The latest new motorbike and rider technology

Read exclusive stories about the latest motorcycle and rider technology, paving the way for bikes of the future.

Year: ALL

Honda tech steers out of danger: Clever new tech brings the ability to take control and prevent accidents

26 May 2022 by Ben Purvis

When Honda unveiled the Riding Assist and Riding Assist-e concept bikes back in 2017 the self-balancing machines stunned with their autonomous abilities – and now Honda is developing the technology to...

BMW adaptive aero springs into action: How pop-out bodywork is the future of aerodynamics

17 May 2022 by Ben Purvis

The idea of moving bodywork is far from new, but BMW are looking to get in on the act without the use of electronics. We’ve had electrically adjustable screens for years and more recently Moto Guzzi’s...

Getting amped up: D3O develop new AMP helmet liner system absorb low-level impacts

29 April 2022 by Dan Sutherland

Motorcycle helmet safety standards have been rightfully given a boost recently with the introduction of ECE 22.06 and a greater focus on rotational injuries. Now armour specialists D3O want to take...

Revolutionary Shoei ‘Opticson’ helmet is edging towards production

22 April 2022 by Ben Purvis

The idea of having a head-up display (HUD) inside a motorcycle helmet is far from new, but despite dozens of false starts, it’s still not a technology that’s managed to break into mainstream...

Current affairs: Horwin planning fast-charging ‘niobium-battery’ bike by 2024

12 April 2022 by Ben Purvis

The Brazilian arm of electric bike firm Horwin has inked a deal with niobium supplier CBMM to bring ultra-fast charging niobium batteries to the company’s bikes as soon as 2024. Niobium is an element...

Yamaha developing power steering for motorcycles

11 April 2022 by Ben Purvis

The barrage of rider aids on today’s bikes would be unthinkable to riders even a decade or so ago but Yamaha’s latest addition could be a game-changer – not only adding an extra layer of safety but...

MotoGP tech to improve airflow is set to make its way onto road bikes

05 April 2022 by Ben Purvis

If you’ve had even a passing interest in MotoGP over the last few years you’ll have noticed there’s something of an aerodynamic revolution underway for motorcycles. And some of that work is trickling...

Bold new hybrid planned: Yamaha design has petrol motor to extend electric battery range

04 March 2022 by Ben Purvis

Hybrid cars are rapidly becoming the norm as a stepping stone to full electric power and there’s a growing suggestion that bikes might take the same route. In 2030 it will become illegal to sell new...

Yamaha’s latest hydrogen engine paves the way for new breed of bikes

24 February 2022 by Jordan Gibbons

Yamaha have unveiled a V8 hydrogen powered car engine that sets the stage for a two-wheeled version. The prototype is based on the 5-litre engine from the Lexus RC F with Yamaha modifying the...

New material inside the latest Ruroc Atlas 4.0 helmet helps it exceed new standards

22 February 2022 by Saffron Wilson

Helmets are getting safer and now a UK firm are pushing the boundaries. The new ECE 22.06 standard means they have to protect against oblique strikes which can cause rotational forces – a common...

New tech: Forward-facing camera for 2022 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX

16 February 2022 by Ben Purvis

Advanced rider-assistance systems are the latest high-tech battleground and with front and rear radars already standard on the 2022 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, the firm’s next move may be the addition of a...

Sensor-based rider assistance systems are about to get serious

04 February 2022 by Ben Purvis

It’s only been a year since the first radar-equipped bikes started to reach customers but already there are new companies starting to supply the tech. Over the next couple of years radar is set to...

New tech from Exro promises E-bike performance boost

20 January 2022 by Jordan Gibbons

One of the exciting things about the introduction of electric motorcycles is that we’re still learning how to make the most of them – so there’s scope for giant leaps in performance instead of the...

Valeo step into battery power: Hopes for a low-cost route to electric bikes

19 January 2022 by Jordan Gibbons

Valeo might not be a household name but they’re among the world’s biggest automotive parts suppliers with 187 production facilities and 67 R&D bases across 33 countries – so their intention to start...

Mix and match Arrow platform to spawn new family for Harley-Davidson LiveWire

05 January 2022 by Ben Purvis

Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire is one of the best electrics out there – but it’s far from cheap. Now, however, things are changing fast with H-D’s decision to spin-off the e-bike operation and news of a...

Yamaha’s SpinForged wheels save weight, improve handling and don’t cost a packet

02 December 2021 by Ben Purvis

Excess weight has always been a bike designer’s nemesis, but while overall reductions are welcome, there are disproportionate benefits from cutting the mass of a motorcycle’s wheels. That’s where...

LiteLok take lightweight motorbike security to the next level

11 November 2021 by Ben Clarke

Lightweight motorcycle security specialists LiteLok have unveiled their latest product, the Core Moto. Rather than aiming to be impervious to attack, the LiteLok is intended to be as secure as...

Fighter pilot kit ready to roll: Aegis Rider’s new head-up display could be a game-changer

05 November 2021 by Stuart Prestidge

A new way to navigate while riding could soon be released onto the mass market as Swiss company Aegis Rider look set to release an augmented reality (AR) head-up display system to bolt into your...

