Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Motorcycle aerodynamics, a slippery and windy, slope?

dcb · 04-08-2011, 01:23 AM

for safety, I would stay in bed

I think there was some issue with early designs that had a high tail, and the whole bike was a bit like a vertical wing with a genuine angle of attack leveraging the whole thing over in a crosswind.

I believe you do want to avoid that scenario, or possibly even figure out how to use crosswind to your advantage (rudder?).

But aerodynamics and small two wheelers are about as efficient as it gets for 1-2 passengers, so absolutely worth sorting out.

edit, interesting link:
http://www.bikeweb.com/node/1805?size=_original
the ecomobile leaned more but got pushed off its path less than a standard bike in a crosswind test, fwiw. They say the bad crosswind press is from pointed front ends with overhang.

04-08-2011, 01:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
dcb needs more cowbell Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ÿ Posts: 5,038 pimp mobile - '81 suzuki gs 250 t 90 day: 96.29 mpg (US) schnitzel - '01 Volkswagen Golf TDI 90 day: 53.56 mpg (US) Thanks: 158 Thanked 269 Times in 212 Posts	for safety, I would stay in bed I think there was some issue with early designs that had a high tail, and the whole bike was a bit like a vertical wing with a genuine angle of attack leveraging the whole thing over in a crosswind. I believe you do want to avoid that scenario, or possibly even figure out how to use crosswind to your advantage (rudder?). But aerodynamics and small two wheelers are about as efficient as it gets for 1-2 passengers, so absolutely worth sorting out. edit, interesting link: http://www.bikeweb.com/node/1805?size=_original the ecomobile leaned more but got pushed off its path less than a standard bike in a crosswind test, fwiw. They say the bad crosswind press is from pointed front ends with overhang. __________________ WINDMILLS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY!!! Last edited by dcb; 04-08-2011 at 01:34 AM..