Here is Part 2 of the history of more recent technologies that have made motorcycles they are today.
6. Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 (2007)
As we mentioned earlier, Yamaha somehow dropped the ball after developing the ride-by-wire system by not giving their bikes ride/power modes. (Your bike needs to have ride-by-wire throttle for ride/power modes.) Suzuki got rolling with it when they introduced the GSX-R1000 K7 the next year, along with the B-King. Granted, they had only two rides modes, namely A and B. Mode A gave full engine power, while B cuts it back for riding in the rain.
7. Ducati 1098R (2007) – IMU-based traction control
Some say the first motorcycle to feature traction control was the BMW K1. However, it featured ABS which is the simplest form of traction control. Instead, it was the Honda ST1100A (1992) which followed the ST1100 Pan European that had both ABS and a rudimentary traction control system.
The true modern TCS which works via the ECU and IMU (inertial measurement unit) which calculated the motorcycle’s lean angle and pitch was introduced with the Ducati 1098R. The system, developed by Bosch, provided eight levels of TC settings.
The system was further developed and became Ducati’s integrated electronics suite which debuted with the Multistrada 1200 in 2010.
8. BMW R 1200 GS (2008) – Electronic suspension
Several high-end modern motorcycles use electronic suspension, including sportbikes, sport-tourers, nakeds, dual-sports. However, it began with the 2008 BMW R 1200 GS.
Developed by Sachs, BMW called it ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) and was offered as an option back then. It altered the rear shock’s preload through a handlebar button and stepper motor.
The system was further upgraded to include more settings such as rider only, rider only with luggage, rider and pillion without luggage, and rider and pillion with luggage. Further development saw the advent of Dynamic ESA which self balances.
On the 2013-2014 BMW S 1000 RR HP4, BMW introduced the Dynamic Damping Control system which adjusted the rear suspension’s damping on-the-fly.
Other manufacturers followed suit, especially Ducati which featured the also Sachs developed Skyhook system. Showa also developed their electronic suspension that are fitted to er… Japanese bikes. KTM models such as the 1290/1390 Super Duke GT uses WP’s electronic suspension.
Anyhow, this system is complex and expensive, thus is limited to, as we said earlier, top-tier models. And oh, it is banned in WSBK and MotoGP. Although it is allowed in the FIM Endurance World Championship, teams favour non-electronic suspensions as their insides are easier to fettle with.
9. Ducati Streetfighter 1100 (2009) – LED headlights
So many Ducatis in this list… but yeah, they truly pushed new features on their motorcycles. LED headlights are everywhere these days, even on kapcais. And it all began with this bike.
10. Ducati Diavel (2011) – TFT display
Motorcycle instrument clusters were LCD for a long time, then came the TFT which offered much sharper pixels. Soon, riders could pair their smartphones to the TFT for music streaming, phone operations, and navigation.
However, it was the Ducati Monster 1200R in 2016 which showed off the world’s first fully-colour TFT screen.
The TFT is screen is everywhere now and new motorcycles are expected to feature it.
11. KTM 1190 Adventure (2014) – Cornering ABS
Traction control and ABS are good, but actually needs different parameters and strategies when the bike is leaned over into a corner. Remember that the motorcycle’s tyre profile is rounded compared to cars that are flatter. So, applying the brakes until (standard) ABS activates in a corner will just have the bike standing straight up instead of tracking along the chosen line. The same happens when TCS decides to cut engine torque in the middle of the corner.
So again, Bosch went to work and introduced Cornering ABS and Cornering Traction Control – packaged as “MSC” (Motorcycle Stabilily Control) to the 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure, by further utilising the IMU’s data. KTM was so confident in the system that they called the 1190 Adventure “The uncrashable motorcycle.”
Continental also developed their own system and was fitted to the first BMW S 1000 XR.
12. Ducati Multistrada V4 (2020) – Radar and Adaptive Cruise Control
BMW was the first to announce that they were working on a radar equipped bike and adaptive cruise control, but were undoubtedly shocked by Ducati who introduced it on the Multistrada V4. Included in the suite was also Blind Spot Detection which detected and warned the rider of other vehicles.
