Whenever a motorcycle part needs to be replaced, there are two options the bike owner has. He can avail himself of original equipment manufacturers (OEM), or of aftermarket parts.

OEM

OEM parts are the components of the motorcycle that come with the vehicle when purchased directly from the vendor; they are brand new and unchanged. This means that replacing a component of your motorcycle with an OEM part is like replacing it with an original part used to setup your motorcycle. OEM parts are outsourced to a third party company that supplies the component needed for the motorcycle. These parts are workable, but tend to be more expensive, since they are considered to be original parts.

Aftermarket Parts

Aftermarket parts are basically non-OEM parts that are manufactured to work in place of original parts. They could be lower, equal, or higher in terms of performance and the same in terms of pricing, although generally if they are meant to match the original part, they are cheaper.

Aside from pricing, an aftermarket motorcycle part may have a substantial advantage over an OEM part because of the high demand for customization of parts. It could simply be a change in the colors of the chassis and the appearance of the rims of the tires or the cables and sheaves inside the motors. The use of aftermarket parts can be for aesthetic values, performance reasons, and safety enhancements.

Warning

A word of warning when it comes to acquiring aftermarket parts: not all the manufacturers of aftermarket parts are accredited by the manufacturer of the motorcycle, which could mean that although the components may seem to fit the vehicle visually, there may be incompatibilities that are not evident and detectable at first. When using aftermarket parts, it is advisable to check these components before and after every ride.