Craig Vetter is calling for a show of hands of interest for his streamlined motorcycle body work kit which is now in the final stages of pre production.
. 2012 Vetter Streamliner Kit-Chap 61
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Several years of real world testing have proven 100 mpgUS at 70 mph on a first gen Ninja250 which can be purchased used for $1000. Better cams for the Ninja or a more efficient bike like a CBR250R or 125R could do considerably better on fuel. Streamlining will make an electric bike go much farther also.
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Warm, dry, steady and quiet in buffeting winds. And locking storage for 100+ liters of gear or groceries. Use the full tail for the best aerodynamics or truncate the shape behind the rear wheel for easier parking in the garage.
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Every commuter or world traveler that is fit enough to ride needs one of these to help save our remaining resources.
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Build a Vetter streamliner and help spread the word.
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Craig Vetter is calling for a show of hands of interest for his streamlined motorcycle body work kit which is now in the final stages of pre production.
. 2012 Vetter Streamliner Kit-Chap 61
.
Several years of real world testing have proven 100 mpgUS at 70 mph on a first gen Ninja250 which can be purchased used for $1000. Better cams for the Ninja or a more efficient bike like a CBR250R or 125R could do considerably better on fuel. Streamlining will make an electric bike go much farther also.
.
Warm, dry, steady and quiet in buffeting winds. And locking storage for 100+ liters of gear or groceries. Use the full tail for the best aerodynamics or truncate the shape behind the rear wheel for easier parking in the garage.
.
Every commuter or world traveler that is fit enough to ride needs one of these to help save our remaining resources.
.
Build a Vetter streamliner and help spread the word.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
That thing doesn't look like a motorcycle. I can't picture driving that thing back and forth to work. I think TNT car club would run me over for driving that thing.
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2012 CBR250RA all black w/ ABS, blackened muffler heat guard, P3 brake flashers TS+.
Green: reflective rim decals, LED lighting, custom "to punish and enslave..." lettering.
Riding gear: Icon Contra Mil-Spec Hi-Viz & HJC CL-16 helmet
A quick calculation says that going up to 100mpg(US) from 80mpg(uk) at uk petrol prices (1.4GBP/L, 8.5USD/USGal) would pay off the 2000 dollar cost after... 80,000 km.
It will. "Someday everything that goes fast will be round at the front and pointy at the back". Craig is unfortunately two steps ahead of the game at this point.
A quick calculation says that going up to 100mpg(US) from 80mpg(uk) at uk petrol prices (1.4GBP/L, 8.5USD/USGal) would pay off the 2000 dollar cost after... 80,000 km.
He is obviously going to have to come down on the price. I would go as high as $300 each for the nose and the cowl. A truncated tail is the real no brainer as you then also gain huge, lockable storage.
He is obviously going to have to come down on the price. I would go as high as $300 each for the nose and the cowl. A truncated tail is the real no brainer as you then also gain huge, lockable storage.
well for my commute, that's actually only 4 years, which isnt actually too bad. If you factor in increases in fuel prices it could pay off sooner. The counter is that it would probably detract from resale value, providing further 'cost' that needs to be offset by fuel savings. Back on the plus side, i imagine it would help with straight line performance, atelast in terms of top speed, and possibly acceleration if the drag reduction isnt offset by extra weight.
What this really serves to highlight is the high drag that bikes experience. Over the last decade or two you can see that street cars have become alot more aerodynamic whereas bike have done less so. Perhaps such changes in bikes (which have the potential to direct wind and rain away from the rider as well as improving drag) are hard to do without drastic changes such as this sort of streamliner fairing, or the dustbin/dolphin fairing of old. And people tend to be resistant to step changes compared to gradual ones.
resale value for a commuter has always been irrelevant to me . I plan on running my CBR until it drops. The most aerodynamic motorcycle (Hayabusa) has a coefficient of drag of over .6cd. In a full tuck. Sit upright and you are probably closer to 1.0. A barn door. Many modern cars have cd of less than .3 but have more frontal area than a bike. cdA is the final factor for determining drag. Even with the low area, bikes can be much better if they are aero. Streamlining the CBR will make it feel like a different bike above 50 mph. Where some riders now feel that the bike can't pass on the highway, a streamlined version will fly past the stock bike up to a crazy top speed of who knows what? 120 mph? You don't have to run the complete tail either. Kamm has shown us that you can chop off the last 40% of length with only a 10% increase in drag.
many reasons why this streamliner wouldnt work for me,,
starting from a position of neutrality to the concept
as it could be handy for some in some situations,,
to start with this is asking me to spend $2250
[plus install etc] to firstly, add more weight..
experienced motorcyclists have posted excellent
examples of weight savings here, starting in, ounces..
weight for me and my riding, is a genuine factor,
as is, for me, $2250+ to pay for it..
for general suburban commuting etc, cant see it
in traffic, parking between cars in limited spaces etc..
this morning i had to thread my way in an S shape
around cars and a bus blocking both lanes as they
all tried to change to the left lane, which was easy
on my cbr250r, but only just..
cant see this streamliner which looks to be much
longer than a normal bike, being any use in general
suburban riding especially thru, and in traffic
where its weight would add to, mpg, as its
streamlining wouldnt have any real effect
other than getting in the way..
for me ergonomics of the motorcycle and my position
on it are very, important,, whereas this design seems
more like lounging back into a lounge chair, virtually
destroying use of body parts and c of g movements
in handling the motorcycle, being part of, the whole
as it moves and as you move together..
riding position looks like a cross between dentists chair
and a big long motor scooter riding posiiton..
however you mount the thing it cant be the typical
motorcycle method of lifting your leg over the seat,
so it must be stepping thru it like a motor scooter..
dismounting would be as for a motor scooter..
these are just typical day to day motorcycle use..
one occasional problem on my cb72 with full fairing
[one mold] was being hit by side winds on highways..
the amount of flat surface area presented makes
this thing look like an invitation to be blown over..
there must also be questions as to general handling
in fast or emergency riding, given that motorcycles
their rake and trail and so on are not designed
to carry this sort of long high additional bulk..
one, reason dustbin fairings were banned from racing
was that they took away the visual impact of 'a motorcyle',
giving it a body covering the wheel[s] like a car..
for me also, despite the extra 20+mpg claimed
it just looks like something not, a motorcycle...
must admit tho with its low extended round nose
it does look good for knocking over pedestrians
or animals without impact on the front wheel..
thinking of warmth, comfort[?] staying dry etc,
i did think of a small car, before deciding on
[another] motorcycle, this beaut little cbr250r..
if, it was offered with a streamliner body
and motor scooter seating/ergonomics etc,
for half the purchase price again, there would
be no chance of accepting the offer, thanks..
as for racing, which seems to be part of the strategy
here, it could work in some tracks with long straights
and few tight turns, but for typical circuits how will
it take to being drifted into corners..
altho you could give marquez one to 'sweep away'
the competition with his long tail instead of
bouncing them off the track...
Vetter streamliner body kit
