Racing Crouch through the ages.

[Dibble]

I was reading an issue of Classic Bike and noticed various pictures of racing from the 1930's on.

In the older pictures the Rider was so far back on the bike his ar5e was over the rear wheel spindle with their arms outstretched and body flat.

What advantages were there -just aerodynamic?-surely it must make the bike steer like an oil tanker .

Whats the answer Ariel???

[Tim..]

Maybe a cross between aerodynamics and lowering the cg as much as possible?
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[stinkwheel]

Pure aerodynamics. If you have a fairing, as long as you're behind it, you're aerodynamic. On a naked bike with limited horsepower, you'll get the thing totally flat-out on the straights. Every mph counts and a good aerodynamic position is worth a few mph in anyones book.

Did you see any pictures of them with one hand behind their back? Used to be a common one when they still ran 50cc racers in the TT. Chin on clocks, feet on rear pegs, and one hand behind my back is good for another 5-7mph on my H100

First man to do 150mph on a motorcycle:
https://www.motopp.com/upload/Rollie_Free,_record_run.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[SamJL]

^^^ Iv'e got a big poster of that guy, makes me laugh every time I see it
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2009 CBR1000RR
2004 KTM 200SX
2004 KTM 65SX

[Chris750]

Wouldn't want to fall off doing 150 dressed like that.

[SamJL]

[stinkwheel]

[Pete.]

I've made a 200mph run with one arm behind my back. After I thought about it I deicded I'd not be doing it again.

It's worth noting that getting as low as possible behind the fairing is not necessarily the most aerodynamic way. On a Hayabusa for instance, you can pick-up 2mph by lifting your backside off the seat a couple of inches and pressing it back against the hump.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[yen_powell]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Frost]

Yup.
Ideally you can as small a profile as possible when viewed from the front. Ducking behind the fairing is the best you can do for this on most bikes. Once you've reduced your frontal area you need to smooth out the air as much as possible. This can be done by minimising gaps, cracks and empty spaces. Its a real problem on bikes due to the open rear wheel.


https://www.motosolvang.com/images_new/large/1955_Moto-Guzzi-V8.jpg

[Pete.]

Yes the airflow leaving the bike/rider combo has a huge impact on drag.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[stinkwheel]

[Frost]

I thought an enclosed rear wheel would allow for better rear aero as a whole rather than just removing the problem cause by the rear wheel.

Dustbin fairings are still road legal though? Thinking about doing an electric bike. The margins are very tights so improved aero might be a really big deciding factor.

[Frost]

Also, quite want an Aero now.

[thx1138]

[Kickstart]

[Dr. DaveJPS]

[stinkwheel]

[thx1138]

[yuri2085]

[chris-red]

https://www.motopp.com/upload/Rollie_Free,_record_run.jpg

Put bluntly, Fuck that.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[ws4936]

Gotta love that Burt Monroe though...cutting off the tread on the wheels and filling the cracks with boot polish to make them look slick.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.