Kawasaki Motorcycles To Feature Radar-Assisted Safety Systems

Kawasaki's next-gen motorcycles will come with high-tech safety features and these features will be assisted by radar. Patent sketches filed by Kawasaki at the Japanese patent office that reveal a few of the technologies that will be used in its motorcycles in the near future.

The patents are for a big ADV tourer motorcycle and it definitely seems like the next-gen Versys 1000. The patent sketches show that the motorcycle will be equipped with radar at the front as well as the rear.

This heralds the coming of a new age in the world of motorcycling. Motorcycles were always considered one of the most dangerous forms of transport. No, we aren't talking about your average commuter motorcycle.

Performance motorcycles offer the most thrilling experience and the danger comes along with it. In order to improve safety, there have been several features that have been implemented in motorcycles over the last few years. Features like ABS, traction control, wheelie control, rear-wheel-lift prevention, etc have made motorcycling much safer than it ever was.

However, the pursuit of safety is one that is never ending, or so it seems. Radar-based safety systems are the new rage in town and the big guns are taking these new systems very seriously indeed.

The one that Kawasaki has patented is also very similar. This is a unique setup as cars too do not feature radar at the rear. The rear radar will be used to measure the distance with the vehicle behind the motorcycle.

The rear radar will not have any control over the brakes or the engine of the motorcycle but will only warn the rider if the vehicle at the back is approaching with too much speed. This will give the rider enough time to react and move out of the way.

This unique system makes sense as there are several instances where motorcycles have been rear-ended by other vehicles simply because of low visibility. The radar at the front will measure the distance between the motorcycle and the vehicle in in front of it.

This system will have control over the brakes and throttle, thereby enabling adaptive cruise control. Out on the open road, in adaptive cruise control mode, the motorcycle will be able to maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front and adapt to the speeds of the vehicle in front without any inputs from the rider.

It will brake and accelerate on its own without any inputs from the rider. It is most likely that Kawasaki too would make use of the radar systems from Bosch.

Thoughts On Radar Systems In Kawasaki Motorcycles

Radar systems are only going to become more common as time passes by. It will be a maximum of 2-3 years before all major two wheeler manufacturers implement radar systems in their premium motorcycles.

Of course, with the implementation of radar systems, the prices of the motorcycles too will go up, and so will the safety quotient. Also, radar systems being implemented in motorcycles could very well be the genesis of autonomous motorcycles.

Source: CycleWorld