Aldi claims this year’s annual motorcycle gear sale will feature their safest gear yet with their $189 leather jacket being the most popular buy.
The sale is usually held in the first couple of Saturdays of August, but has been delayed this year until 31 August 2019, starting at 8.30am.
“Every year we work to improve the range to make it even better than the last,” an Aldi spokesperson says.
“This year is no exception, with considerable time devoted to product development, sourcing and testing to ensure our products are of the highest quality and exceptionally priced.”
In past year, sale items have been selected with the help of Neuroscience Research Australia’s Dr Liz de Rome.
Liz, a rider since 1969, also helped develop MotoCAP, motorcycle clothing ratings system. So far, MotoCAP has not tested any Aldi products.
Safety claims
However, Aldi claims they have been “testing relevant motorcycle clothing products to European Standards for several years in order to obtain independent certification”.
“This year, we have worked closely with our supply partners to create products that are both safe and stylish – all without compromising on quality,” their spokesperson says.
“All Torque motorcycle clothing has been certified to the European Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (2016/425).
“We anticipate the leather jacket will be popular among customers as it is exceptional value for money.”
Aldi says the Torque leather jacket features APT-TECH protection technology at the elbows and shoulders, is compliant to Level 2 European Standard EN 13595 and has impact protectors in the back, shoulder and elbow that are compliant to EN 1621.
Leather Jacket – $189
Their Torque motorcycle boots ($99.99) have strengthened heels, hi-vis reflective ankle strips and meet requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment standard EN 13634.
Boots – $99.99
The Torque motorcycle denim jeans ($79.99) have reinforcement lining made of “high-tenacity aramid fibre at critical areas of seat, hips & knees”. They are compliant to EN 17092-4:2019 for “A” classification garments and feature EN 1621 knee protectors.
Denim Jeans – $79.99
They have a choice of two Torque gloves, both costing $34.99.
Their goat leather pair have carbon fibre protectors for the knuckles and fingers, rubber padding in “critical areas” and are EN 13594 level 1 compliant.
Carbon Knuckle Leather Gloves – $34.99 (2)
However, their padded gloves do not have an EN certification. Instead, they have 3D foam rubber protection at the knuckles, fingers and thumbs with 3M Thinsulate padding
Padded Leather Gloves – $34.99
As usual, there is also a range of other motorcycle goods for sale including balaclavas, thermals, bike covers and helmets.
Plus, there’s our perennial favourite – $9.99 Aldi motorcycle socks!
New this year are three types of $19.99 locks and chains to secure your bike and/or luggage.
Locks – $19.99
There is also a range of $39.99 tail and tank bags.
Harley-Davidson is introducing traction control and other electronic rider aids such as hill-start assist and tyre pressure monitors to its 2020 Touring and CVO models.
Not only does RDRS feature traction control, but also cornering ABS, linked braking, clutch assist to limit rear wheel lock-up, tyre pressure monitors and even assistance to prevent you rolling backward on hill starts!
It sounds more like a BMW than a Harley!
Interestingly, Harley has included this disclaimer for those dumb enough to believe RDRS increases traction or improve rider abilities:
Available traction is determined by the road/tyre interface. The systems bundled into the RDRS are only able to adjust brake pressure or powertrain torque in an attempt to keep the forces at the tyre from exceeding available grip. These technologies do not have the ability to increase grip, or to intervene when the rider has not made a brake or throttle application (e.g. coasting through a corner with the clutch disengaged). RDRS is not a system to directly influence vehicle direction. This is a key difference between motorcycle RDRS and Automotive Stability Control. The rider is ultimately responsible for steering and path corrections.
2020 CVO Limited
2020 CVO Street Glide
2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Tri-glide
Features of RDRS include (from the press release):
This feature applies braking effort to both wheels when the rider uses either the hand lever (front) or foot pedal (rear) brake control, which can help many riders achieve better braking performance. The Electronically Linked Braking (ELB) system provides more responsiveness and allows for more balanced front and rear braking under a wide variety of brake applications. The system provides more linking when the rider is applying heavier braking and reduces or eliminates linking for light braking and low speeds. When linked, applying the front brake lever alone will cause the system to also dynamically apply an amount of braking to the rear. Applying the rear brake pedal alone will cause the system to also apply an amount of braking to the left front calliper. Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB) takes into account the motorcycle lean angle or Trike lateral acceleration. C-ELB will alter the proportioning of brake pressure between the front and rear brakes when braking while cornering in an attempt to improve the ability of the bike to maintain the rider’s intended path.
• Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS)
ABS is designed to prevent the wheels from locking under braking and helps the rider maintain control when braking in a straight-line, urgent situation. ABS operates independently on front and rear brakes to keep the wheels rolling and prevent uncontrolled wheel lock. Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (CABS) is a variant of ABS that takes into consideration the lean angle of a two-wheel motorcycle, or the lateral acceleration of a Trike model. The brake pressure required to limit wheel slip when cornering is typically lower than the pressure required under straight line operation.
• Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS)
The Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) is designed to prevent the rear wheel from excessive spinning under acceleration when going straight or cornering. C-TCS can improve rider confidence when available traction is compromised by wet weather, a sudden unanticipated change in the surface, or when riding on an unpaved road. The rider may select one of two traction control modes: Standard Mode is optimised for dry surfaces; Rain Mode is optimised for wet surfaces. The system can also be turned off. The action of C-TCS is also tailored when cornering based on lean angle.
2020 Limited
• Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS) and Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control System (C-DSCS)
Drag-Torque Slip Control (DSCS) is designed to reduce excessive rear-wheel slip under deceleration, which typically occurs when the rider makes an abrupt downshift gear change or decelerates on wet or slippery road surfaces. When DSCS detects excessive rear wheel slip under deceleration it will adjust engine torque delivery to better match rear-wheel speed to road speed. On models equipped with C-DSCS the action of DSCS may be tailored when cornering, based on detected lean angle (two-wheel motorcycles) or lateral acceleration (Trike models).
• Vehicle Hold Control (VHC)
Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) applies and holds brake pressure when activated and prevents the motorcycle from rolling after the rider has released the brake controls. The primary function of VHC is to prevent the motorcycle from rolling when it is stopped – for example at a stop sign on a hill, in stop-and-go traffic on a slope, or on a steep decline out of a parking structure. VHC is designed to make it easier to ride away with confidence by minimizing the number of controls needed to pull away smoothly. The system applies brake pressure until the rider actuates the throttle and clutch to pull away. VHC may also be engaged when the motorcycle is stopped on a flat surface if the rider wants to maintain position without applying pressure to a brake control.
The rider activates VHC by momentarily applying extra pressure to either the front brake hand lever or the rear-brake foot control after the motorcycle has come to a complete stop. If rider brakes very hard to a stop, and holds the brake pressure after stopping, VHC may also set without any added squeeze. A VHC indicator light will illuminate to confirm that the rider has activated VHC, and the ABS system will hold brake pressure after the rider releases the brake control. VHC is disengaged automatically as the rider begins to pull away from a stop, or if the rider applies and releases either brake control.
VHC is not to be used as a parking brake, so it will also disengage if the rider lowers the side stand (on models with a side-stand sensor, not a feature in all markets) or shifts into neutral on models without a side-stand sensor, or if the engine is turned off. In most situations after five minutes the indicator light will flash and the VHC will release if there is no rider action.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
TPMS alerts the rider to low tire air pressure. Maintaining proper tire air pressure is important both for vehicle performance and tire life. The TPMS displays current front and rear tire pressure on the Boom! Box GTS screen (or on the odometer on Road King models) and displays an indicator to alert the rider when tire pressure is low, and the pressure should be checked.
RDRS for Trike Models: Harley-DavidsonFreewheelerand Tri GlideUltra models are equipped with Trike-specific Reflex Defensive Rider Systems with Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB), Cornering Enhanced ABS (C-ABS), Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) and Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control System (C-DSCS). The CVO Tri Glidemodel will add TPMS to the Trike-specific Reflex Defensive Rider Systems.
The Low Rider S returns to the Harley-Davidson stable with its biggest engine yet, along with three new CVO models for 2020. They will be in stores from early October.
