Inside the Industry: After Market or OEM?

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When choosing a new accessory for an ATV or motorcycle (bike), a consumer will base their decision on several areas: their reason for needing a new accessory, the price, and how well the item works or looks. The first way a consumer can narrow down their decision: OEM or after-market. OEM is a part or accessory that is manufactured by the original make of the bike, i.e., a saddlebag for a Suzuki C50 that is made by Suzuki. After-market is an accessory or part made by a company that specializes in accessories, but didn't make the original bike, i.e., HMF Exhausts, Pro Armor, etc. There is no clear cut answer of whether to choose OEM or after-market.
Hi everyone,
The best choice is first affected by the consumer: Do I want something cheaper? Do I want an accessory that is uniform in looks? Do I want the best performing accessory on the market? The factors into all these questions will differ depending on the bike, on the accessory being looked for, etc. Too often, most consumers assume either a) After-markets are always cheaper and better quality than OEM or b) OEM always looks the best and has the best fitment. Its really not that black and white.

To best guide you, the consumer, to finding the best accessory for a bike, I will present guidelines to my own research, first for a 1982 Honda CM250C, second with a 2009 Ninja 250R, and third for a 2003 Suzuki LTZ-400. To also clarify, for this article, an accessory is defined as an optional addition to a bike, such as a saddlebag, armor, or an upgraded part, such as an exhaust. A part is an original component of the bike, such as the engine, the speedometer, etc. At the end of the article, I will talk about buying parts.