Today’s motorcycles hardly resemble the machines of yesterday. They’ve come a long way from shed-built, wooden bicycle frames with engines, to modern-day track missiles that would scare our ancestors to death. Not only do they look different, but the bits and pieces underneath all that plastic are now more advanced than the computers that took us to the moon. But things like smart traction control, cornering ABS, and ride-by-wire are common enough these days that your average rider will be fully aware of them.
There are, however, some lesser-known (though no less impressive) technological features that you may not know your bike has. Manufacturers like Honda, Ducati, and even Harley-Davidson continue to push the envelope of what a motorcycle can do. Yes, some of us may insist that all we need is a kick-start, a two-stroke engine, and a gas tank to get the party rolling. But there’s no denying that modern motorcycles are technological marvels, providing countless hours of fun, while adding hidden layers of protection, safety, and assistance like slide controls, blind spot detection, and linked braking.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites.
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Slide Control System
We’d wager that every motorcycle rider has experienced their rear wheel kicking out at some point or another. Whether they’re taking a turn a bit too aggressively, or if there’s some loose gravel on the road that we didn’t see. And if you’re not ready, or not familiar with that feeling, it may catapult your heart straight into your guts.
The Slide Control System is basically an extension of traction control. Bikes, like Yamaha’s R1M, are outfitted with this feature to allow for more aggressive maneuvers in the corners. In plain terms, a Slide Control System intervenes when a rear wheel loses traction, and the bike begins to slide. The throttle response is immediately adjusted by the bike’s brain, and as long as the rider doesn’t flat-out panic, stability should be regained.
Key Features
- Part of the overall traction control suite
- Beneficial for track riders
- Adjusts engine output during rear wheel slide
Walking Mode
Just as modern cars have become larger and heavier due to added features, so have a lot of motorcycles as well. So if you’ve ever had to handle a large, heavy bike, you know full well how nerve-wracking it can be. Sure, it handles great on the highway, but stop-and-go traffic and parking lots are a whole different story. Things become worse especially so if the bike is loaded with luggage, gear, and a passenger.
Manufacturers that make massive touring bikes, like Honda, are aware that handling such a beast can be a hassle. To inspire confidence, and help take away the nerves, Honda outfitted their DCT (dual-clutch transmission) bikes, like the Gold Wing, with a Walk Mode. When activated, the bike can inch forward at a walking pace so that parking can be a breeze.
Key Features
- Works with DCT bikes
- Allows for slow forward movement
- Inspires confidence in larger bikes
IMU-Enhanced Chassis Orientation Awareness
We’ve come a long way from wooden frame bicycles indeed. Advanced motorcycles like the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 are essentially giant computers on wheels. To help assist riders who are looking to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the bike, Kawasaki developed its own IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for it. This technology allows the bike’s brain to track its movement in any direction.
So, if the device detects a skid, a slide, a wheelie, or any other dangerous or unintentional movement, it can activate multiple responses via engine output to assist the rider in recovering balance, thus avoiding a potential accident. It’s a highly advanced system, in a minimal package, that helps the rider tame an otherwise too-powerful motorcycle.
Key Features
- Advanced, proprietary technology
- Measures acceleration along longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes
- Beneficial to advanced riders, looking to up their game on the track
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Low RPM Assist System
We’ve all stalled our bikes at least once in some embarrassing fashion. It may have happened at a green light, or a stop sign. Or pulling out of a bike night, with dozens of laughing witnesses. That’s just a fact of life for us riders. But while it can cause us embarrassment in some cases, in others it can be outright dangerous. Stalling on a hill in traffic, for example, can be a serious hazard.
Low RPM Assist Systems, like the one in the new Suzuki GSX-8R, raise the RPMs of the engine an additional amount, as you roll on the throttle so that you’re not stalling the bike. As a result, this allow for a smoother launch control and low-speed maneuvers.
Key Features
- Helps prevent stalls from starting
- More stable low-speed throttle response
- Tailor-made for stop-and-go commutes
Positive Neutral Finder
One of the hardest tasks to master, when first learning how to ride a motorcycle, is shifting gears. More specifically, newer riders tend to struggle with finding neutral while shifting up from first, or down from second. It is for this reason that MSF instructors tend to spend a lot of time having their students practice this action on a stationary bike. But each motorcycle is different, and while it may be easy to find neutral on one motorcycle, you may find that on the next bike, it may be harder.
Kawasaki has spent a lot of time developing technologies that make motorcycle riding beginner-friendly. And while its Ergo-Fit system is relatively well-known, hidden inside the user manual of some of its bikes, you may find the term “Positive Neutral Finder”. In practice, this allows the rider to access neutral with a lot more ease, as it will not allow you to shift past it into second gear from a stop. This is especially relevant while at a long red light, parking, or simply waiting on your bike between rides.
