Understanding Your Motorcycle’s Aerodynamics

Air friction can have a surprisingly large impact on how your motorcycle moves. By making your motorcycle more aerodynamic, you can make your next ride that much more exciting. If you’re interested in learning more about motorcycle aerodynamics, this guide from Windy City Motorcycle Company has more information.

The Basics

You might worry that aerodynamics are a bit too complex for you to understand. Worry not! All you need is a basic grasp of the concept to make your motorcycle more aerodynamic. Essentially, your bike’s leading edge should be narrow and taper outwards as it goes back to allow it to better cut through the air. If you’re having trouble visualizing it, think about the shape of a bullet or sports car. Once you understand the basics, making your motorcycle more aerodynamic will become that much easier. 

What Impacts Aerodynamics?

Motorcycles are usually designed with aerodynamics in mind. However, there are several extra factors that you should consider when trying to make your motorcycle more aerodynamic. One is how you sit on your motorcycle. Sitting further upright will create a bigger surface area and thus more wind resistance. Baggy, bulky clothing like winter jackets can also increase your surface area and create more drag. There’s also the matter of any attachments or cargo added on to your motorcycle. If you use a tall windshield, look for a slanted model to improve your airflow. Distributing cargo among many smaller, symmetrical bags rather than one large one is another good way to make yourself more aerodynamic.  

What Does It Impact?

Making your motorcycle more aerodynamic has a number of advantages. By minimizing drag, you can go faster while burning the same amount of fuel. Better aerodynamics also means your motorcycle will be easier to handle. Essentially, less wind resistance means better performance across the board!

Shop motorcycles at Windy City Motorcycle Company. We have several dealership locations, including Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan. We’re proud to serve areas like southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.