Recumbent Honda 90

[renault_megane_dci]

That looks good.

What about driving a twin seat setup ?
One like pictured and a cafe racer style one in usual position in case you get caught ?

[PeterS]

Hell, they let Harley riders lie down to ride why not a CT110?

[PeterS]

I'm still looking for the right CT110 but I'm also giving lots of thought to the design.

Ironside reckons his cd is around .44 as the bike appears above.

What do people think the best cd would be for this design with the current forward
section, a well faired kamm tail as per Craig Vetter's design ?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Adding a kammback may help.

[renault_megane_dci]

Obviously better but is it really about the number ?

[PeterS]

I'm a numbers kind of guy and I really enjoy playing with the calculator at the top of the page . My aim will be 200 mpg Imperial at 50mph the same as Ironside . I've been drawing plans including a few details like sliding doors that will disappear inside the fairing. Perhaps they will be most useful in low side wind conditions.

[Michael Moore]

Those big ducts were for trying to cool a big British vertical twin. I think that old dustbin could be improved by eliminating those big side scoops and making that area gently rounded, and then cooling ducts could pick up just below the nose (at the level of the engine) and have a nice divergent duct built into the inside of the fairing (stiffening it up) to deliver cooling air to a ducted cylinder/head on the Honda engine. It is a small engine and won't be making a lot of horsepower so it doesn't need a giant duct's worth of air.

Look at what was done on the Dreamliner fairing:

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/a...nerVicW001.jpg
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/a...nerVicW002.jpg
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/a...nerVicW003.jpg

The Dreamliner gave a 30+% improvement in fuel mileage in top gear and there's some "styling" in the design that probably wasn't a big help.

cheers,
Michael

[PeterS]

I have both the issues of MotorCycling that test came out in Michael, it was my original introduction to the EcoModding idea.... I was riding an Enfield 500 at the time.

I think NACA vents might be easier but the inward intrusion would make my forward sliding door difficult so the old way might be a good idea. The doors would close off the Ironside vents too.

That Dreamliner was surprisingly effective , it was a Watt's design IIRC.

[renault_megane_dci]

What about aiming for realistically the best then measuring the result ?

50mph operation might be a speed range where weight still has a predominant importance.

Also, engine efficiency on top of those four gears might prove a difficult trade-off.
I seem to recall Allert used a Innova as a starter wich is Fuel Injected. Something worth considering as much as Cd numbers in my book.

[PeterS]

I'd be using an Innova if they where available here but the CT 110 postie bike is the best "low frame" available here. I looked at the Saches Madass but it isn't as good as the CT 110. There are more powerful engines available from Lifan but frankly the advantages of those are limited, certainly more power for acceleration though.

"Do the best then measure the result ?".... of course, but the rear section is another job equal to the front fairing so I was wondering how much of an improvement over Ironside's current stage the Vetter style rear would be ....... in numbers.