5 Motorcycle Safety Features You Need to Know
Out on the open road, hitting maximum speeds, taking tight turns with the breeze—while you can enjoy all the thrills of riding your motorcycle, you also need to take precautions to stay safe. As a rider, you may ask yourself, “Are motorcycles worth the risk?” To make sure you can cruise with confidence, Cycle Trader is providing five motorcycle safety features you need to know when you set out to ride your bike.
1. Anti-Lock Braking System
A standard safety feature with motorcycles powered above 125cc engines, the anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents rear tires from locking when you hit the brakes. This stops your bike from skidding and drifting, which is extremely useful if you’re riding an off-road motorcycle. If you’re riding a bike with an engine that’s less than 125cc, a Combined Braking System (CBS) automatically applies the front brake when using your rear brake to reduce stopping.
2. Traction Control
Whether the road is wet and slippery, or smooth and flat, you want to keep your bike stable when you accelerate with traction control. This is a common feature rolled out on modern bikes. Newer bikes with the latest technology will also use stability control electronic aids to analyze acceleration, your handling, and leaning. This system will automatically apply traction control for more efficient braking and stability when taking corners and braking.
3. Rear Lift-Off Protection
Rear Lift-Off Protection (RLP) keeps your back wheel on the ground when using your emergency brakes. If you have a motorcycle powered between 150cc–200cc, you’ll see they have a single-ABS with RLP on the rear wheel. This is critical to your safety when it comes to making a sudden stop. Most motorcycles like sport bikes have engines between 400cc–1,000cc, so rear lift-off protection should be a standard feature.
4. Blind Spot Detection and Lane Assist
BMW proudly introduced Side View Assist (SVA) to alert bikers when there are other motorists surrounding them in the immediate area around the bike, which is helpful in dense traffic. While it’s new, you can expect other biking companies to follow suit. Riders will see a warning light flash on the corresponding mirror. When initiating a turn with a signal, this light will also flash if another motorist is near. This helps eliminate blind spot errors and keeps the rider alert while remaining in the lane.
5. Automatic Emergency Call System
A new tech feature for motorcycles, the automatic emergency call system provides a GPS location of your bike’s position and alerts authorities when activated. The technology is still being developed, and there may be remote areas with less mobile reception, so improvements will still need to be made. However, you might see this innovation with more motorcycles in the future.
When it comes to safety, consider these five safety features for your motorcycle so you’re confident when riding. Along with wearing a helmet when you ride, gearing up, and driving defensively, your motorcycle’s tech can help reduce risks on the road. When you’re ready to purchase your next motorcycle, check out all the new and used listings on the nation’s leading marketplace at CycleTrader.com.
Ryan Miller
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