The Best Bolt-On Motorcycle Kits on the Market

Custom motorcycles afford riders the opportunity to own stylish, unique, and personalized machines that stand out from the crowd of mass-produced production models. Traditionally, owning a bespoke bike has meant taking one of two routes: either commissioning a custom motorcycle shop; or doing the work yourself. While the former option is easier, it’s nonetheless time-consuming and typically on the exorbitant side. The latter choice allows for more creativity and personalization, though the reality is most people don’t possess the necessary skills and training to operate a MIG/TIG welder, English wheel, planishing hammer, or CNC-machine. And that’s where bolt-on motorcycle kits enter the fray.

Bolt-on kits enable riders to enjoy the benefits of a custom motorcycle, without all the hassle and expense generally associated with owning a one-off two-wheeler. Furthermore, these kits let custom bike enthusiasts ride a machine designed and built by a reputable, high-end customs outfit without paying the ungodly sums the privilege normally requires. And while bolt-on kits admittedly do limit some of the freedom usually afforded by commissioning a custom build, the wide range of available bolt-on kits means you’re practically guaranteed to find a kit that jives with your personal style and taste. So, with that in mind, let’s dive into the best bolt-on motorcycle kits currently on the market.

What Exactly Is A Bolt-On Moto Kit?

As the name suggests, bolt-on kits are mounted to a motorcycle using a bike’s stock mounting points (for subframes, bodywork, etc). Like a regular upgraded aftermarket part, bolt-on kits don’t require any modifications in order to mount, though just like your average aftermarket component, bolt-on kits are model specific. Even more importantly, these kits don’t require any alterations to chassis, meaning no fabrication work is required. This also means these kits are reversible and can be removed in order to bring a motorcycle back to its original factory spec.

Bolt-On Motorcycle Kit Considerations

Though the bolt-on kit segment is somewhat straight forward, it nonetheless helps to be privy to a few key areas when shopping for one — the most important of which we’ll be breaking down immediately below in this mini guide of the most important areas to consider when buying a moto kit. 

Aesthetics: Motivated by the same factors that prompt individuals to commission one-off customs, bolt-on kits offer a markedly more unique alternative to stock factory bikes. As such, aesthetics unsurprisingly play a monumental role when selecting a bolt-on kit. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to consider the kit’s design, available options, and paint, graphics, or finish options. 

Performance: While most bolt-on kits focus largely on aesthetics, some also come with the added benefit of hugely bolstering the bike’s performance as well. These kits almost always cost significantly more, as they include up-specced pieces of componentry in addition to cosmetic bodywork and trim pieces. If you’r interested in upgrading your motorcycle’s appearance and performance capabilities, this is definitely an area you’ll want to factor into your decision when shopping. 

Materials: No matter what product, the materials that comprise an item play a pretty major role in its overall quality and durability, and bolt-on moto kits are by no means an exception in this regard. As a result, you’ll want to closely review the constructions used for each element that comprises a bolt-on kit — some of the most common of which are aluminum, carbon fiber, and other materials created through 3D printing. 

Rarity: Though bolt-on kits aren’t as elite or rare as one-off builds, they nonetheless possess a definite air of exclusivity — an area that’s often furthered by certain kits being produced in very limited numbers. Because this factor can also play a major role in a bolt-on kit’s pricing, rarity and production numbers should also be considered when shopping. 

Further Upgradability: While some of the more high-end bolt-on kits on the market are designed as complete bikes that have been upgraded in just about every way possible, others are intended to serve as jumping off points for further customization. These allow buyers to further personalize their machine exactly as they see fit. What’s more, there are also several bolt-on kits that are offered in different stages or packages, each of which comes with its own bevy of parts and upgrades. There are also shop’s that sell the components that comprise their kits as individual a la cart items. 

Price & Value: Commissioning a one-of-one project from one of today’s leading custom motorcycle shops is almost always a wildly expensive endeavor. Bolt-on kits, on the other hand, afford the unique appearance of a one-off at a much more accessible price point. Having said that, bolt-on kits can still vary pretty wildly in price — with some models actually costing more than the donor bike itself. For this reason, price is undoubtedly another area that should definitely be taken into consideration when shopping. 

AutoLogue Design Reck 2.1 Kit

Best Budget Kit: Right out of the box, Royal Enfield’s GT 650 is an attractive, cafe-inspired modern retro. This, however, didn’t stop India’s Autologue from taking the parallel-twin’s cafe-vibe one-step-further via its bolt-on Reck 2.1 kit. Short for “Royal Enfield Cafe Racer”, this kit is comprised of a front quarter fairing and a new, longer tail cowl that can be removed on the fly for two-up riding. Despite being just two pieces, this 2nd-gen cafe racer-style kit is surprisingly transformative. Best of all; it’s incredibly affordable. Autologue is also slated to start selling matching side panels for the Reck 2 kit, as well.

