Photo: Bosch
One of the trickiest moments in any motorcycle rider’s journey is experiencing the infamous and dangerous skid, a phenomenon that makes the wheels lose friction and sends the bike in at time deadly slips.
Ever since the motorcycle has been around, riders have learned that the best reaction to a bike’s skid or slide is no reaction. Skidding can be generated and even made worse by accelerating or changing direction, in part due to the fact that usually braking and steering are done via the front wheel, while power is delivered through the rear one.
Oftentimes most skids, especially medium-to-severe ones, eventually end up in a motorcycle crash. But what if there was a system in place that could correct this phenomenon by applying an equal force from the opposite direction?
In May 2018, parts supplier Bosch announced it is working on exactly such a system, meant to reduce the effects of skidding in motorcycles.
For motorcycles, skids can happen due to a multitude of factors, at times acting in unison. Usually, skids take place because the rider does not pay attention to the road surface he is traveling on. Excessive braking or acceleration, a sudden change of direction or leaning too fast in a corner can cause the wheels to lose traction and skid.
The company calls its technology a skid mitigation system. It is comprised of a sensor, a gas canister, a tank adapter and a nozzle.
The sensor is trained to ignore skids up to a certain value, as to not interfere with the normal operation of the bike or make matters worse by getting triggered at inappropriate moments.
Should that value be exceeded, however, the sensor sends a signal that in turn releases a certain amount of gas via a nozzle. The gas is released opposite to the direction of the skid. In theory, a release of gas with enough power to counter the skid should be enough to right the motorcycle, acting somewhat like rocket thrusters used to correct trajectory.
Bosch says its system is lightning fast, as it works on the same principle as airbags do in cars. That means the thrusters are engaged the instant the skid is detected, allowing the bike to regain its stance before any harm comes to the rider.
The size of the canister and other required hardware make it useless on most bikes. For now, the system can be used only on certain types of motorcycles, like the Ducati Multistrada or the KTM SuperDuke.
The two models above are likely to get the skid mitigation system as soon as 2020, but there’s no information yet on how much it would add to both the weight of the motorcycles or to the price tag.
Oftentimes most skids, especially medium-to-severe ones, eventually end up in a motorcycle crash. But what if there was a system in place that could correct this phenomenon by applying an equal force from the opposite direction?
In May 2018, parts supplier Bosch announced it is working on exactly such a system, meant to reduce the effects of skidding in motorcycles.
WHAT IS A SKID
Skidding is a phenomenon that affects both cars and motorcycles. For the latter, the effects of the skid can be disastrous, as the rider of a bike is much less protected than the driver of a car.For motorcycles, skids can happen due to a multitude of factors, at times acting in unison. Usually, skids take place because the rider does not pay attention to the road surface he is traveling on. Excessive braking or acceleration, a sudden change of direction or leaning too fast in a corner can cause the wheels to lose traction and skid.
THE BOSCH SOLUTION
Bosch started the research into the development of such an additional safety system from the assumption that usually riders have practically no chance of righting their bikes once they enter a more severe skid, and they need an additional external lateral force to help them.The company calls its technology a skid mitigation system. It is comprised of a sensor, a gas canister, a tank adapter and a nozzle.
HOW IT WORKS
The system is pretty straightforward. The sensor fitted on the bike detects when the machine enters a skid, be it on account of speed, wet leaves, an oil spill, gravel, or rider error.The sensor is trained to ignore skids up to a certain value, as to not interfere with the normal operation of the bike or make matters worse by getting triggered at inappropriate moments.
Should that value be exceeded, however, the sensor sends a signal that in turn releases a certain amount of gas via a nozzle. The gas is released opposite to the direction of the skid. In theory, a release of gas with enough power to counter the skid should be enough to right the motorcycle, acting somewhat like rocket thrusters used to correct trajectory.
Bosch says its system is lightning fast, as it works on the same principle as airbags do in cars. That means the thrusters are engaged the instant the skid is detected, allowing the bike to regain its stance before any harm comes to the rider.
LIMITATIONS
Unfortunately, just as with airbags, the skid mitigation system can be used only once, so proper and timely activation is a must to make it a real life-saver.The size of the canister and other required hardware make it useless on most bikes. For now, the system can be used only on certain types of motorcycles, like the Ducati Multistrada or the KTM SuperDuke.
The two models above are likely to get the skid mitigation system as soon as 2020, but there’s no information yet on how much it would add to both the weight of the motorcycles or to the price tag.
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