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Old 06-07-2013, 04:38 PM   #135 (permalink)
RedDevil
Master EcoWalker
 
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
Posts: 3,999

Red Devil - '11 Honda Insight Elegance
Team Honda
90 day: 53.95 mpg (US)
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A rider in a glider may become a slider...

The longer the bike is, the harder it will be to control especially when hit by side wind. I would not lightly use a glider fuselage on 2 wheels.

In 2005 my wife and I went on holiday to Corsica with my Honda ST1100 Pan European stuffed with our 3 weeks luggage. Just passing the Belgian border we were suddenly hit by a hurricane-force rain storm from aside. On the highway, going maybe 80 km/h (50 mph). Had to make it list over 30 degrees (*) just to keep going straight, amongst the cars and all. Scary !
That was with a fully faired but very heavy bike (weighing over 500 kg including us).

If that had happened to a light streamlined bike it would probably have gone wrong.
A glider hull would certainly have kissed the road.

(*): So how did I know it was 30 degrees? Well, my right boot scraped the tarmac while the heel was on the footrest. That's 45 degree territory when riding alone, but the extra weight pushes it down further so I subtracted a fair deal. I did not dare list any more as I could feel the tires wriggle; it was also raining like turning over a swimming pool.
Luckily it happened right at an exit to the customs parking lot; I just stopped it slantwise over the slots, pointing right against the hurricane and waited for it to drop off. When it finally did we went over to the ever present Belgian potato fries shop, soaked to the bone despite full rain gear, to warm ourselves inside and out.
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2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.


For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.

Last edited by RedDevil; 06-07-2013 at 04:49 PM..
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