Understanding Your Motorcycle’s Aerodynamics

One of the biggest factors affecting your motorcycle and how it handles is air friction. A more aerodynamic motorcycle means more control and better fuel economy. If you’d like some tips on how to make your motorcycle more aerodynamic, this guide from SoCal Honda Powersports can help.

The Basics

If all this stuff about aerodynamics is a bit above your head, don’t worry! You only need to understand the basics. Ideally, your bike should have a narrow leading edge and taper outwards as you go back so that the bike cuts through the air. Anything that increases your surface area will also increase your wind resistance, making your motorcycle less aerodynamic.

What Impacts Aerodynamics?

Motorcycles are typically designed with aerodynamics in mind. Therefore, it’s the things that you add onto your bike, including cargo, accessories, and passengers, that make it less aerodynamic. One way that you can reduce wind resistance is by leaning forward when you ride and wearing tighter, less bulky clothing. Packing your belongings into several smaller, symmetrical containers rather than one big container that sticks out can also help improve your aerodynamics. If you like to use a windshield when you ride your motorcycle, a slanted model will offer better airflow than a model that stands straight up.

Benefits of Improving Aerodynamics

Is it worth going to all this trouble just to make your motorcycle a bit more aerodynamic? In many cases, the answer is yes. The more aerodynamic you can make your motorcycle, the easier your bike will be to control. Reducing drag will also improve your fuel economy. Improving your motorcycle’s aerodynamics is the cheap and easy way to get better performance out of your vehicle.

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