On the Braking Behavior of Motorcycles

This work presents a study on the braking style and its implications on motorcycle stability. First, a simplified motorcycle model is used for highlighting basic phenomena which occur during braking and for developing an ideal braking strategy. Then, braking maneuvers are analyzed using a detailed multi-body model, which takes into account all relevant characteristics of a motorcycle, such as geometry, mass and inertia distribution, non-linear suspension and tire properties. Simulations are repeated for dry and wet road conditions, showing that the correct braking style should change as the adherence conditions change, according to the suggestions given by the simplified model. Finally, stability analysis is carried out for different speeds, deceleration rates and braking styles, showing that a correct braking balance may significantly improves vehicle stability.