“DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADJUSTABLE FOOTREST FOR

MOTORCYCLES”

A Systems Design

Presented to the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Department

College of Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts 

Batangas State University Gov. Pablo Borbon, Main Campus II

Alangilan, Batangas City       

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the 

Course IE – 525

Systems Engineering

Brual, Angel Joy E.

Lescano, Alyssa Mae R.

Mañibo, Linette C.

Soriano, Patricia Angelika D.

Tenorio, Allison I.

Torres, Jetro D.

IE-5203
 Survey Results

Based on the graph shown, the respondents who answered the surveys are (46.3%) workers,

(40%) students, and (13.7%) others.

Among the respondents, there are 268 (67%) persons who do not have their own motorcycle

while the remaining 132 (33%) persons have their own motorcycle.
 The respondents were asked if they had difficulty resting their foot/feet while riding on the

motorcycle. Base on the graph shown above, the 204 (21%) respondents are having hard time on

resting their foot/feet sometimes. Then, 87 (21.8%) respondents said they never experienced it,

60 (15%) respondents are having hard time because the motorcycle does not have a footrest for

them, 30 (7.5%) respondents were always having hard time on resting their foot, and 19 (4.8%)

respondents are having hard time because the footrest was broken.

Lastly, the respondents were asked if ever that there’s someone who will develop an

adjustable footrest, are they willing to avail or use it. The graph shows that 388 (97%)

respondents says yes and 12 (3%) says no.

I. Background of the Study

Transportation plays a big part in the daily routine of many Filipinos. They’ve been used for

coming to work, travelling, and even as job.

There’s a lot of public transportation here in the Philippines that has been used for many

years, such as trains, buses, jeepneys, taxi, tricycle and pedicab. But in the modern day,

commuters consider motorcycle as the new public transportation due to its popular demand.

Also, it is said to be a big help for the latter in coming to work despite of the traffic. As a matter

of fact, there is this motorcycle ridesharing and delivery service company based in Makati, Metro

Manila called ‘Angkas’. They provide service to everybody that saving precious time instead of

stressing for hours on the road. They also help tackling transport mobility for Filipinos whereas

traffic is one of the biggest problem in the country.

On side of that, there are some disadvantages in riding a motorcycle. It is something that

gives discomfort to most especially for the back rider. Some of the footrest for the back rider

were either broken or disturbing that leaves the latter an uneasy feeling. Also, the possibility of

having foot cramps while on the ride is one of their greatest fear because not only they can cause

discomfort, but also become a dangerous distraction.

Developing an adjustable footrest for motorcycle that would help the user to drive

comfortably. The said footrest can be widen for the user to put the rest of their foot. Because of

this, it’ll lessen the chance of having cramps and fatigue. Furthermore, after using it, the footrest

can be folded back to minimize the space when the motorcycle was about to park.
II. Objectives

The purpose of the study is to have an adjustable footrest for the motorcycle that could

provide comfort to people who ride at the back of the motorcycle. It strives to achieve the

following objectives:

1. To lessen the chance of people having cramps while back riding on a motorcycle.

2. To design an adjustable footrest for motorcycles which can suit the needs of the people

who will back ride.

3. To conduct a trade-off analysis with high contemplation to the following:

3.1 Portability

3.2 Quality

3.3 Usability

3.4 Functionality

3.5 Reliability

3.6 Appearance

4. To determine the best alternative design of an adjustable footrest for a motorcycle.

5. To simulate the best alternative design of an adjustable footrest for a motorcycle.

III. Significance of the Study

This research was centered on the Design and Development of Adjustable Footrest for

Motorcycles. The success of this research was beneficial to the following:

 To the future customers, the success of this study would assure the user to drive comfortably

by lessening the chance of having cramps and fatigue when driving. Thus, making the ride safer

for the user.

To the researchers, this study served as their partial fulfilment of the requirement for the

degree of Industrial Engineering. This study also helped the researchers to widen their

knowledge when it comes to research operations and scholastic studies.

