Validity of using lab based set-ups for evaluation of static factors in seating comfort of motorcycles

Abstract

Seating comfort in automobiles has two important factors, static factors and dynamic factors. Research on static factors of seating comfort often uses static lab based test set-ups to evaluate comfort. Studies, especially in passenger cars, have shown that there is no significant difference in the ratings of seating comfort between lab based set-ups and actual driving. The riding posture, mass distribution and dynamics of a motorcycle are unlike a passenger car and warrant further examination to use static lab based set-ups. The aim of the current study is to examine the validity of using static lab based set-up to evaluate static factors of seating comfort in motorcycles. A group of 18 male volunteers from TVS Motor Company participated in the study. The study involves subjective rating of seating comfort and measurement of seat interface pressure in a static lab based set up as well as actual driving in a flat test track for two motorcycles. The results show that there is no significant difference in the subjective rating of comfort as well as the seat interface pressure between static lab based set-up and actual riding(paired t-test, p > 0.7). There is also a statistically significant correlation between the subjective ratings of seating comfort in static lab based set-up and actual riding (r = 0.77, p < 0.01, n = 36).