Craig Vetter up to his old tricks

[SVOboy]

Cool looking stuff: Craig Vetter still working on 2-wheeled streamliners, looks for help

100 mpg @ 70 mph with a 20 mph headwind!

[Daox]

That is pretty sweet. I wonder how well those kick out plate/door things work.

[KJSatz]

Looks like a land jet ski. Epic.

[MetroMPG]

FYI: EM thread following his progress, here: Vetter Streamliner Helix

FYI, he's also done a summary of his project on YouTube. (Posted at the end of the thread linked above)

[Frank Lee]

I had a feeling he'd do better with a different base vehicle. Throughout his development he reported no real fe increase due to aero. The Helix seemed to be hitting a wall and I think a traditional gearbox would have helped.

[beatr911]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I had a feeling he'd do better with a different base vehicle. Throughout his development he reported no real fe increase due to aero. The Helix seemed to be hitting a wall and I think a traditional gearbox would have helped.

Agreed. He's had several email responses like this during the project, and not only from myself. He is really trying to do what an ecomodder does. It's all not very well travelled soil, so he is learning lessons. He has alot of support from the average Joe, and the ear of industry. Fortunately he is still in the mode of using an existing vehicle with easy to do mods, I think the goal is to sell a kit that we can use on our own bikes.

I for one am hoping the industry will take notice and we can have a Metro XFI or Civic VX of motorcycles - even if we have to make it ourselves.

I support Vetter in his efforts. Motorcycles really have a long development road ahead as modern technology has not been applied to making them efficient. Aerodynamics can play a major role, as it does in cars and trucks.

[Frank Lee]

I want Honda to bring the Super Cub back to the U.S. 100+ fe, outta the box.

Even though Honda hates us.

They MUST have reasonable prices for Cub stuff. They just must.

[dcb]

Craig is an icon, someone should extend him an invite to here.

[Frank Lee]

I was recently very near his home and wanted to stop in but didn't get the chance. I bet it would have been fun.

[trebuchet03]

Coolness

I just watched this video from the other thread:

YouTube - Helix Streamlining, 1 Year Progress Update

Personally, I feel a streamlined bike needs a side/rollover protection system. On a bike or a scooter, when you crash, you become removed from the vehicle. When you start enclosing yourself in even the most weak of materials, you're trapped. Whatever it is, it doesn't even have to be detrimental to aero (or weight) -it could be integrated into the support structure and be an easy way to add a head bubble to clean up the regions behind his head