To the Industrial Engineering Department, this will serve as a technical basis for related

studies regarding the Design and Development of Adjustable Footrest for Motorcycles. This may

also be a great contribution to the institution for it will aid the advancement of the industrial

engineering program for research analysis undertakings.

To future researchers, the findings of the study would serve as a basis and guide for future

researchers who would like to conduct the same study related to design and development.

IV. Persons who will be Benefited by the Project

The idea of the product came up from the inconveniences experienced by the users while

riding motorcycles. This adjustable footrest is for everyone who wants to have a comfortable

ride, it is to retain control and balance. It gives a support to which to rest the feet of the rider. It is

much easier to use, safe and it is ergonomically designed. Persons who will benefit from this

project are those who have and fond of riding motorcycles.

V. Conceptual Design

To start this project, the researchers made an initial design with each other’s concepts.

Figure 1. Conceptual Design 1

Figure 2. Conceptual Design 2

 Figure 3. Conceptual Design 3

1. Materials/Requirements/Components

Materials are matter which something can be made. It is one of the most important

components to make your product. For the adjustable footrest, the researchers used the

following:

Table 1
System Components

Design 1 Design 2 Design 3

Alloy Metal Aluminum Alloy Aluminum Alloy
Bolts and Nuts Bolts and Nuts Bolts and Nuts
Rubber Rubber Spring
Hinge Bearing Rubber
Spring

As shown on the table above, the 3 alternative designs have the same components but they

have different forms. The Design 2 and Design 3 are composed of aluminum alloy as the main

material and alloy metal for the Design 1. Both Design 2 and Design 3 were adjustable up to 5-

level but have different style of the bodies. However, the Design 1 has foldable foot rest so the

people can lessen the feeling of cramps and fatigue of their foot when riding the motorcycle.
2. Process of Allocating Requirements

The researchers looked for the materials that have good quality and has low price. If the

customers are about to buy the product, the quality of the materials used in producing the

Adjustable footrest is an important aspect because they would look on how durable and

presentable the product is. It is the totality of features and characteristics of the product that bears

its ability to satisfy implied needs.

In making the product called adjustable footrest, the first step of the process is to measure

the desired size of the aluminum flat bar and cut it depending on the shape suitable for the

adjustable footrest. Second, weld its joints to make the triangular plate. Then, measure and cut

the needed size for the level adjustment in the plate. For the footrest itself, measure the preferred

size of the aluminum flat bar and rubber and combine the two. The next step is to bend the

aluminum round bar and affix the footrest to it. After that, attach the aluminum round bar with

the bearing into the hole of the triangular plate.

3. Materials Specifications

The three alternative designs of the adjustable footrest are consisting of the following material

specifications and functions:

 Table 2

Material Specification Table

Material Picture Description

The square steel bar can be made

of stainless, galvanized, carbon,

Square steel bar
or mild steel. It will serve as the

body of Design 2 and 3.

A flat steel bar can be made of

stainless, galvanized, carbon or

Flat steel bar mild steel that use as rubber

surface for foot pad of design 1, 2

and 3.

The bolts and nuts are used to

hold the components together, it

will be used in fabricating any of

Bolts and Nuts
the three designs and it will help

also to fix the footrest to

motorcycle.
 The high quality rubber will serve

High quality rubber as anti-slip surface for design 1, 2

and 3

The bearing is used as guide for

Bearing design 2 to move up and down

direction.

The hinge will be serve as support

Hinge
for design 1 to fold and unfold.
 The spring is used as support for

Spring design 2 and 3 to easy to adjust

the foot pad.

4. Alternative Designs

After conducting surveys to those people who have ride in motorcycle, the researchers

proposed the following designs of the adjustable footrest that the cramps and fatigue experienced

by the users will lessen.

Figure 4.

Shown on the figure above is the design 1 of adjustable footrest for motorcycle which will use

alloy metal. Quality rubber pad as anti-slip material is installed on the surface of the foot pad of
this design. By unfolding the foot pad which provides wider space for each foot, the user could

make their feet feel more comfortable and safe during the ride.

