Streamlined motorcycles

[BHarvey]

First, are they legal for street use when sporting all required lighting and such?

When I say streamlined, I am talking the Vetter 'Spud' style with rider enclosed.

Second, anyone here working on one?

Been thinking of building a streamliner based on a Ninja 250, or a GS500E.

The Ninja because of the smaller displacement and lighter weight, the GS because of the torque advantage which would more easily handle tall gearing.

Seems you could build one with a rail system to make the back half slide rearward for ease of entry/departure, and be left in the rearward posititon for city riding when always having to put your feet down.

Then for highways, slide it forward to fully enclose the rider.

[Frank Lee]

There are lots of silly laws on the books, but a law against motorcycle bodywork???

[Cd]

I would almost feel like placing a strobe light at the back of something like this because it would be nearly 'invisible' to the average driver. Since they could not judge the scale of the vehicle in front of them, they would just ram you.
Already motorcycles are had to see, and by crouching even lower to the ground you would make it even harder to see you.

I'm all for streamliners, but there are so many bad drivers out there that it seems like suicide to drive a streamliner on the roads.

The guy on the main page did one. If I was more brave, I would jump on the idea.
I love the idea, but just fear the idiots out there.

One more thing - I noticed that Craig Vetter made his ( scooter ) streamliner with a frame that he has riveted. In an accident he would be cut to bits as he flew forward.
If i were to design a motorcycle streamliner, i would have the inside free of sharp surfaces and have it break away as you fly forward.

Hope to see your work here - good luck !

[Frank Lee]

I'm going to carve my streamliner out of a giant marshmallow!

[skyl4rk]

You can find laws about motorcycles in your state's Motor Vehicle Code. In Michigan's code, there is a provision for an autocycle, which is an enclosed motorcycle. I bet that there have been almost no registrations under this code. The law that might affect your design is the minimum seat height law. I have never seen a law that prohibits enclosing a motorcycle with a fairing.

[redyaris]

If all the bizar choppers on the road can be made street legal then so can a streamliner. Most jurisdiction have very basic requirements for lights, brakes and not much else. Take a look at your local legislation, its probably not more that one paragraph long.

[visionary]

RE your second question "anyone here working on one?"

Yes, I am. The project can be followed in the link below
As you will see, I have taken a different route from most others, which I hope will bring benefits in both mpg, vmax and weather protection. Here is how it compares with a traditional "naked" motorcycle.


I firmly believe that any "streamliner" has to tackle the "short & high" profile inherent in all motorcycles with a traditional riding position. There is much talk of an optimum "fineness ratio" for low drag, which will always present a problem for "normal" motorcycles.

[PeterS]

The biggest limiting factor for me isn't design but what is legal in my state .Having to work with an unmodified frame is difficult and limits the lower ff position from being adopted .

[Grant-53]

A full body fairing is very feasible. Just start with your state's regulations for seat height; most places 27" is minimum. The profile should be an inverted wing to minimize lift and drag. Use a spreadsheet to create a 3D graph of the shape. The materials would be ABS skin and foam laminate ribs. The sliding tail box would use heavy duty drawer rollers. Safety issues include color of body, marker lighting, and an inertial reel lap belt. No, I'm not kidding about the lapbelt.

[Frank Lee]

Repeat after me: wing shapes are not valid in ground effect.