Because of its potential to save lives and enhance people’s overall health, motorcycle ergonomics has emerged as one of the most significant concepts within the field of ergonomics. Ergonomics is used to make sure people are as healthy as possible and to improve the overall performance of the system being designed. The field of applied science known as motorcycle ergonomics focuses on the design of motorcycles in such a way that they accommodate the anatomical, psychological, and physiological capabilities and features of a motorcycle rider.
In recent years, there has been a startling increase in the number of fatalities that have been attributed to motorcycle accidents in the United States. Only in 2015, there were 4,976 people killed while riding motorcycles on roads in the United States, making up approximately 14 percent of all people killed on highways. While motorcyclists make up less than 4% of the total number of licensed vehicles on the roads in the majority of cities and communities in the United Kingdom, they are responsible for approximately 21% of all fatalities that are recorded on the country’s roads on an annual basis. The situation is very similar in the United Kingdom. This disproportionate distribution of traffic accidents and road fatalities reveals that when it comes to road traffic accidents, motorcycle riders are 51 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured as compared to car drivers. This is because motorcycle riders have a much higher risk of crashing their vehicle. The following are the top three most frequent kinds of motorcycle accidents:
- Right of way violations. This typically occurs when other motorists or road users fail to detect an approaching motorcyclist and pull out on them, despite the fact that they were facing in the direction from which the motorcyclist was riding. The motorcyclist is then struck and injured as a result of the collision.
- Loss of control on a bend, corner, or curve. Accidents like these are usually blamed on the biker rather than on other drivers or passengers on the road because they solely involve the rider and no other vehicles or people.
- Motorcycle maneuverability accidents. These are mostly concerned with the driver’s capacity to keep control of the car when passing other vehicles or obstructions on the road.
- Other Factors. Other incidents can take place when the biker is “filtering” through traffic, which is when they are passing slower moving or stopped vehicles. This is a common term.
On a motorcycle, there are a number of factors that contribute to a comfortable sitting posture; these include the following:
- How rider sits while riding
- His / her body dimensions
- The quality of seat cushions on the motorcycle
- How the weight and pressure of the motorcyclist are distributed while riding
- How long does the rider sit in the same position while riding the motorcycle?
- How comfortable the rider is while operating the various controls on the motorcycle
According to the findings of a study that was carried out at the College of Engineering in Pune, the vast majority of motorcyclists report feeling significant discomfort in multiple areas of their bodies while they are riding their motorcycles. According to the findings, the majority of the motorcyclist’s reported discomfort was localized in their upper body portions of their body (neck or head, upper back, shoulder, arm and hand, low back, and buttock). Systems were designed to develop motorcycles from an ergonomics perspective, trading aesthetics for ergonomics in order to improve human comfort and safety in order to avoid some of the life-threatening health issues related to motorcycle riding, such as backache and the increased risk of testicular torsion (testicle pain). This was done in order to avoid some of the health issues that are associated with motorcycle riding, such as the increased risk of testicular torsion.
Motorcycles that are aesthetically pleasing, ergonomically sound, and safety compliant have been achieved through the development of software and applications that were designed to meet the increasing level of comfort that is being demanded by customers while still maintaining the high safety standards that are required.
What is Cycle Ergo?
Cycle Ergo is a term that was derived from the field of motorcycle ergonomics. It refers to a computer program that graphically presents how a person’s body will be positioned when riding a motorcycle or scooter by taking into account the dimensions of that person’s body based on the model of the motorcycle that is chosen. This makes it possible for additional adjustments to be made, such as changes in the position of the bar or adjustments to the alignment of the seat, to ensure that it fits precisely. The features of cycle ergo make it easier to make side-by-side comparisons of two or more motorcycles at the same time, which allows for the selection of the ideal motorbike based on the options that are accessible.
Cycle Ergo and Cycle Ergometer
The term cycle ergometer should not be confused with the term cycle ergo. The latter term refers to a stationary bicycle that is utilized for the purpose of carrying out fitness evaluations and workouts. The number of revolutions per minute (rpm) and the amount of resistance that is applied to the pedaling can both be used by a cycle ergometer to determine the intensity of an exercise.
According to the findings of a study on the health benefits of cycle ergometers that was published in the European Review of Ageing and physical activity, this piece of exercise equipment has a positive effect on the enhancement of metabolic activity, functional status, cognitive performance, muscular strength, and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Importance and Benefits of Cycle Ergo
- The magnitude of vibrations that are conveyed to the body can be mitigated by employing proper motorcycle ergonomics. These vibrations produce damage that persists over time and interfere with the natural processes that occur within the body.
- The use of proper motorcycle ergonomics can help riders avoid testicular injuries, testicular failure, testicular torsion, testicular discomfort, and other conditions that are commonly connected with riding a motorcycle.
- Ergonomics in motorcycles are concerned with adapting the rider to the motorcycle or scooter, as opposed to the other way around. This alleviates the annoyance, as well as the health risks linked with it.
- Ergonomics in motorcycles serve to reduce musculoskeletal disorders caused by incorrect placement, such as upper back aches, neck pains, shoulder pains, arm and hand pains, low back pains, and buttock pains.
- Motorcycle ergonomics and Cycle ergo make riding a motorcycle more pleasant and easy by removing or mitigating the majority of the elements that cause discomfort, disorientation, and accidents. This allows the rider to focus more on the road and less on their surroundings.
- The financial and medical burden of chronic illnesses that are related with improper positions that are widespread among motorcycle riders can be avoided by the use of cycle ergonomics.
Dangers of Neglecting Motorcycle Ergonomics
- Increased risk of testicular trauma.
- Increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain from motorcycle riding.
- Severe discomfort and disorientation during motorcycle rides.
- Increased medical expenses associated with preventable conditions.
- Increased risk of death while driving a motorcycle due to discomfort and distractions.
Tip on How to Reduce Pain and Locate the Best Motorcycle Riding Positions
If you already have a motorcycle, you can improve your driving comfort and prevent pain by doing the following:
- Try not to keep the same position on your bike for a long time, turn your head from time to time and let your shoulders have some rest.
- Check your bike’s seat and suspension and tune it to your riding conditions.
- To avoid head pain, adjust your bike’s handlebar position to positions more suited to your height and riding position.
- Taking supplements such as zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6 will boost the energy supply to your muscles and prevent pain and fatigue.
