More than two decades ago, BMW surprised us with the C1, a motorcycle that had seat belts and made a big impression. But although it was a scooter, it was not a conventional scooter because it had protective arches that created a cabin. A different way of approaching the motorcycle from what we were all used to.
Now it is CFMoto that is considering reintroducing seat belts on motorcycles, but in a completely different way and with completely different applications. First of all, as you can see in the patents leaked by our colleagues at CycleWorld, there are no roll bars, cockpits, windscreens or anything else that the C1 had.
In fact, the patents show different restraint systems. CFMoto is looking for the most effective way to make motorcycle seat belts comfortable, practical and effective.
Seat belts would prevent users from being thrown out
That is why there are patents showing a kind of side bars that would hug the user, and another that opts for the more conventional fabric belt. In fact, there are actually two systems that include bars, and although the purpose is the same, the way of placing them, how they work and even their aesthetics are very different.
The first system would be anchored to the tank and would have a system that would allow them to be opened and closed to get on and off the bike. The second of these systems is more similar to the protection bars that we can find on roller coasters in amusement parks, that is, a bar that lowers in front of us. And then there is the third system that seems to be the simplest and most practical, which is the safety belt anchored to the subframe.
In any of the three cases, these systems would be designed for several purposes. The first of them is to prevent the user from being thrown off the motorcycle in the event of a frontal impact or hard braking. This would ensure that part of the force of the impact would go to the motorcycle, although in that case a Honda GoldWing-style airbag would be essential to minimize injuries. The other use comes from driving aids, and would be focused on ensuring that if the motorcycle brakes automatically, the user cannot fall to the ground if he was distracted.
But what happens if the bike falls? One of the worst things that can happen is that the bike falls on top of you and starts to roll over, leaving you hooked. Well, according to the patents, the system would release the user in the event of a fall or if a lateral force is felt during the accident.
These types of safety improvements are a clear example of the commitment of the motorcycle industry in general, and CFMoto in particular, to continue improving passive safety in motorcycles and thus minimise the consequences in the event of an accident.