Angle grinder eater: British designed Hiplok D1000 steps up the fight against bike thieves

20 October 2021 by Ben Purvis

There’s an ongoing war between the powers of good and evil as riders find new ways to combat the ever-evolving tactics of criminals. Now British lock firm Hiplok is stepping up with a new weapon in...

Kawasaki show off next generation of electric and hybrid bikes in Japan

13 October 2021 by Phil West

New images of Kawasaki’s two imminent, all-new, electric and hybrid bikes undergoing final testing suggest the firm are set to be the first of the Japanese Big Four to put next-generation EV road...

Charged in 90 seconds: Brand new battery type could be electric vehicle breakthrough

11 October 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Powertain experts Mahle, together with Allotrope Energy, have created a new form of battery technology that promises to end concerns about charging times once and for all. Related articles on...

Bags for the masses: Inflatable airbag protection is no longer just for the rich and pro racers

08 October 2021 by Ben Purvis

The sight of airbags inflating has become a common one in MotoGP since the tech became mandatory in 2018, but In&Motion – one of the companies supplying that gear – want to see more road riders...

Lifting the lid: A new £40 scan claims to reveal hidden helmet damage after an accidental drop

28 September 2021 by Emma Franklin

For the first time ever, a company is offering a service that claims to be able to scan your helmet’s shell for hidden signs of damage or degradation. Before, if you accidently dropped your lid there...

Air today, gone tomorrow: One last hurrah for Honda CB1100 as air-cooled fours look ready for retirement

27 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

Despite the fact that 1970s-styled bikes are in vogue at the moment with manufacturers scrambling to revive machines from their pasts, one of the most convincing of those retro models is on the way...

Kawasaki ramp up technology for three-wheeled superbike project

20 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

Anyone who’s ridden a tilting three-wheeler like the Yamaha Niken or Piaggio MP3 has probably idly wondered what might happen if similar chassis tech was applied to a full-blown superbike. Related...

Classic scooters quit smoking: Battery conversion for Vespas and Lambrettas

17 September 2021 by Phil West

No two-wheelers are better-suited to electric power than scooters and no scoots are cooler than classic Vespas and Lambrettas – and now you can get electric versions of both thanks to these British...

Variable-rigidity 'chain mail' that stiffens on command could be the future of motorcycle clothing

07 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Motorcycle clothing is a conundrum that’s proved tough to crack. Even ignoring the problems that weather conditions pile into the equation, there’s a stark contrast between the requirement to move...

Swedish super-single surprise: NCCR turn half a Buell V-twin into race engine

27 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Well before the 916, in 1992, Ducati created a racebike called the ‘Supermono’. Essentially an 888 with the rear cylinder removed the Supermono was an effective race bike that became the stuff of...

Riding on coconut shells: Activated carbon inserts made from sawdust and coconut shells could transform your bike

15 July 2021 by Ben Purvis

Motorcycle firms have dabbled with the idea of air suspension for decades, but now a British firm have developed a technology that breathes new life into the idea. Related articles on MCN How helmet...

A cool idea for summer riding: Chill Ride vest aims to solve the comfort conundrum

18 June 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Even in the temperate climes of the UK every rider’s wardrobe is filled to bursting point with riding gear to cope with the weather conditions we face. Whether you’re battling to stay warm in winter...

Less is more: Why bike manufacturers are taking a new approach to valve action

06 May 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Read the spiel on the new Suzuki GSX-S1000, or Hayabusa – or bikes from many other manufacturers, actually – and they’ll say the same thing: reduced valve overlap. But what is it, how did we end up...

Kawasaki’s auto-clutch revolution: New patent reveals tech that blurs quickshift and semi-auto transmission

03 May 2021 by Ben Purvis

Quickshifters are standard kit among a growing number of new models, giving a taste of the track by easing clutchless changes. The tech is relatively simple, with load sensors in the linkage that tell...

Head first into speed records: How helmet tech helped Zarco become MotoGP’s fastest rider

21 April 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

On the 27th of March this year, Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco took the previous MotoGP top speed record and hurled it out of the window. Related articles on MCN Yamaha MT-09 exhaust...

Saved by the app: New smartphone tech could save your life after a crash

01 April 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

When it comes to pushing the boundaries of lifesaving motorcycle tech, Bosch have been at the forefront for years. Related articles on MCN Bosch accident detection built into your bike All you need...

Test rides go virtual: How computerised R&D tool could help you choose your next machine

28 January 2021 by Ben Purvis

It might lack wheels, engine, and have a top speed of zero mph but this Yamaha is at the heart of the firm’s research and development – combining with virtual reality and simulation software to let...

F1 tech for future Hondas: Prechamber combustion to maximise fuel efficiency

14 January 2021 by Ben Purvis

Honda are looking to Formula 1 car racing to address the demand for ever-cleaner engines – with a patent revealing a superbike engine featuring the sort of prechamber combustion that’s universal in...