Motorcycle Ergonomics: How Damon’s Got Your Back

Motorcycle ergonomics are unfortunately (and ironically) quite stiff. They’re often not flexible enough to accommodate the varying heights, weights, and abilities of riders. While bike brands have started to make moves to offer personalized moto ergonomics, this is still somewhat of a crutch for certain motorcycles. Here at Damon, we’re trying to change that.

All Damon HyperSports incorporate technology that tailors ergonomics to each rider. As a result, we’ve managed to build the most comfortable sports motorcycle for the majority of people.

However, before we get into how and why we did it, we’re going to dive into how to overcome some common pains brought on through riding and why motorcycle ergonomics are so important to a rider’s safety and enjoyment.

Why Are Motorcycle Ergonomics So Important?

When it comes to rider ergonomics, there are several factors that affect your comfort on a motorcycle:

• How you sit while riding
• Your body dimensions
• Your distribution of weight and pressure while riding 
• The quality of your motorcycle’s seat cushion
• How long you’re in the same position
• Your experience & ability levels

If any of these factors are compromised, you won’t just be uncomfortable – you will also likely increase fatigue, and therefore the chances of an accident.

What Are Some Common Pains Encountered From Riding?

Poor motorcycle ergonomics leave you vulnerable to a variety of body aches, pains, and difficulties. What’s more, if you have pre-existing problems, incorrect motorcycle posture or an uncomfortable riding position will further exacerbate the issue. 

Here are some of the most common ailments that can arise when motorcycle ergonomics is not prioritized:

Neck Pain

A lot of riders have had the misfortune of suffering from neck pain after riding. A mixture of wind pressure on your bike helmet, tension or stress, and grinding your teeth without realizing are all primary causes of motorcycle neck pain. 

However, for those wondering how to prevent neck pain while riding a motorcycle, it’s usually very simple. Neck pain is often caused by riders remaining too stiff while riding. To prevent this, move your head around while riding. The best way to do this is by moving your head towards your shoulder, smoothly but continuously. Breathe out along the movement and exhale completely as you finish.

Knee Pain

Knee pain after riding is a common complaint amongst riders. A lot of this can be avoided by adjusting your motorcycle sitting position or by looking at your cornering. In regards to the latter, here are a couple of things to consider if you’re frequently hobbling after riding:

1. How far away from the engine you sit – A problem – which is prevalent with ICE motorcycles – is that riders don’t want to sit too close to the engine or tank. This causes a strain on the knees when leaning into corners.
2. How far off the seat you sit – The farther you sit off your seat, the more your outside leg starts to lose contact with the tank when hitting corners. And, if the muscles in your legs can’t take the strain, you’re going to have pain on the inside of your leg and knees. 

You can improve these techniques by attending a class on correct cornering on a motorcycle track day.

Back Pain

Lower back pain can be the bane of any rider’s life. Imagine parking up and then discovering you’re unable to get off your bike. No one wants that. 

The best way to prevent this is to set up the correct motorcycle ergonomics. This usually involves adjusting your bike’s seat and suspension. On top of that, you should take regular breaks on long journeys.

A good stretch for back pain from motorcycling riding is to hold the left handlebar grip with your left hand and with your right hand on the back seat (facing right), then do it the other way around (facing left). You should repeat this several times.

Of course, most back pain – or knee and neck pain – can be avoided by riding with the correct motorcycle riding posture and in the correct position. 

What’s the Ideal Motorcycle Riding Position?

The best motorcycle riding position really depends on the type of motorcycle you’re riding. With that in mind, we’ve put this handy infographic together to help you identify the correct motorcycle posture for your bike:

Motorbike Ergonomics Should Help Rider Control

If you’re a new rider looking to buy your first motorcycle, it’s likely that you’ve got your eyes on one special two-wheeler. That being said, however much you love that bike, if it doesn’t fit you properly, you may not feel 100% confident riding it. 

Riding is about balance. With new riders, it’s recommended to choose a bike that allows you to plant your feet firmly on the ground at stops. However, more seasoned riders will be able to find equilibrium on one foot or even on their tippy toes.

On top of staying balanced, if you can’t quite reach the controls, you’ve got a problem. This will dull your reactions and also lead to major discomfort on long rides. If you’re unable to reach the hand or foot controls comfortably, the bike may not be right for you. Alternatively, if you’re too tall and reaching the controls requires you to sit in an unnecessarily uncomfortable position, you may want to consider a different size bike.

When considering motorcycle ergonomics, it all comes down to positions that optimize control. So if you’re eyeing a particular model, but you’re unsure if it’s the right size or weight for you, check out this motorcycle ergonomics simulator.

Where Damon’s SHIFT™ Technology Comes In

There are a lot of considerations to take when it comes to rider position, comfort, and control.

Through our commitment to producing the future of motorcycling, we realized that motorcycle safety is influenced greatly by rider ergonomics and the ease of use under various conditions. Riders that are less fatigued are more alert and ready to react to their surroundings.

That’s where SHIFT™ was born. With just the push of a button, you’re able to adjust your footpegs and handlebars to what feels right for your current ride.

This level of flexibility is incredibly important for combatting rider fatigue and allowing for maximum control in all situations.

Aftermarket parts can address some of the problems posed by bikes with a limited range of movement. However, there are downsides that include:

• Expense 
• Requiring technological know-how to install (or increased cost to install)
• No way of knowing how much of a difference they make until they’re actually installed

With SHIFT™, these issues are bypassed. This groundbreaking electric motorcycle technology allows your bike to adjust to your individual ergonomic needs on the fly. 

The Shift Towards Better Motorcycle Ergonomics 

When it comes to motorcycle ergonomics, we’ve got your back! 

We firmly believe that a comfortable and adaptive motorcycle is a safe motorcycle. This put us on a mission to design the best ergonomic motorcycle. The ability to personalize and adjust your riding position is going to be a game-changer for anyone who’s prone to the aches and pains of riding or simply wants to be comfortable over longer distances. 

We can stand up tall and say that our focus on rider ergonomics is a bend in the right direction for riders everywhere.