Back in 2016, the Low Rider S was a twin-shock Dyna fitted with a 110-cube Screamin’ Eagle engine. Now it arrives as a single-shock Softail with a Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine.
The previous model was a big seller for Harley-Davidson Australia, so they will be hoping this is the same.
Still, the company is the top-selling road bike company in Australia after Honda sales crashed 11.8% as Australia Post seems to have stopped buying their Postie scooter.
Low Rider S
The menacing-looking Low Rider S is marked by blacked-out finishes, raised handlebars, solo seat and a Sons of Anarchy mini fairing.
It’s knuckles to the wind with a 2.5cm (one-inch) diameter motocross-style handlebar mounted on 10cm (four-inch) straight risers.
The Low Rider S powertrain, primary cover and tank console are finished in Wrinkle Black, the derby cover, intake, and lower rocker covers are Gloss Black, the mufflers and exhaust shields are Jet Black and the forks, triple-clamp, riser and handlebar, and rear fender supports are Matte
Black.
The LED layback tail lamp has a smoked lens.
It sits on bronze cast-aluminium wheels will be available in Vivid Black and Barracuda Silver.
Price is now $A27,995 ($NZ29,995), up from $25,995 in 2016 when it was a 110 engine.
Low Rider S in Barracuda Silver
2020 CVO range
The new limited-production Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models are CVO Tri Glide, CVOLimited and CVO Street Glide.
All are powered by the Milwaukee Eight 117-cube (1923cc) V-twin with 169Nm of torque (125 lb ft).
They now come with new technologies and electronic Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) with chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology.
Not only does RDRS feature traction control, but also cornering ABS, linked braking, clutch assist to limit rear wheel lock-up, tyre pressure monitors and even assistance to prevent you rolling backward on hill starts!
KahunaCollection accessories: heated rider grips, pegs, rider and passenger floorboards, and muffler tips
All LED Lighting: Daymaker® headlamp, fog lamps, tail/brake lamps and signals
Colour-matched painted fairing duct
Low-Profile windshield
Clean front fender is trimmed to expose more of the custom front wheel
Power locking trunk with interior light
Heated rider and passenger seat covers
Ventilator air cleaner and air cleaner insert
Lighted hand controls
Tour-Pakcarrier dome light andcarrier rack
CVOmotorcycle custom-fit luggage and a trunk organiser
CB radio
Colours: Blizzard White with a three-stripe graphic pattern and Gray Contrast Cut wheels and bright chrome finishes; Black Stardust with a three-stripe graphic pattern and Gloss Black Contrast Cut wheels and bright chrome finishes.
CVOStreet Glide features:
2020 CVO Street Glide
Fugitive cast aluminium wheels
Low-profile two-piece fuel tank console
Updated rider and passenger seat/backrest cover and stitching
Heavy Breather air cleaner with two paint treatments
Larger colour-matched oil cooler cover is a larger size
Smoked mid-frame air deflectors
Billet fairing-mount mirrors
Colours:
Black Stardust Fade to Stormcloud with subtle graphic treatment highlighted by Satin Chrome and Bright Chrome finishes. Fugitive wheels finished in Gloss Black/Satin. Ventilator air cleaner.
Smokey Gray and Black Hole with new 1970s/race-inspired graphics highlighted by Gloss Black, Satin Black and Black Onyx finishes. Fugitive wheels finished in Denim Black/Gloss Black. Gloss Black Heavy Breather air cleaner.
Premium Sand Dune monotone finish with pearl topcoat and subtle graphics highlighted by Smoked Satin Chrome, Gloss Black and Black Onyx finishes. Fugitive wheels finished in Gloss Black/Smoked Satin. Gloss Black Heavy Breather air cleaner.
CVO Limited colours
2020 CVO Limited
Moonlight Blue with Deep Sea Blue Accents done with modern twist of two-tone and panel style paint highlighted by Satin Chrome and Bright Chrome finishes and new graphics and medallions; Tomahawk wheels finished in Contrast Gloss Black/Satin.
Smokey Gray with Stormcloud Accents done with modern twist of two-tone and panel style paint highlighted by Gloss Black, Satin Black and Black Onyx finishes and new graphics and medallions; Tomahawk wheels finished in Contrast Denim Black/Gloss Black.
