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Honda R&D has developed a throttle-by-wire (TBW) system that meets the needs of motorcycles where the attitude of the vehicle body is controlled by operation of the throttle. To gain high response and following for the throttle valve, we employed a new adaptive control algorithm. The newly developed system has an idling combustion stabilization function and a three-dimensional control function for the throttle-opening map based on running gear and engine speed. With those functions, we improved the controllability of the motorcycle, especially for small throttle openings. Furthermore, we improved the feeling of the limiter control used in maximum-speed limitation. For the overall system, intake system related devices are consolidated to improve the layout flexibility and expand the mounting options on the motorcycle.

There are various demands concerning the motorcycle rider’s throttle input such as nonlinearly engine output attribute control and maximum speed control. To realize those demands by electronic control, we mounted the Drive-by-Wire (DBW) throttle system, which is currently being used on existing automobiles, to motorcycles, but the system failed to meet the demands of the motorcycle. Response to the throttle speed change was an issue; therefore, we built up the control system to satisfy the motorcycle’s demand for response by changing the high speed response equation of adaptive sliding mode control and adding the hysteresis property correction equation of the throttle body drive-train. As a result, we could realize response equivalent to that of a mechanical throttle.