In a message dated 9/22/2007 10:58:19 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics.htm Gang, I don't really understand why the aero numbers for these 150MPH plus sport bikes are so poor. Were these numbers measured with the rider aboard? So here are some random thoughts in no particular order - my UJM (750cc Suzuki gets ~5% better fuel mileage with a fairing (Shoei's GF-1 a BMW imitation with integrated turn signals, but mirrors still in the wind) installed versus naked. - it seems clear that a sport bike's fairing is designed for optimal turbulence free riding at top speed, not aero efficiency. - since most of these sport bikes have the pointy style nose the key to good aero for a motorcycle is not (minimizing and smoothing the) frontal area. - My car (a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO) has a CD of ~.31 with a large, but wedge shaped frontal area. My electric motorcycle with (a small, but poorly designed frontal area) all of the style bumps, air holes, mirrors, exposed engine, and turn signals, etc. is probably more than 2 times that perhaps more with the rider aboard. - It would seem that an electric motorcycle would allow a well designed fairing to push most of the air around the vehicle and rider. Questions: Is the relatively short length of the motorcycle creating more drag on the tail end than the front? Or is our most practical solution likely to still be developing a better front fairing with integrated mirrors. turn signals and side skirts to duct air outside the riders legs? Does anyone know what the CD is for a Vetter fairing or BMW 1200 LT/GT? Are these examples appreciably lower than the sport bike examples below? Do we have any data for a faired, non sport bike to compare to? Mike Bachand Denver Electric Vehicle Council (DEVC) - Colorado Chapter of the EAA 1994 Kawasaki Ninja EV ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
