The motorbike parts Neevesy would upgrade | MCN | Motorcyclenews.com

There are countless upgrades and aftermarket parts available for motorbikes, but what will actually leave you with a better bike when you fit them?
Chief Road Tester, Michael 'Neevesy' Neeves takes us through the things he would consider changing and why.
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Welcome to the official KZbin channel of the world’s biggest print and online motorcycle publication. All the greatest motorcycle video content from the world’s most respected motorcycling media brand. Since 1955 MCN is available weekly in both print and digital editions and 24/7 on motorcyclenews.com. ow.ly/10pe69

[@radwanghazimoumeh]

Please make that "worst bikes i've ever ridden" video! Would be super interesting to get that personal prespective.

[@diamondmidnightgardener]

I second that motion

[@GeauxRilla]

3 years later and I agree!

[@BeginnerMoto]

I’m placing my bet that it’s going to be an MV if Neevesy ever makes it 😉.

[@abellopes15]

Worst bikes you've ever ridden, yes please!

[@polla2256]

K1200s would certainly be in the top 5

[@beer3029]

Loved the look of it and how it made you feel, but MV Agusta F4 was the most uncomfortable bike I have ridden (at the time I had an 1198).

[@filibertkraxner305]

@Harry Bell Lol, did a big branch flogging to it, did you? ;-)

[@filibertkraxner305]

@Harry Bell I currently feel very similarly about my Daytona 955i. In theory a lovely bike. Except for the fact it keeps dying on me in the middle of nowhere. Came very close to flogging and/or torching it while I was waiting for my wife to come pick me up with the car+trailer. In the rain. At night. Mind you, I did kick it. Twice.

[@ur2slob724]

Mt09

[@theelviscerator]

Been riding since 76 myself. Enjoy this chaps videos.

[@simonwoodrow9572]

I’ve been searching for an answer as to why ABS is dangerous on a track thank you for clearing that up 👍

[@malcolmabram2957]

It is also dangerous on ice, even more so in cars. Brakes stop working.

[@hudsonquay]

I couldn't believe the improvement in cornering with good tyres. It was night and day which gave me so much more confidence.

[@thurney4343]

Sound and honest advice, especially regarding the Tracer and your observations about the other bikes mentioned. Great video Neevesy! I'm still trying to lock-in my riding preferences for my BMW F900XR. I really enjoy your relaxed and informative videos!

[@CRLAMB]

These videos have been really great and I've really appreciated the information shared. Thanks a lot and keep well.

[@David-xg6ws]

Finding myself binge-watching Neevesey,,...Feel like Ive learned more watching 4 or 5 of his vids vs a hundred other

[@maxflight777]

Cracking observation! So true.

[@DearMajesty]

It's really great to hear all this stuff. Loving the series. Wish you were more outspoken in your reviews! I know it's a delicate dance to keep manufacturers happy so they invite you next year or similar

[@roseysnapper]

This series of videos has been superb.

[@adamperkins3125]

I agree with you about chains. Got a new Versys 1000 and after 2 or 3 days in a warm and dry garage under a cover the chain rusted for no reason whatsoever 😒 thank you so much for the recent videos you’re one wise and knowledgeable man 🙂

[@martinboyden1220]

I have an MT-09 and agree with all that you said about the Tracer/MT good bike but cheap parts ruin it a bit but can be replaced with better bits easily, Helpful video :)

[@sabre2x135]

I always used a Scotoiler on my chained bikes. It covered the back end in clag, but I hardly ever had to adjust it, and got around 35000 miles out it.

[@bruceleong9534]

Insightful, informative, no-nonsense. The silver lining to Covid19. Thanks Michael

[@Sirsethtaggart3505]

All these suggestions are perfect for me. Thanks 👍🏻

[@andybuckley2876]

Fantastic advice, cheers Michael. Loving these kinds of videos

[@greyanaroth]

This is amazing! Thanks so much. I have a street triple rs which is AMAZING as is BUT it could definitely use a power commander to richen up the fuelling and restore some mid range.

[@mauriziozanni4161]

Well said Neevesy, what you stated is absolutely correct. As an owner of the Tracer 900 GT I can confirm that the bike is an absolute bargain for what it offers. In my personal case I have changed tires (Pirelli Angel GT2), rear shock (Ohlins), fork cartridges (Andreani Misano Evo), Windscreen (Givi) and had IvanPerformance reflashing the ECU. The bike is now a keeper. As for the brakes, you are spot on. Changing to braided lines didn't do much, as some of the lever sponginess has remained. The pads (Brembo SC) were a better investment though. As you referred to some bikes with bling Ohlins suspensions that are garbage I can confirm that my Monster 1200s is one of those. Having them revalved and resprung made things a little better, but sadly still not great. Cheers!

