[Chain]

"Dave Estok reported that the GSX-1300R was so aerodynamic that while top-speed testing for Bridgestone they had trouble getting a radar reading from the front, they could only read times from the rear as the rider passed by. Estok reported that with a moderate tail wind he was timed at 197 miles per hour. Without any wind Estok was officially timed at 189 mph one way and 187 the other. Michael Barnes, about three inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter than Estok, was timed at 191 mph one way and 190 mph the other. In short, the unique fairing design isn't there just to look radical. It actually works."

Neat, huh?

(From Motorcycle Online)

[TGZ13]

Thats pretty cool

Comes in handy on long highway runs

BTW that avatar cracks me up.. especially with the little caption

[ND4SPD]

Now only if you could get a can of that radar deflecting paint, you'd be all set.

[Chain]

Another wild passage:

"The Suzuki is clearly the more powerful machine. Indeed, skimpy, 145 pound Editor Plummer had to enlist Hammond to sit on the rear seat of the bike while dyno testing... the 'Busa, even tied down, kept skipping the rear wheel on the dyno's gnurled roller."

[TGZ13]

I need one of those

[Chain]

Check this out, a 9.9 sec run at over 143 mph, a totally stock Hayabusa. Even after a burnout the rider got lotsa wheel spin on this pass... looks like it was a wild ride.

I just have to giggle to myself every time I think about the fact I own one of these things.

[Red Rider]

uhmm, Chain...I seem to recall reading something about you posting LESS and riding MORE these days?...or was that just my imagination?!

Of course, I'm hardly one to talk...

[Chain]

Originally Posted by Red Rider

uhmm, Chain...I seem to recall reading something about you posting LESS and riding MORE these days?...or was that just my imagination?!

Of course, I'm hardly one to talk...

Yeah yeah, I know, but the bike is in pieces since last night. Installing the Genmar riser and Ventura tail pack system and I didn't get it done before heading for bed. Come the weekend though, I'll be scarce again.

[slowpoke]

Well, at least you got the 1st two words of the post title right! Don't shoot, just kidding. Those things are animals!

[2OHOH2]

Originally Posted by Chain

"Dave Estok reported that the GSX-1300R was so aerodynamic that while top-speed testing for Bridgestone they had trouble getting a radar reading from the front, they could only read times from the rear as the rider passed by. Estok reported that with a moderate tail wind he was timed at 197 miles per hour. Without any wind Estok was officially timed at 189 mph one way and 187 the other. Michael Barnes, about three inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter than Estok, was timed at 191 mph one way and 190 mph the other. In short, the unique fairing design isn't there just to look radical. It actually works."

Neat, huh?

(From Motorcycle Online)

Although there is some relation between an aerodynamic shape, and its reduced radar signature, it is by no means a direct one.

I forgot the exact speeds, but there is a point when the drag coefficient (Cd) starts playing a more important role than horsepower, for any given Cd. That is to say, that a slight difference in Cd becomes more important than a large change in HP, once a certain speed has been reached. What this means in the case of the Busa, is that it's the world's fastest production bike not as much due to its large powerful engine, but its ability to cut through the air at speeds above ~150mph. If there was a way to drop its Cd by another 0.01 or so, it would probably be 1-2mph faster (this is just my guesstimate, of course).

Interesting links:
http://www.insideracingtechnology.com/tech102drag.htm

http://4strokes.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12968

http://www.csupomona.edu/~av/howthin...files/tbls.htm

[2OHOH2]

Ooooh, just found this little gem

http://myweb.cableone.net/toddshelton/aero.html

Edit: an interesting quote

"Since this story first ran in the Sept/Oct issue of Cycle
Canada, some interesting info has come to light from our Man in Japan,
Don Helle. Eight years ago, when Kawasaki engineers were designing the
original replacement for the ZX-11 (ZX-12R), the prototype resulting from
wind tunnel testing and extensive modifications was almost a carbon copy
of the Hayabusa. It was probably the best design they had ever built from
an aerodynamic standpoint. Only Kawasaki's world product planners figured
it was so ugly it would not sell. We all know what's happened since then."

