Aerodynamics

Ethan Allison · Post by **Ethan Allison** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:33 am

So I found all these crazy designs for various kinds of - I don't know what you call them, but they used to be scooters - that basically look like inbred airplanes. They're supposed to be super aerodynamic and get like 150-250mpg real world. What do you guys think? Would you (or anyone) buy something like these? (clickable images)

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 12:31 pm

Hehehe - other than photo #2, it would be just a little tricky to put out a foot at a red light!

You'd look like a tricycle-riding Arte Johnson ('60's reference for all the geezer geeks like me).

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:06 pm

They look like the kind of fairings used for some recumbent bikes.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:13 pm

Reminds me of a small (and hob-jobbed, for the yellow one) monotracer. The monotracer has "landing gear" wheels that come down from the sides to hold it up at stops and when parked... I would assume these have something similar, or some way for the rider to put a foot out that may be hidden in the pictures... ?

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:58 pm

What happens if you get a gust of wind from the side?

Howard

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:32 pm

Too small, low visibility and not practical for the kind of riding I do.

They are cool, though. Designs along these lines have been around for decades. The speed records set by motorcycles have been those with full fairings and enclosures that look like two-wheeled rocket ships.

I remember seeing the movie Until the End of the World in 1991; there were some police motorcycles that were similar to Monotracers. The movie is supposed to take place in 1999 (THE FUTURE!) and for some reason I thought the motorcycles were less realistic than a lot of the other tech in the movie (such as digital images recomposed from brain waves) that we're only now starting to see.

(Anyone see the recent episode of Chuck in which Morgan gets a Monotracer? Pretty funny.)

Ethan Allison · Post by **Ethan Allison** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:49 am

Pretty sure all of these bikes except the Monotracer have holes in the bottom so you can put your feet down.

There are some reported problems with sidewinds but they're less than you'd think because the shells weigh 100 pounds or so.

I'd love to see one of these done up as a modern Maicomobil sort of thing. Maybe I'll make one!

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:05 am

I wouldn't do it with mine, but I can't help but think that the MP3 would be a good platform for a Vetter shell project, specifically for the shells that don't have good options for a human foot to hit the ground.

I always love these projects, but I'll remain skeptical until I see some actual results.