Premium Sand Dune monotone finish with pearl topcoat and subtle graphics highlighted by Smoked Satin Chrome, Gloss Black and Black Onyx finishes; Tomahawk wheels finished in Gloss Black/Smoked Satin.
The issue of police being directed to meet traffic offence targets or quotas are back in the news in Queensland and South Australia.
The matter generally raises the ire of motorists who say it is proof that police are revenue raisers rather than performing road safety duties.
Critics also say it leads to motorists being fined for minor speeds and diverts police patrols from catching high-range speeders.
Controversial quotas
The quota controversy has been raised after two recent events:
In Queensland, emails that set quotas for traffic tickets have been revealed in court by a Gold Coast cop in evidence of bullying by senior officers. Queensland police have always denied the existence of quotas but have again admitted there are “benchmark” expectations or “targets” for officers on various offences.
In South Australia, a senior police officer sent an email to staff offering a gift card as an incentive to issue more speeding and traffic fines. SA Police were forced to retract the email and advise that the incentive went against official policy.
Offence quotas (or “benchmarks”, or “targets”) for police are not new.
In the 1970s and ‘80s, the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen government blatantly referred to them as “kill sheets” for traffic and criminal offences.
Officers were required to reach certain targets to gain promotion or face punitive measures such asa long run of “graveyard shifts”.
Rather than promoting road safety and a crackdown on crime, it led to massive police corruption, culminating in the Fitzgerald Inquiry and subsequent jailing of senior cops and politicians.
Quotas exist in various countries at varying levels of legality around the world.
For example, the UK Government ran a two-year pilot project with the Thames Valley force allowing police to claim back a proportion of speeding fines to pay for road safety projects.
Quotas are largely outlawed in democratic countries as unconstitutional.
Yet the practice often continues in a non-official capacity to evaluate the productivity of “slack and lazy officers”, as one former senior cop told us.
Are “targets, benchmarks, incentives, kill sheets, or productivity evaluations” just quotas by another name? Leave your comments below.
A 50-year-old male riders has died after his motorcycle hit a roadside traffic sign in rural Nowra, on the NSW south coast.
Police say that just before 3pm yesterday (14 August 2019) “a motorcycle travelling south on Parma Road at Yerriyong was approaching a bend, when it hit a traffic sign pole”.
The rider was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
A crime scene was established by South Coast Police District officers who are “conducting inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash”.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Our condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Traffic sign hazards
Two Austroads reports in 2014 and 2016 identified there were too many changes in speed zones and too much roadside “furniture” causing a particular hazard to riders.
Despite these reports, wire rope barriers, speed signs and other hazards have proliferated on our roadsides.
While the 2016 report said the road environment accounted for only 2% of motorcycle road deaths in single-vehicle crashes between 1999 and 2003, “certain road elements have the potential to contribute to the actual outcome and severity of the crash”.
It said the first step was to identify roads that pose the highest crash risk to motorcyclists, then perform safety audits.
The report recommended a raft of motorcycle-specific road modifications including:
install flexible but durable materials or shields underneath barriers (no mention of wire rope barriers!);
install attenuators or energy dissipaters on posts and poles;
relocate trees, poles, signs and other roadside objects;
recommended maximums for potholes, ruts and cracks before repair is vital;
rapid road repair including quick removal of oil, diesel and other spills;
Is it time for Australia’s speeding fine system to be overhauled so the rich don’t get away with comparatively light fines while working Aussie motorists pay among the highest fines in the world?
According to British website GoCompare, Australians rank sixth in the world with the highest fines and 10th in relation to their average wage.
Ours is supposed to be an egalitarian and fair society, but how can it be fair for a motorist on a low wage to pay the same fine as a millionaire?
The average Aussie speeding fine for 21km/h over the limit is $401. South Australia leads with $771 fine, followed by NSW ($472), Queensland ($435), Western Australia ($400), Victoria ($332) and Tasmania ($163).
Top 10 fines for speeding 20km/h+
Norway $1028
Iceland $750
Estonia $626
United Kingdom $595
Sweden $412
Australia $401
Switzerland $362
Israel $282
Netherlands $278
Canada $275
Rich cop higher fines
Several countries, such as Britain, Finland and Switzerland, have a system where speeding fines are linked to their wages.
