Motorcycle accessories are very good at creating problems you didn’t know you had.
You buy the motorcycle.
Then suddenly you apparently need:
A phone mount.
Three locks.
A tail bag.
A cover.
Crash protection.
A different screen.
A USB charger.
A helmet lock.
A toolkit.
And somehow the motorcycle that was completely usable yesterday now feels unfinished.
I’ve been through some of that during my first year with TITAN, my 2021 Yamaha MT-07.
After roughly 10,000 km, I’ve bought security equipment, Quad Lock gear, a motorcycle cover, crash protection, helmet-security pieces and plenty of smaller accessories.
Some have earned their place.
Some are useful only in particular situations.
And some have taught me that a €10 accessory isn’t automatically good value just because it only costs €10.
So this isn’t going to be a list of everything you can bolt onto an MT-07.
It’s about a much simpler question:
Which accessories actually solve a problem in everyday ownership?
If you want to see what is permanently fitted to my motorcycle first, start with my complete Yamaha MT-07 setup.
This article is about everything around that setup.
And for the motorcycle gear I use : See My Full Riding Gear
My accessory philosophy after 10,000 km
The rule I’ve gradually arrived at is:
Solve the problem before shopping for the solution.
That sounds obvious.
It wasn’t always obvious to me.
Motorcycle accessories are incredibly easy to justify because almost everything has some theoretical benefit.
But there’s a difference between:
“This could be useful one day.”
and:
“This repeatedly makes my actual riding easier.”
That’s the standard I’m trying to use now.
For my everyday MT-07 use, I would think about accessories in roughly this order:
| Priority | Accessory area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Security | Protect the motorcycle you already own |
| 2 | Navigation | Useful if you genuinely navigate regularly |
| 3 | Carrying capacity | Depends completely on what you carry |
| 4 | Weather / storage protection | Useful for outdoor ownership |
| 5 | Crash protection | Worth considering depending on use and setup |
| 6 | Convenience accessories | Useful only if they solve recurring annoyances |
| 7 | Cosmetic extras | Personal choice, not necessity |
Notice what’s missing from the top:
Performance accessories.
The MT-07 already has enough engine for everything I normally ask it to do.
For everyday ownership, practicality solves more problems than another horsepower claim.
1. Security: the accessory category I would prioritise first
Security accessories aren’t exciting.
They’re also the category I would put above almost everything else for city ownership.
My current setup includes:
- an ART chain lock;
- a disc lock.
Those were some of the first things I bought after getting TITAN.
And that priority hasn’t really changed.
Dutch police guidance recommends using good locks and, where possible, securing the motorcycle to something fixed. Stichting ART similarly advises using a second approved lock to attach the motorcycle to a fixed object.
That matches the way I think about motorcycle security now.
A disc lock solves one problem
A disc lock is compact.
It’s easy to take with you.
It adds another physical barrier.
What it doesn’t do is physically attach the motorcycle to the environment.
A motorcycle can still potentially be moved by people determined enough to move it.
A chain solves another problem
A chain gives me the possibility of anchoring TITAN to something fixed where that is appropriate and permitted.
That adds another layer.
So I don’t really think in terms of:
chain OR disc lock
as though one necessarily replaces the other.
For certain parking situations, they complement each other.
What about alarmed disc locks?
I currently use KRAZER Disc Lock which I bought from Amazon.
But if I were researching a future upgrade, alarmed disc locks would be one category I’d investigate.
For example, ABUS currently lists its GRANIT Detecto XPlus 8077 with a 13.5 mm hardened-steel bolt, movement detection and a 100 dB alarm. ABUS itself still recommends attaching the motorcycle to a fixed object for longer parking rather than treating the disc lock as complete security by itself.
That’s the right mindset.
No accessory makes a motorcycle theft-proof.
You’re building layers.
Check your insurance requirements too
One thing I wouldn’t assume is that every lock that looks substantial automatically satisfies your insurer.
If your insurance policy requires a particular certification or ART rating, check the exact requirement and the certification of the exact model you’re buying.
