HP needed to go 60mph IN A STREAMLINER?

[Big Dave]

I don?t think there is any question that a properly faired motorcycle can do better than any four-wheeler. The lower CdA and rolling resistance of two tires should do it, but the key is properly faired. I own an unfaired Honda Valkyrie and that thing is much draggier than my pickup. I can coast the pickup a half-mile easy but the Valk practically runs into a wall when you roll off the throttle.

I agree with Vette owner about somebody merging into you. Motorcyclists survive on a mixture of 75% situational awareness and 25% raw acceleration. Thus bikes cannot be operated quite like cars or trucks. That's also why bikers say: "Loud pipes save lives."

I also worry about cross winds when I see this streamliner.

All that said, I think a Honda Gold Wing could be made into a streetable streamliner. The Gold Wing is very reliable and easy to get parts for (not true of many metric bikes). With greatly reduced aero drag, the Gold wing would have plenty of acceleration. The fact it is water cooled would allow you to relocate the radiator and still get adequate cooling and it would allow you to have a heater which would allow operation nine months a year out here on the frozen steppes. Drawbacks: Gold Wings are heavy ? about 900 pounds as is. Secondly, their drivetrain is designed for a heavy, draggy machine and is way over-geared for this application.

Believe it or not you can find ?landing gear? (retractable training wheels) to make them easy to handle at low speeds and that could be built into the streamlined fairing setup.

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I agree with Vette owner about somebody merging into you. Motorcyclists survive on a mixture of 75% situational awareness and 25% raw acceleration. Thus bikes cannot be operated quite like cars or trucks. That's also why bikers say: "Loud pipes save lives."

.

hehe that last statement always kinda T-ees me off. i can see the point of having a somewhat loud bike, yes it does make you more aware of where it is when you hear one, BUT there is a limit. i shouldnt and DONT need to hear your bike 1/4 mile away in my house!

i could say the same thing about small cars and loud exhaust...especially with the behemoth land barges that are out nowadays

[Big Dave]

If I had $10 for every time I've seen a motorcyclist being squeegeed up and the cage driver standing there telling the cop: "I didn't see him!" I would be so wealthy that fuel prices wouldn't matter.

Well, they might not see me but by jingo they'll know I'm around.

The only other alternative is a Glock on your hip.