The Influence of Motorcycle Usage Pattern on its Stability and Response in Dynamic Condition

The motorcycle was designed as a means of commuting for a rider and pillion. In today's time usage of two wheelers is not limited to commuting purpose but has extended to load carrying applications; particularly in South Asian countries. This change in the usage of the motorcycle leads to a difference in its dynamic behavior. To explore the reasons for this difference, a detailed and comprehensive parametric study of key vehicle parameters for different usage patterns of the motorcycle was done. With the help of a Multibody code (MSC.ADAMS), a series of motorcycle handling simulations were carried out where the motorcycle is made to undergo various maneuvers such as slalom, lane change and steady state cornering. Well established handling indices are used to analyze the simulation data and vehicle parameters are then optimized for arriving at the best possible vehicle configuration which would result in a vehicle with safe and predictable behavior irrespective of the usage pattern.