BMW to demo riderless motorcycle at CES today

No, the idea of a crotchless crotch rocket it isn’t quite as scary as a headless horseman. And it isn’t exactly a new story, given that press coverage of a riderless motorcycle from BMW started to trickle out last fall. But in a news release issued yesterday, The BMW Group made it official: BMW Motorrad will demo a riderless motorcycle at CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) today.

Demonstrations of the autonomous bike, which according to published reports is based on BMW’s R 1200 GS model, are scheduled for 10:40 a.m., 12:50 p.m. 2:50 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. Pacific Time today in the Silver Lot outside the BMW Pavilion at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As if to ease the public’s fears of an autonomous apocalypse, BMW carefully clarified in their announcement that that the self-riding motorcycle is “not intended for road use.”

During the demo at CES, the vehicle will show off its ability to ride off, accelerate, corner, and slow down to a standstill, the manufacturer said.

According to BMW, the technology underlying the motorcycle will spur future technological advances to make motorcycles safer, smarter, and more connected in the emerging mobility environment.