Understanding the effect of discomfort level towards motorcycle riders among teenagers : a preliminary study

Abstract

Motorcycle riders are exposed to extreme riding discomfort due to engine inertial imbalances, improper structural motorcycle design, and road excitation. This paper presents a survey on the perception regarding riding discomfort among motorcycle riders in Malaysia. The survey aims to gather information from motorcycle riders regarding the sources and effects of discomfort in the form of vibration and noise exposure. This survey highlights the components and factors that are related to all aspects of discomfort when riding a motorcycle. Thirty respondents with a mean age of 19 years old from two private universities in Selangor participated in this study. All respondents ride varying types and sizes of motorcycles as their main transportation to and from their homes and offices. The results in dictate that the vibration source on the foot pedal is the main factor that contributes to the highest discomfort level among motorcycle riders in Malaysia. Despite the small current sample, this study obtained results that agree with those of previous literature.