Motorcycle Wind Management Design --
(Just some casual thoughts by an amature; new comments highlighted with blue font)
My K1200RS iABS
The K1200RS bikes have poor to moderate wind management.
The '98 version was very poor.
There was improvement with the '02 version but still a lot to be desired.
My '02 was modified at the beginning of the current season with a double windshield and lower winglets trailing each "pod". Wind management was good except, it turned out, with a lot of surrounding traffic, strong crosswinds, and speeds at or above 70 mph. Additional mods are in process.
Elements of wind management.
Helmet Design
Safety First
Helmets are primarily designed for crash protection.
Noise reduction is a secondary factor and is usually addressed by helmet aerodynamics design.
Little has been done to introduce noise dampening materials into the helmet structure.
See this article, "Lowering the Volume for Motorcyclists" for a good discussion of this: http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.co...rcyclists.html
Style.
How the bike look on the showroom floor often dominates other elements as if you can't sell it, it's a bad design.
Cost.
Some designs and materials are clearly more expensive than others.
Structure.
How does the overall structural engineering of the bike support the structures for wind management.
Aerodynamics Theory.
What does the engineering and aerodynamics literature, say.
Testing (wind tunnel).
Only sometimes done and possibly not well.
For example, hitting air straight on is different than when riding with a 30 mph cross wind on when at speed and sitting in the turbulence of a semitrailer truck.
And air flow can change with luggage and passenger or with adjustable mirror positions.
Safety.
Basically this deals with how the windshield and supporting structures will behave in a a crash or bird strike and the associated rider protection risk.
Top Speed Aerodynamics
Bike stability at higher speeds is a safety concern that is necessarily addressed.
While this may result in stability at top end speed, and perhaps even good wind management at that velocity, the required aerodynamics may result in excessive wind noise and buffeting when riding at more usual speeds.
Note that an aerodynamic tuck is assumed with very high speeds.
In general, wind noise and buffeting increase as speed increases, at least at legal speeds.
With the addition of "aerodynamic wings" to fairings, there is yet another factor to consider.
(Just some casual thoughts by an amature; new comments highlighted with blue font)
My K1200RS iABS
The K1200RS bikes have poor to moderate wind management.
The '98 version was very poor.
There was improvement with the '02 version but still a lot to be desired.
My '02 was modified at the beginning of the current season with a double windshield and lower winglets trailing each "pod". Wind management was good except, it turned out, with a lot of surrounding traffic, strong crosswinds, and speeds at or above 70 mph. Additional mods are in process.
Elements of wind management.
Helmet Design
Safety First
Helmets are primarily designed for crash protection.
Noise reduction is a secondary factor and is usually addressed by helmet aerodynamics design.
Little has been done to introduce noise dampening materials into the helmet structure.
See this article, "Lowering the Volume for Motorcyclists" for a good discussion of this: http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.co...rcyclists.html
Style.
How the bike look on the showroom floor often dominates other elements as if you can't sell it, it's a bad design.
Cost.
Some designs and materials are clearly more expensive than others.
Structure.
How does the overall structural engineering of the bike support the structures for wind management.
Aerodynamics Theory.
What does the engineering and aerodynamics literature, say.
Testing (wind tunnel).
Only sometimes done and possibly not well.
For example, hitting air straight on is different than when riding with a 30 mph cross wind on when at speed and sitting in the turbulence of a semitrailer truck.
And air flow can change with luggage and passenger or with adjustable mirror positions.
Safety.
Basically this deals with how the windshield and supporting structures will behave in a a crash or bird strike and the associated rider protection risk.
Top Speed Aerodynamics
Bike stability at higher speeds is a safety concern that is necessarily addressed.
While this may result in stability at top end speed, and perhaps even good wind management at that velocity, the required aerodynamics may result in excessive wind noise and buffeting when riding at more usual speeds.
Note that an aerodynamic tuck is assumed with very high speeds.
In general, wind noise and buffeting increase as speed increases, at least at legal speeds.
With the addition of "aerodynamic wings" to fairings, there is yet another factor to consider.
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