Have you ever looked at detailed statistics from a motorcycle study and wondered, “Why don’t they ever ask me?” or “How can I participate?” Well, wonder no more, now we’re asking. I got a call from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) yesterday about a study they are doing in conjunction with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. It’s a long term, comprehensive study of everyday riding in a wide variety of environments and conditions and they need participants.
If selected, you will need to answer a number of questions about your age, training, riding experience and the like so they have a good idea of where you will fit in the study. Gathering information will require attaching several small cameras, radar, GPS and a recording unit to your motorcycle, which will remain there for an entire year. Once the equipment is attached, your job is to forget about it and ride like you normally would.
They have selected a number of motorcycles representing a cross section of riders and types of riding: beginners, sport bikes, cruisers and touring, and designed their equipment and mounting system to work with several specific models:
2004-2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200
2006-2011 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
2001-2011 Honda Goldwing GL1800
2000-2011 Honda Rebel – CMX250
2009-2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX600, ZX-6R
2009-2011 Suzuki GSX-R 1000
2005-2011 Yamaha VStar XVS650
VTTI has over 10 years experience installing sensors on vehicles and later removing them without damage. The data are encrypted as they are collected and kept confidential.
You must also live in or near the targeted study areas that cover different terrain and traffic patterns; Blacksburg, Virginia, Orlando, Florida and Irvine, California, so, obviously, not everyone from everywhere will be able to take part, but it appears this study will collect a very large amount of data making their findings far more relevant and useful than other studies have sometimes seemed.
For more information or to find out if you can participate, contact VTTI at the link below.
Link: MSF / VTTI Study
AlwaysOnTwo says
Well, I don’t see any of the bikes I ride in that list, let alone my pet VMax. While I wouldn’t mind having a fully monitored camera on board to catch the final moments to which I am already resigned. Livin on borrowed time and more years in the saddle than can be justifiably explained by my habits. i ride at high risk hours (early AM and after dark), have a penchant for using that throttle thingy, and live in a rural county where the risk factor comes from not only a population of redneck-beer-swilling-antique-Ford-pickemup-drivers and toothless-soccer-mom-texters, but deer, raccoon, wandering cattle and potholes the size of an Escalade. I am a statistic that simply hasn’t been recorded yet.
So, what the hey, I’m a hundred clicks from one of the target markets (Orlando) and I called the 800 number and left a message. Waiting for a call back. I wonder if I can get copies of the vids for YouTube?
AlwaysOnTwo says
Got a call back. Here’s some additional info for interested parties:
First, when they say the equipment is for those model bikes specifically listed, it should be added the are looking exclusively for those models. In part, at least, because of the pre-manufactured mounting hardware they have on hand (yeah yeah I read that); because when I told them that I build and modify bikes and could fab up a bracket in like presto time, there was a moment or two on hold and then a polite thank you but no.
When I then offered to volunteer a buddies ride that falls in the list (a Gsx’r, yeah, I’d steal the sucker and ride it around his house) I was told no because I was outside their survey area. Seems that a) they are interested in urban riding, and b) within their target area means about a 25 mile radius.
Rejected. Wish I could say it was the first time.
BigHank53 says
The main reason they are restricting the areas is that they need periodic access to the bike during the study to swap out the hard drives when they get full.
AlwaysOnTwo says
Quite probably so. You’d think, however, that it would be faster, easier, and less time intensive if the units were equipped to upload the data via a cell phone link when the bike was determined to be at rest. Pretty simple software would also confirm local cell tower service and delay the transmit until back in the target area home range. Additional weight, about 1 oz since the power supply is already onboard and no need for a a screen, keys or additional case. Less chance of data being lost due to a HD failure under vibration and potholes.
GenWaylaid says
There’s room for improvement, sure. Considering the system is probably being put together and managed by grad students, you get what you can get.
A number of riders already have cameras and GPS on their bikes. I wonder if there’s a use/market for this radar system, too?
Les says
That would be insurance companies. It’s just a matter of time until insurance companies require all vehicles to record position and speed to acquire insurance.
Long live hackers. May they keep us free of the ever closing grip of scrutiny and the conformity it will force.
Here is an interesting talk about computer systems in vehicles that might make you blink – http://www.ted.com/talks/avi_rubin_all_your_devices_can_be_hacked.html
akaaccount says
If they put cameras on any Rebels all they’re going to record is the inside of somebody’s garage. Buhdumpumching. This really is a great idea though and I’m not just saying that because of my bachelors and masters degrees from Tech.
cycledave says
Great idea from VTTI, yet where I ride most of the bikes I see on the list are usually ridden very little or by riders with very little regard for safety. Plus the listed motorcycles are too new for most of the riders I know. Just wish they would expand the study to older motorcycles from the late 60s to early 80s, like what I ride.
They should also study the “cage” drivers as they stare Directly at me and my bike, pull out in front of me while flipping me off while I’m skidding to a stop honking the horn!!!!!
Fox Creek Leather says
Virginia Tech is not far from us. I hope they do well and get a lot of participants. We’ll spread the info around.
Carolynne says
I am curious did you guys happen to be featured on an episode of “Hairy Bikers” your name looks familiar
Hawk says
With geographic and equipment restrictions, I’m not sure what value thier data will be. Perhaps they should take a hard look at the European MAIDS study results. Contrary to some opinions, human nature does not vary that much over here from the rest of the world …. at least when it comes to crashing your motorcycle.
