Low & Slow's Ninja 250 project

[Grant-53]

First, my sympathies to you and your family at the passing of your Father. It is always such comfort have at least one last visit. Some times my 86 yr old father calls just when I am trying to do something but I take the time to chat so I have no regrets. There is also the hope of the resurrection and a life to come.

More and more people I talk to to are willing to consider a faired 250cc rather than a bigger and heavier bike. The lower costs and ease of handling appeal to mature men and women. Acceptance will come faster as the full fairings become more appealing visually and offer more crash protection.

Good ducting will definitely help. A NACA intake, smooth ducts, and a larger exhaust opening in a lower pressure area should do the trick. Remember the hotter air will require more volume than the intake air. In extreme temperatures such as 100+ F a water/alcohol mist system ahead of the radiator would help too. In the 50's people would put a canvas water bag in front of a car's grill when traveling out west, the evaporation cooled the air going into the radiator.

[low&slow]

Thanks Grant< Ia ppreciate your condolences.
My new ducting appears to have resolved my cooling problems.



I recently went on a group ride hosted by the Ninjette Forum that started in San Jose and went up to Mt Hamilton to the Junction and back to Livermore. There were about 12 riders and at the first stop we found we were missing about 4 riders. A ride leader went back to check and found out that one of our riders had gone down and was apparently injured. The police blocked off the road so we couldn't ride back to see what happened. The 8 remaining riders decided to complete the ride.

Thie next morning I checked on the forum and found that the missing rider collided with a tree and was killed . I had enjoyed a great ride with some new friends and was stunned by this sad news. His name was Tim Wong. He was young and worked as a software engineer. He was wearing full protective gear ( helmet, leathers, gloves, boots) but still received fatal blunt trauma injuries. He apparently went too fast into a turn, got into some gravel , crossed back over the road and struck a tree. My thoughts and prayers go to Tim , his family and friends.

Please stay safe, Vic

[renault_megane_dci]

It is really not a good period for you ...

Sorry about your loss and for the Wong family's too.

At least, ecomodding prevents you from entering bends too fast ...

[godscountry]

I wonder how the Aprilia RS 125 bike would be in a aerodynamic body,it has 32 horse power and can go 110 mph.It has a 6 speed and is water cooled.It is about 5,000 us dollars new,but with a nice body design, it could double the stock fuel economy.Don't you think?

[low&slow]

Godscountry, yes, with full streamlining and some regearing it is possible to double the fuel economy of the motorcycle's stock configuration. Is the Aprilia fuel-injected? That would be another plus.

[low&slow]

Hi all, I haven't posted in a while and thought I should report in.
After a disappointing performance in the 2012 Las Vegas to Barstow Vetter Challenge I knew I needed to improve my streamlined Ninja 250 to return to its previous good finishes ( 2nd overall, 1st gasoline -powered @ Mid Ohio Challenge, 3rd best @ 2012 Carmel Challenge) .
I decided to buy a Vetter fiberglass nosepiece as side by side testing with Alan Smith showed its superior performance . So I removed my Coroplast over sheetmetal framework nose and began by installing a plywood bulhead to mount the 2 fiberglass nose halves on. I cut the wheel slot, glassed the halves together and mounted the nose onto the bulkhead with 3 screws. I then make the framework to mount coroplast sides and windscreen. I've been back on the road the past 2 weeks.

I still need to do some more finish work such as sealing the plywoood bulhead and adding ducting but I wanted to see how the new nose felt and performed. I started using it to run errands to ensure it was strongly attached and that the turning clearance was OK. Engine temps are good although the weather has been cool. The bike is quieter through the air and I'm able to hold top gear longer and at smaller throttle openings than before. FOr lots of pictures of the construction check out Craig Vetter's website at Craig Vetter, designer and inventor of the Windjammer fairing,Triumph Hurricane Motorcycle and fuel economy motorcycles , its in Chapter 62

Alan just got back from Phoenix with his "new" ( 2004 model ) Ninja 250 and wanted to do a baseline test on our 100 mile test loop. So we decided to ride this morning. Alan's friend Ken joined us with his new Honda CF250. We enjoyed the ride through the backroads between Livermore and Patterson and has excellente Mexican food for lunch. We rode back to our starting point gas station and refilled our bikes: Alan: 77 mpg, Ken 83 mpg, Vic 100 mpg. The weather was cool with some wind. A good start for this current version.

Next, I need to finish off the front end and then remake my tailsection. Still lots to do before the Carmel Vetter Challenge in May but I'm looking forward to it.

all the best , Vic

[HHOTDI]

That is so fascinating Vic and so awesome to see. I have been encouraged to get up off from the couch of Streamlining and get to wrenching on one. Thanks for the encouragement! I am currently looking to purchase an ATV for the front end/suspension and a wrecked CBR like Sendlers for the powerplant/rear suspension. I have missed two already at the auctions...Arrgh! I am going to mate them in a Tadpole design like this one I found for sale on eBay! Although I really want it to tilt as you turn and have suspension in the front. Our area up here in the Northern panhandle of Idaho is fast, our freeways are posted 70 and 75. With my trips into Montana i'll have to pull 2 large mountain passes, each way of course so that will give me some good coasting on each down hill side!!! This one has some good ideas and then i'll certainly R&D(rob and duplicate) where i like it and change what i need to! So excited to be getting dirty and building one of my own. I'll start a new thread as soon as it get the first one bought and start cutting! I looked into a CBR125r from a close neighbor up in Canada, there's a fellow there that will bring his down here to the states and sell it to me...although it is way out of my budget at $1500.00USD, it's still food for thought! A CBR125r would be awesome, but I think it might struggle pulling the passes too much and I feel the CBR250r like Sendlers would be the best all around choice so far. Now I just need some poor fool to wreck his so I can buy it at the salvage auction...lol, sorry! :{)

Bumble Bee Recumbent Tadpole 49cc Motor Assisted Bicycle Human Hybrid Trike | eBay

[renault_megane_dci]

we want pics !

[low&slow]

Here a link to the page showing the Vetter nose installation 2013 Vetter Streamliner-Chap 62 lots of pictures

HHOTDI, thanks and let us know when you sart your project

[low&slow]

Here a link to the page showing the Vetter nose installation 2013 Vetter Streamliner-Chap 62 lots of pictures

HHOTDI, thanks and let us know when you sart your project