Motorcycle with Adjustable Weight Distribution

By

David Moynihan

Lucas Macneil

Michael Marjomaa

The Motorcycle

The concept of putting a motor on a bicycle was first conceived in 1885 Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. There are a wide variety of motorcycles on the market today, offering different styles, sizes, and riding experiences. Motorcycles are fantastic methods of transportation because of their light weight and high power, offering superior performance than one can experience in a car.

Weight Distribution

Motorcyclists who race in the MotoGP will position themselves slightly forward or back on the seat to change the weight distribution of the motorcycle; this change in weight distribution results in a change of the handling of the motorcycle, and when done correctly it can result in superior performance.

Weight DistributionFront Wheel

When there is more weight over the front wheel of a motorcycle, the motorcycle’s rear wheel will have less traction and the rear wheel will have a tendency to come off the ground during extreme braking resulting in a longer required stopping distance.

Rear WheelIf there is more weight over the rear wheel the motorcycle’s front wheel

will have a tendency to come off the ground during high acceleration.

A Versatile Motorcycle The best weight distribution is to have half the weight over the front

wheel and half over the rear; this results in a motorcycle which complements the rider extremely well, as long as that rider’s weight is equally distributed between the front and rear wheels.

Our ProjectWhen a different rider gets on the motorcycle, the handling is

going to change because different people are going to distribute their weight differently on the motorcycle.

If the motorcycle’s initial weight distribution could be altered to compensate for the riders different weight distribution then different riders would be experience a closer level of performance.

Our project is to design and build a motorcycle frame with an adjustable weight distribution to offer a motorcycle which will compliment a wider variety of riders.

Positioning of the EngineWe plan to use the position of the engine within

the frame to adjust the weight distribution of the motorcycle.

If a motorcyclist finds that the motorcycle does not suit there riding style, they can adjust the position of the engine, and subsequently the handling of the motorcycle until it does.

The Motorcycle FrameWe are planning to base our motorcycle frame based off of the

traditional motorcycle chopper frame.

A traditional motorcycle chopper frame offers a lot of room to adjust the position of the engine within the frame therefore adjusting the weight distribution.

We will be maintaining sports bike proportions while allowing more room for the engine compartment.

Maintaining sports bike proportions will allow for a more maneuverable motorcycle.

Any Comments or Questions?

David MoynihanMoynhiand@wit.edu

Lucas MacneilMacneill@wit.edu

Michael MarjomaaMarjomaam@wit.edu