Research History of Motorcycle Leg Protection

Document Number: 900755

Date Published: February 1990

Author(s):
Shinichi Sakamoto - Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.

Abstract:
This paper reviews and summarizes the history of motorcycle leg protection research. This consists of a summary of the devices and concepts, as well as a description of the evolving methodology used to evaluate such devices. For over two decades members of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) along with other organizations worldwide have studied motorcycle leg protection devices toward the goal of minimizing motorcyclists' leg injuries occurring during collisions. In the early phases of this research, it was found that maintaining leg protection space during collision was possible by using certain kinds of leg protection structures. At the same time, it was also found that such devices have the potential to worsen overall rider injuries, including increased head injuries, due to effects such as rider ejection and torso pitch. Later research addressed various design concepts in search of an effective device which protects motorcyclists' legs and yet which does not worsen overall rider injuries. Up through 1989, a viable solution had not been found. The paper continues with a description of tests conducted in 1989 to further evaluate the United Kingdom Draft Specification (UKDS) for motorcyle leg protectors. These tests were the most comprehensive to date in terms of: the types of motorcycles and cars used; the leg protector designs and categories; the type of impact configurations considered; and the use of state-of-the-art test methodologies, including new motorcycle impact dummy and performance measures. Test results showed that UKDS type leg protection devices can increase both leg and head injuries, and overall injury severity

File Size: 5584K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at International Congress & Exposition, February 1990, Detroit, MI, USA, Session: International Congress & Exposition

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