OEM (original equipment manufacturer)

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. For motorcycle parts it usually means the original part supplied by the bike's maker, identified by the factory part number, or an identical part from the supplier that made it for the factory.

Aftermarket parts are made by other companies to fit the same bike. They can be cheaper, better or worse than OEM; quality varies by brand. Consumables such as filters, brake pads, chains and spark plugs are often bought aftermarket, while complex electronic or engine parts are frequently bought OEM.

When ordering, use the OEM part number or the bike's model, year and frame number (VIN) to find a matching part. Many aftermarket parts list cross-references to OEM numbers.