There is nothing wrong with dreaming about the future and envisioning what one's dream ride would look like. But while some concept-creators present feasible motorcycle designs that people cannot wait to get their hands on, others come up with futuristic machines that look straight out of a Sci-Fi movie and are too outlandish to become commonplace.
Yamaha Motor's futuristic Motoroid 2 motorcycle falls into the second category. This concept is essentially a self-operating machine that comes complete with a twisting swingarm and AI facial recognition abilities. It can balance its own weight, park itself, and recognize its owner from afar. Though one of the most bizarre contraptions coming out of Yamaha, it sure is an impressive machine that gives us a glimpse of what the future of motorcycledom could look like.
The original experimental Motoroid model, envisioned as a "living machine" that moved autonomously and integrated AI features that allowed for a unique rider-machine relationship, was unveiled back in 2017. Since then, the company has continued to research designs and technologies that would allow them to achieve an even closer and more harmonious relationship between rider and machine and came up with a second version of the conceptual motorcycle, called simply Motoroid 2.
The upgraded version is an electric motorcycle with a hub-driven rear wheel at its core. But that's about it in terms of conventional design on this bike. Said hub is mounted on a swingarm that connects to a motorized, pivoting mount point underneath the saddle. This configuration makes it possible for the entire swingarm and rear wheel to swivel back and forth independently of the rest of the motorcycle.
Photo: Yamaha Motor
Motoroid 2 is also able to unfold the kickstands by itself when asked to park itself. Obviously, it then folds them back up when the owner decides to go for a ride. Moreover, the company is said to be working on a setup that involves gesture control that will allow the bike to move alongside the rider and follow them around.
All this will be achieved by equipping the bike with a refined version of the Active Mass Center Control System (AMCES) for attitude sensing and self-balancing. The image recognition AI system that enables the motorcycle to recognize and react to the owner's face and gestures has also been updated.
With this new, upgraded version of the conceptual motorbike, Yamaha is essentially trying to find answers to questions like "How do you coexist with a machine like a living creature?" and "What will human-machine interfaces actually be like in the future?"
"As a further evolution of the original MOTOROiD, MOTOROiD2 is also a vehicle for personal mobility that [...] has a distinctly life-like feel when somebody is riding on its back and has a presence more like a lifetime companion," the company says.
Photo: Yamaha Motor
In terms of looks, Motoroid 2 comes with a new bodywork and design language. It now features a futuristic-looking white, translucent bodywork with integrated blue mood lighting and copper accents. Rigid handgrips and a mean-looking headlight unit complete the front design.
If you look at the bike from the side, it appears as if an alien-shaped form sits on the frame, and the ridiculously large training-wheel kickstands are its legs.
In one of the images, we can also see that the upper part of the bodywork flaps open, tilting the seat backward in the process. We're not sure why the Japanese company incorporated this feature, but there might be some storage space underneath.
Yamaha Motor plans to showcase the bonkers Motoroid 2 motorcycle concept at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show 2023, which is taking place between October 28 and November 5.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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