These days, most motorcycles are being armed with the advanced ride-by-wire tech

Repeatedly, we have mentioned that motorcycles these days are armed with numerous modern features and electronic aids. Some of them are ABS, cornering ABS, traction control, launch control, slipper and assist clutch, and rain modes. However, in this feature, we have drafted an overview of the ride-by-wire tech, which is another piece of technology that is being used in most of the expensive motorcycles these days.

Before going into the tech, let us give the history of the ride-by-wire tech. Japanese manufacturer Yamaha invented the ride-by-wire technology in 2006. Yamaha applied the tech in the YZF-R6 which was powered by a 599.8cc, DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, inline four-cylinder engine. The motorcycle immediately became a hit in the market and other motorcycle manufacturers started equipping their models with the ride-by-wire tech. Initially, the ride-by-wire tech was used in motorcycles with bigger engines. However, in the present era, it is being applied to smaller displacement motorcycles as well.

What is ride-by-wire tech?

In a conventional motorcycle, there is a throttle cable that links the accelerator and the butterfly valves. Whenever the throttle is twisted, the mechanism affects the supply of air and fuel mixture. At times, when the throttle is suddenly twisted, a higher amount of air is kicked into the engine, whereas an equal amount of fuel takes time to reach the engine. Therefore, the performance of the motorcycle is severely hampered. Not to forget, the combustion inside the engine is also affected.

To eradicate this imbalanced activity inside an engine, ride-by-wire tech was invented. In this tech, there is no mechanical connection between the valves and the accelerator. Basically, there is no cable as it is with a conventional motorcycle. Instead, there are a few sensors that send data to the ECU of the motorcycle. When the throttle is twisted, the sensors send the data to the ECU. The ECU calculates the data and also reads the gear position and engine speed. After considering all these factors, it relays the data to the electronic throttle body. The body ensures that an equal amount of air and fuel mixture is supplied inside the engine. In this manner, the performance and the fuel efficiency of the motorcycle are enhanced. Last but not least, the ride-by-wire tech also helps in tuning a motorcycle and keeping the emission norms under check.