Enhancing Safety and Comfort on Your Motorcycle
Whether you ride for the thrill or for the adventure, motorcycling requires heightened awareness and responsiveness. Even the most experienced riders can find themselves in challenging situations where quick reflexes and constant attentiveness are crucial. Fortunately, advanced rider assistance systems like Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Forward & Rear-end Collision Warning (FCW & RCW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are here to help. These technologies are designed to enhance your safety on the road, giving you peace of mind while allowing you to fully enjoy the ride. As these Advanced Rider Assistance Systems become more common – much like ABS, which was once cutting-edge technology but is now a standard and mandatory feature – we see it as our duty to provide you with a detailed technical insight into the options currently available on the market:
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM): Keeping You Aware of Your Surroundings
You might think there are no blind spots on a motorcycle, but that’s not entirely true. While body panels don’t obstruct your view, factors like helmet design, mirror size and adjustability, vibration, or rain can reduce your ability to see vehicles behind you. This is where Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) comes in, alerting you with a warning light in your mirrors when another vehicle is located in your blind spot or when a neighbor lane vehicle is approaching with a high speed.
If you activate your indicator in the direction of a detected vehicle, the respective BSM warning lightwill start flashing to alert you for the increased risk of a lane change. BSM operates in two modes:
- The Static Mode illuminates a warning light when a vehicle is detected in a fixed blind spot zone behind the motorcycle.
- The Dynamic Mode activates the warning light based on the relative speed of approaching vehicles, giving you enough time to reconsider a lane change if needed.
Forward & Rear-end Collision Warning (FCW & RCW): Anticipating the Unexpected
As one of our favorite “Top Gear” hosts once said, “Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that’s what gets you.” Inattentiveness, misjudgment of the situation, or a series of unfortunate events can lead to potential collisions, even for the most skilled riders. Forward & Rear-end Collision Warning (FCW & RCW) systems are designed to provide timely alerts in critical situations while keeping the rider fully in control.
- FCW uses visual, audible, or haptic signals to warn the rider moments before a potential forward collision, giving them time to react.
- RCW activates the motorcycle’s hazard lights in high frequency in case of an imminent rear-end collision, alerting the rearward traffic of the critical situation.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Enjoying the Ride with Added Safety
There are times when a helping hand can make a big difference—whether it’s getting home safely after a long day or conserving energy on a highway stretch. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a radar-based system that helps to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle ahead while cruising at a chosen speed.
Our ACC function offers two modes:
- ACC utilizes both engine deceleration and the brakes to control the vehicle speed.
- ACCLite keeps the rider more engaged by using the engine deceleration only.
If the driving situation requires a stronger braking intervention than what ACC or ACCLite can provide, the rider will be prompted immediately to take action, such as applying the brakes or making evasive maneuvers.
Future Outlook
With features like Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward & Rear-end Collision Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control, motorcycles are becoming smarter and safer than ever. These advanced systems provide support when you need it most while keeping you in full control, allowing you to focus on the fun part of riding. Whether you’re navigating city traffic, cruising down the highway, or setting out on a long-distance journey, these technologies are your helpful companions, ensuring safety and peace of mind every mile of the way. And this is just the beginning. As technology continues to advance, even more innovative safety features are on the horizon. Stay tuned for the latest developments in Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS).
Enough reading about our technology – why not experience it firsthand? Ride it, try it, and form your own opinion about ARAS by asking your local motorcycle dealer for a test ride on the latest bike equipped with these advanced features. Gain practical experience and see how Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward & Rear-end Collision Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control can enhance your safety and comfort on the road. And don’t forget to share your experience in the comments afterwards!
Looking for more insights on ARAS? Join us at EICMA, the world’s largest motorcycle exhibition, from Tuesday, Nov. 5th to Sunday, Nov. 10th, 2024, in Milan. Explore the future of 2-wheeler innovations up close and connect with industry experts who can answer all your questions about ARAS technology. We can’t wait to see you there!
