Bike tip-over Tip-over test fluid dozens of tip-over tests have been conducted on late model motorcycles by IAG. There is considerable variation between the amounts of damage to each motorcycle and there is also considerable variation between the costs of repairs. These variations are caused by specific features of design and by particular decisions made by designers and engineers in the pre-production phases of motorcycle development.

For the tip-over test program, each motorcycle chosen was an insurance total loss with cosmetic (non-structural) damage on one side only. The motorcycle was allowed to fall on its undamaged side from a stationary, vertical position.

The tip-over test results indicate that aftermarket motorcycle crash protection (“crash knobs”) can reduce the cost of repairs by as much as 40 percent. It was also found that the presence of pannier luggage can prevent a considerable amount of motorcycle damage. IAG found that naked motorcycles generally incur less damage than faired motorcycles, but it depends upon the quality of protection around the engine coolant radiator and the exhaust muffler.

IAG’s motorcycle research program was presented to the major Australian motorcycle importers on 17 November 2006, to co-incide with the Sydney Motorcycle Show. Representatives of Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha witnessed several presentations and a live tip-over test.

Examples of motorcycles crashed.

• BMW K1200LT
• BMW R1200RT with and without panniers
• Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird
• Kawasaki ZX636 Ninja with and without crash knobs
• Suzuki GS500
• Suzuki GSXR1000 with and without crash knobs
• Yamaha FZ1

Click here to view the Tip-Over testing results.

This is a study of two identical motorcycles, falling at different speeds.

• The yellow motorcycle fell at 0 km/h (stationary)
• The red motorcycle fell at 60 km/h  

Despite the differences in speeds, the yellow motorcycle cost as much to repair at the red motorcycle. This is due to similar cost of labour, parts and paint.

Same points of contact damaged:

• Upper fairing
• Centre fairing
• Lower fairing
• Air deflector
• Fuel tank
• Tailpiece
• Mirror
• Handlebar
• Clutch lever
• Left footpeg
• Shift lever
• Swingarm

Casey Stoner unveils Swann Insurance Motorcycle of the Future. To read more, click here. Technical Overview of the Swann Insurance Motorcycle of the Future. To read more, click here.

Opportunities to Improve Motorcycle Rider Safety through Dynamic Control Technology

For more than 40 years Swann Insurance has been one of Australia’s leading providers of motorcycle- related insurance products. Swann distributes its motorcycle insurance product range Australia-wide through more than 300 motorcycle dealers under its own brand and the brands of its long-standing leading motorcycle industry alliance partners. Swann sold over 75,000 insurance policies in the motorcycle channel in 2006/2007, a 23% increase on the prior year.

Motorcycles continue to rapidly grow as a proportion of road users on the back of comparatively low running costs and in response to increasing traffic congestion, growth in inner city living and environmental concerns. Swann is committed to being a leading advocate for motorcycle safety by leveraging its significant knowledge, claims data, industry relationships and research capabilities.

Through exposure to motorcycle insurance claims, covering motorcycle property and motorcycle rider personal accident/death cover, Swann is all too well aware of the human toll and financial cost of motorcycle accidents in the Australian community. Swann Insurance has undertaken an assessment of what motorcycle designers and engineers can do to improve rider safety and to keep insurance affordable in the future.

Numerous opportunities have been identified to reduce the likelihood of accidents through thoughtful design and engineering enhancements.

	1.1 Low tyre pressure indicators compare the front and rear tyre rotation speeds and detect any change which could be attributed to loss of air.
	1.2   Rider-controlled speed limiter function enables the rider to temporarily preset a speed which cannot be exceeded inadvertently. This is a licence-saver when riding in areas with low speed limits. When the preset speed is reached, engine rpms are automatically regulated so that the motorcycle’s speed will not increase any further. The limiter can be overridden in any emergency by twisting the throttle grip to its maximum opening, whereupon normal engine control is resumed.
	1.3 Blind spot warning sensors indicate to the rider whether there is likely to be unsighted nearby traffic, by using side-looking proximity sensors linked to warning lights adjacent to each of the rider’s rear view mirrors.
	1.4 Traction control ensures that power can be applied without tyre slip, particularly on wet or greasy surfaces.
1.5 Anti-lock braking compares wheel rotation speeds and regulates braking pressure. This ensures steering stability by preventing front wheel lock-up under panic braking.
1.6 Emergency brake assistance is able to sense the rate at which the brakes are applied and then increase the brake line pressure if emergency stopping is required.
1.7 Electronic brake force distribution reduces stopping distances by directing brake line pressure to the tyre which has the most traction.
1.8 Automatic brake drying picks up input from a rainfall sensor and occasionally applies gentle pressure to the brake pads to keep the discs dry and ready for an emergency.
1.9 Self-cancelling turn signal indicators measure distance travelled and time elapsed.
Opportunities to Reduce the Cost of Motorcycle Insurance through Ablative Design & Dynamic Control Technology Many insurance claims for motorcycles involve low-speed tip-overs, where costly parts are damaged. Motorcycles with exposed polished frames, unprotected mufflers, vulnerable cooling systems and one-piece upper fairing designs are easy to damage, expensive to repair and therefore costly to insure. Incredibly, most motorcycles are designed with little consideration given to the frequency of accidents, the cost of repairs and the chance of theft. Smarter design and the adoption of readily available technology could make motorcycles cheaper to insure by making them safer to ride, cheaper to repair and easier to secure. In conjunction with Tim Cameron, one of Australia’s leading independent motorcycle design consultants, Swann Insurance has developed the Swann Insurance Motorcycle of the Future concept which shows how a motorcycle might be designed and engineered. The Ablative Design concept was developed by Tim Cameron. Ablative Design is all about protecting expensive or essential components on a motorcycle with ones that can be sacrificed in a low-speed tip-over without too much cost and inconvenience. Ablative Design identifies the parts which are most likely to touch down in a low-speed fall and configures them so that they protect critical or high-value parts. Ablative Design can involve reinforcing key parts of the motorcycle so that impact energy is absorbed rather than transferred straight to the frame, forks and engine. For instance: a liquid-cooled bike should not have its radiator as a first point of contact with the ground in an accidental fall. Not only is the radiator expensive to replace, but the motorcycle cannot be ridden home if it is leaking coolant. Swann Insurances Motorcycle of the Future incorporates Ablative Design concepts in subtle ways. The key features are:
	2.1 Frame rail cover.
	2.2 Two-piece detachable engine cover.
	2.3 Muffler heat shield doubles as a sacrificial cover.
	2.4 Lower fork cover & axle cap.
	2.5 Handlebar end cap.
	2.6 Two-piece mudguard with sacrificial leading edge.
	2.7 Radiator protective cover and segmented fairing elements with cut lines in strategic positions to minimise replacement requirements.
	2.8 Sidestand angle warning device can prevent accidental tip-overs by indicating to the rider whether the motorcycle is positioned at a stable angle.
	2.9 Proximity sensor alarm can prevent parking accidents by warning drivers of other vehicles that a motorcycle is close by.
2.10 Automatic hill start assistance applies brake pressure when required to prevent the motorcycle from rolling backwards down a slope prior to starting off.
2.11 Keyless start & stop improves security and amenity using a proximity sensor that senses a pass card in the rider’s wallet or pocket.
2.12 Ignition immobiliser prevents ride-away thefts by disabling the ignition and fuel systems.
2.13 Self-voiding labels and microdots carrying the vehicle identification number identify the component parts of the motorcycle, helping to prevent theft and rebirthing.