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Originally Posted by Christ
If you need a pic, lemme know. While you're at it, Check out Vetter's site: Craig Vetter, designer and inventor of the Windjammer fairing,Triumph Hurricane Motorcycle and fuel economy motorcycles[/url]
Pay specific attention to his fairings and aerodynamics, but don't mind the freaky scooter he's driving now. He's a little eccentric by some measures, but I believe he's out for the best he can do. He's a very good study, though. You'll likely learn alot from him.
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Huh... those scooters are really freaky
But their numbers speak for themselves! He's a genius, even I've heard about him.
But that
Vetter Alcane Fairing doesn't look promising for me. I got totally excited when I saw a yellow BMW F650GS tail behind one of these fairings. That bike is is pretty close to my Teresa (F650CS), they usually get very similar FE (the CS is often better by a few mpg). Then I read the article (chapter 2) and I saw this:
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Carol and BMW: 56.55 mpg Craig and KLR: 58.72 mpg 65-70 mph... awful headwinds.)
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Last time I rode in awful head/sidewind, at ~60-65mph, 2-up(!), I got 66mpgUS (3.54l/100km), not 56, with my stock CS. It was my absolute worst this year. So I'm not convinced that this fairing can do any good to the shape of an F650
Tucking myself seems to help, though, at least 1-up. It feels that I can coast longer that way than in an upright position. Doesn't work too well in a hot weather though, when I badly need the wind in my cordura suit
and feels stupid with this wide handlebar
Anyway, our best tanks with the 2 bikes are:
2.68l/100km (87.8mpgUS) with Ciliegia, our Hyosung GV250 - I must admit that
my best is only 82.2mpgUS on this bike, the absolute best is my girlfriend's (well, Ciliegia is her bike, so I don't mind). It's still open what long time average we'll get.
2.38l/100km (98.9mpgUS) with Teresa, the BMW F650CS. With Pulse&Glide I can often do tanks in the high 80s, and sometimes even over 90
In the winter, and without P&G 70s are typical (last winter I had a ~60% sized radiator cover on, it seemed to help a bit)
I'm still curious how I could improve aero for them (probably only in theory, these mods can easily be bad for the looks and rideability (is there a word like this?)
) - this fairing looked interesting, but the numbers turned me off.