What you state makes sense to me, but they are not trying to smooth air, as
much as not make ANY smooth air available directly behind the bike.
Therefore diminishing any benefits of drafting. Whether it works or not is
beyond me. Any roadracers out there?
A side note to the Kawasaki. Cycle World magazine measured the
pressure in all the manufacturers bikes air boxes a few years ago. Kawasaki
had a positive 3+ lb. (free boost) , where the others reached 1.5 at best.
Dale Thomas
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Amo <jkamo@rapidnet.com>
To: Dale & Evelyn Thomas <bikerschoice@worldnet.att.net>
Cc: FastmetalBDF@aol.com <FastmetalBDF@aol.com>; land-speed list
<land-speed@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, April 24, 2000 1:47 PM
Subject: Re: More aero-dynamics
>Dale, and others, from the research I have done, it seems as though a much
>longer tail piece would be needed to truly smooth out the flow behind the
rider,
>like about 2 feet or more beyound the rear tire. I do not think that the
>current roadracing type bikes with the teardrop shaped tail sections, are
>benefiting much at all. Interestingly, Kawasaki, who is a very large
>corporation, develops jet airplanes, and only has a tiny piece of the
company
>dedicated to making motorcycles, they get help from the airplane engineers,
and
>always have the most efficient ram air box design, and class leading
>aerodynamics. With the current battle for fastest production street bike,
>Kawasaki held off production of their flagship (ZX12R) after Suzuki came
out
>with the 186-190mph Hayabusa, insider talk has indicated alot of input from
the
>air plane guys on ensuring good aerodynamics, there is even small winglets
>protruding from the sides of the lower fairing "to separate the laminar
flow on
>the fairing from the turbulent air coming off the brake calipers", anyway,
the
>tail section is plain, know effort at a huge teardrop.
> I really think that bikes need much more distance behind the rider to
smooth
>out the air flow, that is alot of what makes bikes so poor at getting
through
>the air, too much turbulence of the back. Current BNI rules prohibit
>streamlining beyond a vertical line at the rear edge of the rear tire, I
>believe FIM allows, beyond, it would be nice to incorporate such a rule for
>BNI/USFRA, as much of the current partial streamlining rules
stem/originated
>from the 60's when dustbin fairings proved instability prone. Any
>thoughts?? Joe
>
>Dale & Evelyn Thomas wrote:
>
>> One of the reasons for the new rear fender designs you see on
motorcycles
>> is to keep your opponent from drafting you. Then, he has to push air like
>> you, making harder to pass and/or keep up.
>>
>> Dale Thomas
>> O.F.O.S. racing
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: FastmetalBDF@aol.com <FastmetalBDF@aol.com>
>> To: dr.piston@worldnet.att.net <dr.piston@worldnet.att.net>;
RAWAWA@aol.com
>> <RAWAWA@aol.com>; land-speed@autox.team.net <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> Date: Saturday, April 22, 2000 9:26 AM
>> Subject: Re: More aero-dynamics
>>
>> > Jim, Bob, I saw some very hi tech motorcycles, being raced on
a
>> >road course, on The Learning Channel last night , and they had some
very
>> >interesting
>> >conical fairings, pointing rearward, above and behind the rear wheel
of
>> >many of
>> >the entries . Testing must have validated their value, as the extra
weight
>> >of these
>> >fairings, however slight, would not be included on a vehicle in any
class
>> >where
>> >extreme lightness is deemed of great importance . These fairings were
>> similar
>> >to the shapes now grafted on the trailing side of the swoopy helmets
seen
>> on
>> >speed skiers and skateboarders, proving every little bit helps .
>> > Nature's design ..... the TEARDROP ..... is hard to
improve
>> on
>> > !
>> >The laws of Physics are non- biased, and provide a level playing field
>>
>> >course ! )
>> > within any given class, two wheeled or four wheeled .
>> > As for dimples, let' s hope they stay on golf balls, and pretty
>> girls
>> >...... the sleek 'liners seen in present day competition are true
>> statements
>> >in aesthetics and symmetry, approaching the zenith of automotive
>> aerodynamics
>> > .
>> >
>> > Bruce in rainy, gloomy Connecticut
>> >
>
>
>
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