On a gated shifter, the shape and location of the slots/notches control how the shift lever travels between gear positions. An aftermarket gate can change that path so the driver can move between commonly used positions more deliberately and, depending on the gate design, potentially more quickly.
For a Honda Talon, this becomes particularly interesting because of Reverse → Neutral → High. A performance-oriented gate can be designed to make certain transitions easier to locate by feel, which can be useful when you're doing things like backing up and immediately needing drive or reverse. Check out the photo below.
