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A Harley-Davidson can look amazing with the right mods, but some can turn it into a laughing stock.

Ever seen a group of fat, classic-looking cruiser bikes with big people riding them with long tassels on their grips, and not to mention the oversized handlebars with lots and lots of chrome? Yes, that is a Harley-Davidson for you. Disrespect no Harley in front of the Harley fans! It doesn't matter how funny those ape hangers look; all that matters to a Harley fan is that they should look and feel fantastic, and that's it.

They are highly reliable and have comparatively lesser maintenance costs. Out of all the options available, Harleys are the go-to choice for many motorcycle clubs for owning and modding. Some clubs even have a strict policy of only owning and riding a Harley-Davidson to become a member. Unlike the crazy revving bikes, the Harley sings on lower revs with a sweet aftermarket exhaust and might even surprise you on mid-range. Mods like these are almost always worth every penny, so we have prepared a list of Mods that fits best on a Harley and some that are better left as a thought.

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Mirrors make the bike look average, so why not remove them? Well, this might be the stupidest idea; may it be a Harley or a Honda. Yeah, it looks cool, but we don't want to live under the pressure of someone hitting us from behind.

Apart from this, in some states, it is illegal to remove the side mirrors just because of safety measures. That, too, on a bike is a big no from legal advisors. So, let us keep this idea out of our minds even if it makes the bike look incredible.

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The company designs the bike according to the average figures, which is why sometimes the bike doesn't fit perfectly for everyone. Therefore, you should consider customizing the ergonomics as per your personal use; it is not heavy on your pockets.

Put on a comfortable seat with proper ride height, an upright handlebar, and even a bigger visor for better wind protection, and you're good to go. You can also remove some extra weight from your bike to make it lighter. Also, putting on tank grips and back support provides extra comfort on longer rides.

Related: Here Are The Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ridden By Captain America

This might be subjective, but we can't deny the fact that most of the time, these wraps are overdone. The bright wrap colors make the bike look fantastic, and you can put on decent tones. However, the thing about the skulls and flames in the wraps is so common that every single one of us has seen it and doesn't understand why it is cool to the rider. It's just not cool!

Plus, these flashy wraps do attract some crowd; however, it also attracts more cops. If you don't want to get pulled over frequently, leave flashy wraps out of the option and have something more decent like dual or tri-color wraps with a little graphics.

Performance upgrades are another sensible mod you can opt for and will undoubtedly be worth it. Remapping the ECU or plugging in a power commander, putting on a performance air filter, and changing the exhaust can give you extra horsepower with ease.

You can personalize the maps according to use which is just icing on the cake. Not to mention, the amazing sound of the free-flow exhaust will give you chills every time you max out the throttle.

This might be a good debating point as some may see this as a safety measure and better visibility for other drivers at night. But chassis lighting is a lame idea to spice up your cruiser.

You can always put on better intensity brake lights or more reflectors at the back, which is sufficient for you to get noticed. Plus, putting on lighting near your engine area will increase Harley's chances of catching fire as most of them are air-cooled, resulting in high temperatures.

Related: 20 Bad Harley Mods That Ruined Sick Bikes

Tires are the only contact point between the vehicle and the road. This adds even more reasons why you should consider stickier tires. They provide you extensive grip, better handling, more braking confidence (especially in Harley's case as heavy), better performance output, less wheel spin, and better efficiency.

Although Harley stock tires offer sufficient grip, specialists in the tires' industry do it better. Brands like Michelin, Pirelli, Metzeler, and Dunlop are well-known manufacturers. They have a wide range of options to choose between and offer superior grip.

Does it need any introduction? Everybody has seen these stretched-front fork Harleys in every Harley show. These are only meant for looks and make no improvement at all. It actually reduces the usability and handling of the vehicle.

Moreover, it is just scary to drive. As the long forks are custom-built, sometimes putting on the brakes is a demanding job which is why it is left undone. So, the result is a show-off Harley with long front forks without front brakes. You want sensible mods, not a death wish.

If you feel your bike rides too harsh or soft on potholes or bad patches, a better suspension setup would be the way to go. Often most people do all the performance upgrades and leave the thought about changing their suspension setups. What we miss out on is that suspensions can affect the ride quality and handling the most.

For example, a softly sprung suspension setup would be dreadful on a SuperSport motorcycle. So why not consider having a better suspension setup for your Harley so that it makes you feel like sitting on a couch!

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Tires are a very crucial measure considering vehicle handling. Altering tire sizes can cause significant differences in mileage, performance, and vehicle maneuverability. Suppose if you put on a bigger tire, it might eat up more gas, but it can give you more traction. However, the alterations should be close to the OEM specs.

So, putting on a 300 mm width tire on an OEM 240 mm recommended will perform poorly. The machine will lose more power than it should, due to which you will feel lesser overall performance while you ride. And trading off that big performance difference just because the fat tire looks good is like eating a cake without sugar.

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We all need to agree that cruisers are not very good at stopping. It feels as if it would take ages to stop from 60 mph. Since Harleys are heavy, shredding off some weight might give you better braking performance; however, altering your brakes seems a better option.

Replacing your brake pads with some known brands like EBC can increase your big boy's braking confidence. You can also replace the master cylinder and calipers to have a crispier brake bite that will certainly not disappoint.

Ramya is a Computer Engineering graduate with a lifelong love of automobiles. Digs all types of cars but has a special place in his heart for Japanese and Italian two-seater sports cars.