Primary safety is concerned with how to design motorcycles to avoid accidents. It has been extensively researched world-wide during the last 20 years, and especially during the last decade. Nevertheless, many technical aspects of motorcycling can still be improved, and there is still a need for research and development on motorcycle safety. However, the benefits of technical innovations in primary safety will inevitably be limited by human factors. One of the most difficult activities in handling a motorcycle, especially in emergencies, is correct braking, especially while cornering. A motorcyclist must simultaneously maintain stability, prevent the wheels from locking and sliding, and achieve the shortest possible stopping distance by using the best ration of front to rear brake force distribution. Despite these problems, modern braking equipment, especially the use of hydraulic disc brakes and the increasing availability of antilock, usually provides a high standard of braking performance. Other important aspects of motorcycle safety are: (1) stability, where precautions need to be taken against the four known unstable modes: capsizing, wobbling, weaving, and kick back; (2) handling, the transient behaviour of a motorcycle during its change of direction; (3) tyres; (4) visibility; and (5) conspicuity.
Abstract