Five of these are world premieres: Four of these new features will debut on a KTM that will be presented in November 2024.
September 25, 2024
Bosch has presented six new radar-based assistance functions – five of which are world premieres. According to Bosch accident research in Germany, these functions could prevent one in six accidents. Bosch had already introduced rider assistance functions for motorcyclists to the two-wheeler market in 2020, with the Ducati Multistrada being the first production motorcycle to feature these devices. Of the six new functions, four will be presented on a new KTM model in November 2024 (so we imagine at EICMA) and will go into production in 2025.
The Austrian manufacturer will integrate four Bosch radar-based rider assistance functions in the front. This is not the first time that Bosch and KTM have worked together: in 2013, the two companies already collaborated on the launch of MSC, the stability control system for two-wheelers. “We are very pleased with the long-standing cooperation between our development teams and are thrilled that KTM is the first to integrate these new functions,” says Stefan Haist, Lead KTM Chassis Control System – Street Development.
Here are the new functions introduced by Bosch
Adaptive Cruise Control – Stop and Go (ACC S&G)
It is a step forward compared to the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) that we know and that is very widespread: with a view to even greater driving comfort, the ACC S&G function, which further assists the motorcyclist by gradually stopping the motorcycle. This system works best with an automatic transmission, such as the one used in the new KTM motorcycle, which will be the first to incorporate the new function. To restart after stopping, you can do without using the clutch and simply restart by pressing a button or briefly activating the accelerator as soon as the vehicle in front starts to move.
Group Ride Assist (GRA)
We’ve talked about it before, and now it’s here: When riding in a group, ACC can make riding more difficult, as the feature expects the bike in front to be in the center of the lane. In these cases, Group Ride Assist is a useful addition to ACC. GRA uses an algorithm that detects if the group is staggering in formation, then automatically adjusts speed to maintain the same distance from the bikes in front, helping riders naturally maintain group formation. When not in a group, GRA works like ACC.
Bosch introduces 6 new radar-based driver assistance functions
Riding Distance Assist (RDA)
In flowing traffic, RDA helps maintain an appropriate distance from vehicles ahead and prevent accidental rear-end collisions. While the desired speed is set for ACC, when RDA is active, the motorcycle is controlled normally with the accelerator. While riding, the system can act by automatically reducing the vehicle’s acceleration or activating the brakes if necessary. The motorcyclist can pre-set the desired distance from the vehicle ahead and, if desired, can use a button to deactivate the function or use the accelerator to evade the deceleration generated by the RDA system. This versatility allows the function to integrate naturally and practically into the riding dynamics.
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
EBA comes into play when the system detects a risk of collision and the motorcyclist’s braking is not effective enough. In this situation, EBA actively increases the pressure in the brake circuit to reduce speed as quickly as possible.
Rear Distance Warning (RDW)
The RDW system monitors the situation behind the motorcycle and activates a flashing warning on the display if a vehicle gets too close. Thanks to this warning, the motorcyclist can take appropriate precautions to avoid a rear-end collision.
Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
The RCW system warns vehicles following the motorcycle when they get too close by, for example, turning on the hazard lights. This function is designed to protect motorcyclists from accidents caused by sudden braking or when those coming from behind do not notice the presence of the motorcycle, whether you are at a traffic light or in heavy or flowing traffic.