[BBBingo]

Don't know how many of you guys follow MotoGP, but the Ducati guys have been fiddling around with wings all year, here they are in their latest spec at Phillip Island

 

[Helios]

Those are kinda like spoilers right? Create down force?

The Kawasaki H2R has them too.

 

[VroomVroom]

No idea, I've actually never seen a set or at least not this prominent.

 

[corsa]

Those are kinda like spoilers right? Create down force?

The Kawasaki H2R has them too.

Yeah, looking where they are positioned that would be its purpose, right in areas that seem to be most effective.

 

[Helios]

So without them you would just start to float away? Jk. But you would get much less traction which means you could kind of float and tip over when turning instead of actually getting a grip and making the turn.

 

[BBBingo]

So without them you would just start to float away? Jk. But you would get much less traction which means you could kind of float and tip over when turning instead of actually getting a grip and making the turn.

not in the slightest.

they make no effect in turning because they dont stay parallel with the surface like wings on a formula one car. THey're for keeping the front wheel down on the long straights. Supposedly the DUcati has so much power it wants to wheelie even in 4th and 5th... the lowers might be for cooling. It creates a Venturi effect which sucks hot air out from behind the fairing, Ducati have used similar back when Stoner and Hayden were riding.

 

[SpeedyGonzales]

Lol, didn't know Ducati wants to wheelie so much. Your description makes a lot more sense.

 

[corsa]

Would be cool if they started looking into active aerodynamics. If done right it shouldn't add any amount of weight to be concerned about... good to debut on a 1399

 

[moto]

Are you suggesting that Ducati should look into adding wings to the 1399 as a factory option?

 

[BBBingo]

Would be cool if they started looking into active aerodynamics. If done right it shouldn't add any amount of weight to be concerned about... good to debut on a 1399

yea but at what point does the complexity of active aerodynamics on a bike outweight the gains? bikes are always going to be un-aerodynamic because they need a massive monkey on their back in order to go anywhere...

 

[corsa]

That's true, on a race bike it might be worth it, something like the H2R.

Probably a reason why they haven't done it already

 

[BBBingo]

That's true, on a race bike it might be worth it, something like the H2R.

Probably a reason why they haven't done it already

downforce squares with speed. the race H2R has little mini winglets, so do the GP's. in order to get any sort of meaningful downforce the consenus seems to be you must be travelling in excess of 250-300 kph. There's no need for that on the street, almost no where on the street do you need help mitigating 5th gear wheelies...

 

[corsa]

That's true, they'll probably stick with what they're already using currently, wouldn't mind that.

 

[BBBingo]

That's true, they'll probably stick with what they're already using currently, wouldn't mind that.

also note that its easier to control wheelies on the street then downforce. Wheelie control will simply cut ignition for a minute as the bike tries to bring the front wheel up.

In racing thats a problem you lose time, thats why you see investemnt and research into front end downforce, but on the road an ignition cut is more acceptable because more then likely you didn't even notice

Front end downforce also makes the front end heavier, the bikes want to push through the corners, not so easy to tip in. The Ducatis show that problem only after long straights, Turn 1 at Phillip Island for instance

 

[corsa]

I think it's even why some guys lower the front end on their bikes, most recently saw an H2 Ninja owner do just that.

 

[BBBingo]

I think it's even why some guys lower the front end on their bikes, most recently saw an H2 Ninja owner do just that.

some people lower the front end to make their ergos more comfortable...also if you just drop your front end you're reducing trail, which hurts straight line stability.