This paper focuses on the steering torque that must be exerted by the rider of a motorcycle in a steady turning manoeuvre. The investigation is carried out by means of experimental tests and numerical simulations with a multi-body code. Experimental results obtained with speeds in the range of 6 to 20 m/s and the steady turning radii in the range of 15 to 55 m are presented and discussed. A good agreement between the measured and the calculated steering torque is shown. Finally, several numerical results that highlight the influence of tyre properties and riding style on the steering torque are presented and discussed.
Abstract