ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: ESokoloff on July 25, 2018, 08:43:57 AM
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How many do it?
I'm finding that cage's (automobiles) in general don't care for it.
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Only if I'm on a long trip and want to optimise riding/charging times.
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I don't make a habit of it.
Done mostly to combat "range anxiety".
I have quite a lot of frontal luminous
(6000k LED headlight, 3000k fork protector mounted LED fog lights, & turn signal running lights).
Also the bike has drop bars so some drivers may think I'm a LEO.
I wear hi-vis helmet & suit as well.
It's just odd to see the reactions I get when I do this.
Again, I don't do this very often, just when I need max. range.
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If I need more battery, the #1 thing to do is slow down (and that means you're slow and unable to draft)
The other thing would be to tuck in for less drag...
Both of those would give far greater gains than drafting.
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If I need more battery, the #1 thing to do is slow down (and that means you're slow and unable to draft)
The other thing would be to tuck in for less drag...
Both of those would give far greater gains than drafting.
That's why you draft behind a rig, they go about 90km/h which comes close to my optimal riding speed.
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Personally, I wouldn't even consider it on the street (the track is a different story). You never know what one of the tuna-can drivers will do in response to you doing something unexpected. I live in California, and just splitting lanes is enough to startle some of them so bad they head for the weeds.
Besides, I agree with MrDude. There are better and much safer ways of extending your range.
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When I first started riding in 1962, I would take my Vespa 125 out on the freeway (no power restrictions in those days), tuck in behind a big rig and draft him to be able to run at 55-60 mph. If I lost the draft, my speed would drop to around 50, which was too slow for freeway traffic, even in those days. But then I realized that drafting a big rig had some drawbacks, such as lack of forward view, the chance of the rig running over debris (such as a wooden box, a mattress, the occasional vagrant, etc.) that I wouldn't have time to miss before hitting it and the likelihood that the rig might have to brake suddenly and I might be impaled by its rear tires or bumper as my Vespa's brakes were not all that great . So I decided that drafting was not such a great concept and a better idea was to buy a motorcycle that could keep up with traffic - which led to my purchase of a 1963 Yamaha YD3 that had a top speed of 70 mph and kept the following traffic at bay by completely covering the entire freeway behind me with a dense cloud of blue smoke. :o
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When I first started riding in 1962, I would take my Vespa 125 out on the freeway (no power restrictions in those days), tuck in behind a big rig and draft him to be able to run at 55-60 mph. If I lost the draft, my speed would drop to around 50, which was too slow for freeway traffic, even in those days. But then I realized that drafting a big rig had some drawbacks, such as lack of forward view, the chance of the rig running over debris (such as a wooden box, a mattress, the occasional vagrant, etc.) that I wouldn't have time to miss before hitting it and the likelihood that the rig might have to brake suddenly and I might be impaled by its rear tires or bumper as my Vespa's brakes were not all that great . So I decided that drafting was not such a great concept and a better idea was to buy a motorcycle that could keep up with traffic - which led to my purchase of a 1963 Yamaha YD3 that had a top speed of 70 mph and kept the following traffic at bay by completely covering the entire freeway behind me with a dense cloud of blue smoke. :o
The Yamaha YD3 was a good bike... I watched someone restore one, and it was much better than I was expecting.
I also dont like trailing big rigs, just because I cant see ahead.
edit:
BTW the freeway clearing cloud still works today... I do have a two stroke motard, and it can smoke screen if I let it load up.
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Drafting certainly can be effective at reducing drag and increasing range+efficiency.
However, it is dangerous, for these reasons:
- kicked up debris from long-haul truck wheels
- the obvious combination of low visibility and tight tolerance for error in the event of a hard braking situation or collision.
- the unstable condition in the drafting area where your power requirements reduce as you get closer, which means you're constantly making minor adjustments to maintain a suitable distance.
So, I've gradually focused on better fairings for headwinds and crosswinds instead of drafting. The Hollywood Electrics fairing mostly achieves that but needs a higher/touring windscreen to complete its role.
HOWEVER, there is one type of moderated drafting I've engaged in which seems sane and healthy:
- WHEN in a rough headwind+crosswind condition,
- THEN follow on the leeward / downwind side of a long-haul truck, staying visible in the driver's mirror on that side.
It is still a good idea to ensure enough distance to ensure good braking in an emergency. This "corner draft" is less unstable as well.
Mainly, I allow myself to do this when the winds are so gusty that the fatigue I'll accrue is more dangerous than the debris and stopping hazards, and making sure the driver can see me at least reduces their irritation at being followed.
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When I first started riding in 1962, I would take my Vespa 125 out on the freeway (no power restrictions in those days), tuck in behind a big rig and draft him to be able to run at 55-60 mph. If I lost the draft, my speed would drop to around 50, which was too slow for freeway traffic, even in those days. But then I realized that drafting a big rig had some drawbacks, such as lack of forward view, the chance of the rig running over debris (such as a wooden box, a mattress, the occasional vagrant, etc.) that I wouldn't have time to miss before hitting it and the likelihood that the rig might have to brake suddenly and I might be impaled by its rear tires or bumper as my Vespa's brakes were not all that great . So I decided that drafting was not such a great concept and a better idea was to buy a motorcycle that could keep up with traffic - which led to my purchase of a 1963 Yamaha YD3 that had a top speed of 70 mph and kept the following traffic at bay by completely covering the entire freeway behind me with a dense cloud of blue smoke. :o
The Yamaha YD3 was a good bike... I watched someone restore one, and it was much better than I was expecting.
I also dont like trailing big rigs, just because I cant see ahead.
edit:
BTW the freeway clearing cloud still works today... I do have a two stroke motard, and it can smoke screen if I let it load up.
The Yamaha YD3 was a piece of "crapola". That was their touring model with 16" white wall tires, a single carb feeding two cylinders, ??? white turn indicators, a metal screen filter under the gas cap to keep the Japanese gasoline chunks out of the tank and a fiber dipstick to check on the fuel level in the tank. Every 30 miles or so it would foul one of its spark plugs and I would have to let the engine cool down, pull the offending plug, clean it and go another 30 miles before it would happen again. At least the electric starter/dynamo always worked. Attached are photos of a YD3 scooped up from the internet. Mine looked exactly like the one in the photos. The YDS-3 was a much better motorcycle, BTW.
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If I need more battery, the #1 thing to do is slow down (and that means you're slow and unable to draft)
The other thing would be to tuck in for less drag...
Both of those would give far greater gains than drafting.
I disagree with the tucking vs drafting claim.
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If I need more battery, the #1 thing to do is slow down (and that means you're slow and unable to draft)
The other thing would be to tuck in for less drag...
Both of those would give far greater gains than drafting.
I disagree with the tucking vs drafting claim.
Tucking and slowing down vs drafting.