AUTOMOTIVE technology does trickle down to motorcycles, but it takes a while. Antilock brakes, widely available on cars, are offered on just a small number of 2-wheel models. Likewise, the air bag that Honda introduced on its Gold Wing touring bike in 2006 has yet to proliferate, and adaptive headlights are just making a debut on BMW's new K1600 flagship.
Some desirable features from cars are offered as add-ons by independent companies, though. Here are a few notable examples:
EASY CRUISING A long day of twisting the throttle can turn a rider's right hand into something like the menacing claw from a bad horror movie. Motorcycle Cruise Controls offers an electronic cruise control system engineered specifically for motorcycles. Unlike awkward mechanical throttle locks, this unit can be set with the press of a button, and it disengages with a tap of the brakes. More important, I have found it to hold a precise speed even in hilly terrain, making it possible to ride for miles without touching the throttle. From $900; mccruise.com.
TRACKER While OnStar and other emergency telematics systems have been coming to the rescue of car drivers for more than a decade, motorcyclists in tight spots have been on their own. The palm-size Spot Satellite GPS Messenger changes all that, providing peace-of-mind for riders and concerned family and friends back home.
What makes this and other Spot models so useful is that its satellite signal works in places that have great motorcycling roads but poor cellphone reception. In addition to the bright red S O S button, Spot units offer some features that are useful every day, including the ability to send position updates and short missives by e-mail and text messages. $170. Service fees are additional; findmespot.com.
STAND OUT Anything that makes a bike stand out in traffic is a good thing for safety. Mounting a pair of Glenda LED driving lights on the front forks will do just that, giving a bike a distinctive look that will make oncoming drivers do a double take. A pair of small but brilliant Hyper-Lite red LED flashing brake and running lights serves the same purpose at the back, making your bike more conspicuous. Glenda lights, $475 and up; www.clearwaterlights.com. Hyper Lite, $74; hyperlites.com.
SPEED READER Iffy speedometer accuracy and stepped-up enforcement by revenue-hungry towns make a good case for knowing exactly how fast you're riding at all times. A simple way to do that is by installing a motorcycle-specific version of the trip computers used by serious bicyclists. In addition to an easy-to-read digital speedometer, the Sigma BC 1609L Moto offers several other useful trip-computer functions, including average and maximum speeds and ambient temperature readings. $46; sigmasport.com.
First Published: September 4, 2011, 4:00 a.m.
