When most riders talk performance the first thing they think of is POWER - but if you're smart, that's the last on the list. Shoving grunt into a chassis that can't cope builds a scary bucking bronco. First steps are basics - make sure your bike is properly maintained, clean, no leaks, fresh oil, good clutch setup. Remove any extra weight. Fit grippy tyres. You've got the perfect starting point! Quality suspension comes next & Teknik Motorsport are motorcycle suspension tuning experts.

Watching racing clips, do the winners look like they're being kicked around? That tarmac track star leans further, without braking dive, sailing over cornering bumps that push you off line. That motocross hero hooks up on the loosest dirt, turns quicker after landing jumps, floats over whoops that rattle you roughly. Are they more skilled? Maybe. But their motorbike is doing what it's told, predictable & controlled, giving confidence to push further & time to concentrate on faster laps.

You've seen those exotic shiny colourful coats on their forks & shocks, and if you want podiums you should look at these special slippery coatings too. Ohlins started with gold Titanium Nitride (TiN) on their tubes & racing departments everywhere started using aerospace tricks too. Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) in black or spectacular rainbow Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) are used on ferrous metals, while an aluminium anodizing process called Kashima can be an array of light brown colours.

Kashima coating produces different golden brown colours each time, so no two batches look exactly the same. If style is very important, black dye can be added for a consistent, minimalistic, sleek finish. This low friction proprietary process was developed by the Miyaki Company of Japan - they are the only ones in the world that can do it, so there can be long waiting times for small non-factory parts batches. There's a reason everyone wants it though; components are infused with Molybdenum Disulphide so lubricate themselves when worn, preventing further wear. Fork leg outer tube pairs & coilover main bodies get Kashima coated to stop the alloy bore galling - the extreme lubrication means a longer lifespan. It also gives the most accurate & consistently smooth damping possible because of its super fast response.

DLC & PVD are brittle when bonded over soft materials, but extra tough with stiff steel parts behind them. They are often used on fork leg inner tubes & shock absorber damper rods where its hard wearing sealed chemical barrier protects against oil, petrol & cleaning fluids plus its physical strength resists scratches & rock pitting damage. They give improved smoothness & longevity for the rubber oil seals they slide against too!

These microns-thick premium coats can't tune a bad setup into a good one - so please read our mods for your budget guide first - but when chasing lap times it gives you a performance edge over the pack. Circuit or offroad trail adventures are both improved - more tyre contact with the road via quicker, smoother front & rear suspension component reactions means more grip & acceleration. There's endurance advantages too; no longer absorbing corrugations & vibration means a comfortable saddle & riding longer without pain.

So now you've built up some skills & experienced riding a competent bike, how about setting up your gearing for better lap times & ridability? You're finally ready to turn up the wick with a screaming tuned engine & a blasting aftermarket muffler - but have a think about it first.