Two days ago, we showed you the new incarnations of BMW's two maxi-scooters, the C650 Sport and the C650 GT, and mentioned several improvements the Bavarian manufacturer implemented for the new season.
One of these technologies is the Side View Assist, and it is a feature derived from the automotive world, though so far, not exactly popular with the two-wheeled segment. Despite its rather pretentious name, the Side View Assist is a very simple function that allows a maxi-scooter rider to know if there is another vehicle approaching from behind in the adjacent lanes.
The principle is as simple as it gets, as the Side View Assist uses a 4-sensor array, not unlike the parking sensor systems. The range of action for these sensors is around 5 meters (16.4 ft), and two of them are in the tail section of the scooters, while the second pair is at the front end.
Side View Assist tells the rider if there is a vehicle approaching on either side in the blind spots
When a vehicle approaches from behind in the blind spot at a speed that doesn't exceed 10 km/h (6.2 mph) over the scoot's speed, it is detected and the corresponding warning light blinks on the rearview mirror arm. Then the rider is informed that the lane is not safe, at least not until he uses the turn signals to tell other road users about his or her intentions.
Side View Assist works at speeds ranging between 25 and 80 km/h, or 15-50 mph for riders across the pond, and activation/deactivation is fully automatic. The feature is on the optional equipment list at BMW Motorrad, but no price was so far mentioned. To some riders, it may seem superfluous, but we just know there will be a lot of customers willing to spend some extra money on such automatic traffic safety features. Follow the link for a 2016 BMW C650 Sport and C650 GT mega-gallery.
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