[@MrTrek164]

Nice vid sir ,the only thing I disagree with is that on all the abs systems I've used ,which is many ,different pads have made a big difference to the initial bite and feel but do agree that abs systems lack the traditional feel that us oldies have relied upon to keep us safe over the years .Yamaha would have sold a lot more bikes if they just upgraded the suspension imho .

[@dwayneharvey6730]

Great video, so many little nuggets of knowledge being shared. Thanks.

[@hedgehog3900]

That chain thing surprised me,i thought wd etc would destroy the o rings..not lubing? Like i said,surprised.

[@hedgehog3900]

@@richandiben Nice to know that,its a good cleaner. Cheers :)

[@whylie74]

O ring and X ring chains are already lubed where needed and sealed with the aforementioned rings, so any thing you aply just sticks to the outside making grinding paste and/or being flung off up one side of your bike, FortNine has some video on it kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6OooXSLnsSEgaM and kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ-zipeZl8h0m5I

[@mickl8212]

@@lomate1963 yep, I used to look after the WD-40 production lines and can confirm, GT85 was made there too from the same customer(WD-40).

[@gerardmontgomery280]

@@richandiben You can get GT85 in Halfords mate. They tend to keep it in the Cycle section rather that the motorbike section. MO94 is basically the same stuff but made by Mucoff rather than WD40 company.

[@stephenmcqueen4029]

Well mr neeves how long will a chain last without any lubrication? I don’t believe simply cleaning with gt 85 will protect the o rings. I use engine oil or a scottoiler.

[@diskreet]

These vids are awesome. Great info and food for thought. Keep them coming, please!

[@AndersPetersson79]

Keep preaching Neevesy, your vids are always the best 👍

[@MrSlowestD16]

8:30 The tip about power commander may be out of date now. Power commander recently changed their business model and said they're no longer modifying O2 signals for closed loop operation, only modifying open loop for warm-up and WOT. So I'm not sure if they'll fix snappiness in bikes' throttles anymore. It's a real bummer.

[@Smatnm]

I’m sure it’ll be a cracking video.....but damn do I hate this “premiers on xx/xx/xxxx at 18:00”.

[@Hollingsabre]

I know, if its not live, just upload the video and be done with it!

[@dodge20071]

Yeah. Not a fan of the “premiere” thing. But I’m sure the vid will be good.

[@JoacimBoive]

Great stuff! Keep it coming! 👍🏻

[@johnburns3703]

Did you mention wheels? CF upgrade is my fave, Handling improves drastically.

[@GRIPWOLRD]

Some good points but I would revise your comments on the ABS and how they function. Only a few ABS systems have pressure generating pumps and most just have the relief valves in them. A normal Bosch 9.1MP unit creates a direct connection between the M/C and the caliper, and would feel almost the same as a direct line. The only difference is that the brake line is a little longer and therefore has less stiffness (but this is marginal). A Bosch ME unit has a pump to generate pressure, but these are only present on high end motorcycles, and the connection is also still direct. The pressure is generated through a check valve and therefore doesn't blow up your M/C. There are no real brake-by-wire motorcycles on the market (actually not allowed under legislation as you have to have brakes in-case of failure) at the moment, and what you are feeling through your fingers is the fluid connected to the pads. Bikes that claim to be brake-by-wire are not really BBW; they must maintain a direct fluid connection, but the ABS can help generate pressure depending on the situation (ie. panic braking). The ABS can only be felt once it intervenes, and reroutes the pressure through the relief valve. Brake bleed quality and sensitivity, brake pad and brake line stiffness have the greatest influence on brake lever feel, in that order pretty much. The ABS system can of course make it harder to bleed, and therefore affect feel; this is a big issue for manufacturers. I would also argue with your OE tires comment as this is not really the case from my experience. The tire model designation added is often a tune that tire manufacturers make to a carcass to improve the high-speed stability of that bike for the manufacturer. They do not change the compound or overall performance / grip. Tire manufacturers would not taint their tire model / brand for an OE brand just to make it cheaper. I've worked with Dunlop and Pirelli and these designation tires. I would be happy to discuss these in more detail with you; great videos otherwise!

[@dardobartoli]

Agree with all except the omission of tweaking standard suspension first before messing about with spring replacement...

