Honda Working On Motorcycle Seat-Belts

No. Your eyes are not betraying you. You read it right. Honda is really working on a system of seat-belts for bikes. The idea seems crazy, but it looks like a serious project as Honda has filed some patents for the system.

Well, this system is probably not for your Dazzler or Unicorn. Designed for the bikes like the Goldwing, where the rider won’t be hanging off or moving around much in the seat, the belt arrangement is designed to make sure an airbag can work more and to reduce the chances of injuries, particularly in the sort of accident where the bike comes to a sudden halt.

However, It is known that in a lot of accidents it’s better to get away from the bike rather than being attached to it, so the new seat-belt system has the elements of ejector seat too, in the mix (like the fighter jet pilot seats have). When the computer senses that the bike is irretrievably tipping over it releases the entire seat, with still attached rider, and inflates an airbag backrest. The idea is that having ejected you slide down the road in a sitting position, with the seat betwixt your hide and the asphalt. Sort of extreme tobogganing! huh!

To be fair, when bike airbags were first mooted, the concept seemed unpractical but they’ve worked out pretty well on the Goldwing even if the idea hasn’t spread elsewhere yet. Perhaps with enough development this could turn out to be a real safety boon. Till then, it is suggested not to throw out your leathers and safety gears.

Well, I have a question! What if one ejected himself from the bike before hitting his knees to the road and a Punjub Lorie was just behind his bike!

Regards,
Soham