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Motorcycle riding offers you a lot of fun. For instance, motorcycle handling sensation gives you such fun. Analysis of this sensation is important in producing a good motorcycle. However, as the handling sensation depends greatly on the rider's subjective point of vievr or on -his sensitivity, not much objective evaluation has been made so far. To know the handling sensation objectively, it is important to know its equivalent characteristics. Thus, our test was intended to find equivalent characterrlsties for the motorcycle handling sensation. Three motorcycles were used for a transient run, nnd the handling sensation was analized by comparing the measurements of their behaviors with the results of evaluation of the sensation. As a result, I have found the following two equivalent characteristics for the motorcycle handling sensation: (1) lag in the response of the yaw rate to the handling sensation; and (2) power spectral density of the roll rate.

A vehicle in a running condition is essentially characterized of the three elements: (1) running, (2) cornering, and (3) stopping. Among the riding sensations which contribute to the rider's ease of performing these elements is a “sense of stability.” This paper concerns a motorcycle which can be more easily subjected to the rider's behavior, and an experimental analysis was made to study how the rider's “sense of stability” can relate to the response characteristics of the operating motorcycle running especially in a straight line in connection with the first of the above elements. As a result, it has been found that a transfer function (motorcycle behavior/handlebar input) is among the physical characteristics corresponding to the sense of stability that the rider feels while he is running the motorcycle in a straight line. Especially, it has become clear that the gain and damping ratio of the yaw rate to the steer torque have a better corresponding effect.

An experimental analysis has been made concerning rider sensation using several motorcycles. More specifically, the sensations evaluated are those which are related to the transient motions which are generated by a rider in an attempt to make two transient running patterns, one is to avoid obstacles and the other is lane change. Measurements were made of the steering torque, the accelerations of the major portions of the motorcycle, and the yaw and roll rates. This experimental analysis has revealed an indicator in this system which may be of value in the analysis of rider's awareness and reaction to transient mechanical motions. We have been able to obtain results from the measurement of delay of the motorcycle-rider system in its response to the yaw rate as related to the steering torque, and power spectral density of roll rate, and these may be effective equivalent for the indexes of analysis.