Futurebikes From Up Close
FUTUREBIKES FROM UP CLOSE
Company officials peer into the crystal ball
“The question is, will fashion, by the beginning of the 21st century, be accompanied by very high performance, or will it be packaged in a capsule of moremoderate performance? I believe there is an opportunity to spin off concepts that have fashion but that don’t require such a high level of performance, which tends to run the cost up. I believe technology will reach a point where performance technology begins to taper off and is replaced with manufacturing technology to make motorcycles less expensive to produce and easier to repair.
“I’m very interested with what’s happening in Italy, where there’s a huge range of sport-styled motorcycles, right down to 50cc. You look at a picture and you think it’s a 600, but it's not. They’ve got a full range of full-bodied 125s and 250s. I think, on my own intuition, without any objective verification, an opportunity (to sell such motorcycles) will develop here.”
“Ten years ago, if you had asked what today’s motorcycle would be like, chances are that the answers would have been all wrong—we might have said that BMW would just have some slightly improved Boxers by now. The technological advance of the last 10 years has been staggering. Since then, BMW has made a commitment to be an important part of the motorcycle industry, first with the K series, then with Paralever suspension, anti-lock braking, and now the new Kl. In the next 10 years, I don't see motorcycle styling changing dramatically, but they will continue a rapid pace of technological improvement. There will be more emphasis on safety: Anti-lock braking will be more common, even on less-expensive machines, and there will doubtlessly be other innovations in that area. There will be advances in construction materials—plastics and metallurgy—so that product longevity increases. And expect the manufacturers to pay more attention to the serviceability of motorcycles.
“I think there will be many more changes over the next 10 years—some that we could never anticipate today. But I don't think motorcycles will look all that different.”
“In the future, we're going to see improved technology, not only in terms of peak performance but especially for the enhancement of the riding experience. At Honda, we call this ‘human-fitting technology.’ The technology will take two directions, the first being to enhance the basic function of the motorcycle. For example, technology will allow engines to be scaled down while peak performance and power curves are maintained. The smaller and lighter engines will provide the rider with a lighter, more responsive and better handling motorcycle.
“The second area where technology will play a big part is in the creation of new features. We’ll see much more sophisticated motorcycles, with things like speed-sensitive suspensions, variable ride height, traction control for both acceleration and deceleration and even two-wheel drive. Of course, what is cost effective remains to be seen.
“In terms of styling, the field is going to be wide open. We’ll still have traditional bikes, we’ll still have fully covered bikes, and in some cases we’ll lose the distinction between motorcycles and scooters. We know motorcyclists will require even greater diversity in the future.”
“As far as I am concerned, the future holds many intriguing possibilities. We could see the use of exotic materials such as carbon fiber, ceramics and high-tech plastics, with the latter being used in the engine for less reciprocating mass and quieter operation. Other noise-reduction changes may be to have the chain and sprockets constructed of non-metallic materials, along with styling improvements that funnel engine noise away from the rider.
“For certain models, the most significant breakthroughs will be in suspension, steering and braking. This would be accomplished with various forms of swingarm front suspension, anti-dive units and antilock brake mechanisms.
“With all this advanced technology, the outcome is sure to be a better product, although with higher prices. But as in today’s market, certain models of the future will have to carry higher prices simply due to their technical advancements."
“When I think of the future, I try to keep in mind why we ride motorcycles. We like the freedom, the way the bike accelerates and corners. We like to feel a part of the environment, to expose our senses to the outside elements. I believe the sensations we get from motorcycles today will be the same 10 or 15 years from now, but hopefully we will have better conveniences, better fairings, and safer designs. I can easily see an adjustable fairing design, so when you are riding around town, it would be a minimal thing, but then, with a push of a button, a large plexiglass screen would come out around the rider.
“I can also envision the electronic world having a tremendous impact on motorcycles, so I can see some kind of radar that warns not just the rider, but the people in cars when they are on a collision course with another vehicle. And why not build in reflective materials for more visibility?
“I believe there is a place in the future for a more modular motorcycle, one that allows people to personalize it at a reasonable cost. Sure, I am excited by the futuristic designs, as long as the rider gets the same sensations as he needs to feel now."
“Harley-Davidson’s motto for the future could easily be ‘Evolution not Revolution.' We have always been a form-follows-function company, I don’t see that changing in the future. We’ve always put an emphasis on a bike’s individual pieces, in light of those pieces forming the whole, and that won't change. Our bike’s components have that certain Harley-Davidson ‘signature,’ and even though those parts will change in the future, they’ll still be recognizable as Harley-Davidson parts.
“We're into soft-edged designs, as opposed to the hard-edged designs that some of the motorcycles of the future seem to be headed toward. By soft-edged, I mean organic: Our gas tanks, for example, are teardrop shaped, almost as if they’ve been formed under water. You’ll still see that on future Harleys.
“And something else that won't change is that we will always enhance the character of our products using what our customers tell us as a guideline."
