5 Motorcycle Design Trends to Watch in 2022
The motorcycle has seen many iterations since it was first created in the late 19th century. Today’s motorcycles are lighter, faster and easier to use than ever before, which is ushering in a whole new generation of riders. Driving a motorcycle can be scary for many people. They often long for the comfort and security that comes with driving a passenger car. Motorcycles have a fatality rate of 72 per 100,000 each year, while passenger cars have a rate of 13 out of every 100,000, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
But the latest safety features may help ease some of this hesitation. If you are looking for a new motorcycle or just learning how to ride, you will be blown away at just how far the industry has come in recent years. Learn about the latest motorcycle design trends in 2022 and how they can help protect you from the dangers of the road.
Going Electric
Saving the planet has never been so much fun. Electric motorcycles are here to reduce the industry’s dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. Riders can power their bikes with clean, renewable electricity like solar and wind. These bikes are quickly becoming the cool new kids in town. They are reaching peak speeds over 100 mph with faster charging times and more range than ever before.
Going electric also means you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars at the pump every month. You can generate your own power source at home. These bikes are also getting lighter, sleeker and sexier. That’s why around 50 percent of riders say they want to switch to electric motorcycles. If you’re tired of heating the planet, now is the time to make the switch.
Sensing the Road
The automotive industry is going digital. Passenger cars now come with all sorts of sensors that will automatically alert drivers when they get too close to another car or obstacle in the road. You often find these sensors in common safety features like lane changing assist and forward and rear collision warnings.
Motorcycles are finally getting the same upgrade. Riders are used to zigzagging through traffic and squeezing into tight areas, but these sensors should give you some more peace of mind on the road. The bike will tell you if you are about to get into an accident so you can get out of the way in the nick of time.
Retro-Inspired
Everyone loves the look of a retro bike, but that doesn’t mean they want to ride one. Retro bikes may have that classic look, but they usually lack the latest safety features. They also tend to be terrible for the environment. If you long to own a classic Harley or some other type of vintage motorcycle, you will be better off investing in a retro-inspired bike. Manufacturers are releasing their classic designs with updated features, giving you the best of both worlds.
You don’t have to drive a bucket of bolts to capture that vintage look. You will feel safer driving a bike that looks like it’s from an old catalog even though it was made within the last year.
Seamless Connections
Communicating on a motorcycle just got a lot easier, thanks to the latest iteration of Bluetooth motorcycle speakers. Riders have been using wireless headsets for years, but this technology is finally coming out of the stone age. Bluetooth lets you connect wirelessly to your phone or communication device. But you would still have to reset the connection every time one of your riders fell out of formation. That’s because traditional Bluetooth forms a direct link between one rider and the next. When one link in the chain breaks apart, the entire chain goes away. But this doesn’t make a lot of sense when you have more than one person in your group.
The latest Bluetooth motorcycle headsets come with dynamic mesh communication (DMC), which essentially quadruples the power of your connection. Instead of forming links from one rider to the next, DMC creates a direct link between every rider and every other member of the group. If one member falls out of formation, the other riders can carry on their conversation without resetting the connection.
You can also use a special half helmet Bluetooth headset if you prefer to wear a modular or half-face helmet instead of a full-face.
Liquid-Cooled
Riding a motorcycle in the dead of summer can leave you sweating like a pig during a barbecue. Your bike will quickly get hot when the engine is running, but taking off your safety gear isn’t an option. You still need to wear your jacket, pants, boots, helmet and goggles to stay safe on the road. So, what is a rider to do?
Manufacturers are addressing the issue with liquid-cooled motorcycles. These bikes use a coolant system to lower the temperature of the engine while riding. Most modern motorcycles now use the liquid cooling system, but plenty of retro designs still use air-cooled systems. Reducing the temperature will also help you protect your bike from additional wear and tear. Heat only puts stress on internal parts and components. Liquid-cooled motorcycles also consume less fuel than air-cooled motorcycles.
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The latest motorcycle designs are here to help you stay safe behind the wheel. Find a motorcycle that suits your needs without putting your safety (or the planet) at risk.
