WOBBLE AND WEAVE OF MOTORCYCLES WITH REFERENCE TO POLICE USAGE

This article describes the lateral oscillations characteristic of single track vehicles, with special reference to large high-speed motorcycles and specific factors occurring in their usage by the police. These vehicles typically have very lightly damped modes of motion in some speed ranges, leading to sustained or even increasing vibrations and thus to possible loss of rider control and serious injury. The oscillations have two principal variants: (1) a steady 6-8 cps 'wobble' of the steering system for road speeds around 60 kph; (2) a 'weave' motion of the whole motorcycle at about 2-3 cps, which itself has two different forms: 'straight line' and 'cornering'. Both wobble and weave mode damping depend on the torsional stiffness at the steering head and on several other parameters. Loading the rear of a motorcycle with luggage increases its tendency to weave. Rider skill and experience are both important factors in reducing wobble and weave. A rider, faced with the problem of controlling an oscillation of either type, can adopt one of two basic strategies: (1) a passive strategy and approach, changing the vehicle-rider system so that it will stabilise; (2) active control, involving more complex rider action. The author concludes that the total wobble-and-weave problem is like a jigsaw puzzle, of which he has some pieces but many other people have the others; he invites them to contribute their relevant information.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Mechanical Engineering Publications Limited

  P.O. Box 24, Northgate Avenue
  Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 6BW,   England 
• Authors:
  • SHARP, R S
• Publication Date: 1992-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 25-7
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driving; Handling characteristics; Motorcycles; Police; Steering; Vibration
• ITRD Terms: 1221: Motorcycle; 1522: Police; 1834: Steering (process); 1646: Vehicle handling; 5558: Vibration
• Subject Areas: Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00635484
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 21 1993 12:00AM