Ducati introduces wirelessly integrated airbag jackets

Ducati has unveiled the new Multistrada D-Air, which according to the Italian manufacturer is the first production bike in the world to feature a wirelessly integrated airbag jacket system

With an intention to take motorcycle safety to the next level, Ducati unveiled the Multistrada D-Air. According to the Italian two-wheeler manufacturer it is the first bikemaker in the world to introduce a production motorcycle with a wirelessly integrated airbag jacket system. The jacket has been developed with the expertise of world renowned riding gear manufacturer and Ducati. According to Italian bikemaker, the airbag is deployed wirelessly only when the intelligent passive safety system, which works in conjunction with sensors built into the Multistrada's existing electronics, feels if the crash is a genuine accident.  

All these calculation, data analysis and deployment of the airbag are done by the Multistrada D-Air system inside both the rider and the passenger’s jacket in just 45 milliseconds. The airbags help in cushioning the impact during a crash thereby increasing the probability of the rider or the passenger surviving the crash. This isn’t the first time a concept of a wireless airbag has been showcased by a two-wheeler manufacturer as BMW Motorrad had announced the same at last year’s EICMA Motor Show. But Ducati has been successful to pip its German rival in becoming the first manufacturer to introduce this technology to the masses. The Ducati Multistrada D-Air motorcycle will be available in European dealerships from May 2014 onwards.

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Ducati Monster 1200 S preview

We take a magnifying glass to the new Ducati Monster 1200 S which is scheduled to go on sale in India by end of 2014

Ducati hasn’t had the best of time in India so far. Deliveries of motorcycles have been an issue and brand dealerships seem to keep sprouting up and disappearing with equal alacrity. And as a brand that’s the last thing you need. What people expect – and no matter how small the number – is stability; confidence that the brand is here to stay; to support a customer’s purchase. Soon though, Ducati will have that stability because like Porsche, Ducati is going to be present in India officially and move away from the importer based model it currently has. Some existing dealerships will stay while some might not. But, there will be new ones; ones that will be here to stay.

And, Ducati will mark its official entry into India with a brand new motorcycle – the new Monster 1200 S. When one thinks of a naked streetbike, chances are the first motorcycle that comes to mind is the Ducati Monster. The Monster, which made its debut in 1993, is now one of most recognised shapes in the motorcycling world and has been Ducati’s bread and butter model ever since. 

The new 1200 S might sport new styling but its silhouette remains unmistakably Monster-ish; as has been the case with all Monsters even before the 1200 S. Originally designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi, the Monster has evolved in terms of design over the years without losing its design ethos - narrow, naked, and simple. The current designers haven’t fiddled with this ethos and the new offering still has the roundish headlamp, which is housed neatly between the meaty front forks and bulbous tank with a subtle knee recess. The headlight employs LED lights, and the S variant gets LED turn indicators as well. The trademark trellis frame is still present albeit in a more compact dimension and sits sandwiched between the chunky radiator and tank. 

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