That’s much more useful than a “heavy duty” tag.
2. A phone mount: useful when navigation is actually part of your riding
This is probably my most obvious everyday-convenience accessory.
I bought Quad Lock equipment during my first year, and navigation is something I genuinely use.
The important part isn’t having your phone visible simply because you can.
The useful part is:
being able to glance at navigation without repeatedly stopping or trying to handle a phone while riding.
I already have a complete comparison in my motorcycle phone-mount guide, so I wouldn’t repeat that whole article here.
But there are a few principles worth carrying across.
Secure attachment matters
The phone needs to stay attached to the motorcycle.
That sounds embarrassingly basic until you consider what happens if the mount fails at road speed.
Position matters
I want the screen somewhere I can glance toward without making it the centre of my attention.
Navigation should support riding.
It shouldn’t become another dashboard I’m constantly staring at.
Vibration matters
This one is particularly easy to overlook.
Apple warns that prolonged exposure to certain motorcycle vibrations can degrade camera systems using optical image stabilisation and closed-loop autofocus.
Quad Lock sells a dedicated vibration dampener for its motorcycle mounting system and states that it reduces more than 90% of high-frequency vibration. Its current European motorcycle mounts can be combined with that dampener.
So if you’re building a motorcycle phone-mount setup, I’d think about the whole system:
mount + phone connection + vibration management.
Not just the bracket.
Do you need a phone mount?
No.
If you know your routes or prefer audio navigation, maybe not.
That’s exactly the point of this article.
An accessory only becomes useful when it solves something you actually experience.
3. Luggage: solve the carrying problem you actually have
The MT-07 doesn’t give you much storage.
That became obvious pretty quickly.
But I still wouldn’t immediately recommend the same luggage solution to every owner.
Because the real question is:
What are you carrying?
A commuter carrying a laptop has a very different problem from somebody heading out for a two-hour Sunday ride.
A weekend trip creates a different problem again.
Your options broadly include:
- backpack;
- tank bag;
- tail bag;
- soft panniers;
- hard panniers;
- top box.
Each solves something different.
Why I wouldn’t automatically start with a backpack
A backpack is simple.
No motorcycle hardware.
Take it with you when you leave.
Done.
But once the load gets heavier or the ride gets longer, carrying everything on your body becomes less attractive.
That is when motorcycle-mounted luggage starts making more sense to me.
The important lesson is:
Choose capacity around what you genuinely carry – not around the biggest bag that fits the bike.
If you commute with a laptop, build around that.
If you mostly carry rain gear and a drink, you need far less.
If you’re travelling for several days, that’s a completely different luggage problem.
4. Motorcycle cover: boring, cheap and useful for the right owner
I bought a Toptrek motorcycle cover during my first year.
This is a good example of an accessory that doesn’t change the riding experience at all.
You remove it before riding.
But ownership is more than the moments when the engine is running.
A cover can help keep weather and dirt off the motorcycle when parked.
It can also make the bike less immediately visible, although I would never treat a fabric cover as meaningful theft protection by itself.
For me, its value depends heavily on where TITAN is being stored.
Who probably benefits from a cover?
Someone regularly parking outdoors.
Someone without a private garage.
Someone leaving the motorcycle unused for longer periods.
Someone who simply wants to reduce exposure to rain, debris and dirt while parked.
Who may not need one?
If your motorcycle spends nearly all its non-riding time inside a dry, secure garage, the benefit is much smaller.
Again:
problem first.
5. Crash protection: useful – but don’t treat it like insurance against damage
I added crash-slider-type protection during my first year.
This is one of those categories where accessory marketing can create unrealistic expectations.
Crash protection may help in some low-speed falls or tip-overs.
That doesn’t mean:
“Install this and the motorcycle cannot be damaged.”
The forces and contact points in a fall vary enormously.
So my reason for considering crash protection is much more modest.
If a reasonably designed part can reduce the chance of expensive bodywork or engine-area contact during certain minor incidents, that’s useful.