But then, is this an exercise to burn up some research funds?
OMMAG says
Well if there was any chance that such a study would ever produce anything of value to any motorcycle enthusiast … I’d say “Great idea!”
In this world however, the results of this study and others will be used for the sole purpose of creating justification for ever increasing regulation and restrictions on our personal activities.
Of course … it will all be couched in terms of “safety” and the “public good”…… so that makes it all worthwhile.
Brian says
Interesting. Looks to me like fair-weather locations.
You know we in Minnesota ride too. Many year round so…
But they would probably fall over in fear at what I see in the winter.
akaaccount says
Fair enough but Blacksburg isn’t exactly a tropical paradise. Compared to the rest of VA, the winters are long and cold. We used to call it Bleaksburg.
AlwaysOnTwo says
What I’d buy into is an advance warning system to detect oncoming (or vehicles upon which I was approaching) that were texting (the drivers, of course). Naw, on second thought the continuous warning tone would probably drown out the exhaust note entirely
.:-(
Hooligan says
Texting drivers are a universal problem. Holding the phone while turning a corner and changing gear is not quite as dangerous to us bikers as texters it seems!
I suppose the next evolutionary step is for the human race to grow another arm so that you can carry that cup of coffee , talk on the phone and drive/walk. Of course a third eye will help as you walk along looking down at your phone. One local council in London wanted to put padding up around lampposts because people texting kept walking into them.
But seriously I think the research shows the self inflicted bike crashes occur on a Sunday with people who only ride on a Sunday in Summer.
So any monitoring would have cover a representative sample of riders.
But anything to help raise the standard of car drivers is to be welcomed.
Joe Bar says
The next step is an interpretive Heads-Up Display (HUD) that will allow drivers to read their texts without looking down, and reply without touching the phone. Watch for it! 🙂
Joe Bar says
Except for the Gold Wings, I don’t think those bikes get ridden much.
Carolynne says
OK guys, advice needed to settle a domestic dispute. What type of handle bars lend themselves to better handling and control? Wide handle bars or handle bars that are narrow? or does it even matter?
AlwaysOnTwo says
Wow is that off-topic! But why not, the rest of the confab is dead by now.
Here’s my history in brief : Drag racer @ 18, HD Sportsters, Flat Track Racing @ 19 & 20 (HD again) a couple of decent places in Baja on a Yam, built about 20 diff cafe racers since 1990, and a chopper or two, and climbed the Widow Maker when it was still a virgin. Been down the trail once or twice.
As far as horsing the bike around, wide bars at waist high are unbeatable. You’ve got leverage in all the right places, and whether cranking in an oversteer or getting a tank slapper under control wide and leverage rules. You don’t see clip ons or clubmans on rough terrain or streetfighters that are serious.
On ta odda hand, if you have a steep rake and a nimble bike that leans when you think just about it, AND if you need to be tucked in at speed, then the cafe racer style serves the purpose where wide bars would be just extra air drag and positionally uncomfortable. But at the crucial moment of OMG the berm is gonna eat my lunch, you better have some damn strong arms and wrists to get it back underneath you.
Watch a few races. On the road course tracks, the riders invariably eat tarmac if the bike gets just slightly out of line. No leverage. Same with drag bikes…get that baby crossed up and it’s a sure trip to rash city. Now watch the dirt boys get all crossed up and wrestle it back under control time and time again. The hill climbers with the long wheelbase swingarms also stand a better than average chance of beating more than one shoulder jerking moment on every ride.
Bottom line: if you’re in a controlled environment with a light and nimble bike clip ons are the bomb. Looks cool as hell as you switch-tail through urban traffic on a 600 or liter bike. Get a tank slapper going on your sport bike and hope that your lipstick is concrete proof.
Ride in daily traffic with a heavy weight machine or a bruiser motor and want to cut an agressive line? Better have wide bars or AAhnold’s Terminator physique.
And though you didn’t ask, ape bars are useless for anything else other than drying your pits.
Peace. Out.
Carolynne says
As a skirt, I reserve my right to go completely off-topic, though I argue there is a slight connection through the thin thread of the theme of safety. Actually its the only way I can ask questions sometimes, I would be waiting forever for the perfect thread to come up.
Thanks Alwayontwo! that is a great and as always totally amusing answer. And very interesting about your history, you obviously know what you are talking about. I bet you are fun to listen to after that first drink. Looks like I lost that “discussion” with my husband though,.
todd says
Interesting choice of bikes, not all that common commuting in the busy SF Bay Area. If they want a lot of input they need to come up with mounts for a SV650, Ninja 650, BMW GS, BMW K1200, Ninja 250, Yamaha Radian or Virago (seriously), Ducati Monster… The Sportster one would be effective however, I see at least one in ten of the commuters are on those.
Maybe I wouldn’t want them to see how much danger we’re in daily.
-todd
Katya Kakhov says
After a rather extensive instructor survey last April fools day week , I was able to determine that 33 % of MSF instructors (battle hardened hot-shoes deemed worthy by the state to relieve the unwashed masses of a couple of days pay and be-queef them with a MC endorsement) ……. sincerely felt that teaching “laying it down” was a worthy addition to the MSF curriculum .
The damage to their equipment , however , was ultimately a major and insurmountable obstacle . But they did usually promise to pass it on up the chain of command to the MSF .
No , I don’t trust their motives anymore than the NRA .