Key Features
- Ideal for newer riders who are struggling with shifting
- Tailor-made for stop-and-go commute rides
Automatic Stability Control
Manufacturers tend to spend a lot of time problem-solving user-generated issues like poor throttle control, aggressive braking, and the inability to properly adjust to inclement weather. As a result, a lot of the solutions come in the form of making the bike smarter. Utilizing state-of-the-art sensors, these smarter bikes can analyze inertia readings, road conditions, and tire behavior, and adjust how the bike behaves accordingly. You may simply know it as traction control, but in high-tech bikes, it is so much more than knowing when you lose traction.
Stability Control is basically TC on steroids. Factoring in not only the wheel spin, but road conditions, ABS, and lean angle, SC can be a true lifesaver when faced with riding in the rain. And if it’s not required for some reason, bikes like the BMW R18 Roctane allow for a quick switch-off with a flick of a thumb.
Key Features
- Next level of TC, with more advanced sensors
- Switchable and adjustable in some bikes
- Perfect for riders facing varying weather conditions
Automated Manual Transmission
Automatic transmissions in cars are pretty much the standard these days, with the manual being relegated to a limited number of models, and strictly for those of us who enjoy driving more than others. With that in mind, the fact that automatic transmissions aren’t as mainstream in the motorcycling world is puzzling. One of the most successful auto transmission pushers is none other than Honda, with its DCT bikes basically in control of that market. But that hasn’t stopped others from taking a stab at it.
KTM’s version is the Automated Manual Transmission. The idea behind it is pretty nifty. While the whole thing is done without a clutch, in manual mode you can do a lot of powerful stuff. Shifting via a traditional foot shifter, or paddles on the handlebar, the rider can choose the standard or reverse shift order (shift up in gears, or shift down in gears, MotoGP style). You can also activate a high-rev limiter, which would allow shifting at higher RPMs – a design tailor-made for track junkies. And if all of that seems too bothersome for you, you can switch to automatic, and simply go for a nice, relaxing cruise.
Key Features
- Advanced shifting options in manual mode
- No clutch needed
- Automatic setting is perfect for touring and cruising
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Blind Spot Detection
Motorcycle manufacturers can be slow at times to pick up on tech that has become standard in cars. Anti-lock brakes, for example, had existed in cars for decades by the time BMW introduced a version for motorcycles in 1988. A lot of that has to do with the inherent, unique challenges of two-wheeled vehicles. With safety features, like traction control and ABS, it’s simply easier to make it for four wheels.
On the other hand, features like Blind Spot Detection should have been much easier to integrate into motorcycles. It’s surprising that only a fraction of motorcycles have this feature. Ducati, for example, jammed this tech under the taillight. And just like in cars, the warning shows up in the mirrors.
Key Features
- Ability to review blind spots without turning your head
- Ideal for commuting and high traffic areas
- Warning system flashes if an obstacle is present when the turn signal is activated
Electronically Linked Braking
Harley-Davidson may be known for a vintage riding experience, exemplified by powerful V-twins and cruiser vibes, but the company has been quietly making some serious advancements on the technology front as well. One of the splashiest tech news stories came from H-D’s revolutionary auto height adjustment feature in the Pan America. It was so popular, BMW immediately crammed their own version into the GS.
But a feature that isn’t as sexy is Harley’s Electronic Link Braking. Developed to create a more optimal braking situation, the system links the front and rear brakes in situations where the brakes are applied more aggressively. And when not needed, the brakes activate as normal.
Key Features
- Best for emergency situations, preventing uneven braking
- Automated system, similar to cars
- Present in high-end models like the Road Glide
Power Steering
As we’d mentioned previously, some of these technological advancements have existed in the car world for decades now. But since motorcycles aren’t really comparable to cars, we can’t ask ‘why isn’t this in bikes yet?’ Two-wheel vehicles have very different problems to be solved. And because countersteering is a real thing, traditional power steering as we know it wouldn’t really work on a bike.
That hasn’t stopped Yamaha from developing one. Though it may not be available on bikes for sale just yet, the company is currently testing it on the YZ450FMs and YZ250F. But how would it actually work on a bike? Well, if you’re familiar with a steering damper, the system would work in a similar way. It would also assist in steering and, according to Yamaha, contribute to stability, improve agility, and reduce rider fatigue.
Key Features
- Provide steering stability
- Reduce rider fatigue
- Improve agility of the bike
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