After all, a rich pro footballer, celebrity or wealthy aristocrat would not be deterred by the average UK speeding fine of £188 ($A333).
Meanwhile, the UK has retained their minimum speeding fine of £100 ($A177) and motorists can chose to reduce that further by attending a speed awareness course.
Switzerland and Finland are much tougher on their rich speeders.
Finland uses a “day fine” system of half the offender’s daily disposable income with the percentage increasing according to their speed over the limit.
In 2002, former Nokia director Anssi Vanjoki copped a $A190,000 fine for riding his motorcycle 75km/h in a 50km/h zone.
But that’s not the world record speeding fine which was handed out in Switzerland in 2010 to a Swedish motorist caught driving at 290km/h.
He was fined 3600 Swiss francs per day for 300 days which worked out to almost $A1.5m.
A rider crossing a lane to filter between traffic t-bones another lane-filtering rider in this video released by the Queensland Department of Transport.
The Department posted the video on Facebook with this message:
You’re only allowed to lane filter in Queensland if you hold an open licence for the motorcycle you’re riding, your speed when filtering is 30km/h or less and it’s safe to do so.
We’re not sure if the riders are fully licensed, but they do not seem to be going over 30km/h.
As for the safety, the fact one t-bones the other seems to suggest it is not safe.
Illegal manoeuvre
Also, the rider on the right of the screen is illegally filtering up a merge lane and over painted chevrons.
Their message probably should have pointed that out.
You can only ride on a painted traffic island for up to 50m to enter or leave the road, enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the island or overtake a cyclist.
You must also not drive on a painted traffic island if the island is surrounded by double continuous lines and/or separates traffic flowing in the same direction—like an onramp in this situation.
RACQ safety officer and Bonneville rider Steve Spalding says it is not only against the law, but dangerous.
“The rider could find themselves trapped between merging vehicles with no room to escape the situation,” he says.
The rider also should have looked behind him when moving into the gap between the lanes.
There are many dangers as well as challenges in lane filtering, but one danger we may overlook is fellow lane-filtering riders.
For the first time, women’s riding jackets are among a new crop of leather and textile jackets tested by MotoCAP as researchers start advising riders about their service at seminars across the country.
The world’s first motorcycle clothing safety ratings program has added six textile jackets and nine leather jackets to its growing list of 128 products.
It includes seven jackets designed exclusively for women and two advertised as “unisex”.
The only other women’s gear tested and rated in the past year since MotoCAP began were women’s leggings.
Top jackets
For women, the $650 Dainese Mike Lady jacket scored the highest MotoCAP protection rating with three out of five stars.
Dainese Mike Lady jacket
The unisex $1495 Klim Badlands Pro also scored well with a protection rating of three.
Klim Badlands Pro jacket
For men, the $500 Merlin Hixon men’s jacket scored the highest MotoCAP protection rating of this batch with four stars.
Merlin Hixon jacket
All 15 jackets listed were awarded between half and two stars for the MotoCAP thermal comfort rating.
The latest round of testing results come as researchers from the Deakin University who carry out the MotoCAP testing have been giving seminars to riders to explain what the service is about.
Senior researcher Christopher Hurren will give a seminar this Saturday (10- August 2019) at the Scarborough Community Centre, 163 The Esplanade, Western Australia.
He was invited by Dave Wright of the Motorcycle Riders Association of Western Australia who successfully applied for a grant under the Road Safety Community Grants Programme.
Riders and rider group representatives can attend from 10-11.30am and motorcycle dealers and motorcycle clothing retailers from 1-2.30pm.
Contact Dave Wright for more information and to reserve your place via 0418 954 424 or email, or visit their Facebook event page.
It follows seminars by leading researcher Liz de Rome for Q Ride in Queensland a few weeks ago and for the MRA in Victoria a few months ago.
Chris says he will brief riders on MotoCAP aims, how a rider can use it to select the right gear, what is tested and why, plus “some of the science that we do to back up our work”.
When Chris delivered a similar presentation in New Zealand in February as part of the “Shiny Side Up” tour, the main questions were:
Q: Who funds the program?
