How advanced motorcycle technology is making performance more inclusive

This article is authored by Bipul Chandra, MD, Ducati India.
Under operation "Shakti", India successfully tested five nuclear weapons at Pokhran on May 11th, 1998, marking the second time the country undertook successful testing since 1974. The test's success was a proud moment for India's scientists, engineers, and technicians. Since then, May 11th has been celebrated as National Technology Day. Pokhran II put India on the map as a technology power. In the decades since, the country has pushed ahead in automobiles, IT, space, defense, the digital economy, AI, and the list goes on.

This progress is easy to spot in the motorcycle segment. Technologies that manufacturers like Ducati pioneered have been reworked by Indian engineers into domestic models, making them safer, more comfortable, and robust.

India's Growing Motorcycle Scene

The Indian motorcycle segment looks nothing like it did during Pokhran II. The range of bikes out there now is staggering with something for just about every type of rider. Back in 1998, motorcycles were mostly seen as a practical way to get around. Today's riders want more than that. They expect their bikes to say something about them. This shift in consumer perception is being met by major advances in technology and design.

Today's motorcycles are packed with features that would have seemed like science fiction just two or three decades ago. Radar tech is a case in point. This tech first showed up on two-wheelers in 2020, and it's made a real difference in how safe and smooth the ride feels.

Radar Tech Hits Indian Roads

Radars build a picture of what's happening around the motorcycle. Think blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control. Camera-only systems struggle here. They're boxed in by their field of vision, and weather conditions like rain, fog, and heavy dust - all incredibly common on Indian roads - can throw them off entirely. Radars don't have that problem; they map surroundings reliably even when visibility drops and conditions get ugly. For Indian riders, fewer surprises on the road. And a genuinely better time out there.


For instance, radar tech provides blind spot monitoring, alerting riders of vehicles behind and ahead of them, and even those in overtaking positions. The technology also makes adaptive cruise control possible, automatically adjusting vehicles' speed depending on traffic conditions. While radar tech was first introduced in high-end models around six years ago, thanks to the ingenuity of Indian engineers and designers, the technology has made its way into locally produced models, transforming a cutting-edge, exclusive technology into a far more inclusive one accessible to many Indian bike enthusiasts. A Bangalore based startup is among the first Indian companies offering radar-tech on its electric motorcycle. Meanwhile, a leading domestic manufacturer has partnered with a French automotive supplier to develop Advanced Rider Assist Systems, including radar for both entry-level and premium two-wheelers. The concept and technologies were showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

Change the Bikes Character

A recent innovation allows for the changing of a bike’s characteristics. With this introduction, a bike's character is no longer set in stone, transforming at the flick of a switch thanks to a state-of-the-art electronic system. Depending on conditions, riders can now transform their vehicle into one that is adapted to touring, sport, wet, or urban conditions.

With riding mode set to touring, riders can use the full power of their engines yet enjoy a smooth throttle response. Meanwhile sport mode gives riders full engine power with very direct throttle response and less invasive riding aid controls. This mode is for situations where riders want to make the most of their bikes on-road performance. The wet riding mode provides intermediate engine power, smooth throttle response, and electronic controls designed to ensure maximum safety in wet asphalt conditions. And the urban riding mode with intermediate engine power, offers smooth throttle response and electronic controls designed to ensure maximum safety in city use situations.

The riding mode innovation has also found its way to Indian riders in domestic models at relatively affordable price points. Indian brands introduced models having riding modes like rain, urban, sport, and track, bringing pioneering innovations closer to ordinary Indian bikers and elevating the riding experience in India.

LED Headlight

Meanwhile, the LED headlight was first introduced in 2009, offering significant advantages, including superior visibility, long-lasting durability, and higher energy efficiency. This innovation also found its way to Indian brands, offering improved visibility and rider convenience.

These and other world-class innovations, have influenced the premium bike segment in India, with Indian manufacturers adopting global brands' design philosophy of high performance with a minimalistic design. Importantly, these innovations have been astutely incorporated into Indian models and are remarkably well suited to domestic conditions, offering bike enthusiasts vehicles that're not only safer but also far more enjoyable to ride.

National Technology Day is an apt moment to reflect on the creativity and ingenuity of Indian engineers who've mastered cutting edge technologies developed outside India and incorporated them into affordable indigenous brands. By making these innovations accessible to thousands of ordinary domestic consumers, Indian engineers have transformed them from high-end aspirational features, into inclusive and mainstream advances that elevate the riding experience of tens of thousands of Indian enthusiasts.

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author and do not represent any of The Times Group or its employees.