Chak Motors Molot – Honda-based Russian Superbike

This futuristic machine is a superbike concept from Russia. It’s still in the early stages of production, and the company say each bike will be hand-built to order in their facility in St. Petersburg.

The Chak Motors Molot is based on a heavily modified Honda CBR1000RR. The name ‘Molot’ translates from Russian as a sledge or mallet-type hammer. Looking at the squared-off front end you can see why. The super-sharp bodywork of the Molot hide a frame which consists of both aluminium and carbon fiber sections.

But aside from the unique aesthetics, Chak Motors are marketing the Molot as a “safe” superbike. They’ve incorporated a number of technologies into the bike to try and make it a little safer and more rider-friendly.

Firstly there’s the LED lighting system, which provides better vision for the rider, while also making the machine more visible to other road users.

Secondly, the Chak Motors Molot could become the first motorcycle to include predictive emergency braking – a system already available on a number of cars. And here’s where things get a bit hmm.

Chak Motors say their system would use radars and HD cameras to detect obstacles ahead. If the rider fails to react then the system will initially provide a warning in the form of a vibration through the handlebars and a flashing light on the dash. If the rider continues to ignore the danger then the bike will automatically start to apply the brakes. If the rider still carries on towards the obstacle then the bike will apply the brakes to maximum effect.

Now I’m no expert on  the laws of physics. But I’m guessing that if a rider fails to see an obstacle in front of them, and then fails to heed the additional warnings, they are going to do one hell of a birdman impression when their bike suddenly slams on the brakes without their consent.

Chak Motors don’t seem to realise bikes aren’t like cars. If a car automatically applies the brakes in an emergency the driver – if they’re buckled in – doesn’t perform a hasty exit through the windshield. Additionally, the narrow size of a bike means it can squeeze between narrow gaps to avoid a collision – something a car is unable to do.

Besides this deeply flawed ‘safety system’ the Chak Motors Molot also features a slightly more useful blind-spot monitoring system, a lane departure warning system, and a built-in gyroscope which shuts down the throttle if it senses a loss of control.

All-in-all it’s a rather self-defeating design. It’ mission to try and make a safer motorcycle is admirable. But in this case the cure seems worse than the disease.