Analysis of Motorcycle Braking Performance and Associated Braking Marks

Ashley L. Dunn; Michael Dorohoff; Fawzi Bayan; Anthony Cornetto; Ronny Wahba; Masahiro Chuma; Dennis A. Guenther; Nicholas Eiselstein

doi:10.4271/2012-01-0610

This paper presents and analyzes braking test data and braking marks for a sport, sport-touring, and cruiser type motorcycle. The best-effort braking tests were performed using three motorcycles, three riders, and three initial speeds. All tests were performed on dry asphalt, with the exception of one set of runs for a sport touring motorcycle on wet asphalt.

Three braking strategies were used; front-brake-only, rear-brake-only, and front-and-rear brakes used together. From these data, engineers can evaluate the following effects on braking performance: rider, speed, pavement condition, braking strategy, and motorcycle type.

This paper should also serve to assist the vehicle accident reconstructionist in complementing the existing data on motorcycle braking performance. Further, this paper examines the applicability of drag factors used in accident reconstruction, given the complexity of typical motorcycle braking systems, and the myriad of rider strategies and conditions under which emergency braking maneuvers might occur.

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Analysis of Motorcycle Braking Performance and Associated Braking Marks 2012-01-0610

SAE MOBILUS