New Study Finds That We’re Probably Riding Our Motorcycles All Wrong

Fitting the Mold

Chances are, most everyone reading this has been riding their motorcycle for some time now - and over the course of those many years and miles, you've developed a favorite riding position. However, a recent study from Ergonomics found that - as is often the case with many other things in life - bikes are designed for "average-sized" people, and that can lead to trouble for everyone else who doesn't fit that particular mold. 

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Not Average

The study - conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo - leaned on computer software to analyze the riding behaviors of bikers of all different sizes, and it produced some interesting results. For starters, this analysis quickly discovered that both short and tall riders have a harder time finding a comfortable riding position due to the many adjustments they have to make.

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Finding an Angle

Much of this has to do with finding the right angle for our joints, whether that be hips, ankles, wrists, knees, or elbows, which can be a big problem for short riders who can only adjust things like the seat, handlebars, and pegs to a certain degree. Taller riders also tend to have to shift around a lot to prevent discomfort, too. 

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Proposing a Solution

Unlike many other studies that have been conducted over the years, this one actually does have a solution for motorcycle makers like Harley, however - it proposes using a digital human model (DHM) when developing new bikes. This digital representation enables developers to simulate riders of all sizes and how their posture is impacted by tweaks in design. 

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Multiple Benefits

"The use of DHMs in early two-wheeled motor vehicle design could help manufacturers improve safety, posture, and comfort, in addition to saving costs," said Justin Davidson, a Biomechanics PhD candidate in Waterloo's Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. "If a vehicle manufacturer were to consider using DHMs earlier in their design, it could remove some of the earlier trial and error steps. We can change the design and improve it within the computer software before building anything, making it much cheaper in the long run."

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Changing the Process

Ultimately, researchers hope that manufacturers will heed this advice and update their design process to account for riders that don't fit the mold of being "average" in size, which could prove to be a big boon for a lot of people. 

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Seeking Improvement

"DHMs aren't as commonly used as they could be, and their potential for early design intervention could be useful not only when applied to motorcycles but for sitting in a car or even sitting in your office," Davidson said. "Part of our goal in this research is to try to move the field forward in a way that people can use DHM tools more confidently so that we can start intervening and making things better for people earlier on, hopefully making people safer and more comfortable."

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