A: MotoCAP is a not-for-profit organisation in partnership with and funded by: from NSW – Transport for NSW, SIRA and the NRMA; from Victoria – VicRoads, TAC and RACV; from South Australia – DPTI, MAC and RAA; from Queensland – TMR and RACQ; from Western Australia – the Western Australian Road Safety Commission; plus the Australian Motorcycle Council and the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation.
Q:How many garments are tested a year?
A: It was launched in September 2018 and has so far tested 128 articles of clothing including 64 jackets, 29 pants and 35 gloves.
Q: Are any companies getting on board with the program?
A: Despite invitations, no manufacturer has yet come forward to have their gear tested.
If you are interested in having a MotoCAP researcher talk to your riders group, click here to contact them.
A 23-year-old male rider has died after his motorcycle left the road and hit a tree in Coffs Harbour overnight.
Police say emergency services were called to Donn-Patterson Drive, near Bonalbo Close, about 1.30am (Thursday 8 August 2019).
“The rider was treated at the scene before being taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital, where he later died,” police say.
“He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be a 23-year-old man.”
Our sincere condolences to the young man’s family and friends.
Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District attended and established a crime scene, which has been examined by specialist forensic police.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Overnight crashes
This is the fourth death of a male rider in his 20s in overnight crashes in NSW and Queensland over the past three weeks.
While the Coroner is yet to investigate the matter, we cannot pass judgment on what happened.
There could be a number of reasons for the crash, but night riding is particularly dangerous and has its own set of hazards.
It;’s not only dangerous in the country, but also suburbia where this crash happened.
At night there can be wildlife and stray pets on the road that are difficult to see until too late.
Drunk pedestrians and drivers could also have been involved.
We have put together 10 safe tips for riding at night and hazards to look out for.
With artificial intelligence and self-driving cars dominating the automotive industry, one can’t help but wonder if there’s any technology that’s similar in the motorcycle industry. And to my delight, I’ve found that BMW has already made something similar.
Cue BMW engineer Stephan Hans, as he steps off the new BMW R1200GS.
He gives it a gentle nudge, and the R1200GS proceeds to speed off, looping around the parking lot.
The audience is intrigued.
The bike handles the loops the way a human biker would, leaning into the turn.
The motorcycle ends this spectacle by rolling to a calculated stop right in front of its engineer.
Hans sets the kickstand like a writer punctuating the end of a sentence. It is an exclamation point.
Self-riding BMW prototype (Image: BMW Motorrad)
If you think that the idea of a fully-automated motorcycle seems strange, you’re not alone in that thought. I share the sentiments. While the reasons that a person would grow a love for motorcycles vary, one of those reasons will always be the thrill of the ride. It is an experience that is unique to motorcycles and to have self-driving motorcycles is anathema to that joy.
But even as this would seem like nothing more than a really cool party trick, there lies a necessity in creating a self-driving motorcycle, and it’s not with the intention of replacing human riders as was initially assumed.
The wisdom behind building a self-driving motorcycle is to enable the motorcycle to take necessary corrective measures that are going to help put a rider back on track. This is based on the rationale that motorcycles are less stable than cars. After all, if most modern cars have driving assistive technologies, wouldn’t these technologies have a more significant effect on motorcycles?
This is especially true when you consider that unlike cars that have extra external protection, motorcycles are built to be light and compact, and therefore do not enjoy the same level of protection. This means that motorcycle riders have a higher risk of sustaining injuries in the event that they find themselves in an accident.
This is the rationale upon which the development of the R 1200 GS was built. In the moments where a rider may lapse in judgment, whether because of a lack of experience or because they simply made an error, the self-driving motorcycle can step in subtly.
This can be in the form of a slight adjustment to steering in order to navigate a turn better, or the prompt applying of brakes, or automatic stabilization when the motorcycle senses that the rider is off-balance.
This direction makes so much sense, especially in an age where car manufacturers seem to cram as many safety features as they can into every new model. We definitely have the technology, all we need now is the intention. And with the development of the R1200GS, it would seem that motorcycles are about to get much more secure and beginner-friendly.
