One of the coolest thing things to come out of the Consumer Electronics Show this year was a motorcycle that could stay upright entirely on its own, both while standing still and at low speed. Whether it had a rider or not, it won't fall over. Honda calls this technology Honda Ride Assist, and sees it as a way to help riders keep their bikes upright at stoplights and in tight parking situations.
But how does it work? Believe it or not, Honda Ride Assist doesn't use gyroscopes or moving weights. As Engineering Explained's Jason Fenske illustrates, the system instead keeps the bike upright with tiny steering inputs. The bike can also lengthen its wheelbase by automatically adjusting the front fork rake, giving it even more stability.
To an experienced rider, it may seem unnecessary to have something like this on a bike. But inexperienced riders crash so often, it's easy to see the value of a technology like this. And who knows? If you ever find yourself trying to get a 900-lb Goldwing back on its wheels, you might be wishing for Honda Ride Assist.
