Bike tech – the way forward

Published: 17 October 2017

BMW, Honda and Yamaha take next step in intelligent bike technology

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BMW have long been at the sharp end of motorcycle tech development, and are continuing to push the boundaries with their ConnectedRide programme, which aims to deliver inter-vehicle position awareness to prevent road collisions.

The latest concept bike was presented last week, in the form of a modified R1200RS, shown at the Connected Motorcycle Consortium Conference in Munich, boasting an array of systems designed to prevent accidents between motorcycles and passenger cars. The system warns traffic users who are about to disregard the right of way – as well as alerting the endangered rider – via Vehicle to Vehicle Communication (V2V), supported by D-GNSS (Differential-Global Navigation Satellite System).

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The Consortium comprises BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha, with the aim of promoting motorcycle safety worldwide. BMW Motorrad’s Head of Development and President of the CMC, Karl Viktor Schaller, said: “Our aim is to promote the comprehensive use of cooperative safety systems for motorcycles at an early stage in order to exploit their potential for increasing safety as well as riding pleasure. This is why we are inviting other companies to join in.”

Also present were two further prototypes based on a Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin and a Yamaha Tracer 900, all using common architecture.

With 50-70% of motorcycle accidents caused by inattentive drivers, with up to 90% of those being cars, and 30% hitting motorcycles at junctions* where the bike had right of way, the success of this working group could transform the future of road safety for motorcyclists.

(*source CMC research data)

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By Richard Newland

Group Editor - With over 40 years of riding experience and 21 years as a bike journalist, Rich has ridden nearly every new bike of the past two decades and many historical models dating back to the 1930s. He is particularly passionate about sportsbikes from the 1990s and early 2000s, and he loves big bikes that handle well and are suited for long-distance travel. Rich enjoys challenging rides, such as a non-stop 1703.5-mile trip from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back. In his personal collection, Rich owns a 2007 Honda VTR1000 SP-2, a 1998 Ducati 996, a 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 ‘Slabby’, a 1998 VFR800FiW, and a 1975 Honda CB750 SOHC Dunstall.