Kawasaki Night Vision System

[Mystic13]

Well Kawasaki will be the first to install infra-red night vision on their bikes. Like night vision in cars the 1st generation is just the beginning of a workable product down the line.

Riding into the setting sun on Sunday evening with poor visibility and open road speeds I had to ride one handed with a hand extended out from my visor to get clear vision. That works well till you have to change gears then you have a momentary loss of vision. I must find a solution to that problem. That and visibility in heavy rain.

here's the story.

http://www.gizmag.com/kawasaki-set-to-debut-night-vision-helmet-mounted-heads-up-displays-and-collision-avoidance-technology/11900/

[Slyer]

The idea of a heads up display has always appealed to me, I think it will be the way to go for the future.

[Laxi]

The idea of a heads up display has always appealed to me, I think it will be the way to go for the future.

I can remember not long ago reading about hud being available for hemets, without having tried 1 the idea of having my field of vission cut into dosnt appeal, as for on bike hud, we'd all have to start running around with hd style fairings, :oi-grr:

[Max Preload]

All these pseudo-safety 'features' detract from the joy of motorcycling.

[Slyer]

Safety features? Naw. It's bling!

[p.dath]

Well Kawasaki will be the first to install infra-red night vision on their bikes. Like night vision in cars the 1st generation is just the beginning of a workable product down the line.

Riding into the setting sun on Sunday evening with poor visibility and open road speeds I had to ride one handed with a hand extended out from my visor to get clear vision. That works well till you have to change gears then you have a momentary loss of vision. I must find a solution to that problem. That and visibility in heavy rain.

here's the story.

http://www.gizmag.com/kawasaki-set-to-debut-night-vision-helmet-mounted-heads-up-displays-and-collision-avoidance-technology/11900/

Sunglasses or a tinted visor sound a lot cheaper ...

[NDORFN]

Looks promising. It'll be a good 20 years before it's affordable to average Joe though.

[CookMySock]

ride one handed with a hand extended out from my visor to get clear vision. That works well till you have to change gears then you have a momentary loss of vision. I must find a solution to that problem. That and visibility in heavy rain.A lot of the time you don't have to change gears, so just leave it in that gear. If its an up-change just throttle off and flick the gear-lever up and it will quite happily and safely go up a gear clutchless for you. Down-changes are a little more cumbersome - you do need to let your revs drop right down to the 2,000rpm area or else they will go down with quite a nasty chop.

In the rain, keep your speed up around 110k ish where you safely can, and it keeps your visor blown clear. Remember, its not really smart being at 110-120k in slippery conditions, so make sure you, your tyres, and your bike are fully up for it, and check brain is engaged at all times.

Steve

[meowmix]

I think I'd agree with the visor or sunglasses idea.
Many new helmets have a smaller internal shaded visor which would cure the drawbacks of having to carry sunnies, or swap out visors when it gets dark.
What happens when the gizmo fails halfway through a bend?
The hevy rain is a little different, but most of the time I find its fine with a splotchy visor, I just watch the patterns, things moving, things stopping, brake lights etc. And my gloves have that little rubber screen wiper :cool:

[steve_t]

A lot of the time you don't have to change gears, so just leave it in that gear. If its an up-change just throttle off and flick the gear-lever up and it will quite happily and safely go up a gear clutchless for you. Down-changes are a little more cumbersome - you do need to let your revs drop right down to the 2,000rpm area or else they will go down with quite a nasty chop.

In the rain, keep your speed up around 110k ish where you safely can, and it keeps your visor blown clear. Remember, its not really smart being at 110-120k in slippery conditions, so make sure you, your tyres, and your bike are fully up for it, and check brain is engaged at all times.

Steve

Hey Steve, how often do you actually change gear without the clutch? Is it not gonna wreck something?

[Mystic13]

Hey Steve, how often do you actually change gear without the clutch? Is it not gonna wreck something?

Nope. Motorcycles can handle clutch-less changes and a lot of riders do it. If you check with your motorcycle service people you'll find they have no problem with it.

[Warr]

Hey Warr, how often do you actually change gear without the clutch? Is it not gonna wreck something?
Since you asked :)
I change gear lots without the clutch. M/cycle gearboxes are constant mesh. The teeth are always meshed. It is the dogs that engage & disengage when you select a different gear.
Provided you a gentle and positive in the movement of the gear lever AND you cut the throttle (for up changes), or blip the throttle for down changes, at the correct time. You will slip into the next gear sweet as.

Too much force or wrong throttle and you do run the risk of bending the gear selectors, which is not good.

Using the clutch eliminates this risk completely.

Tis all about choice ... Predominately I do use the clutch. Tis just there are situation where I choose not to.
eg When pillioning, no clutch = less lurch between the gears if accelerating quickly.
.... and some other times :)

[Dargor]

Sunglasses or a tinted visor sound a lot cheaper ...

No help in the dark though.

Im looking forward to having night vision in helmets.

Good to see development, or hear of plans non the less.

[CookMySock]

Hey Steve, how often do you actually change gear without the clutch? Is it not gonna wreck something?Hey bro, as has been stated, it's all quite safe to do a few gear changes without the clutch. Just try a change such as 3rd->4th without the clutch and you will see. On downchanges just get the revs right down to around 2,000rpm and they slip through nicely, with maybe a clunk.

I only do it when I am forced to, such as when I am scraping my knee on a corner and I am hitting redline and some harley comes around the corner and wants a fucking wave.. No spare hand for the clutch! :oi-grr:

Steve

[Oakie]

Riding into the setting sun on Sunday evening with poor visibility and open road speeds I had to ride one handed with a hand extended out from my visor to get clear vision. That works well till you have to change gears then you have a momentary loss of vision. I must find a solution to that problem.

I'm not so sure about doing it at open road speeds but for a setting sun on the commute you can put a bit of dark tape (masking, insulation, duct) around the bottom of your visor then when you hit the sun (don't touch it, it will be hot) you raise your visor to the point where the tape blots out the direct sunlight. Either that or put the strip at the top of the visor and then just drop your head to the right angle when required.It's not perfect but it's not bad.

[Meanie]

A mighty fine bike its on too, Ive been watching this for a while now and it looks like we will be able to put the night vision on our 08 Concours I think they are working on lights that turn with steering movement too for the Concours. :2thumbsup

[Mystic13]

I'm not so sure about doing it at open road speeds but for a setting sun on the commute you can put a bit of dark tape (masking, insulation, duct) around the bottom of your visor then when you hit the sun (don't touch it, it will be hot) you raise your visor to the point where the tape blots out the direct sunlight. Either that or put the strip at the top of the visor and then just drop your head to the right angle when required.It's not perfect but it's not bad.

Yep, great idea tape around the bottom. Now all I need is something for visor down. Thanks. I'd seen the tape up the top idea but that doesn't cut down the glare.

[cs363]

If anyone is interested in what this night vision trickery is like in real life, here's a clip of the Mercedes version:

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[mowgli]

My (work) helmet has night vision. Not suitable for motorcycle use though.

[pete376403]

What happens when two vehicles with this approach each other - does one cars/bikes infra red swamp the others and cause a white out on the display?

[Forest]

Kawasaki set to debut ... collision avoidance technology

I think I already have that on my bike.

It's called the handle-bars and brakes.