time to fully enclose my bike

[sendler]

If it gets bad in cross winds you can start enlarging the foot holes to vent the lift (side) of the newly formed wing when the wind makes an angle of attack.

[bschloop]

If it gets bad in cross winds you can start enlarging the foot holes to vent the lift (side) of the newly formed wing when the wind makes an angle of attack.

That is a possibility. I am also trying to think of a few other possibilities which would allow for the least compromise in aero. Actual cross winds are not really that worrisome to me, what worries me is the buffeting you get off of semi trucks. this is an issue for my little bike even without the fairing.

[sendler]

Would you say the buffeting is worse or better since you put the aero bodywork on?
.
The one thing I noticed when riding behind Alan's Vetter streamliner during the highway section was how invisible it was to rough truck wake that had the diesels flailing all over the place. Alan's bike was smooth as silk. The black diesel was all over the road for some reason. I think the lowered KLR suspension has caused the steering geometry of the Hayes diesels to become less than optimal.

[bschloop]

It seems to be very slightly better with the fairing, but that might be because without the fairing I was maxed out at 70mph downhill. high speed stability in all conditions improved with the fairing. I am truncating the tail on this one to help with the stability at speed, and to provide mounting space for the license plate and taillight. similar to last year.

[8307c4]

Man...

Take a turn at a decent clip and along comes a 25mph gust of wind to the ground you go, it all happens so fast your life won't even have time to flash past your eyes but I can guarantee the impact is painful.

Well, maybe all that extra fairing will absorb some of it.

I wonder too, how it acts at 50mph when along comes an 18-wheeler.

[bschloop]

Man...

Take a turn at a decent clip and along comes a 25mph gust of wind to the ground you go, it all happens so fast your life won't even have time to flash past your eyes but I can guarantee the impact is painful.

Well, maybe all that extra fairing will absorb some of it.

I wonder too, how it acts at 50mph when along comes an 18-wheeler.

I have been in all of these situations with this bike in a 3/4 faired (read dustbin nose, full tail) configuration. it has so far performed perfectly well and no crashes. 25-35mph side winds are not uncommon where I live and the trees and lakes make them pretty unpredictable, but it is something you learn to deal with if you have a bike. The semi truck effect is the biggest variable, but Semis in oncoming traffic at 50mph are not as bad as semis on the freeway going the same direction 75mph.

[bschloop]

back to the actual build...
I've been looking at different fiberglass cloth, and need a little advice. which makes a stronger more rigid composite, more layers of lighter cloth, or less layers of heavier cloth? this is assuming that the two would have the same final weight.

[Michael Moore]

If you have different layers you can rotate each layer 45 degrees to the preceding one which I think would give a little improvement in stiffness from having the strands running in more directions than just X and Y.

cheers,
Michael

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by 8307c4

Man...

Take a turn at a decent clip and along comes a 25mph gust of wind to the ground you go, it all happens so fast your life won't even have time to flash past your eyes but I can guarantee the impact is painful.

Well, maybe all that extra fairing will absorb some of it.

I wonder too, how it acts at 50mph when along comes an 18-wheeler.

For an answer to this question, ask Craig Vetter how his streamliner works in terrible winds.

He has ridden his fairing through all kinds of stuff out there in windy California in the moutains.

Also there is the huge "Carver" motorcycle from Europe that seems to do well in high sidewinds.

Jim.

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by bschloop

I agree that plastic wrap releases the composite better, but how do you get the Glad wrap to stick to the foam? When I tried to, it didn't want to stay put while I was placing the next piece. for the foil I just spray a small amount of general purpose spray adhesive on the foil then place it over the plug.


I don't mind too much if the foil doesn't all come off, since it's on the inside where no one will see it.

I did not try to stick the GladWrap to the foam and then lay glass on top of that.

What I did do is lay the glass on top of the foam, and then lay the GladWrap on top of that and put mechanical force on the layup for better adhesion.

If I understand your application correctly, you are attempting to use the Glad Wrap as a PVA of sorts?

Jim.