After reading the article about Chaz Davies visiting the BMW wind tunnel on RRW, I wonder how long it will be until the gear manufacturers really start getting involved with the aerodynamic aspect of their products. They already do it a little with helmet design and with the humps on the suits, but they could do so much more. Eventually motorcycle racers may end up looking like downhill skiers.
RTFRB Humps are slightly using the safety excuse of more cushioning for the neck. Helmet spoilers are doing way more for air flow than aero, they'd have to get more like the pic for it to matter any. If it does get out of hand then I'll do something.
Noticed last year that the Arai riders had new clear spoilers added to their helmets. Have not seen them on over the counter models yet. Actually, I just found them, apparently they are called PED (Performance Enhancement Devices). The PED is designed to reduce lift and turbulence at high speeds by regulating the air stream OVER the helmet. http://www.gphelmets.com/arai-ped-kit-for-arai-5-series-and-arai-6-series-p/arai-ped-kit.htm
And I remember a conversation on here at one point about the humps on certain riders suits getting bigger and bigger.
You noticed that too. Either Marquez is really tiny or the hump on the back of his suit is the size of a small mountain.
PED kit wouldn't be legal if I remember our rule wording correctly. Marquez is that tiny but the hump is pretty big too
There were a couple of variants of Spyke suits and one Berik model where the hump started at the shoulders and went all the way down to the riders waist. It was ridiculous... As far as wind tunnels, I know Rad Greaves used on when they built the fairings for the FUSA Hyabusa and another article where BMW did testing. Who knows otherwise. Back in 98-99, Sharkskinz had a Daytona specific tail for the GSXR's that was a good 4-5 inches taller than the standard tailsecions.
When you're doing 150+ miles an hour down a steep ass ski slope, turning your head is a BAD idea. -jim
Yes. But when trying to look into the corner you are about to go into at 150mph is a good idea. That was my point. We won't get that aero cause we aren't just going straight.