[@TheVilouboy]

Nice upload. Never thought of not lubing though, nice

[@Kurlach]

Vilouboy Yeah, the missus wouldn’t be happy

[@BRMCaptChaos]

Great tips. Not sure about the chain treatment (there is some great testing recently - Bennett's did it I think). EP gear oil and the odd wax lube came out really well. Having just suffered a crap chain, I went DiD and will look after it with gear oil and a rag (and a good degrease in between).

[@Jonathan-yd8ud]

Keep it up MCN this was good stuff. Very informative

[@pedromiguelareias]

Yep. On my 2019 Tracer 900 GT I have the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III. Massive difference.

[@J600-u2e]

I swapped the oem tyre for these as well, really improves the ride on my 600f4i

[@MrWantera]

Once you're done with Rosso 3, I would suggest battlax S22. Im always a big fan of Pirelli (supercorsa, Rosso II, Rosso III and Rosso Corsa II), but this time around bridgestone really put a standard to the next level. The only downside is the thread pattern (personal opinion). Nothing beats Pirelli thread pattern. Have fun riding sir.

[@PutOnYourLid]

Another excellent video. I have a lot of experience with Bikes over many Years. I allways learn somthing from the advice you give. This is good stuff!

[@Dovestar295]

Always got to get an Exhaust just to release the hidden exhaust note hidden by the euro 4/5 and also the weight

[@MOTOUK1]

Great video Neevesy, question if you. MT10 or MT10SP? Of course I am biased as I own the SP 👍

[@flippy66]

OEM tyres are rarely what you get if you buy that tyre separately. They are usually a cheap version with less tread and made in a different factory just so the manufacturer can say they have that tyre stock. Don't judge a tyre based on what rolls out of a factory on a bike.

[@divineremovals2091]

Great video Michael, thank you. I do take issue with the ZX10R comparison with the WSB bike. It's apples vs oranges as you say. Apples vs apples would be Superstock, in which the ZX10R also did really, really well, whereas the bikes that beat it handily in MCN's tests back in 2016 (R1 and S1K if I recall correctly) came absolutely nowhere. Cheers, and keep up the good work. P.S. Please do the 'worst bikes' video.

[@booger65man]

My fav channel and presenter.

[@Von45Rose]

really enjoyed all the insights. Thanks.

[@davidciesielski8251]

Thanks

[@SladeRenegade]

Great advice, thank you very much for sharing.

[@martinhughes9769]

Great video Great content 👍

[@dazeyhaze]

Another great vid Neevesy

[@fabzrustrider9838]

Thank you great informative video 👍🏾

[@callsigncrusader9877]

Best video no doubt

[@Alexander5R]

Is there a video comparison between the F900XR and the Tracer 900 GT? I 've seen the F900XR and looks great in person.

[@booger65man]

Which is why I searched out a non-abs ZX10!

[@robsonenduro3316]

excellent tips.

[@06szymonszymanski]

Wait... You never lube your chain for short rides? You just keep cleaning it?

[@nicksokolis6343]

The advise of upgrading the suspension is good only if you buy a bargain second hand bike. If you buy a new Tracer fo 11k and then add a couple thousand pounds of upgrades then you may as well go and by Ducati or a Triumph.

[@scottsmith491]

And that's why I always dreamed of owning a true out and out race bike. Not a "do it all" production bike. But I don't have a few $ million dollars laying around......😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@kem2011]

Avoid stubby levers!? I feel personally attacked 🤣

[@tracer1127]

Great advice coming out in this series Neevesy

[@mickl8212]

Totally disagree with the never lube the chain comment. Although it's your personal preference. Always lube your chain to keep it in good condition.

[@stevericketts4383]

Glad you said that about the exhaust. I'm in my 1st year of bigger bikes and am a bit puzzled by the obsession to blow a grand to be noisier. A bit like drivers of a Subaru bollocking it around a council estate. I have the MT09 2019 but I am going to test the S1000XR rather than dress my bike up like a Christmas tree.

[@SteveR76]

Do fueling modifications like ECU flashing affect manufacturer warranties?

[@angelocardoc]

yes

[@SteveR76]

Who in their right mind would spend £11k on a new bike and then deliberately invalidate the warranty? Would be useful to get some expert commentary on this topic. Never heard or seen it discussed before. MCN? Neevesy?

[@CaptainCarling]

You shouldn't use wd40 to clean a chain as it can penetrate past the O rings and ruin the grease....or so I heard

[@iiredeyeiiredeye1569]

Very interesting video. Just one small detail...Never clean your O or X ring chain with WD40. It's a penetrating fluid...So it will penetrate your O rings and release the grease from inside and destroy the chain. WD make a dedicated chain cleaner that works well.

