Winglets 2018 V4S

Paul G said:

Wings work otherwise MotoGP would not have them, the question is the efficacy on a street bike at street speeds and on that point I believe that they are primarily a marketing gimmick. At high speed yes, but they are simply too small to be effective at typical street speeds. The SL wings are better but butt ugly and ridiculous, however look at the Aprilia RSGP for comparison and its wing is massive. At 170 sure, there will be an effect; put you hand out the car window at highway spends and you feel it. The simple version is that pressure goes up by the power of 2 as speed doubles.

When moving air - wind - is stopped by a surface - the dynamic energy in the wind is transformed to pressure. The pressure acting the surface transforms to a force



The faster you go, the wings generate logarithmically increasing amounts of downforce but all the other aero components on the bike respond accordingly. That means aero becomes really critical at higher speeds. On a bicycle for example once you get above about 30ks all you are doing is fighting wind resistance, thats why top speed comparisons are a bit of a crap shoot, was the rider in a full tuck, elbows in? What kind of helmet, and full close fitting leathers vs a 2 piece, large frame or midget. Same with downforce, whats your body position, angle of attack (or how is the bike trimmed).

Add in subjectivity and bias which is all part of how a bike feels and you realise that its actually quite hard determine the exact effect of the wings without a wind tunnel ands a bazillion sensors. But if you like them and feel the difference then why not!

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brad8266 said:

Agree but that is where the stability is needed. Once I’m at under 80 I’ve probably started turn in already anyway.

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Paul G said:

As I said its a matter of physics and subjectivity, if it works for you thats all thats important. I quite like the look of wings, they have grown on me and there is no doubt that thy do offer some benefit. Since I haven't experienced them let alone a side by side comparison in the same conditions I am talking out of a hole in my head!

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