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Ducati Desmosedici RR
 
by IKE - 22-10-2006


Aerodynamics.


Motorcycles are inherently problematic in their aerodynamic behavior. They don't have a streamlined body (rider included), they have a small wheelbase and exposed moving parts (the wheels, especially the front when steering, the rider, etc).



Apart from aerodynamic drag equally, if more so, important is the aerodynamic balance and stability. The Desmosedici race bikes use to have very high top speed (they achieve the highest top speed in many races) and this is largely because of the very low drag of the bike. They also have a lot of destabilization problems and the Ducati riders have some trouble in this area, especially in fast circuits.



Every team makes a compromise between low drag and good stability (or even low lift). For example the Honda RC211V, the most successful motoGP bike has a quite un-streamlined fairing, the rider is largely exposed to the air stream and the surfaces are more crude and angular in comparison with the desmosedici. The RC211V design produces more drag but it disrupts the flow from forming a quasi-airfoil profile thus reducing lift or sudden boundary layer separation. The RC211V has lower aerodynamic lift (and thus better traction) and better aerodynamic stability in exchange of a lower top speed (concerning the drag factor of this matter).



The commercial RR version isn't going to endure motoGP race conditions, however its shape is almost identical with the race bike with one major difference, the position and direction of the exhaust.

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centre of gravity / pressure
The center of gravity of an object is defined as the point where the resultant gravity force is applied. If we exercise any force at the center of gravity the result will be the movement of the object in the direction of the applied force without any rotation.

Center of pressure of an object in relative motion inside a fluid (ex air) is the point where the resultant force of the aerodynamic loads is applied to the object.
 





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