ESM-4 - a lightweight safety motorcycle.

The United Kingdom has previously shown safety motorcycles based on large machines. These have incorporated the findings of research into both primary safety and secondary safety features. However, a large proportion of the machines used in the UK are of small capacity and many accidents occur to inexperienced riders. Consequently the exhibit for the 1989 Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV) Conference is based on a 125 cubic centimetre motorcycle which satisfies the UK regulations as a machine which can be ridden under a learner's licence. Experimental Safety Motorcycle (ESM)-4 incorporates features designed to enhance conspicuity, anti-lock brakes, protection for the rider in frontal impacts, by means of an air-bag system, and a leg-protecting fairing. The paper discusses the design of these features and compliance with relevant specifications. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.