Figure 5. 5-Level Adjustable Foot Rest with Triangular Support

Shown in the figure above is the proposed design 2 of foot rest for motorcycle. This

equipment will use aluminum alloy for its material. To adjust the level of the foot rest in order to

provide comfort, the user will have to rotate and loosen the rectangular bar used as a lock, once

the pedal is already movable and no longer fixed to a certain level, the user can now choose

which level to fix it based on his preference. After adjusting the level vertically, rotate again the

rectangular bar to lock and secure the pedal. This design has provided 5 levels as options for

adjustment. As for the pedal or the foot rest itself, additional friction was provided against the

out sole of the shoe or slipper by the rubber padded and have a raised non-slip horizontal lines on

the pedal.
 Figure 6. Simple 5-Level Adjustable Foot Rest

Figure 6 shows the alternative design 3 which has five-stage height adjustment. It is

controlled by pressing the footrest, then twisting it, so it can be moved upward or downward

depending on the preferred height of the user. It is attachable to both sides of motorcycle. These

is an ergonomically design, it is applicable and useful in terms of height of the users, it is gives

comfortable ride for back rider in motorcycle.

VI. PRELIMINARY DESIGN

Schematic Diagram

A schematic diagram is a representation of the components of a process, device, or other

object using abstract and graphic symbols. Schematic diagrams only illustrate the important
elements of a system, though some details in the figure may be presented to enable the

comprehension of the system. They usually exclude details that are not essential understanding

the information that the figure was intended to convey.

Figure . Schematic Adjustable Footrest Design

(hindi pa sure ang picture)

Figure shows the schematic diagram of the adjustable footrest for motorcycle. The adjustable

footrest was composed of the pedal as the footrest itself and the rectangular bar as the component

used to lock the preferred level of the footrest or to loosen if the user wants to change its level.

VII. DETAIL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Design Analysis

Trade-off analysis is significant on decision-making where there are multiple different

requirements or design options. It is a way to determine what the product is worth to a consumer

associated with different products aspects using some techniques. This will make the decisions
clearer and transparent. The researchers used four methods to determine the best design of

adjustable foot rest. The data collected were specifically from 20 students and 3 engineers.

There are three alternative designs that the proponents present which were graded according

to the given design criteria that includes portability, quality, usability, functionality, reliability,

and appearance. The design criteria were graded first and have a criterion scale of 1 to 6 which 1

means most important and 6 means least important depending on the rate of respondents.

In order to determine the best alternative design, the researchers apply the four trade-off

methods namely: Standard Weighted Sum, Maximin Decision (Best of Worst), Imprecise

Designer Ranking Table and Analytical Hierarchy Process.

Standard Weighted Sum Method

Table 3

Standard Weighted Sum

Design
Criteria
Importance Existing Design Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Portability 4 3.30 3.52 3.83 3.74
Quality 2 3.39 3.61 3.78 3.70
Usability 3 3.43 3.70 3.96 3.74
Functionality 2 3.65 3.83 3.87 4.04
Reliability 4 3.35 3.52 3.61 3.70
Appearance 6 3.43 3.41 4.04 3.52
           
 RESULT   11.96 12.47 13.54 12.96

Shown in the table above is the standard weighted sum table indicating the six design

criteria. The importance column was ranked in the scale of 1-6, 1 being the highest and 6 being

the lowest. This column was answered by engineers and students. The design alternatives were
rated also by the same engineers and students, in the scale of 1-6, 6 being the highest and 1 being

the lowest. In this method, the best design was determined based on the highest score from the

computation. Comparing the values, Design 2 which scored 13.55 was chosen as the best

alternative and it was computed by multiplying the importance of each criterion to the weighted

mean of the scores, acquiring the sum and dividing summation of number of criterion. (See

Appendix for computation)

Maximin (Best of Worst) Method

Table 4

Maximin (Best of Worst)

