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01/02/2006 Honda - committed to safety

Honda is pledging its support to making motorcycling safer over the coming years.

Honda’s flagship GL1800 Gold Wing comes into the UK this year equipped with an airbag - the first motorcycle to have one. The airbag system has been developed over the last decade in the previous GL1500 version as well as the Silverwing scooter. The Gold Wing with airbag will be available in the UK this summer.

Honda’s plans also include to equip the majority of their motorcycle range with advanced braking systems on their motorcycles by next year.

Currently, many popular models include either our Combined Braking Systems (CBS) or ABS (Anti-lock Braking Systems) as an option. But from next year Honda will have either one or both of these systems on most of their road-going motorcycle range. Recently, ABS has been introduced as an option on competitively priced models such as the CBF500, but advanced braking systems will be much more widespread on road-going Hondas in 2007.

Meanwhile, Honda has also committed to getting its new Motorcycle Rider Trainer in every dealership within the next three years.

The aim of Honda’s Motorcycle Riding Trainer is similar to that of a flight simulator. For years these have been used in aviation to train and test pilots in complete safety, teaching them what to do in emergency situations so that - when it happens for real ­­- they instinctively know what to do. Honda developed a simulator back in the late 1980s, but current technology back then meant it was large, heavy and expensive. The new Motorcycle Riding Trainer is based on existing PC technology and is small and affordable, meaning it can reach a much wider audience and be used in places such as dealerships and training centres.

All of these initiatives come as a result of Honda’s signing in April 2004 of the European Road Safety Charter, which is dedicated to improving road and traffic safety. Honda is currently the only manufacturer of motor vehicles to sign the charter which aims to halve the number of road deaths in the European Union by 2010.