How assistance systems are finally arriving in motorcycles

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• How assistance systems are finally arriving in motorcycles
• ABS becomes mandatory
• Polaris Slingshot – half bike, half car
• Drive slip control for scooters
• This is what the new Honda Africa Twin looks like
• Do more than switch
• The Suzuki GSX-S 1000 is also there dressed
• Erect less in an inclined position
• Speeding up with the motorcycle

How assistance systems are finally arriving in motorcycles

Leaning – if the biker brakes hard at such moments, his motorcycle will more or less straighten up. A new assistant is supposed to alleviate this effect

Source: dpa-tmn

Because electronic components are getting smaller and smaller, electronic helpers even reach the 48 hp class. The effect is increased safety for the bikers. There is even wheelie protection.

W.hen things get smaller and lighter, they tend to get more useful too. Miniaturization is currently giving the motorcycle a safety boost. Technology that once weighed many kilograms and took up a lot of space can now be accommodated in two-wheelers.

Traction control, gear shift assistants and cruise control can be found in more and more motorcycles. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a prime example of technical development.

When it was launched in 1988 by BMW Motorrad, the system weighed more than eleven kilograms and took up considerable space. The latest, far more powerful motorcycle ABS now weighs barely more than half a kilogram and roughly corresponds to the volume of two cigarette packets.

ABS becomes mandatory

This means that it is easy to accommodate even in a motorcycle with limited space and weight. Depending on the design, an up-to-date ABS can also ensure that the rear wheel does not lift during extreme braking or that the front wheel remains on the ground during strong acceleration (wheelie control). In some cases, different levels of regulation are even possible. From January 1, 2017, ABS is to be mandatory in the EU for motorcycles with a displacement of more than 125 cubic centimeters.

Polaris Slingshot – half bike, half car

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Is that a motorcycle, a quad or even a car? The 3.80 meter long and only 1.32 meter flat power tricycle Polaris Slingshot is a little bit of everything.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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But above all, it is an eye-catcher. With its angular plastic body parts, the open vehicle looks like it has just emerged from a science fiction film.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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The driver and front passenger sit next to each other in the Polaris Slingshot and are protected by roll bars.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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The cockpit with the steering wheel, speedometer and gears looks almost like in a normal car. There are even seat belts, ABS …

Source: Thomas Geiger

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… as well as traction and stability control.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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In Germany, helmets are not prescribed by law, but only recommended by the manufacturer.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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The three-wheeled vehicle has a tubular steel frame and is powered by a 173 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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Its power is sent to the rear wheel via a manual five-speed gearbox.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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However, the fun has its price. For the motorized tricycle you have to spend at least 29,990 euros.

Source: Thomas Geiger

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The Polaris brand specializes in quads as well as light all-wheel drive and leisure vehicles. The group also includes the motorcycle brands Victory and Indian.

Source: Thomas Geiger

Ride-by-wire technology for engine control was a prerequisite for the development of most electronic assistance systems; With the so-called e-gas, the commands to open or close the throttle valves are no longer given mechanically, but electronically. A cruise control system, for example, only needs suitable software in addition to various sensors if e-gas is available; additional weight or construction volume is no longer associated with the installation of a cruise control.

Ride-by-wire technology is also a prerequisite for the definition of various engine mappings: This makes it possible to convert the commands from the throttle grip directly or indirectly, i.e. with minimal delay, into performance – the motorcycle’s handling becomes more aggressive or smoother as a result.

Drive slip control for scooters

Traction control is now relatively widespread. Sensors determine whether the rear wheel is in danger of losing its grip when accelerating – be it due to excessive acceleration in an inclined position or, for example, on a dirty road.

If the system detects such a case, the power output is reduced so far that the bike still retains sufficient grip. With controllable traction controls – there are between two and ten levels depending on the complexity – the driver can determine the level of intervention. Often a traction control can also be completely deactivated.

This is what the new Honda Africa Twin looks like

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With a delay that was almost unbearable for fans, Honda has finally pulled the veil off its new Africa Twin: The CRF1000L – that’s the alphanumeric model name… – is instantly recognizable as the successor to the XRV750, which has long since become a cult vehicle.

Source: Honda

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In the tricolor version in particular, you don’t have to look twice to see the Masc…in to perceive the legitimate successor model of the travel enduro, which is highly valued by its fans. She was retired in 2000.

Source: Honda

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The new CRF1000L Africa Twin will now follow on from the tradition of being equally easy to handle on asphalt and unpaved terrain.

Source: Honda

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It is powered by a 998 cubic centimeter parallel two-cylinder four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder.

Source: Honda

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Honda cites 95 hp at 7500 rpm as the maximum output; the maximum torque should reach 98 Nm at 6000 rpm. It is driven by a multi-plate clutch with anti-hop-in…g function and a six-speed gearbox as well as a chain on the rear wheel.

