Motorcycle Upgrades That Enhance Safety

Motorcycles are the most popular mode of transportation in Vietnam, and the market offers a wide range of models and prices for customers to choose from. The quality of a motorcycle’s components depends on its price tag. If you want your bike to perform well and safely, consider replacing or upgrading the following parts after some time.

Lighting

While some motorcycles come equipped with LED lights, many models, such as the Honda Wave and Yamaha Sirius, still use halogen bulbs. Halogen lights have poor brightness and are only suitable for slow speeds and urban areas.

Upgrading to LED lights is a popular choice among motorcycle owners. LED lights offer better illumination and generate less heat than halogen bulbs. When choosing LED lights, opt for those with a cover over the LED chip to prevent glare for oncoming traffic.

LED headlight housing designed for motorcycles originally equipped with halogen bulbs.

Additionally, there are a few brands on the market that manufacture LED headlights specifically for motorcycles with halogen bulbs. These are easy to install and don’t cause glare thanks to their hidden LED chip design. A set of these LED lights typically costs around 1 million VND, depending on the motorcycle model.

If you’re looking for a more economical option, consider switching to a higher-wattage halogen bulb. A higher-wattage halogen bulb usually costs less than 200,000 VND. However, keep in mind that higher wattage means more heat, which can affect the headlight housing.

Tires

Tires degrade over time, and it’s essential to replace them to ensure safety. Signs of tire degradation include cracks on the surface and reduced road grip.

In the affordable tire segment, the quality differences between brands are usually minimal. To find the right tires for your needs, consider your usage patterns.

Tires are the only part of the motorcycle that comes into contact with the road during travel.

If you’re looking for durable tires, opt for those made with harder rubber compounds. These tires last longer and are more puncture-resistant, but their road grip is only average. On the other hand, tires made with softer rubber compounds offer better road grip but wear out faster and are more prone to picking up road debris. Tires with more grooves provide better grip on wet roads, while those with fewer grooves create more friction on dry surfaces.

There are many tire brands available, such as IRC, Yokohama, Michelin, and Pirelli. Prices depend on the brand and type of tire. For example, a set of Michelin Pilot Street 2 tires for a Yamaha Exciter 155 costs around 2.2 million VND, while a set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Sport 2 tires of the same size retails for approximately 2.6 million VND.

Suspension

In addition to tires, the suspension system plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and comfortable riding experience. However, most affordable motorcycles on the market come with non-adjustable shocks.

When upgrading your suspension, look for adjustable options instead of focusing on whether or not they have a reservoir. The more adjustments a shock absorber offers, the better it is. For everyday use, consider purchasing shocks that allow you to adjust the spring preload or, even better, the rebound speed.

The cost of an adjustable rear shock absorber can range from a few hundred thousand to several million VND.

Spring preload adjustment depends on the load, and simply put, the heavier the load, the more the spring is compressed. The rebound setting is based on your riding style and road conditions.

An adjustable rear shock absorber that allows for spring preload adjustment typically starts at over 900,000 VND. If you want the added feature of rebound adjustment, expect to pay at least 1.5 million VND.