One barometer of how hypnotized the riding public has become by powersports media is the average person's misunderstanding of the word "performance". To a mechanic, the word speaks of a level of efficiency. We say the ignition is high performing when it is adjusted correctly, the plug wires are tight, and the plugs are not dirty. It's performing to its potential. To the maximum design level. But to the rider, the phrase necessarily refers to an aftermarket ignition. It's as if the word "performance" has no relevance outside the hop-up parts world. I have had to avoid using the word "performance" in conversations because it frequently results in miscommunication. Mechanics use it in a qualitative way, the public in a quantitative one. What's lost is the truth that quality results in quantity. Good maintenance provides performance. But quality is always first.

The way the phrase "high performance" is used devalues the maintenance that would result in the bike's optimum performance and the over-valuing of so-called "high performance" efforts. I'm not against making a motorcycle perform better than stock, done it many times. But most riders don't understand that they should start with a vehicle that is performing its best before they try to make it higher performing. Doing the latter before doing the former is low performance thinking. In most cases, the owner of a well fettled machine will not even think of hot-rod parts, the bike will be performing so well. It's amazing the high performance potential maintenance brings.