Paolo Tex Design SC-S2R Bodykit

Best Cafe Racer Kit: Paolo Tex Design has long been turning stock Ducati bikes into stunning machines that blur the line between vehicle and art. The shop’s latest offering — the SC-S2R Bodykit is comprised of an ultra-waspish mono-posto tail section that jives perfectly with the Monster donor’s stock tank. Front side covers and a round headlight cowl further compliment the donor’s existing design, while the addition of a set of aerodynamic winglets and a dual-silencer under-tail exhaust pay homage to modern GP bikes. In typical Paolo Tex fashion, this kit can be purchased as a complete set, or its elements are individually offered a la cart. It is, however, worth noting that the installation of this bolt-on kit is a bit more involved compared to the rest of the models on this list — though the extra effort is far worth it considering the absolutely stunning final results. 

GG Retrofitz Rocket Street Kit

Best Fully-Faired Kit: The Rocket Street kit from GG Retrofitz turns the Yamaha R3 into a gorgeous neo-vintage road-racer. The kit offers the appearance of an involved, professional-level build in an easy-to-install, even easier-to-afford package – with a sub-$1K MSRP for the kit, and a donor bike that can be had new for $5,000. The visual inspiration from the kit was largely derived from Yamaha’s iconic oil-burning TZ racers of the 1970s, albeit with a bit of a modern twist. GG Retrofitz also makes a track-only version of the kit, as well as a variety of decal kits for its bodywork.

UN1T Garage Yamaha Ténéré Kit

Best ADV Bike Kit: Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 is an incredibly capable mid-sized adventure bike, consisting of the MT-07’s proven 689cc CP2 twin shoehorned into an off-road-specific chassis design. In an effort to bestow this modern rally raider with sold old-school flare, the team at Italy’s UN1T Garage have engineered a bolt-on bodywork kit for the bike that’s inspired by vintage Dakar racers. The kit includes a high-mount front fender, a set of custom side panels, an LED headlight set in a bespoke cowl, and a front fairing. Smaller odds and ends include an aluminum radiator guard, an instrumentation support bracket, a pair of Motogadget m-Blaze Pin LED front indicators, and all the necessary hardware, screws, and fasteners needed to put the kit together. Massively altering the bike’s appearance without compromising its go-anywhere capabilities or performance, this kit is also offered with a graphics kit that’s modeled after Yamaha’s iconic Speed Block livery and offered in several different color options. 

Roland Sands Design Tracker Kit for Indian Scout

Best Flat Tracker Kit: Compatible with all Indian Scout and Scout Sixty donors from 2015 or newer, the Roland Sands Design Tracker Kit doesn’t merely bestow the cruiser motorcycle with the appearance of a dirt oval racer, but rather includes everything needed to fully transform the stocker into a competition-grade Super Hooligan flat track racer. Developed over the course of several years, this kit features a classic tracker tail section that’s crafted from fiberglass and set atop the kit’s custom aluminum subframe and capped off with a padded race seat. Front and side number plates complete this transformative package, along with a rectifier relocation, shock re-locater, and belt tensioner. It is, however, worth noting that RSD does recommend also upgrading the donor’s rear suspension if you plan on actually going racing, specifically with 13” Progressive Suspension 970 Series shocks. 

Bad Winners Scrambler 800 Kit

Best Street Tracker Kit: The current generation of its Scrambler pays homage to Ducati’s original Scrambler model that was produced from ’62 through ’74. And while the Duck’s Scrambler range is are fine-looking machines, their vintage-style appearance doesn’t always jive with everyone’s personal taste. And for those looking for a more modern package with a hint of tracker-style, it’s hard to do better than Bad Winner’s DIY Scrambler Ducati MotoKit. Compatible with all models in the Scrambler lineup, the kit packs a sculpted, knee-dented tank cover paired with an upswept-tracker-esque tail unit that’s capped off with a plush, ribbed leather seat. A new sub-seat electronics bay is shrouded by a set of race number-plate-style side covers that complete the kit. There’s also an endless sea of available bolt-on bits for the donor that wonderfully compliment the Bad Winners kit.

UN1T Garage nineT/7 Kit

Best Scrambler Kit: BMW’s R nineT was designed and engineered to be a highly modular platform that lends itself particularly-well to customization. As such, the chassis and engine wiring looms are separate, and commonly-replaced parts like the subframe and headlight can be removed by simply undoing a couple of bolts. UN1T Garage’s nineT/7 takes full advantage of the R9T’s versatility by offering a simple plug-and-play tank and tail kit that aesthetically harkens back to the Bavarian brand’s R100/7 of the 1970s. Affording the looks of a classic vintage toaster-tanked airhead with the performance and reliability of a modern-day Beemer, the kit’s tanks and seat are both offered in a myriad of color options, including a retro Dakar-style white tank and red seat combo. This scrambler-style kit can also very easily be further upgraded.

