Aerodynamics

[RDFL]

https://canadamotoguide.com/2016/05/04/motorcycle-aerodynamics/

[85RZwade]

That's a good read, thanks. A little difficult to get past the opening photo...

[sav0r (CL MotoTech)]

That's a nicely written article. I always say that aerodynamics, at least on level of things that seem obvious, are mostly just good intentions. There's nothing obvious or intuitive about aerodynamics, which is why studying it is so expensive.

Also the assertion that motorcycles create more drag than a suburban is a little dubious. Sure they are dragier, but they have a fraction the frontal area, so effective force generated by drag remains very low in comparison. I've seen numbers for Formula 1 cars that are over a coefficient of 1, but calculating Cd is pretty dubious as well, so generally total force is just measured instead.

[teazer]

I suspect that's just journalistic license.  Certainly a bike has a much higher drag coefficient than almost anything else out there, but a modest cross sectional area, so it's unlikely that the actual drag force is higher than a big ass SUV.

In F1 they have a constant fight between drag and ground effects and the effect of following another car in all that dirty air.  It used to be that we all needed a dyno to make more power, now we all need access to a wind tunnel to get more top speed. That has been true since bikes, and wind tunnels, were invented.

[Dvsrd]

Look up the NSU record bikes from the 50s. Impressive speeds with small engines.
http://www.nsumotor.onlinehome.de/baumm.htm