ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE CAPABILITIES OF MOTORCYCLES-LANE CHANGE MANEUVER SIMULATION AND FULL-SCALE TESTS

The report describes a brief study of motorcycle handling characteristics employing both analytical (simulation) and experimental (full-scale maneuvering) methods. The objective was to supplement the results of a much broader earlier study on motorcycle accident avoidance capabilities. The report contains results of the simulation studies of six different motorcycles and the effects of changes in the rider model control characteristics on lane change performance, presents time history data for typical full-scale test runs in the lane change, and gives results of lateral-directional response tests for one motorcycle. The results are discussed in terms of design, operational, and rider influences on performance.