[@neilcole3406]

You bin working out Neevsesy?

[@nickclarkuk]

Do newer bikes rust more easily than many older bikes ?

[@beetleything1864]

Nick Clark only when they get wet.

[@assortedpov]

Yamaha MT-07s do, in my experience.

[@timmacky8712]

ZedeX6R

[@hughiemg2]

As a money man I resemble that opening statement!

[@apollomorris9920]

Adding a truth or two to the rear is good for all around riding . 3 is to much .

[@Swaggerlot]

Shock, forks, tyres and then engine

[@slabbyrider8665]

Got to suit every size and cuts to a shot of loomies where the fatties eat a fry up and sticky buns lol. Not been there for over a year now.

[@jonas0564]

Tuono factory V4.No upgrades needed...

[@steve-wu7jp]

Led headlights!

[@Chris-gt1fn]

@@steve-wu7jp Fuel Gauge:D

[@saintsrow2631]

how to improve your bike? improve your self first..

[@erixlast6020]

Mt10 brake are bad, mkay, so is suspension

[@neilshuttleworth106]

Nothan

[@billfrater1948]

What you can do for free to improve your bike, Tyres ! hardly freaking free are they.

[@phoenixdee5009]

Ugh! I'm an avid motorcyclist, but this really bugs me about most bikers. I hate that Neevsey is promoting tuning your engine. What he said about tuning bikes is all factually correct, but why does he think he (or other bikers for that matter) should have the right to spew more noise, particulate, and hydrocarbons into the air than absolutely necessary? Emissions/noise regulations exist for a very good reason: to keep our air clean and our roads a little quieter. Does neevsey really want everyone else to follow his lead and tune their internal combustion vehicles? I know I don't want to breathe other people's smokey exhaust or listen to their pointless noise. I think other people's right to clean air and quietness is more important than our right to do whatever the heck we want to our bikes.

[@PHILIPWATSON82]

IF ALL THESE COMPANIES CANT MAKE A BIKE TO THE BEST WELL THEY SHOULDN'T BE MAKING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE LIKE DUCATI THEY ARE SHITE. SORRY DUCRAPPI

[@cpuuk]

Here's a suggestion to pass back to the manufacturers- in the owners manual why don't they suggest suspension settings based on weight, it would make a good starting point.

[@beanwithbaconmegarocket]

These "Neevesy chats" videos are awesome.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Enjoyed that Neevesy - another big thumbs up from me....

[@kiwi2631]

Poor Neevsey has had Covid-19 relegate him to work in his closet.

[@steveoliver177]

Loving these tips sessions. This level of honesty is what riders need. Only surprise is that no one except you has bothered before to give it us.

[@alhung5637]

Ever ridden a bike straight from the factory that gives you that "magic carpet" ride quality? Would be curious to know if you have, what that bike is/was.

[@erixlast6020]

Triumph speed triple 1050 rs with ohlins, on pot hole road racing is alowed, its magic

[@MotoM1234]

You are one of my favorite reviewers... are you recording in a closet.... MCN needs to give you an upgrade.

[@chrisgreenwood271]

Good points on upgrades, but if I spent 11K on a new bike I'd be peed off having to spend good money on items that I would expect to be good quality from the start.

[@samiam5326]

Another enjoyable watch. Thanks Neevesy! It's so refreshing to hear someone of your experience speak on relatively simple topics. Simple but important. So much common sense and lack of ego. Can't wait for the next one. Stay safe.

[@dodge20071]

Another quality vid! Maybe a vid on your personal bike or bikes and some history on that?

[@AndrewBoundy]

Sage advice. Totally agree on the can - waste of money - been saying that for ages. The only thing I would add for ADV bikes is proper protection for the frame and engine. I added crash bars and a good skid plate to my F700GS and boy, was that a good idea :-) Handguards too - they saved my right hand from a nasty branch. The F700 gearing is silly-tall so I put an F800 front sprocket on which transformed the bike completely. TKC70's added for a bit of off-road grip and I changed the screen for highway use plus a few other things but it's all combined to make the bike much better for me - none of it too expensive. I don't ride to the limit of the bike so fueling/performance is wasted on me. Off-road suspension on the F700 is not great but there again, neither am I :-)

[@cap10moman]

12:20 - I think you are quite wrong about ABS here. The pump acts like a passive, pass-through device when not activated. You make it sound like the lever sends signals (in the form of hydraulic pressure) the the ABS pump, then the pump interprets those signals and relays them to the caliper - which is wrong. When the pump is not activated, the hydraulic pressure from the lever/master cylinder passes through it to the caliper and vise versa. It is not the hydraulic equivalent of fly-by-wire. The only time the ABS changes your brake pressure is when it is activated (i.e lockup). And it only changes the pressure in the direction of the master cylinder, not the caliper (i.e it "pushes" back against the master cylinder). The ABS pump is not even capable of creating pressure towards the brake caliper Your interpretation is like saying that a line fitting causes a "remote" feeling - sure, it's in between the caliper and master cylinder, but hydraulic pressure still passes through it without being actively changed. Just my two cents.

