How exactly would a motorcycle seat belt work? ItalDesign has an idea

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At first glance, it sounds like a bad idea. In fact, check that; even on second thought, a seat belt on a motorcycle doesn’t sound right. For one thing, the whole thing about motorcycling is supposed to be freedom; being strapped down, even for one’s own safety, seems a rejection of that primary focus. And besides, being strapped to a 250-kilogram hulk of metal if it goes a-tumbling doesn’t sound like my idea of enhancing personal safety.

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Nonetheless, according to Cycle World magazine, legendary design house ItalDesign — founded by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and the people who penned the original VW Golf and Lotus Esprit, not to mention the Ducati 860 GT — has patented just such a mechanism. Nor is their design quite as harebrained an idea as it might seem.

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How exactly would a motorcycle seat belt work? ItalDesign has an idea Back to video

That’s because you’re actually not strapped directly to the motorcycle, but rather to a backbone-like frame that’s attached to the bike via a quick-release mechanism. Onboard sensors — probably not far removed from the gyroscope-based systems that monitor airbag jacket deployment — determine the type of accident that is occurring and what the appropriate action might be.

So, for instance, if the ECU were to figure out that you’re about to low-side — i.e. lose traction while leaned over in a corner — the backbone thingie would detach from the motorcycle so it doesn’t squash you like bean bag. On the other hand, if you ran into the side of a car head-on, the computer would determine you’re way better off being held firmly to the motorcycle rather than flying over — or worse yet, into — the car.

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As to how this could be incorporated onto traditional motorcycles, Cycle World sees the motorcycle seat belt as more appropriate for touring bikes and scooters — especially those being marketed to car-drivers as an alternative mobility solution — but not sportbikes, which require much more freedom of movement to make it a viable option.

Nonetheless, it’s hard to see motorcyclists going for such an apparatus. After all, Honda tried offering airbags on its Gold Wing and the take rate was incredibly low. A large backbone appendage hooked to the seat is unlikely to garner a larger audience. I think we can put this one into the “interesting” folder and forget about it once you click on the next story.