radiator in front of the engine. The Warrior is air cooled giving the motorcycle a cleaner, more streamlined look.

• Belt Driven:  Some of the early Honda Shadow motorcycles were chain driven but most current metric cruisers have maintenance free shaft drives. Shaft drives are great due to the zero cost of maintenance but the belt driven motorcycles have very low maintenance costs and much more flexibility. The fat tire look is very popular and the Warrior can achieve that look much easier than other metrics.

• Race Bike Inspiration: The Warrior has always been billed as the bike for the person who can’t decide between and race bike and a cruiser. The Warrior has low weight for a 1700cc motorcycle, lots of power and torque.

• Customization: The main benefit of the Warrior is its ability to be customized. As a platform for creating a radical custom motorcycle, the Warrior does not need to be re-invented. With a few changes, a Warrior can look like a completely custom bike; not a stock bike that has been enhanced.

It’s not surprising that the Warrior is one of the best cruisers on the market. Yamaha’s R1 race bike has been one of the best performing sport bikes for years and clearly the same level of performance has been built into the Warrior. Warrior’s also have great resale value. Frequently, 2002 Warriors sell in excess of $5000.

The same lesson applies to bikers. It doesn’t matter whether you are a new biker or have been riding for years, riding with strangers is a major hazard.

We’ve all done it. You see a solo rider or a small group riding together and at a convenient place, you join in by riding staggered or tandem. The urge is hard to resist. When you see some great looking Harleys or metric cruisers, it’s hard to avoid joining them to show off your bike. When other bikers see you, they are thinking the same thing.

The problem is that when you ride with people you don’t know, you have no idea how well they ride, if they are impaired, or if they even have a valid motorcycle endorsement on their driver license. One mistake and you can end up in a multi-vehicle accident resulting in minor or major injuries.

Often, the best lessons are the simple ones. Resist the urge to ride with strangers.

Myth and history aside, Harley Davidson motorcycles are not always the best motorcycles dollar for dollar as some other brands. These brands have eroded some of Harley Davidson’s customer base, especially during tough economic times.

Metric cruisers, loosely defined as bike with engine sizes measured in cubic centimeters, have established domination the global motorcycle markets in all segments except heavyweight motorcycle class.

Even in the heavyweight class, the gap is closing quickly as the metric motorcycle producers offer newer and more innovative motorcycles.

Honda Motorcycles, the largest motorcycle company in the world is Harley’s closest competitor in the heavyweight section with about 14% of the market, is still a dwarf compared to Harley’s 50% share. Honda is still a huge threat with several motorcycle offerings that Harley cannot touch. At the same time, smaller competitors like Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are offering bikes with the same level of innovative style and price.

• Honda Fury is a bike sure to lure some potential Harley buyers away. With innovative, air cooled, chopper styling, The Honda Fury is a great buy for under $13,000 and a great option against Harley’s Softail line.

• Suzuki Boulevard M109R2: The Boulevard M109R2 is one of the most distinctive heavy cruisers on the road and its mix of style and race inspired performance is unmistakable. This bike is ready for the open road for approximately $13,000.

• Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager: Aimed at the Harley Davidson’s large touring bikes, the Vulcan 1700 Voyager offers 10 gallons of storage and all the amenities of a cross country touring bike for under $18,000. That is nearly $10,000 less than some Harley models.

• Yamaha VMax: Voted the Best Cruiser for 2009 by Motorcyclist Magazine, the VMax is the ultimate muscle cruiser.  At $19,000, it is a bet on the expensive side but right off the showroom floor this bike is a show stopper.

Harley Davidson makes beautiful motorcycles but with lower prices and aggressive styling, metric cruisers are beginning to close the gap. For now, Harley is still the king.

One of the best motorcycle styles is the low and mean look. Many bikers feel that the best look for a Harley Davidson or metric cruiser is lowered a few inches in the front and rear. This looks give a cruiser and extended look that is very cool, sexy, and sleek.

Progressive Suspension has a full line of front and rear suspension products to safely lower your cruiser while still retaining excellent shock absorption and handling characteristics. While Progressive products are a bit on the expensive side, they are generally recognized as the best for Harleys and metric cruiser.

Lowering a cruiser can also be a great safety measure for shorter riders. Even though seat height on cruisers is lower than race bikes, cruisers can weigh in excess of 800 lbs. By lowering the seat height a few inches, shorter riders can more easily maneuver a bike in tight areas when stopping  or parking.

You can’t go wrong when accessorizing your bike also makes it safer. If you are looking for a new style for your bike, consider getting low and mean with Progressive Suspension.