Where I’d Spend My Tax Return as a Motorcycle Tragic (and Tuner)
As a motorcycle dyno tuning shop owner, you’d think my first suggestion for spending your juicy tax return would be “bring your bike in for a full tune and let’s chase horsepower until the tyre melts off the back.” And don’t get me wrong—that’s a fun road. But if we’re being real, that money can go a lot further before we start squeezing every last kilowatt out of your engine.
First things first: yeah, spend on the essentials. If your rego’s due, your tyres are cooked, or your oil looks like it came out of a deep fryer—sort that out (MDG can help with most of that) No use tuning a bike that’s one ride away from calling a tow truck. But once the basics are covered, I reckon the best bang-for-buck move is to invest in yourself as a rider. I’m talking advanced rider training—not just to survive the daily ride, but to really sharpen your skills. Whether it’s braking harder, cornering smoother, or learning proper body position, these courses can completely change how confident and in control you feel. Plus, you can’t tune out poor technique.
Next up: suspension and handling. Fancy exhausts and big dyno numbers are great pub talk, but if your bike still handles like a soggy sponge in corners, what’s the point? Good tyres, proper spring rates, and a well-set-up shock/fork combination will transform how your bike responds. Suddenly, your favourite twisty road feels like a racetrack. And let’s be honest, that kind of upgrade is worth more than 10 extra horsepower you can only use in a straight line.
Then—and only then—do we talk tuning. Once you’re riding well and the bike is dialled in underneath you, then tuning really shines. A crisp throttle response, a more linear power delivery, or just removing the factory’s overprotective training wheels from the ECU? That’s when a tune takes a good ride and makes it your ride.
Look, I probably shouldn’t be telling people to spend their money anywhere else before coming to my shop. But at the end of the day, I’m a rider first and a business owner second. I want people to get more out of riding—not just more power. So if that means pointing you toward a training course or a suspension specialist before you see me, that’s a win for all of us in the long run. A better rider on a better handling bike is a happier, safer, and faster rider—and when you’re ready, I’ll be here to squeeze every last bit of goodness out of your engine.
P.S Full disclosure, I am a contract coach with the awesome crew at MOTODOJO on some weekends, and have delivered many advanced rider courses with multiple businesses over the years. Behind racing bikes, teaching courses is my favourite part of motorcycling and I am a firm believer in every rider doing at least one as soon as possible.
If I’ve persuaded you to invest in yourself before the bike, then follow this link.
Tell them MDG sent you!
