This study involved 26 American motorcycle riders in an effort to establish measurement methods of rearward field of view of motorcycle rearview mirrors. A survey of rear-view mirror aiming, measurements of rider arm contour and computer simulations of rearward field of view were part of the study.
- The survey of rear-view mirror aiming was carried out by checking the adjustments that the test riders had made on the test motorcycle with fairing mounted rear-view mirrors and on their own motorcycles. The results indicated that, to measure the rearward field of view, the rear-view mirrors should be adjusted at an angle where a light beam travelling from reference eye-point to mirror center was reflected in a horizontal and parallel manner to vehicle center line.
- Arm contour was measured by taking photographs from the top and the side of the shoulder and arms of riders seated on two types of motorcycle mock-ups. Results showed that arm line was the significant factor in determining rider arm shadow.
- Computer simulations of rearward field of view was conducted for three types of motorcycles. This resulted in a computer simulation program to examine the rearward field of view of motorcycle rear-view mirrors and measurement methods when using a three-dimensional manikin for motorcycles placed on motorcycle.