[@jeffiles7953]

I keep my chain well lubed as I imagine it could wear the sprockets quicker without.

[@fatsharks]

Mr. Neevesy, what would we do without you?! Great video as usual. One thing though, don't be so easy on the bike manufacturers! They CAN and SHOULD do better. Bikes are becoming ridiculously expensive, and it's hard to find truly good value bikes. It feels more and more like everything is a "budget" bike (so we "shouldn't expect too much" yeah, right) unless you drop at least around 15k plus Euros (at least here in the Netherlands), which is a huge amount of money for most people. It's just wrong that a nice bike now costs as much or even more than a car! Especially considering all the extra stuff you'll put on the bike as you discuss in this video.

[@cho4d]

Not lubing the chain just sounds all kinds of wrong. Anywhere you have metal on metal friction, you want lube. Unless one of the pieces of metal is sacrificial like an oil impregnated bushing. I don't know man.... sounds wrong. *shrug*

[@dancingmaryjane]

i went down the same rabbit hole with my MT09. Andreani Fork Cartridges , Nitron rear shock , GPR stabilizer. Ended up gettting rid of it and got a Multistrada 1260S! The money I put into the MT09 I should have just gotten the multi from the beginning. That engine even with the ECU flash and exhaust was still pretty squirrely on fueling.

[@frankfarrago9645]

Has someone told you that's what happens with the perfect design and the money men suddenly coming in and spoiling it all? I understand the point you're making but what you claim is absolutely not true. No company that can avoid it would create a design they know will have to be heavily revised. What actually happens is that when a new design project starts you gather representatives from different relevant fields such as design engineer, production engineer, industrial designer, salesmen, pr, economists, etc. to ensure that nothing is overlooked and that the outcome of the project is the desired one.

[@fernandoresendes7363]

Hi from Canada Michael. Another great video! One of many I have watched since I really appreciate your content including test rides. My question to you would be in my quesy for a super Sport bike despite it being a dying breed, which would you suggest? 2008 gsxr 750 which I could obtain sooner due to pricing, or hold out for a new version zx6r?

[@elmoomle4565]

Seats are designed for the 'ass-thetics'...indeed!! Great vid as always!!

[@DearMajesty]

I'm not sure you can call most ABS systems as giving a synthetic feel....it's not like it's an electro-hydraulic setup which completely removes you as is showing up in many cars....known as brake by wire!

[@gerardmontgomery280]

Having finally tried a bike with heated grips I now wonder why they aren't standard on every bike sold in the UK. Everything else is optional but heated grips are a must.

[@brandonreptilianclassiib9271]

2015 Suzuki GSX-R750 | Superlite RS7 520 +1 (front - steel) & -2 (rear - aluminum) I Loved it.. quick acceleration and didn't lose much top speed.. yes, I maxed it out a lot. Owned Ducs, Hondas, Yamaha, and Suzuki and I still had tough time deciding to get another brand instead of another Gixxer because those bikes are f'ing awesome.. especially after you mod the hell out of it.

[@DavidBlack101]

You should do a podcast. Really enjoying these. The road testers one was awesome. Wish I would have that advice 20 years ago - would have saved a bunch of money and pain.

[@jimmycav369]

Great information Neevsey. In the 2 finger braking (middle + ring), can you use that approach on all braking systems? I have an axial master cylinder on my srad 750 and it feels like my index finger being between the lever and the handlebar would prevent full braking

[@cryptout]

Talking about dropping knowledge, these videos are awesome. From road ridding to the track, pearls of wisdom. Thanks Neevesy!

[@VaughnWinn]

Interesting comment about the chain. I thought you always had to clean and then re-lube? My current process is clean with paraffin and then relube with Wuth Dry Lube.

[@kendrick_not_lamar]

Interesting what he said about the chain maintenance and the ABS releasing the brakes on rear wheel lift for Japanese bikes. Cheers! This content is getting me through lockdown!