AMS Racing -- Expert Guide to Saving
AMS Racing: Performance Motorcycle Parts and Accessories
AMS Racing provides performance parts, accessories, and tuning components for motorcycles. The motorcycle performance aftermarket serves sport bike enthusiasts, track day riders, and touring motorcycle owners seeking improvements in power, handling, safety, and aesthetics beyond factory specifications. AMS Racing serves this community with performance-oriented components backed by motorcycle engineering expertise.
Core Performance Upgrades for Sport and Track Motorcycles
Motorcycle performance upgrades span exhaust systems (slip-on exhausts for sound and minor power gains; full systems for significant power gains), air intake systems, ECU flashing/tuning for optimized fueling and ignition, suspension upgrades (springs and damping adjusted to rider weight), brake upgrades (braided steel lines, premium pads, race-compound tires), and body work modifications. Each category addresses specific performance aspects with different cost-benefit profiles.
Motorcycle Suspension Setup: The Highest Impact Handling Upgrade
Factory suspension settings represent a compromise for a hypothetical average rider weight and riding style. Adjusting spring preload (reducing handlebar end high-speed weave, improving corner entry stability) and damping (rebound and compression) to match actual rider weight and riding style dramatically improves handling feel and confidence. Most modern sport bikes have adjustable suspension -- learning to properly dial in these settings costs nothing and provides measurable handling improvement.
Tire Selection: The Most Safety-Critical Motorcycle Component
Motorcycle tires are the only contact patch between the bike and road, making tire selection a safety-critical decision beyond performance optimization. Sport and sport-touring tires have significantly different compound compounds and construction -- track-oriented tires require warm-up and fail quickly on cold roads; touring tires provide consistent grip across temperature ranges for all-weather road use. Selecting tires appropriate for actual riding conditions is essential for safety.
Understanding Motorcycle Track Day Preparation
Track days require specific motorcycle preparation beyond street riding: taped headlights (to contain glass from crashes), properly torqued fasteners, fresh brake fluid, brakes bled and verified, tire pressure adjusted for track use, and removal or taping of mirrors. Many track organizations require detailed technical inspection before allowing bikes on track. Understanding and completing these requirements before arrival prevents being turned away at the gate.
Motorcycle Safety Gear Investment Priorities
Motorcycle safety gear is the most important equipment investment a rider can make -- leathers save lives in crashes that no motorcycle modification can prevent. ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) is the safety standard: helmet (ECE 22.06 or SNELL certified), jacket and pants with CE Level 2 armor, gloves, and boots. Full leathers for track use are non-negotiable; street riders can choose textile gear with equivalent protection ratings.
Using SaveSpire for Motorcycle Parts and Gear Discounts
SaveSpire maintains promotional codes for motorcycle parts retailers and gear brands. Before purchasing performance parts from AMS Racing or competing retailers, checking SaveSpire for available discount codes can yield savings. End-of-season sales in fall provide the best pricing on motorcycle gear and accessories.
Q: Is an aftermarket exhaust system worth the cost on a street motorcycle?
A slip-on exhaust provides improved sound and minimal power gain (3-5%) for $300-$700. A full exhaust system with ECU tune provides meaningful power gains (10-20%+) for $800-$2,000+. For street riding, the sound improvement from a slip-on is the primary benefit -- power gains are barely noticeable in normal street use. For track-focused riders, full systems with proper tuning deliver measurable lap time improvements.
Q: What is the correct tire pressure for track riding?
Track tire pressures are significantly lower than street pressures to maximize contact patch and grip: sport bias-ply tires typically run 26-28 psi front and 24-26 psi rear at track temperature. Slick and semi-slick tires have even lower optimal pressures specific to the tire manufacturer's recommendations. Starting within the manufacturer's recommended range and adjusting based on tire wear pattern feedback from the track surface is the systematic approach.