Honda’s “Riding Assist”: What We Know About their Self-Balancing Concept
- Paul Roberts
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
You may have seen the clips doing the rounds on socials: a Honda motorcycle quietly balancing itself at a standstill, even trailing behind a walking person like some obedient robot companion. The rumour mill has been churning, so let’s clear the fog. Here’s what we actually know—and what we don’t—about Honda’s so-called Riding Assist technology.
First things first: yes, it’s Honda
This isn’t a Chinese clone or a regional spin-off. The project comes directly from Honda Motor Co., Ltd., the Japanese giant. The company first pulled the wraps off its Riding Assist concept at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, so it's not so much a new innovation, more an ongoing project that seems to be taking its time to mature. Since then, it’s occasionally resurfaced in demonstrations, but always as a prototype, not a production bike.
No gyros here—this is something different
A lot of self-balancing concepts we’ve covered in the past leaned on gyroscopes—these are great for keeping things upright, but they can be heavy and clunky, not so great when thinking about motorcycles. Honda went another route with their engineering project.
Riding Assist uses a steer-by-wire system paired with an adjustable rake and trail geometry. Here’s the gist:
At speeds below about 3 mph (5 km/h), the system electronically decouples the handlebars from the front forks.
From there, the onboard control unit takes over, making micro-adjustments to the fork angle and trail. By slackening the rake and extending the wheelbase, the bike dramatically increases stability.
The front wheel actively makes small steering corrections—keeping the bike upright without the rider’s input.
This is borrowed from Honda’s robotics division, the same team that built the Asimo humanoid robot and the UNI-CUB personal mobility device. Instead of bolting a flywheel to a motorcycle, they’re letting geometry and electronics do the balancing act. A novel and, in our opinion, genius solution for top-heavy bikes that have a tendency to topple.
What it can actually do
Honda’s demo showed the Riding Assist bike balancing at a dead stop, rolling along slowly without tipping, and even following a walking person. That’s not just a gimmick—the tech aims to reduce low-speed wobbles, the sort of thing that topples riders in parking lots or in traffic when fatigue sets in.
Above walking pace, the system hands control back to the rider, with the forks and bars mechanically re-engaged. At that point, it rides like any other motorcycle.
What we don’t know (and Honda isn’t saying)
Details are frustratingly thin beyond the demo. Honda has never confirmed:
Whether this system will debut on an electric platform or a combustion model.
The exact sensors, motors, or processors involved.
Any production timeline.
So far, it’s a concept only, though Honda has also shown an electric version called Riding Assist-e, which suggests they see this pairing well with future e-motos.
We reported on Honda’s latest e-moto concepts at EICMA 2024—the EV Fun Concept and EV Urban Concept—as the brand deepened its electric momentum. Since then, Honda has dialled back its earlier ambition for EVs to comprise 30% of global sales by 2030, shifting focus toward hybrids amid market uncertainties. However, it remains committed to electrifying its two-wheeler line-up, particularly with intent to expand its electric motorcycle offerings well into the next decade.
Why it matters
If Honda ever brings Riding Assist to market, it could reshape urban riding. Self-balancing at low speeds doesn’t just make life easier for new riders—it has serious implications for heavy touring bikes, delivery fleets, and even rider safety in stop-and-go traffic.
For now, though, it’s a glimpse of what’s possible. What we can verify is simple: Honda’s self-balancing tech is real, it doesn’t use gyros, and yes—it really can trail behind you like a well-trained pup. But until Honda gives us more than teasers, the rest remains speculation.
Ride safe, folks.
Comments