Lou sits down with motorcycle data guru, Ed Fatzinger. Ed is the director of accident reconstruction at YA Engineering. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University and a master’s in aerospace engineering from Embry Riddle University. He’s also a professional engineer, ACTAR-accredited reconstructionist, and a member of the SAE accident reconstruction committee.

He’s published several papers on the topic of motorcycle crash data. In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Kawasaki data and how Ed started down that path

• Ducati’s Data Monitoring system

• Bombardier’s BUDS data

• Airbags vests

• Apps

• Diagnostic tools

• And more…

You can watch the podcast and find links from the show here.

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Connect with Ed

EdFatzinger.com

YA Engineering

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Timeline of Topics

00:00:00 – Bikes in the shop and Ducati’s modern tech

00:04:03 – Discovering Kawasaki’s hidden EDR system

00:07:18 – Breaking barriers: early roadblocks and first contact with Kawasaki

00:12:03 – Data mysteries and how manufacturers respond

00:15:43 – How motorcycle EDRs actually trigger (and how Ed tested it)

00:20:43 – Cracking the code: reverse-engineering and publishing the first papers

00:25:03 – Education, persistence, and field testing across the country

00:32:48 – Tip-over sensors, power loss, and missing crash data

00:37:38 – Inside the data: speed, traction, throttle, clutch, and gears

00:47:17 – Validating accuracy and correcting speed data

00:52:16 – Power loss anomalies and how to preserve motorcycle EDR evidence

01:04:17 – Off-road vehicles, BRP systems, and what “last instant data” really means

01:12:21 – Diagnostic tools, Ducati EDRs, and the future of rider data

01:34:49 – Airbag vest systems and data availability

01:41:23 – Ducati Data Analyzer and practical applications

01:56:54 – Smartphone-based data

01:59:24 – Lessons learned and how to connect with Ed