 Design Criteria
Importance Existing Design Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Portability 4 3.30 3.52 3.83 3.74
Quality 2 3.39 3.61 3.78 3.70
Usability 3 3.43 3.70 3.96 3.74
Functionality 2 3.65 3.83 3.87 4.04
Reliability 4 3.35 3.52 3.61 3.70
Appearance 6 3.43 3.41 4.04 3.52
           
RESULT 3.30 3.41 3.61 3.52

Shown in the table above is the evaluation of design criteria via maximin (best of worst)

method. The least minimum rating for each alternative design column was chosen for maximin

or best of worst decision method. Comparing the values shown above, design 2 which scored

3.64 was chosen as the best alternative design.

Imprecise Designer Ranking Table Method

Table 5

Imprecise Designer Ranking Table Method

Design Criteria
Importance Existing Design Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Portability 0.17 0.56 0.60 0.65 0.63
Quality 0.09 0.32 0.34 0.35 0.34
Usability 0.17 0.57 0.61 0.66 0.62
Functionality 0.12 0.42 0.44 0.45 0.47
Reliability 0.18 0.62 0.65 0.66 0.68
Appearance 0.27 0.93 0.92 1.10 0.96
Total 1.00        
RESULT   0.57 0.59 0.64 0.62

Shown in the table above is the imprecise designer ranking table indicating the six design

criteria. The importance column was ranked in the scale of 1-6, 1 being the highest and 6 being

the lowest. This column was answered by engineers and students. Each score in ranking was

divided to the total sum of 21. As for the design alternative column, it was rated by the same

engineers and students in the scale of 1-6, 6 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. The scores

on each design alternative criterion were normalized by the conversion scores of the range. In

this method, the best design was determined based on the highest score from the computation

among the alternatives. Comparing the values shown in the table, Design 2 which scored 0.65

was chosen as the best alternative and it was computed by multiplying the importance of each

criterion to the normalized value from the conversion score of the range and dividing it by the

total number of criterion. (See Appendix for computation)

a) A

Blah3 is ganito ganyan

 Table 6

Blah4

Alternatives
Design Criteria Importance Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Portability
Quality
Usability
Functionality
Reliability
Appearance

Table 6 shows ganito kasi wala pang laman

Table 7

Summary Results of the Four Methods of Trade-Off Analysis

Methods Existing Design Design 1 Design 2 Design 3

Standard Weighted Sum Method 12.04 12.48 13.55 12.99
Maximin (Best of Worst) 3.32 3.41 3.64 3.52
Imprecise Designer Ranking Table
0.57 0.59 0.65 0.62
Method
Analytical Hierarchy Process        

Shown in the table above was the result of the four methods of trade-off analysis, from the

standard weighted sum method, maximin (best of worst), imprecise designer ranking table and
analytical hierarchy process, the best alternative for adjustable footrest for motorcycle was

design 2. It gained the highest score among the design alternatives.

2. Cost analysis

Development cost is the main factor that the researchers consider in designing three (3)

alternatives.

Materials Quantity Dimension Amount (Php)

Aluminum Alloy Flat Bar 6 pcs 200mm x 50mm x 100mm 1,500.00
Aluminum Alloy Round Bar 2 pcs 50 cm x 12 mm 836.00
Bolts and Nuts 10 pcs 110.00
Styrene Butadiene Rubber 1 pc 572.00
Bearing 1 pc 120.00
Spring 2 pcs 199.00
Labor Cost 450.00
Total Php 3,787.00
 Table

Estimated Cost for Adjustable Footrest

Table shows the bill of materials for the adjustable footrest. The materials included are

aluminum alloy flat bar, aluminum alloy round bar, bolts and nuts, styrene butadiene rubber,

bearing, spring, and including the labor cost. The total cost for the adjustable footrest is Php

3,787.00

3. Effectiveness Analysis
Usability is the ability of the component to function under stated conditions for a specified

period of time. The proponents assessed that the design 1 will have the highest usability among

the design alternatives. Because the design is made of wood, it can be expected that the design 1

will function as intended compared to design alternatives 2 and 3.