Six years ago, Honda broke the internet with its self-balancing motorcycle concept that could stay upright at slow speeds (and when stationary) with no rider inputs. Or even without a rider altogether. At the time, there were several comments suggesting this sort of tech would make perfect sense on hefty Honda motorcycles like the Gold Wing, and that’s exactly what’s about to happen. The Japanese bikemaker has now filed patents for an auto-balancing system for the Gold Wing, which lets the motorcycle stay upright on its own. It's not as groundbreaking as the six-year-old concept that chased you as you walked, but it's still a step in the right direction.
The Auto-Balance Tech Makes The Gold Wing Easier To Maneuver In Parking Spots
No matter how good you are at riding, there’s a high chance you’ve fallen off at least once while pushing the motorcycle by standing on the side. We have done it, you must’ve done it, heck, even Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez has done it. And this is exactly what the patented auto-balance tech wants you to avoid.
The patent shows a handlebar-mounted servo motor and actuator, connected to the onboard computer (possibly an IMU). These work together to deduce whether the motorcycle is falling away or toward the rider (via the tilt sensors), and how much input the servo motor should put in to counter it. So when you walk alongside the motorcycle, the system adjusts the handlebar angle to shift the motorcycle’s weight away from you and make maneuvering easier. Whereas, if the motorcycle tends to fall away from you, it'll make corrections to shift the weight back toward you. Together with the DCT-equipped Gold Wing’s ‘Walk Mode’, the said system should let you move the tourer at slow speeds with no input and worries of toppling.
This isn’t Honda’s first rodeo with servo motors either. It has already patented an auto-pilot system with a similar servo setup to avoid handlebar deflections in bumps and adjust the handlebar to take turns on its own. Similarly, Honda is also working on radar-guided safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane assist, all of which make plenty of sense combined with the recent patent.
When Will We See This Tech In Real Life?
The Gold Wing is in dire need of a sizable update, as it’s remained mostly unchanged since 2018. Not to mention, Honda’s arch-rivals - Kawasaki, Ducati, KTM, Yamaha - have all already jumped aboard the radar bandwagon. Couple these facts together, and we believe the updated Honda Gold Wing could come soon, loaded with smart rider-assist features. It will be the perfect platform for these features too, considering it’s the most expensive Honda motorcycle out there. Once these features debut, expect the Africa Twin to feature them soon after. We say this because Honda recently patented a new front camera system for the ADV.