Low & Slow's Ninja 250 project

[Grant-53]

I will be happy to continue this on the thread I started a couple of month ago on motorcycle safety. Yes, this about fear and what we are used to seeing. I have taken the time to watch many youtube videos of crashes. Yes, I have been falling off bikes for many years.
What I am proposing is that the fairing provide enough protection to make inertial lap belts and airbags most effective in the most common road accidents-turning cars.
First the fairing supports have to be strong enough to prevent ankle and legs from being crushed when the 500 lb bike goes on its side. Next there has to be some protection for the hip and shoulder when it impacts the pavement such as honeycomb aluminum.
The inertial reel allows for the movement for kneesliding and the retractor releases with one hand. What I noticed in many videos is the bike does NOT tumble until AFTER the rider separates from the bike.
Again, if there are any studies available testing the use of belts, touring bars, or airbags.
The original Hurt report is available as a pdf file online, see Google Scholar. In that report a fairing was cited as making the motorcycle more conspicuous to drivers. The traditional touring bars may protect the feet but upper legs impact the bars.
The fairings being deveolped have huge potential for improving FE as well as safety. This is key to encouraging people to ride motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles instead of driving a car solo.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

Most people assume that a lap belt is a bad idea because they belive getting clear is better. The same arguement was made about cars decades ago. Kicking clear only works when you have nothing to hit such as guard rails, trees, cars, or buildings. A reinforced fairing system can protect the back and legs. Is it the anti-cager mentality or is there hard data out there? I've got SAE Journal articles and checked Hurd report findings etc. to go on.

My brother got clear of his Sportster,only to go under a Dodge Durango and subsequent blunt force trauma to the entire upper body.
I have no illusions about surviving a MC-Auto tangle.My trike will have a NHRA/SCTA/USFRA -approved-style roll cage and full restraint system.

[Frank Lee]

"Hurt" Report

[low&slow]

Alan Smith and I leave for the Ohio Vetter challenge on Friday, 7/13/2012. I've got the front faring stiff enough and it should survive the ~5000 trip to Ohio and back. I'm still struggling with high coolant temps with the full aero package. I'll probably end up running with the headlighlight area uncovered to increase radiator airflow on the trip and reinstall the headlight cover while running the Challenge. I still have to change my coolant, oil &filter and change the fork oil. My tires should last the trip.
We'll be meeting up with Red Yaris in Cheyenne WY, it will be cool riding this far with 3 streamlined bikes.

[sendler]

ADVRider is a really active forum with 100's of posts per day if you want to also duplicate your reports of your cross country trip over there. These guys need their eyes opened to fuel economy as they have been reluctant to grasp the concept in the few threads I have tried to start though there is a thread for touring on bikes 250cc and under.
.
Minimalist Touring Thread (250cc and under) - Page 345 - ADVrider
.
I will post some pics over there of my trip to meet your group at Mid Ohio. I am going to leave next Thursday morning and ride straight through in one day as it is only 470 miles for me but I might not make it to the pre ride meeting right at 5:00 if I am running late. Hopefully Craig won't take off for dinner before I get there.

[low&slow]

Final preparations completed today, fueled up and got 108.9 mpg for the tank ( 327.9 miles/3.01 gal.)
Sendler, see you in Ohio, I'll try to post something up on ADVRider and see what kind of response I get. Ride safe.
all the best, L&S

[Grant-53]

Best wishes for safe travel and an enjoyable meeting.

[low&slow]

I just got home from the trip to Ohio for the Vetter Challenge. The trip was around 5200 miles. It was by far the longest motorcycle trip I had ever taken and on the smallest bike I'd ever taken on an overnight trip. I encountered cooling problems right off the back due to a lack of testing time with the new dustbin styled front end. We kept making changes on the road and finally with blocking around the radiator and more airscoops we got it under control. The weather was hot virtually everyday with some intense rainstorms. My temperature gauge malfunctioned and read pegged out for the last 3 days on the way to Ohio.
At the Challenge I had a great ride and 119mpg. It was good for second overall and the best performance of all the gasoline- powered bikes. An incredible day.
After working 7/22 to 7/24 in Georgetown KY , I began the long solo ride home. We took Hwy 80 for the most part on the way out so I decided to take Hwy 70 on the way back. I rode Hwy 50 from Utah to Fallon NV. This trip was a great experience that I will never forget. I'll write about it in more detail now that I'm home.

[alvaro84]

Congratulations! Was that 119mpg at Craig's insane speeds? If so, it's really incredible!

[low&slow]

Thanks ALavaro! Yes, the pace was fast, typical "Vetter conditions" .