But I would pay attention to:
- correct fitment;
- mounting location;
- product quality;
- whether installation affects other components;
- manufacturer instructions.
This isn’t a category where I’d choose purely by colour or the cheapest online listing.
Is crash protection essential?
Not necessarily.
I would put security above it.
Maintenance above it.
Healthy tyres above it.
Good rider training above it.
But particularly for a newer rider, city riding, parking manoeuvres or frequent slow-speed practice, I can understand why the extra protection is attractive.
6. Helmet locks and helmet holders: convenient, within limits
I bought helmet holders and a helmet-lock solution during my first year.
These fall firmly into the:
nice when they solve a specific annoyance
category.
Sometimes I don’t want to carry my helmet around for a short stop.
Having a way to secure it to the motorcycle can be convenient.
But I don’t treat that as high-security storage.
A helmet sitting exposed on a motorcycle is still:
- exposed to weather;
- visible;
- accessible;
- easier to damage than a helmet safely stored indoors.
So for a quick stop?
Potentially useful.
For leaving an expensive helmet outside for hours?
I’d rather carry it.
7. A basic tyre-pressure gauge may be more useful than another cosmetic accessory
This isn’t glamorous enough to dominate accessory lists.
That’s exactly why I think it belongs here.
Tyres matter every ride.
Pressure affects how the motorcycle behaves, and checking it is basic owner maintenance.
A simple reliable pressure gauge therefore has a much clearer purpose than a decorative part I barely notice after installing it.
This is also where the distinction between an accessory and a maintenance tool becomes blurry.
I don’t really care which category it belongs to.
I care whether it helps me look after the motorcycle.
My MT-07 maintenance guide goes deeper into what I monitor between services.
8. Small tools and chain-care equipment
Another unexciting category.
During my first year I’ve bought:
- chain-care equipment;
- small tools;
- basic wrench/ratchet pieces.
None of these changed the motorcycle.
They changed how easily I can look after it.
And that may be more valuable.
The Yamaha maintenance schedule calls for far more frequent chain attention than the major service interval, especially after wet riding and washing.
So a basic chain-care setup is something I consider part of real ownership rather than a hobbyist upgrade.
You don’t need a professional workshop at home.
But being able to handle simple checks and basic maintenance without hunting for tools every time makes ownership easier.
9. A tracker is worth researching if security is a serious concern
This is not something I’m presenting as part of TITAN’s current setup.
I’m including it because the category makes sense for city ownership.
Dutch police specifically include GPS vehicle tracking among their motorcycle theft-prevention suggestions.
That doesn’t mean:
tracker = theft prevention.
A tracker doesn’t physically stop somebody moving the motorcycle.
It serves a different purpose.
That’s why security works better when you stop expecting one accessory to do everything.
You might think in layers:
Physical deterrence
Locks.
Anchoring
Chain to a fixed object.
Noise / attention
Alarmed lock or alarm system.
Recovery assistance
Tracker.
Different tools.
Different jobs.
I would research tracker subscriptions, battery behaviour, network coverage, installation and privacy carefully before choosing one.
10. Wind protection: only if wind is actually bothering you
TITAN already has a windscreen, so I covered this more thoroughly in my everyday MT-07 setup.
The important point here is that wind protection is a classic example of an accessory that depends on use.
Urban riding?
I barely think about it.
Longer, faster riding?
I notice the benefit much more.
Someone commuting mostly at city speeds may not care.
Someone spending an hour on the motorway every day might care a lot.
Neither rider is wrong.
Their problem is different.
Accessories I wouldn’t rush to buy
After a year of ownership, this is probably as important as the recommendations.
Random cosmetic parts
A few are fun.
Twenty cheap pieces can quickly become clutter.
Performance accessories before maintenance
More airflow and more sound aren’t particularly impressive if the chain is neglected and the tyres are worn.
Huge luggage systems before knowing what I carry
Buy for the trip you actually make.
Cheap control components
Levers, pegs and anything that affects control deserve proper fit and quality.
