Interesting Motorbike Innovations Of The Last 20 Years

Sure, motorcycles have always been evolving in positive ways but the rate of that evolution has been quite fast since the dawn of the 21st century. We've seen many new innovations entering the motorbike realm during the last 20 or so years. Today, we'll be looking at some of the most influential innovations that have changed the way motorcycles work and paved the way for future innovations as well. Without wasting any more time then, let's take a look at them.

Ride-by-wire technology

In 2006, Yamaha released the R6 Supersport, the first production motorcycle with a ride-by-wire throttle. This was made to counter the issue of motorbikes briefly stalling due to the abrupt, high flow of air in the combustion chamber when the rider twists the throttle for forceful acceleration. The ride-by-wire technology eliminates direct contact between the twist grip and the throttle butterflies, enabling the butterflies to open just enough to prevent the airflow from stalling at full power and providing a smooth ride.

Supercharger

Now we're aware that forced induction systems have been on motorcycles for a very long time. However, with its H2 series of motorbikes, Kawasaki completely changed the game by introducing superchargers without an intercooler attached to the setup. The company has somehow integrated the intercooler and the engine together with optimum thermal efficiency.

Hill-start assist

A feature that has been in cars for a very long time, hill-start assist is a recent entrant in motorcycles. If you're unaware, such a feature is meant for helping the rider start their motorcycle from a stationary position when it's parked on a slope. If you've ever been in such a situation, you know how difficult it can get, especially for novice riders. Hill-start assist prevents the bike from rolling backwards by holding the rear brake and increasing the revs slightly upon releasing the clutch.

High-utility touchscreens

Screens are everywhere in our lives so why not have one on the motorcycle as well? A number of manufacturers have been shifting from traditional instrument clusters to full touchscreen monitors that offer intuitive UI for riders to take advantage of. Such interfaces even allow them to run diagnostics and experience connectivity features.

IMU

Another huge innovation to have emerged over the last two decades is the Inertial Measurement Unit or IMU. With the help of a tiny box of sensors, this technology is able to monitor the motorcycle's position and make the ride faster and safer. The IMU uses gyroscopes and accelerometers, as well as various other sensors for achieving its purpose.

Airbag vests

This is not a motorcycle innovation as much as it's an innovation for the safety of its riders. Airbag vests were pioneered in the Moto GP and can now be purchased by riders for their safety. Basically, these are vests or jackets with compressed air and sensors. When these sensors identify that something has gone wrong, the vest gets automatically inflated, giving added protection to the vital organs of the rider.

The pace at which all these innovations were instituted in motorbikes in the last 20 years, makes us believe that we're primed to see plenty more in the coming years.