Imagine a motorcycle that warns you when you’re coming into a corner too fast ….
It could become a reality according to a report from the UK.
Motorcycles capable of warning riders when they’re speeding, cornering too fast or travelling too close to the vehicle in front are to begin UK road trials in June.
It’s likely they will use satellite navigation and speed limit maps to warn the rider when they’re speeding, a “curve speed warning” feature will tell the rider when he’s approaching a bend too fast and sensors will detect objects ahead and warn riders if there’s a risk of collision.
The warning system is a prototype of safety technology the European Commission would like to see manufacturers put into road bikes in the next five to six years.
Obviously any proposed system has to take certain assumptions into account.
Obviously any proposed system has to take certain assumptions into account.
Speeding and travelling too close to other vehicles would seem to be relatively easy warning systems to put in place given the current technology available in GPS systems and parking proximity warning systems found in many cars.
The accuracy, or even the availability, of speed zone data would be a critical factor in being able to implement the system. Based on my own personal experience with GPS systems in Australia we would need to upgrade the currently available data significantly and the maintenance of that data could become both a time and a financial burden on authorities.
However, cornering speed warnings would be even more complex. Not only would the system rely on accurate speed zone data and advisory corner speeds, the obvious question is how could it take into account the prevailing road and weather conditions and the condition of the motorcycle. This is where a fair assumption would have to come into play - all advisory speeds are based on good conditions. Could it also take into account a weather report feed and respond appropriately? Or are we going too far into the realm of sci-fi and the Jetsons?
Given all the possible issues, the technology would be a far more acceptable and safer alternative to the speed limiting devices proposed in Europe a couple of years ago. The plan was for those devices to take control from riders and automatically cut power whenever the speed limit was exceeded - a proposal that came under a serious amount of criticism as being potentially very dangerous.
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look in my opinion, this type of addition is something i am glad was not fitted on my Hayabusa. Something like this for say, less experienced rides, would lure them into a false sense of security relying on a satellite to tell you you’re going into a corner too hot rather than instinct and rider capabilities thus possibly resulting in more accidents. How correct are these GPS’s anyway. I know i have been given a bum steer when following one on time to time. Anyway i guess any imitative in safety is a good thing, i just question this one. My 2c
Comment by 2010_Lo_Busa — Feb 13 @ 5:04 pmBrilliant stuff we have cars full of gadgets so the drivers need less brains to operate them and now they want to push this technology into the motorcycle world ..
Comment by Paul W — Feb 13 @ 5:19 pmcall me old fashioned but I have little faith in the current CBT&A training and less in gadgets…
Funny how you guys are all reacting exactly as I did when I first read the story. And you know, the guys in Europe are saying the same things as well. The last thing I want is for a motorcycle to tell me I’m safe when I know it’s about to spit me off. It’ll be interesting to see how the road trials go. Remember, this is coming from Europe and there are no plans that I know of to trial it here. Personally I can’t see it working but they might get a watered down version with just speed warnings and no cornering warnings. And then, as you said 2010_Lo_Busa “how accurate are the GPS’s?” Navman’s don’t even seem to have the speed limit map correct for the M1 let alone the back roads! I’m a great fan of technology but in this case I think the answer is in training and education. Ah yes …. all I can do is report the news ….
Comment by Steve McDowall — Feb 14 @ 5:58 amYes Steve Mc and it interesting news..
I see many riders with all the bling gadgets on their bikes but really poor riding/roadcraft skills where it counts..some group rides I have done I am appalled at the slow riding skills of some recently Licensed riders..foot draggers and duck walkers ..some who still cannot do a slow speed turn correctly…1-2 finger brakers …
Comment by Paul W — Feb 14 @ 6:46 amand the many who don’t understand Road Rules…basic stuff..
Why make it worse with more bling and less skills or am I just overly obsessed with Safety ??
I agree … “All the gear and no idea!” Doing what I do with the media I see a lot of stories from all over the world and the ones like this where “technology will save us” absolutely baffle me. Surely the answer is in giving the rider the necessary skills and attitude to ride safely. No Paul, you’re not overly obsessed with safety, you just have a sensible attitude. Thanks for the discussion.
Comment by Steve McDowall — Feb 14 @ 8:26 amI was out yesterday and also noticed how many have “no gear and no idea ” also Steve..
Comment by Paul W — Feb 22 @ 6:22 amBut that’s so common now too !