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by 2OHOH2

I forgot the exact speeds, but there is a point when the drag coefficient (Cd) starts playing a more important role than horsepower, for any given Cd.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean here. Horsepower can overcome any Cd increase. It is a non-linear relationship of course.

There is a point when Cd becomes more the number one acceleration against the direction of travel (instead of things like driveline friction and the force to accelerate the mass of the vehicle itself) and I'd guess that is what you mean.

It will be a different speed for every vehicle, here's the equation:

Cd=Fd/(½*rho*V^2*A)

Where

rho = air density
V = velocity
A = frontal area
Fd = force due to aerodynamic drag

[2OHOH2]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

There is a point when Cd becomes more the number one acceleration against the direction of travel (instead of things like driveline friction and the force to accelerate the mass of the vehicle itself) and I'd guess that is what you mean.

The wind tunnel testing article that I found later is more to the point. Interesting read.

[Cowboy1600]

reguardless of how fast busa's are...they are stuill uuuuugly

sorry....dont hurt me....please

[ND4SPD]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

reguardless of how fast busa's are...they are stuill uuuuugly

sorry....dont hurt me....please

Face the mailbox and bend over


- Chain

[Chain]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

reguardless of how fast busa's are...they are stuill uuuuugly

I know they're not for everyone, but I love the form follows function design.

Personally, I think they're beautiful!

[TGZ13]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

reguardless of how fast busa's are...they are stuill uuuuugly

sorry....dont hurt me....please

I think its one mean looking machine

[colryn]

Originally Posted by Chain

Yeah yeah, I know, but the bike is in pieces since last night. Installing the Genmar riser and Ventura tail pack system and I didn't get it done before heading for bed. Come the weekend though, I'll be scarce again.

What the Heck is going on here? I thought I read a statement from you that modding was out other than tankslapper and tank bag. Now he read that the bike is in peices and youare on the org more. Seems like charted grounds to me.......

Boy I love bling. I wish I could do more but this stupid hurricane is hampering my activities. Maybe I can live vicariously through you for the next few days.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by colryn

What the Heck is going on here? I thought I read a statement from you that modding was out other than tankslapper and tank bag. Now he read that the bike is in peices and youare on the org more. Seems like charted grounds to me.......

I may have omitted the Genmar riser, can't remember.

Got a local riding buddy who is hounding me hard about putting twin titanium Akrapovic cans on the bike, but I'm resisting the temptation so far. He's like the rest of you bastages, taking advantage of a weak person. It's like taunting a fat kid with chocolate cake.

[TGZ13]

Originally Posted by Chain

I may have omitted the Genmar riser, can't remember.

Got a local riding buddy who is hounding me hard about putting twin titanium Akrapovic cans on the bike, but I'm resisting the temptation so far. He's like the rest of you bastages, taking advantage of a weak person. It's like taunting a fat kid with chocolate cake.

I will donate a dollar to the cause

[bwhip]

Originally Posted by Chain

I may have omitted the Genmar riser, can't remember.

Got a local riding buddy who is hounding me hard about putting twin titanium Akrapovic cans on the bike, but I'm resisting the temptation so far. He's like the rest of you bastages, taking advantage of a weak person. It's like taunting a fat kid with chocolate cake.

Chain -

Q: What's the only thing better than a nice shiny new Akro can?

A: TWIN shiny new Akro cans!

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Chain

, but I'm resisting the temptation so far.

Haha! And there you have it, sports fans. I have something special saved on the old hard drive for you Chain, once you get yer new pipes...

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by bwhip

Chain -

Q: What's the only thing better than a nice shiny new Akro can?

A: TWIN shiny new Akro cans!

haha yeah. and because of that I'll kick in 2 dollars cause you got 2 cans to replace.