Source: Honda

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A special technical feature of the new Africa Twin is the newly developed DCT dual clutch transmission with selectable on-road / off-road mode. Traction, slip behavior and speed…change functions can be varied at the push of a button; in addition, the current pitch angle is included in the DCT functionality. This should make it easier for the driver to control off-road trips.

Source: Honda

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In addition, the new Africa Twin has other electronic innovations: The Honda Selectable Torque System (HSTC) is a traction control, the three set-up options… offers. In addition, the associated ABS on the rear wheel can be switched off when driving on loose ground.

Source: Honda

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The lighting technology is also very modern; LED units are installed at the front and rear.

Source: Honda

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The chassis is constructed conventionally: A steel frame is supported by a fully adjustable upside-down fork from the manufacturer Showa as well as a hinged and pretensioned… adjustable shock absorber added

Source: Honda

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Honda is still silent about the length of the suspension travel, the ground clearance is given as a functional 250 millimeters. This is not least due to the large wheels: front 21…, 18 inches at the back, designed as robust spoked wheels with an aluminum rim bed.

Source: Honda

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The front is decelerated with double, 310 millimeter large, radially hinged four-piston brake calipers, the rear single-disc brake has an additional parking brake due to the DCT…se on. A two-channel ABS is optionally available, tubeless tires are not available.

Source: Honda

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Thanks to an adjustment mechanism, Honda specifies the seat height with 850 or 870 millimeters, the weight of the standard version (without ABS and without DCT) should be full (just under 1…The tank holds 9 liters) are 228 kilograms; With ABS and DCT, the new Africa Twin weighs 242 kilograms, according to the factory.

Source: Honda

Corresponding systems can no longer only be found in extremely powerful motorcycles, but even in the 48 hp class, whose representatives can be driven with the beginner’s license of class A2. Even with 350 scooters there are already drive slip controls.

Do more than switch

An assistance system that has so far only been offered by a few motorcycle manufacturers is the gearshift assistant. It allows upshifts and, in some cases, even downshifts without using the clutch, whereby the interruption in tractive power is minimized when upshifting.

A sensor connected to the gearshift lever instructs the engine management system to switch off the ignition for less than a tenth of a second. This makes it easy to change gear without using the clutch. BMW introduced the shift assistant in series motorcycle manufacture in 2010.

The Suzuki GSX-S 1000 is also there dressed

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An “F” at the end of the model name stands for the word fairing in English bike parlance. It is precisely around this one letter that Suzuki has the model code of its new Pow…er-Roadsters GSX-S 1000, which “Welt” author Thomas Delekat tested.

Source: Suzuki

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Without a doubt, the GSX-S 1000F looks like a sports bike – with the exception of the wide handlebar. She is primarily responsible for ensuring that this Su…zuki is characterized by an upright, comfortable sitting position.

Source: Suzuki

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Which makes it a kind of motorcycle that has no competitor in the market yet. Also because Suzuki is reluctant to use electronics: one ABS and one… Traction controls that work very well are the only high-tech features.

Source: Suzuki

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The 145 hp in-line four-cylinder is a very sophisticated, low-vibration drive with a lot of power.

Source: Suzuki

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Overall, the GSX-S 1000 proves to be an extremely pleasant bike.

Source: Suzuki

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The GSX-S 1000F stably circles bends of all radii, pleases with easy turning and impresses with its high degree of freedom from inclination.

Source: Suzuki

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Suzuki charges 12,795 euros for its sports tourer.

Source: Suzuki

Last but not least, automotive groups such as Bosch and Continental are heavily involved in the development of assistance systems. This is often done in cooperation with motorcycle manufacturers.

A particularly complex project is the motorcycle stability control from Bosch, MSC for short. It is the electronic stability program for two-wheelers, comparable to the ESP for cars.

Erect less in an inclined position

With MSC, it is possible to use the ABS in conjunction with a control unit to be able to brake heavily even in an inclined position – the driver no longer has to worry about a wheel blockage. The righting moment of the motorcycle, which is unavoidable for physical reasons, is reduced, i.e. the effect that a motorcycle will straighten up more or less if you brake it vigorously in an inclined position.

With MSC, the driver should be able to maintain the desired line better. A good year after Bosch and KTM had the technology ready for series production in 2014, Continental was also able to come up with such a system. These highly complex assistance systems are currently used by BMW, Ducati and KTM.

Speeding up with the motorcycle

The best weather attracts many motorcyclists to the streets. In view of the increased number of accidents of more than ten percent, experts urge careful use of the fast machines. Source: N24

The latest assistance system on the market is Side View Assist (SVW), which BMW also presented for the C 650 GT scooter in autumn 2015.

It is a blind spot detector that works on the basis of ultrasound and has been further developed with the help of Bosch from being used in the car sector to being used in two-wheelers.

But even the blind spot warning for cars meant a safety plus, especially for bikers. sp-x

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