A new test rig for motorcycle rider impedance measurement

There are many factors affecting motorcycle stability, with the rider remaining a significant unknown. Here we show the University of Southampton’s motorcycle shaker rig, a new piece of equipment to take rider impedance measurements. This rig improves on previous investigations, by taking 10 force and moment measurements, as well as using up to six IMUs. This new rig also allows the effect of posture to be investigated for the first time. As posture has a significant effect on human response to vibration, and there is a large difference in posture between motorcycle styles, this a key investigation for motorcycle stability. The rig’s overall design is presented first, then a closer look at the ergonomics, and an explanation of the instrumentation system. Finally, preliminary results are presented, to show the capabilities of this rig and instrumentation system