Honda continues its blitzkrieg of patent applications with a head-display windscreen that is also touch sensitive.
The patent illustrations show both an Africa Twin and CBR1000RR Fireblade.
Head-up display of vital information such as speed and navigation has been in cars for several years and is now coming to many “smart” motorcycle helmets.
This is the first time a motorcycle company has considered it for their windscreens.
It features a projector that displays information on the windscreen.
For those who think this is a distraction, it isn’t. It works just fine in cars where you sit behind the windscreen and look through the information which is directly in line with where you view the road ahead.
Africa Twin with head-up display touch screenIt would be fine on bikes with large screens such as Honda’s Africa Twin and their touring Goldwing.
However, on a Fireblade with a short screen, you would often be sitting up and not looking through the screen. We are not sure how it would work there, although it does seem to have a projector on the tank. Perhaps that is for the touch function.
Fireblade with tank-mounted projectorTouch screen
The touch technology in the windscreen also seems a bit strange on a motorcycle.
On most bikes, it’s a bit of a reach to the screen and it’s also quite a distraction to have to take one hand off the bars and reach that far forward.
Yet they have patented for a capacitive touchscreen layer in the windscreen.
Honda patents
Honda patent for variable riding positionThis is one of many patents Honda has lodged in the past year and we are not sure how many of these they will put into production.
This new patent join the following from Honda over the past year:
- Bikes that respond to your emotions by adjusting throttle and brakes and suspension;
- Suspension that works via artificial intelligence to predict and adjust damping.
- Active aero where winglets deploy above a certain speed;
- Direct injection;
- A bike with a variable riding position that converts from a sports bike with a crouched riding position to a street bike with an upright position;
- A small-capacity bike with non-ventilated drum brakes;
- A helmet that integrates with the bike and monitors for of an impending rear-ender;
- A helmet that recognises your face when you put your helmet on and acts as a remote key fob to switch on your motorcycle;
- A rider air-conditioner;
- A “climate seat” that blows hot or cool air;
- A leaning trike; and
- A hydrogen-powered motorcycle.