How Has the Motorcycle Industry Changed Over the Years?
Fifty years ago, the biking industry was still in its infancy. Many of the features on modern bikes did not exist, and consumers were pretty happy with the basic stuff. As motorcycling became popular in the sixties, electronics and legislation forced the industry to innovate. That is how technology breakthroughs, such as fuel injection came along.
Here are the most significant milestones the motorcycle industry has seen so far.
Decent Suspension
There was a point in time when rear-wheel travel was just 3 or 4 inches. Innovators realised this was not the ideal setup and tried to change it gradually. But the revolution did not gain momentum until 1973 when Maico introduced front dual-shocks, and Yamaha pioneered the single-shock concept. It is at this point that motorcycling became popular. People could now move faster, and the ride comfort was on a whole new level.
Full-Face Helmets
As motorcycles became faster, the need for more protection was becoming clearer with every fatal accident. And that’s how the full-face helmet found its way to the market. Bellfoever created the first version of it in 1967, changing the definition of helmet forever. The creation wasn’t the most comfortable headgear in the world, but it offered protection at a level nobody had ever seen.
Radial Tyres
In 1940, Michelin released game-changing radial tyres for cars. This innovation was so successful that everyone jumped in on it. But they did not explore the motorcycle tyre market until 1980. The first radial street bike tyre was introduced in 1987, and that’s how the company changed motorcycling forever.
Self-Cancelling Turn Signals
The biking community had to wait for this helpful feature, just like it did for the radial tyres. And when it finally arrived, it was on a high-end motorcycle. The 1976 Yamaha RD400cc was the first bike to rock this feature before it rolled out to other brands and models.