Hookie Co. CAKE Ösa Ant Moto Kit

Best EV Kit: The Hookie Co. CAKE Ösa Ant Moto Kit puts a super sleek spin on the futuristic-looking all-electric two-wheeler, bestowing its existing frame with a new set of bodywork and a myriad of other minor elements that collectively transform the look of the two-wheeler. Made in Germany, the kit features new 3mm aluminum bodywork, rucksack hooks, and a modular body shell bracket system that can accommodate a variety of accessories and luggage such as the kit’s included basket. The addition of a lower plate system also affords numerous foot-peg mounting options as well. Rounding out the kit is a Hookie Decal Set, the shop’s FROZEN Grips, an LED twilight, RAPID indicators, a custom seat trimmed in vegan Alcantara, and a circular LED KOSO headlight with an included mounting bracket. This bolt-on kit is also offered unpainted, in multiple color choices, and with several options for various graphics kits and designs. 

Bottpower XR9 Carbona Kit

Best Race-Spec Kit: Born out of a collaboration with Yamaha Europe’s Yard Built program, the Bottpower XR9 Carbona Kit is an ultra-high-performance bolt-on kit that was carefully engineered in order to extract maximum performance from its mid-sized Yamaha donor. Harnessing knowledge gained through Bott’s experience in racing at Pikes Peak, this kit massively transforms the appearance of the stock machine, replacing its existing bodywork with a stubby tracker-esque tail section with integrated side number boards, a full belly pan, radiator covers, a custom tank with integrated side intakes, and a front number board with LED headlight slits. Offered with a variety of available upgrades, the entire kit is crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, as well. While it doesn’t come cheap, this kit doesn’t merely look the part of a racer, but actually walks the walk too with legimtately razor-sharp performance. 

Bad Winners 701 Apex Moto Kit Stage 4

Best Multi-Stage Kit: Vastly improving both the performance and aesthetics of the already-stunning and incredibly capable Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, the Bad Winners 701 Apex Moto Kit turns the neo-retro cafe racer into a custom carbon fiber-bodied street fighter with sleek lines, an aggressive look, and even sharper performance. The kit includes a bespoke carbon fiber tank, front fender, belly pan, winglets, tail section, and a bespoke headlight nacelle housing a unit plucked from KTM’s 790 Duke. Benefitting from a massive slew of spare-no-expense aftermarket mods, the Stage 4 Apex Moto Kit also includes a bespoke Bad Winners tripe tree with an integrated display, a race-spec Antigravity 8CELL battery, Renthal clip-ons, Bad Winners switchgear, a custom subframe, K&N filtration, an 02 sensor eliminator, a PowerCommander V piggyback module, and a custom exhaust comprised of a BW Decat pipe culminating in an SC-Project silencer. The entire bike also rides on a set of super-premium Dymag CA5 carbon fiber wheels.

Vagabund Moto 350 Safari Kit

Best Dual-Sport Kit: Utilizing a slew of advanced technology and manufacturing techniques, Vagabund Moto routinely delivers some of the most impressive one-off builds and limited run kits that money can buy. For proof, look no further than the Austrian outfit’s absolutely stunning 350 Safari Kit. Built for KTM’s EXC dual-sport lineup and Husky’s FE range, the Vagabund Moto 350 Safari Kit is made up of bespoke 3D-printed polyamide12 plastics bodywork, a converted Husqvarna TC85 front fender, and a custom front rack that houses an integrated set of Kellerman LED indicators and satellite headlights. An additional set of front LED indicators have also been integrated into the bike’s radiator shrouds. On top of two different tail design options and a bespoke saddle perched atop a hand-crafted subframe, the kit also gets a new MX fuel tank, an air filter housing, a taillight, indicator, brake-light combo, and a custom rear side rack designed to hold a GKA fuel pack. Best of all, each kit is tailor-made on demand and manufactured by hand in Hookie’s Graz studio. 

Paolo Tex Design XB Buell XB12 Kit

Best Premium Kit: Building off of Buell’s fuel-in-frame XB chassis, this kit from Paulo Tex adds a decidedly muscular and aggressive aesthetic to the Harley-powered sportbike. Looking similar to the Buell-based Ronin 47 bikes, the kit uses a collection of 3D-printed ABS plastic and CNC-machined and laser-cut aluminum components. Despite dramatically altering the appearance of the all-American donor bike, the kit nonetheless maintains the stocker’s rim-mounted brakes, suspension, and wheels. Tex’s aggressive and minimalistic tail section is complimented via angular new tank covers that, when combined with the kit’s sliding telescopic fork cover setup, give the bike a hunched-forward, attack-ready stance.

The Best Custom Motorcycle Builders

Want to take a deeper dive into some of the outfits behind our favorite bolt-on kits? Then be sure to cruise over to our guide to the best custom motorcycle shops for an in-depth look at the most reputable one-off two-wheeler purveyors currently in operation.