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Click on the book cover to view sample pages.
The basic frame-up
explained
by Michael Scott (SuperBike)
Written by doyen of bike hacks Vic Willoughby, and innovative researcher/designer/builder
Tony Foale, the book's chief strength lies in keeping its readers' feet firmly
on the ground, while taking them up step by step to lofty realms of mechanics
and dynamics. Thus first principles are fully and lucidly explored. For example,
why does a motorcycle balance? The answer is that it doesn't really. Rather,
it stays on its wheels because it keeps over-balancing, whereupon the combined
forces of gyroscopic precession on the wheels and the geometry of the steering
lift it up again, Smooth progress is in fact a continuous process of deviation
and correction. It goes on to explain a fascinating fact. Since the forces of
steering geometry interact with the road through the tyre, the responses of
a particular tyre play a big part in the equation. Now, on a wet road, a tyre
has less grip than on a dry surface. It's responses are changed, and so are
the factors it feeds into the steering equation. And that is why straight-line
steering feels lighter in the wet. (One need hardly add that this "feel"
is a vital tool in warning us of changes in surface, and is just one of many
subtle signals that we learn to use instinctively without ever understanding
them).
In clear language, the authors deal body blows to a few sacred cows. The most
contentious point concerning rake angle is explored in detail following a series
of practical experiments in rake and offset by Tony Foale, a fascinating field
of research that I hope to return to at length in the future.
As well as basic principles, the book describes and analyses different materials
and types of frame construction, suspension designs both ancient and modern,
and takes you as far as you want to go into the mathematics of the matters.
Illustration by photographs and simple diagrams makes it all easy to follow,
and one emerges at the end with a much clearer view of the simple complexities
of motorcycle steering and behaviour. Indeed, for those who wish to go further,
there's a chapter as a quick primer in practical frame building, showing you
how to cope with the distortion caused by welds as they cool, and such esoteric
problems. One of the book's great strengths is that Tony Foale has made many
different types of frames and suspensions ... some for experiments, others to
race, and still more as a way of making a living. Not only does this add authority
to his text, but it gives the book a rich vein of source material both photographic
and practical from which to draw.
The Foale-Willoughby book, published by Osprey, stands alone. It has no rivals
nobody's ever tackled the topic before. As a result, apart from being very good,
it's also the best in the world.
Review from "Two Wheels" (Australia)
ARTICLES on the steering, handling and frames of motorcycles
occur rarely. But they're in massive oversupply compared with
books on the same topic, which makes any such publication a
welcorne arrival. And if the book has been written by Tony Foale
and Vic Willoughby, the co-authors of Motorcycle Chassis Design:
The theory and practice, you can be guaranteed it will be as
clear an expose of motorcycling's "black art" as you'll
read.
Tony Foale might not be as well-known in this part of the world
as in Britain, where his success in building mildly radical (yet
simple) frames for road racers and his ability to back up
theories with working demonstiations have been well catalogued.
His experience in the practical aspect of design and construction
is evident in the book. Vic Willoughby is unarguably the
motorcycle world's leading technical journalist. A thirty-year
career working for British magazines (during which time he rode
and analysed many of the most famous road racing bikes) has been
capped since retirement by several books. Two of them, Classic
Motorcycles and The Racing Motorcycle, are landmarks in
motorcycle publishing.
Willoughby's writing style is characterised by unfailing
technical accuracy but couched entertainingly and in simple
words. To achieve this trick is no easy task, especially when
dealing with a subject as arcane as motorcycle handling, the
elements of which are exploited in the first four chapters of the
book. In dealing with the theory, the book steers a careful path
betwen two extremes: on the one hand, meaningless simplicity, on
the other, obscure analysis of every minor sidetrack. The second
course is admittedly hard to follow under any circumstances; so
little is known about the dynamics of motorcycle handling that
even the most ambitious studies undertaken by the major factories
are still based on rules of thumb which have been used for years,
mixed with healthy measures of the "cut and try"
approach which is as old as motorcycling itself. Whizz-bang
graphics programs in your computer which can sketch out
three-dimensional stress maps at the touch of a button cost
millions and look impressive, but if they're based on guesswork,
they're still worth zip.
