An Axiomatic Design Approach for a Motorcycle Steering Damper

The main function of a motorcycle steering damper is to stop the steering oscillations that could be generated during the vehicle motion around the steering axis, a typical motorcycle instability known as wobble or shimmy. However, in normal conditions, the damping function of the device on the steering can be harmful, causing rider's wearying and thus decreasing his comfort and safety. Moreover, a recent trend of steering dampers is the size optimization with a higher integration of the device into the steering head and consequent greater constraints on its dimensions. In this paper, a model of motorcycle is considered to define the damping factors generally required on the steering axis to ensure safety and comfort in all conditions. Moreover, an Axiomatic Design approach is used to analyze the critical aspects and to propose an innovative architecture for a steering damper based on magneto-rheological (MR) fluid and fully integrated in the steering head of the motorcycles.