Every accessory somebody calls “essential”
This is probably the biggest one.
Motorcyclists managed to survive before affiliate marketing existed.
Your motorcycle does not automatically need:
everything another rider happens to own.
What I would buy first if I bought TITAN again
Knowing what I know now, my early ownership priorities would look something like this.
First: security
A good locking setup appropriate for where I live and park.
Second: maintenance condition
Not technically accessories—but tyres, brakes and servicing matter before gadgets.
Third: navigation, if I actually need it
For my riding, I do.
That makes the phone mount genuinely useful.
Fourth: carrying capacity
Only once I understand what I repeatedly need to carry.
Fifth: weather/storage accessories
Especially if the motorcycle lives outdoors.
Sixth: crash protection
Worth considering based on the motorcycle, use and rider.
Everything after that
Earns its place individually.
That’s a much calmer approach than:
“I bought an MT-07. What should I order tonight?”
The cheapest accessory can still be wasted money
My expense log contains plenty of tiny purchases.
€2.
€5.
€12.
€20.
That’s where motorcycle spending becomes sneaky.
A €200 purchase makes you stop and think.
A €7 accessory barely registers.
Do that twenty times and suddenly the drawer is full of parts you don’t use.
So I’m trying to evaluate inexpensive accessories using the same standard as expensive ones:
Do I actually use this?
If yes, great.
If not, cheap didn’t make it valuable.
Where affiliate recommendations fit
Some of the products around TITAN are things I genuinely own or use.
Others are products I’ve researched.
So wherever possible, I’ll distinguish between:
Owned / used
Something actually part of my riding or ownership.
and:
Researched option
Something that appears useful based on specifications, intended use and available information, but isn’t something I’m claiming to have personally tested.
The accessory question I now ask first
After a year of owning TITAN, my favourite accessory question isn’t:
“Is this good?”
It’s:
“What problem does this solve for me?”
If I can answer that immediately, the purchase might make sense.
If I need five minutes to invent the problem…
I probably don’t need the accessory.
The MT-07 is already a very usable motorcycle.
Accessories should make ownership fit your life better.
Not turn the bike into an endless shopping project.
FAQs
What MT-07 accessories do I personally use?
My first-year ownership setup includes Quad Lock equipment, a chain lock, disc lock, motorcycle cover, crash protection, helmet-security accessories and various small maintenance/convenience items. My permanently fitted motorcycle modifications are covered separately in my MT-07 setup guide.
What MT-07 accessory should I buy first?
For my city ownership, I’d put security first. The right priority for someone else depends on where they park, how they ride and what problem they’re trying to solve.
Is a phone mount worth having on an MT-07?
For me, yes, because I regularly use navigation. If you rarely need navigation, it may be unnecessary. If you mount a smartphone to a motorcycle, vibration management is worth considering because some phone camera systems can be affected by prolonged motorcycle vibration.
What accessories should I avoid?
I wouldn’t automatically avoid a whole category. I would avoid buying accessories without understanding what problem they’re supposed to solve, particularly cheap control components or modifications that could affect safety.
Do I need both a disc lock and chain lock?
Not universally, but they solve different security problems. A disc lock is compact and convenient; a chain lock can allow you to anchor the motorcycle to a fixed object.
Is a motorcycle cover worth buying?
For someone regularly storing a motorcycle outdoors, I think it can be useful for basic weather and dirt protection. I wouldn’t treat a cover itself as serious theft protection.
Should I buy crash sliders for an MT-07?
They’re worth considering, particularly for low-speed use and manoeuvring, but they can’t guarantee the motorcycle will avoid damage in a fall. Fitment and product quality matter.
Related Reads
Continue the MT-07 series:
My Yamaha MT-07 Setup for Everyday Riding
Living With a Yamaha MT-07: My 10,000 km Ownership Guide
What Does a Yamaha MT-07 Cost to Own in the Netherlands?
Motorcycle Phone Mounts for Navigation: Which One to Consider
