New Japanese Motorcycle Will Change Travel Forever!

In 2023, between October and November, during the prestigious Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Yamaha unveiled to the world the second generation of its futuristic concept motorcycle – the Yamaha Motoroid 2. It is an electric, self-balancing single-track vehicle that goes far beyond the boundaries of traditional motorcycling. This is not an ordinary prototype – the Motoroid 2 is a manifestation of the philosophy “Jin-Ki Kanno”, the pursuit of perfect harmony between human and machine. Yamaha does not treat this project as a vision for a future production model, but rather as an experiment designed to explore how a vehicle can behave like a “living” partner – one that reacts, communicates and cooperates with its rider. The Motoroid 2 is the successor to the Motoroid concept from 2017, which already caused a sensation with its ability to maintain balance autonomously and recognise its owner. The second generation, however, goes a step further – Yamaha has refined its key system, the Active Mass Center Control System, an active mass-shifting mechanism responsible for keeping the motorcycle balanced. Thanks to it, the machine can stand up from its kickstand on its own, remain upright without a rider, and even accompany its owner at walking speed. All this happens without any human intervention – it is enough for the Motoroid 2 to recognise the user’s face or gesture. Yamaha equipped the Motoroid 2 with a set of cameras and sensors that analyse the space around the motorcycle. Its image recognition system and artificial intelligence allow it to monitor its surroundings and respond to situations in real time. As a result, the vehicle moves in an extremely smooth and “organic” manner – its motions resemble those of a living organism rather than a machine. The Motoroid 2 can start, stop, and make subtle position adjustments to maintain balance – even when the rider does not touch the handlebars. One of the most remarkable elements of the design is the so-called “Leaf”, a semi-transparent, movable structure that wraps around the rider’s hips and lower back like an exoskeleton. This component serves both as a backrest and as a haptic system – it can deliver gentle tactile feedback that enables non-verbal communication with the motorcycle. Additionally, the integrated lighting visualises the machine’s “emotions” by changing colour and brightness depending on the situation, creating the impression that the vehicle “responds” to the rider. Yamaha also developed three distinct riding positions that alter the way the rider interacts with the machine. The first is the classic seated position, similar to that of a conventional motorcycle. The second, called the “jockey” position, involves gripping the motorcycle more firmly with the knees, providing a sportier sense of control. The third, semi-standing “centaur” position, allows the rider to almost merge with the motorcycle, delivering a unique sense of movement and unity. Each position activates different suspension and balance settings, allowing the Motoroid 2 to adapt to the rider’s body and riding style. Unlike traditional motorcycles, the Motoroid 2 lacks a conventional handlebar or throttle. These have been replaced by electronic grips linked to a steer-by-wire system, meaning that the rider’s movements are transmitted electronically to precisely control steering and balance. Combined with the AMCES system, this provides unprecedented smoothness and an entirely new steering experience. At the Tokyo show, the Motoroid 2 amazed audiences not with performance figures – Yamaha disclosed no technical specifications regarding power or speed – but with the way the machine appeared to “live.” The vehicle stood up by itself, recognised its owner, moved gracefully in dance-like motions, and interacted with people. It was not a display of engine power, but of intelligence and emotion. For Yamaha, this represents a crucial direction for development – it is no longer just about fast motorcycles, but about machines capable of understanding humans and cooperating with them as partners.

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