Yamaha is working on a laser lighting patent that could bring the Powersports industry that much closer to units used by the likes of BMW’s i8 and Audi’s R8.
So far, Ben Purvis’s findings on CycleWorld cite lasers to be a less popular option for bikes due to the cost of the things. With this new patent, however, Yamaha could very well succeed at lighting everything with a single laser source, chopping manufacturing prices and making the tech more feasible for our beloved two-wheeled machines.
As for how Yamaha will integrate the tech, Purvis goes into further detail below:
– Ben Purvis (CycleWorld) |
Based on the patent filing images, the source of the laser will be under the saddle and will branch out via fiber optic cables to wherever it’s needed (in this case, the front and back lighting systems).
While Yamaha’s filings suggest that there is potential for the tech to be integrated into future bike lineups, BMW’s experience with lasers has been off-and-on at best. Purvis prices laser lighting systems to be in the thousands for a single source, making this tech more of a luxury than a functional necessity.
Couple this with the fact that BMW’s one laser-lit bike – the K1600 GTL – made an eventual move to LEDs, and we think that this patent will sit tight until a more… opulent opportunity comes along.
Do you think laser lighting in a motorcycle is a good idea?