With that in mind, Motorcycle Chassis Design is
as advanced as anything yet written on the subject, in that it
identifies the forces and dimensions that influence a bike's
steering, and takes a fairly firm stance on their relative
importance. It also argues that the "classic" figures
for rake and trail can be diverged from without trouble, a
contention supported by a couple of projects carried out by Foale
on a BMW R75, in which rake figures down to zero (vertical forks)
and trail dimensions between 50 and 100 mm were tried. Although
the steeper forks gave problems under brakes, due to their
inability to take the bending loads, riders reported that
steering stability and lightness was better than stock under all
conditions.
The book is very precise in its technical terminology. Because it
concentrates on getting to the heart of things without too many
long-winded explanations, the sections on theory call for a
careful reading of the definitions and assume that the reader has
a basic knowledge of applied mechanics. The simplicity of the
writing tends to mask the wealth of knowledge and rigorous
application of theory behind the words. It repays several
readings, as each time through yields more gems of information.
The chapters on the function and history of frames, structural
considerations, and the principles of suspension are not as
demanding to read, but still delve deeply into such subjects as
the rear-end rise experienced under accleration by shaft-drive
bikes, parallelogram rear end, rising-rate suspensions, and the
various families of hub-centre steered, leading link and
wishbone-type front ends. A clearly-explained and
well-illustrated treatment of the structural side of things helps
you realise how far from ideal many apparently successful frames
have been. Two chapters on engine mounting and practical frame
building address themselves to subjects on which we have seen
very little previous information.
The first looks at the importance of the engine mounting system,
and the effect it can have on vibration. While it goes little
further than demonstrating how perplexing and thorny a topic this
is to the would-be designer, it is nevertheless a welcome look at
the subject. The more detailed treatment of practical frame
building will be especially valuable to anybody with an urge to
cut and weld. Again without going into masses of confusing
detail, it draws on Foale's experience to identify the points
where builders often go wrong, and clearly demonstrates the
correct techniques.
Clear black-and-white photograhs and simple, specially-commissioned drawings
back up the text of Motorcycle Chassis Design. The most complete
treatment of the subject we've yet seen, it represents great value, because
it's the sort of book you'll turn to time and time again to answer any one of
a thousand different queries.
THERE can be few subjects as much talked about and as little understood as
motor cycle frame design. The mysteries of rake, trail, castor, wheelbase, suspension
rates and so on, are penetrated by very few amateurs, so we should be grateful
to Vic Willoughby and Tony Foale (famous respectively as the doyen of technical
motor cycle journalism and a builder of excellent frames) for compiling a most
useful book entitled "Motor Cycle Chassis Design".
They cut through the nonsense and techno-babble to present a precise explanation
of how and why a single track vehicle steers and handles. It is not a book which
can be skimmed through; if you want to understand it you have to make an effort
of concentration, but you will come out a wiser person. You will also probably
come out wondering why on earth the telescopic fork has survived for so long,
for Foale and Willoughby do not mince their words about this abominable device.
There is an interesting section on alternative front suspensions (including
girders, leading and trailing links and hub-centre devices). The book ends with
a chapter on building your own frame and, given the quality of the information
provided and the ability to work in metal, there is no reason why anyone reading
the book should not try this. Doubtless most of the efforts produced would be
a better than the standard offerings of some current bikes.
There is, throughout, a wealth of explanatory diagrams and photographs, although
certain chapters -- notably that explaining the basic principles -- could have
been presented more clearly by separating the sections more definitely. However,
space is at a premium and the reader can solve the problem by having a breather
in between bouts of learning.
