Maybe I’m just weird, but I never really got the whole idea of voice commands. Be it Siri, Hey, Google, Alexa, or even Hey, Cardo, the whole idea of summoning your device via voice always seemed a bit odd to me. You know, a little unnatural.
Nevertheless, this tech is clearly the future, and a lot of the new cars being rolled out come with one form of voice command or another already baked in. But what about motorcycles? Sure, bikes equipped with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto already support this feature. But Kawasaki’s taking this a step further by launching its own type of voice command system.
The folks over at MCN were able to obtain some information about this new tech, and it’s reportedly developed in-house by Kawasaki and integrated with Cerence voice command software. Kawasaki also posted a bunch of info about it on its official website. And of course, the whole point of it all is to allow riders to do more while riding without taking their hands off the handlebars, that is.
And so, a total of 18 commands will be offered, providing riders the ability to make phone calls, play music, access navigation, monitor vehicle stats, and even check the weather while they’re out riding. This is all pretty basic stuff, and things you can already do if you run a Bluetooth intercom paired to your iPhone.
But there’s a kicker.
While voice command functionality is already baked into the infotainment systems of fancy bikes, Kawasaki thought it would be a good idea to charge a little extra for this feature. And it isn’t just a one-time fee, either. Kawasaki’s reportedly charging a yearly subscription for its voice command feature. Furthermore, the license will be linked to the owner, and not the bike. So technically, if you own multiple Kawasakis, you’ll be able to use it across your bikes.
Subsequently, if you sell your bike, you keep the license, and whoever buys your bike won’t get this high-tech feature. So if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, this looks like yet another way Team Green wants to lock riders into the brand, and have buyers of second-hand Kawis availing of the feature, too.
Kawasaki provides us with a whole grocery list of requirements in order for the system to work properly. You, of course, need a compatible Bluetooth headset with a microphone. You’ll also need a smartphone running either Android 11 or iOS 15 or later, as well as RAM of at least 3GB in size, and free phone storage of at least 2GB—quite a hassle for something you’d otherwise get for free with a Cardo or Sena communicator with Siri or Google integration.
And then comes the issue of safety. Sure, the whole idea here is for you to access your phone without using your hands. But what about your brain? You’re still thinking of your actions, you’re still speaking to your device, and you’re still listening to its answers and following its instructions. And while your hands may always be on the bars, there’s no guarantee that your eyes (and your focus) are always on the road.
So is it really just a cash grab? Maybe, maybe not. Even though I wouldn’t even give this tech a second look, I know a whole bunch of people who love talking to their gadgets, and would find this feature useful, if not entertaining at the very least.
But I want to know what you think. Would you even bother to sign up for this tech? Or is this just another gadget that could be a potential distraction to riders? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
