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Old 12-17-2009, 07:20 AM   #27 (permalink)
thatguitarguy
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Leadville, CO
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Maroon Ballon - '98 Chrysler Town & Country LXI
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I think you are going to have "weathervaning" problems any time you increase the lateral surface area of anything on the front fork, whether it be a wheel fairing, or even a headlight or headlight fairing. These should all be mounted to the frame - not the fork. The balance and control of the bike are dependent on your relationship with the front wheel through the fork and bars. It's strictly 1:1, with no mechanical advantage or separation like in a car. And when you try to shorten the bars for better aerodynamics, any problem is going to be more pronounced.


This may look cool, but I think that any turbulence is going to be amplified by all that extra surface area on the front wheel.


Here the front wheel is protected from those turbulent forces. The frontal area may be larger, but control of the bike is paramount.

The great thing about designing bikes is that it costs a lot less money than designing cars, and you have fewer rules and regulations that you have to deal with in getting it on the road.

You may be able to shortcut the laws of man - but you still have to abide by the laws of physics. And what you don't pay for with money, you may end up paying for with your body if you don't get it right the first time.
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