motorcycle/scooter ergonomics By jct842 (Read 992 times)

[jct842]

I found a web site that shows most motorcycle and some scooters how the fit an individual rider. You can adjust for height, inseam, and adjust the motorcycle/scooter for seat, peg, and handle bars. The taiwan and vespa scooters seem to be a lot better for tall riders. Non of the current jap stuff, even the big scooters are suited for a tall rider. I could have told you that about yamaha anyway.;

When a person gets older your body does not want to bend and be contorted.  30 years ago I did not give a crap about how a ride fit me, if it ran I rode. Discounting the seats my 2 small scooters fit me better than the majesty does. And why I liked the little chinese 150 so much. The majesty even though I added foam to the seat my knees are higher than my arse. That means uncomfortable for me.

cycle-ergo.com/

[Bashan]

That's quite a site John, good find, thanks. Here I am as seen by the site's ergogenerator. I think I look jaunty.

I do find the Taiwanese SYM is rather tall. So much so that my feet touch the ground, but just barely. It's also a bit tippy at low speeds but I've gotten used to that and can almost come to a stop now and not put my feet down. I talked with a former Harley R&D engineer and he said bike makers pull the rake in, that is, a more vertical orientation of the steering head, to provide for a more nimble bike. Conversely, a pushed out rake, like a chopper, is extremely stable but sucks for flitting back and forth. Generally, with a pushed out rake, you can take your hands off of the bars at speed. With a tucked in rake the front end will wobble if you take your hands off of the bars. My SYM wobbles without handlebar control but is fantastically nimble. This engineer used to take Harleys on the Talladega Super Speedway and induce front end wobbles at 100 MPH. He has trouble walking because his nards are so big.

[cyborg]

Lots of my bikes had headshake,,they had real short fork angles,,steering dampers are my friend,,no probs with the vespa,,,took it on the freeway yesterday on about a 3% down grade hill,,wound it out ,,,about a mile and a half between exits,,buried the speedo at 80 indicated,,and it climbed up a few mph past the 80 mark,,no indication of shake at all and didn't expect it with the link front end,,,,,and the bars are low for me they could stand to be up an inch or 1 &1/2,,,

[jct842]

The 86 wing I owned had the shakes too. But was very comfortable. Looking at that sites chart, I can see why. I may try another, there are not many bikes or scooters that have hip and knee angles close to a wing. When I punch in my sizes almost none of the affordable cruisers come close. But risers, seat mods and floor boards, some may make the cut. The riser and the added foam on the seat is noticeable on the majesty. There are no jap scooters made that would be right for me. Having your knees higher than your butt sucks.

What manufacturers need to do is give seat height from foot peg or floor boards. Scooters with a big gas tank under your feet takes up too much room, and those with out a clean step thru are bad news that way.

[twowheeler]

Too bad it doesnt have most popular scoots.

My T3 a smaller scooter than my BMS actually fit me better. On the BMS handlebars are lower and i have to lean forward more.

[davec]

Mar 31, 2014 20:15:24 GMT -6 jct842 said:

The 86 wing I owned had the shakes too. But was very comfortable. Looking at that sites chart, I can see why. I may try another, there are not many bikes or scooters that have hip and knee angles close to a wing. When I punch in my sizes almost none of the affordable cruisers come close. But risers, seat mods and floor boards, some may make the cut. The riser and the added foam on the seat is noticeable on the majesty. There are no jap scooters made that would be right for me. Having your knees higher than your butt sucks.

What manufacturers need to do is give seat height from foot peg or floor boards. Scooters with a big gas tank under your feet takes up too much room, and those with out a clean step thru are bad news that way.

I have an 85 Aspencade with an aftermarket seat and floorboards and hi way floorboards.
I can ride 900+ miles a day and not get sore (too much)

Some folks have added floorboards to their Honda Shadow Sabre, and made it a mini tourer (vs a cruiser)
Risers on the Shadow helped me tremendously


So, risers, seat, floorboards, whatever it takes to make the ride comfortable.

Enjoy life

Dave