International Dealer News IDN 144 August/September 2018 | Page 11

news ROOM
KTM scores points in battle to be collision
avoidance ‘TechMeister’
KTM says it has “demonstrated
its commitment to improving
safety for motorcyclists and
reducing accidents” as the first
motorcycle manufacturer to
demonstrate Adaptive Cruise
Control and Blind Spot Detection
systems.
Still in the development process,
both of these features use
sensor-based technology to help
detect and prevent a collision
from the front or rear. The
prototype systems were unveiled
on a modified KTM 1290 Super
Adventure S to a select group of
media before being live
demonstrated at the ÖAMTC
driving technique centre in
Marchtrenk, Austria, on May 2.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is
not designed as an emergency
brake system but works when
the machine is in cruise control
above a designated speed. The
system can detect a vehicle in
front, ranging from the size of a
motorcycle and above, and then
locks on to maintain a distance
of two seconds by automatic
throttle control and – if needed –
gentle application of the front
brake.
The finalised packaging of the
system is still in development
along with adding the ability for
the rider to customise the
operational distance and speed.
When fully developed, it is
expected that ACC will be able
to respond faster than any rider
in such a given situation.
The ‘blind spot’ on a bike is
usually checked by a long,
rearward look, which can be
dangerous in heavy traffic
situations. Blind Spot Detection
(BSD) adds another set of eyes in
such demanding riding
conditions or during a
particularly long ride. BSD uses a
short distance radar to ACC to
alert the rider to the potential of
an undetected rear collision –
such as when changing lanes –
by way of a visual warning on
the TFT display, as well as with
illuminating superbright LEDs
integrated within the rearview
mirror glass, also boosted by an
audible signal.
These game-changing features
will be part of new electronics
packages offered on certain KTM
models, beginning from Model
Year 2021. This technology will
also create provision for other
sensor-based systems further in
the future, already in
development.
After personally demonstrating
the effectiveness of these
systems to the journalists by
riding the KTM 1290 Super
Adventure S without his right
arm and leg on the machine’s
controls, Gerald Matschl, Vice
President for KTM Research &
Development, said: “As a
company, KTM is committed to
improving rider safety and also
to reduce accidents. We have a
lot more development and many
thousands of kilometres to test
these systems in the real world
before we can implement them
on series production bikes, but
they are coming in the near
future, and we are sure they will
make a difference.”
KTM PR Manager (Street), Luke
Brackenbury said: “When it
comes to KTM applying
electronic rider aids to its
sportmotorcycles, it has always
been the same approach to offer
features that help riders control
their bikes without losing the joy
of riding. Improving safety for
motorcyclists is part of our
responsibility as a manufacturer,
and KTM has demonstrated this
in the past as the first company
to offer two-channel ABS as
standard on a 125 cc machine
with the KTM 125 Duke in 2014
in the same year as introducing
the pioneering cornering-ABS
function. With ACC and BSD, we
hope to make motorcycling safer
still.”
As a motorcycle technology
leader, KTM currently offers a
wide range of leading electronic
rider aids across most of its 2018
Street range. The goal of such
systems is to either help improve
rider safety or add to the
enjoyment of riding.
Lean angle-sensitive systems can
be found on the new KTM 790
Duke and all of the 1290-
powered machines, which
includes Motorcycle Stability
Control (MSC) with the
revolutionary cornering ABS
function, along with Motor Slip
Regulation (MSR) and multi-
stage traction control. On some
models, semi-active suspension
is offered along with Hill Hold
Control (HHC), Automatic Turn
Indicator Reset (ATIR),
Quickshifter+ and cornering LED
headlights.