Due to increasing knowledge of the environmental impact of cars, many folks are choosing to forgo the gas-guzzlers and buy a motorcycle. Equipment for bikes is in high demand now, and it's up to you to give your customers what they want. This can range from safety equipment (jackets, gloves, helmets) to custom motorcycle parts that enhance performance.

It's in your best interest to make sure your shop offers the latest in accessories and equipment for motorcycles. After all, you are running a business and you want to stay competitive. To keep up with the latest news and trends, consider the following:

1. Search the Internet for blogs and news about motorbike parts. This is probably the quickest way to get the latest information.

2. Subscribe to industry magazines, or at least read the online versions. These are also great sources for spotting new trends.

3. Attend rides, trade shows, rallies and the like to network with others in your area. You can talk to potential customers about what motorcycle body parts or accessories they like.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get online and get the latest on motorbike equipment

Checking out online sources for motorcycle information is the best way to stay up to date on current trends. Since bloggers are often opinion leaders who influence their readers, keeping up with what they say is imperative. Blogs and online news feeds are updated daily, so you have a never-ending supply of information at your fingertips.

I recommend: Check out the blog from Cycle Trader and the press releases at MotorcycleDaily.com for information on everything from bikes and equipment to mergers and corporate announcements. Keep track of recalls and defects using Automotive.com.

See what magazines have to say about new motorcycle parts

Magazines are a great way to keep up with the latest in motorcycle equipment. Pay close attention to the articles, but remember that the ads are equally important. You can find out about new products as well as what people want when it comes to their bikes and equipment. It's wise to look at both online and print magazines.

I recommend: Motorcycle Industry magazine has parts of its latest issue published online so you can check it out before you subscribe. Motorcyclist Online offers virtual access to its articles and also has a convenient way to look up news by make, which is really helpful for those who specialize in a specific motorcycle make, like BMW or Honda.

Check out the motorcycle protective equipment worn at industry events

Going to bike shows or rides can really help you keep in touch with what's going on in your geographic area. Trends that are popular in California may not apply to folks living in Georgia. You can network with riders and other professionals and see what types of equipment they're using. You can also find out a lot about motorcycle performance parts while attending these events.

I recommend: Locate an event in your area by using the map function at Cycle News. Check Expo Central for rallies and events in your state.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are lots of online newsletters you can sign up for; these are usually delivered to your email on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Newsletters can really help you keep up with motorcycle equipment news and trends since they are published so often.

As in the automotive industry in general, selling motorcycles and motorcycle equipment alone won't keep your dealership in business. Supplement the income from motorcycle service and repair with a full range of motorcycle parts. Your dealership can use custom motorcycle parts and accessories to flesh out the look of your sales floor, without sinking all your capital into a floor full of motorbikes.

Stocking wholesale motorcycle equipment on the floor also helps bring in foot traffic. It's easier to bring customers in for repeat business if they can update or customize the bike they purchased from you than it is to buy a new bike. Three motorbike equipment categories you could include are:

1. Motorbike parts that enhance performance.

2. Motorcycle body parts to replace damaged equipment or change the look of the motorcycle.

3. Motorcycle parts that offer protection for the motorcycle or the rider.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Breathe easy at the register with motorcycle performance parts

The most obvious motorcycle performance parts to showcase are parts that let the customers' bikes 'breathe' - exhaust systems, followed by intake upgrades, from carburettor kits and electronics programming chips to full replacement carburettor or fuel injection systems. These pieces have two advantages: all that shiny chrome catches the eye, and no one has to tear down the engine to boost performance.

I recommend: StarCycle USA lists over 2,000 exhaust products in the online catalog alone; you can easily home in on make, model and year. Newport Cycle Parts, Inc. stocks systems for on and off road motorcycling.

Bolster your business with motorcycle body parts

Bikers like to make their bikes an extension of their personality. Showcase a few accessories in your showroom to spark customers' interest and imagination and open up their wallets.

I recommend: Best known for the fender eliminator kits that clean up the rear of most sportbikes, Competition Werkes Inc. also supplies pegs and signal kits to complement the sportbikes' cleaned-up look. National Cycle, Inc. distributes parts for the cruiser market: fairings, light bars, saddlebags and other chrome accessories.

Help your customers guard their ride with motorcycle protective equipment

Accidents happen. Cyclists appreciate anything that can minimize damage to themselves or their rides. Stock a few small protectors on hand, especially for sport bikes, which unfortunately for them can translate into repeat business for you.

I recommend: AXO America, Inc. carries gloves, back protectors and boots to protect a rider literally from head to toe. R&G Racing Products supplies crash protectors, protectors for handlebar ends, forks and swing arms, and engine case sliders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take samples of the motorcycle equipment for sale and, depending on your square footage, dress a wall using an 'exploded view' of a bike, like a mural, or customize a bike on the floor, perhaps on a stand, showcasing a selection of the premium goods you carry. Perhaps even mount a dummy with full riding gear atop the bike (which would also discourage customers from climbing aboard and damaging anything).

Custom motorcycle equipment is one way for motorcycle riders to customize their bikes and give them a personality. But for those who want to work with custom motorcycle parts, they will need the right skills to build, maintain and repair motorcycle equipment for the consumer. This requires knowledge of how motorcycles work, plus training in motorcycle parts, performance and tools.

You can find a range of educational opportunities for learning about motorcycle performance parts. This can be vocational training or something shorter, such as an online course. But motorcycle equipment education and training can provide you with the following skills:

1. The ability to maintain and repair motorbike parts.

2. Training on how to install custom motorcycle parts.

3. Knowledge of how a motorbike works, so you can build motorcycles and motorbikes

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn to work with motorbike equipment through vocational education and training

If you want to find a comprehensive automotive and motorcycle training program, vocational programs are the best way to go. These classes offer all the skills needed to build and repair motorcycles, plus you can finish your schooling within 18 to 24 months.

I recommend: WyoTech will turn you into a qualified motorcycle mechanic in 16 months at one of its schools in Wyoming, California, Pennsylvania or Florida. The Motorcycle Mechanics Institute can get you working with all types of bikes right from the start, including Harley-Davidson, BMW and Yamaha models.

Utilize resources that teach you about custom motorcycle equipment

Not all vocational schools offer classes that deal with custom bikes and custom parts, so you may have to look for other resources to learn more about custom motorcycle parts. You can find many resources, including DVDs, workshops and online classes that teach you to customize motorcycles.

I recommend: Demon's Cycle provides a DVD that covers the basics of custom bike building. WebBike World provides information on how to clean, polish and straighten many types of custom motorcycle wheels.

Attend seminars for motorcycle shop equipment to learn about the latest technology

Seminars are a great way to begin learning the skills you need to repair and maintain motorcycles. These short sessions can be very general and cover basic knowledge, or can teach a specific new skill to the advanced repair technician.

I recommend: Motorcycle Dynamics Seminars are designed for those who want to improve motorcycles for performance, whether its just to make the ride more exciting or for racing purposes. Lockmasters provides the PureAuto seminar series, where motorcycle technicians can learn about the latest key and lock security systems for bikes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are also interested in riding motorcycles, you can find motorcycle protective equipment training courses and other types of rider safety programs through motorcycle organizations and state agencies.