As a summary of what has been achieved more or less to date in the field of
traditional motor cycle frame design, the book is excellent. In a few years
time a revised edition may be needed. Until then, Motor Cycle Chassis
Design must remain the book of the state of the art.
This well-produced book sets a standard in the field. The
photographs are excellent and the line drawings detailed and clear. The writing
as would be expected of Vic Willoughby is lucid in the extreme. As for the know-how
behind it all, that is supplied by the brilliant Tony Foale. As the blurb says
"it is the first thorough explanation, in layman's terms, of the structure
and performance of ... motorcycle frames and running gear."
If you are interested in the subject, there is no choice: you
have to buy this one!
I've just received your book, and just had to stop what I was doing to spend
an hour looking though it. It is a treasure! I'm just in awe of what you've
done.
I paged through and it is obvious that this is much more comprehensive than your earlier edition. ..and the more I look, the better it looks.
I will give you more detailed comments later. Suffice it to say that I find the book excellent and that I believe that you underrate the significance of this new text you have written.
Thank you also for updating an already well enjoyed book. I realize it was a great undertaking on your part.
Have been reading the new edition of the book on and off since I received it,
excellent work. Goes much further than the original book but still easy to read
and absorb.
Have put some of it into practice already by doing things such as moving swing
arm pivot and making up something similar to the A -Trak system on my T500 classic
racer which has improved rear end stability markedly.
...Let me say to you that your book is something rare and precious... a really
great and useful piece of work!
Reading it gave me a lot of ideas and I am sure it is going to continue the
same way as long as I will be able to learn from it (That is probably for a
very long time!)...
Book received, brilliant! I wish there was something like this when I was doing my motorcycle degree.
The CDROM will give me the opportunity to read the book at lunchtime at work where carrying a thick book around would be prohibitive. A quick scan through showed me how complete a work it is.
I have got the book and it is a great book.
Great indeed.
I actually mean what I write. I do insist : you book is very good.
Great!
It already has provided me some good reading in the weekend.
I hope some day to use that vast amount of information in my own chassis, if
not, it has already proven it's usefulness in analysing my daily driving.
The book looks really outstanding -- tremendous amount of information, and it's really nice to have so many photos and illustrations to study!
Very impressive work. ........... I'm totally impressed with the way you've brought all these designs together in your book. Once again...outstanding work.
I'm looking forward to reading it and keeping it for many years to come as a unique reference source.
I deeply appreciate that you give your time to share this information and your blessings of clear thinking and a curious mindset.
Great book! It really answers a lot of questions I have about this sort of thing.
I'm very pleased with the information. From what I can tell, you have information in your book that is not available anywhere else. I don’t know how long it took you to put this book together, but the final product is outstanding.
I'm impressed, you put out a quality book. I'll spread the word.
I must say, you've done an outstanding job! Taking a subject as complex as this, and describing it and illustrating it as well as you have is a monumental job -- one you've done beautifully. My hat is off to you.
I appreciate the excellent production of this work.
Your presentation remains accessible as always and the extra topics are exactly what I'd hoped for. Thank you so much for writing it.
A quick look through and it looks superb, thanks, great work!
I have the first one you wrote in the eighties, you have out done yourself.
All I can say is wow, I never knew so much information on this topic could be brought together in one resource.
Really good to read, you should see my eyes shining....
It is a great book for motorcycle enthusiasts that are interested in how and why they work. Tons of good stuff.
Tony's new book should be mandatory reading for design engineers around the world. It is a tremendously well done piece of work and well worth the price.
.....thank you very much for creating such a formidable masterwork regarding motorcycle chassis design and for being able to provide this work to me and ultimately to future generations.
The book is a wonderful resource!
Thank you for a very good book and customer service.
I received your book today and I was VERY impressed. You've obviously tried very hard to bridge the gap between what's practical and what's intellectual in the design and construction of motorcycles, and I think you've succeeded admirably.
Your book is absolutely brilliant.