Wind Tunnel Results

[mlouwet]

Good day alls!
i own a 2006 Nomad, and I'm looking for the wind tunnel result, or wind deflection for it. I need to find those cause i need to pull a flat face trailer, and need to see where the wind comes out of the back of the nomad... i hope i make sense any idea where i could find such a beast????

[cactusjack]

Rent a wind tunnel and perform your own test. But seriously, I have never heard of nor seen such a thing.

Welcome to the forum from the Grand Canyon State! Please stop by the new member introductions area and properly introduce yourself.

[sonny]

That type of test is usually manufacture or owner specific. I've never heard of any one doing it on a mass produced recreationally intended street bike. Maybe due to the cost of the test. I think if any one has it, it would have to be Ma Kaw.
I also think any wind tunnel results for a bike and trailer on an interstate would be of minimal use at best due to the varied sizes and speeds of the surrounding vehicles and changes in terrain. ie...down an Az mountain in a curve next to a 77" tractor trailer in a cross wind. I don't think a wind tunnel will predict the bikes air steam, or how much color
to such out of the seat. Time and miles, unfortunatly will probably get you the best info.
Thanks for your time

[glwilson]

First off... build a small, flat platform on the tongue of the trailer just in front of it (like for a cooler). Then stack several rows of beer cans (full of beer) in a v-shape on this platform. Then duct-tape them -- or strap them together and to the trailer.

You will have then built yourself a useful and replinishable V-nose for your trailer.

Doing so will serve a couple purposes, of which I believe you have already figured out by now.

Sorry... I couldn't resist. Seriously though... you would be wasting your time and money. Many people pull a flat-nosed trailer behind their bikes. I am afraid trying to make wind-deflectors would serve little purpose or effect for what you are thinking you can accomplish.

[dantama]

I predict that it'll kill your gas mileage and speed. At freeway speeds, most of the power used by the bike is for moving the wind out of the way, and putting it back behind you. It doesn't take much power to mechanically make the drive train move the weight of the bike 60mph. But pushing the air out of the way takes a lot of power, so I can see your interest in the subject.

One way to help figure it out in a very rough way is to have someone take a picture of the bike and trailer with you sitting on it off the side stand, and print it off 8x10. Be sure to crop it so that the bike fills up most of the frame. Get a piece of graph paper and have the copy shop turn it into a clear transparency. Lay it over the photo and count up how many squares are used up by the bike, counting half squares as half etc. If any of the trailer shows in the photo you'll be able to count up how many squares show beyond the bike.

One problem for your setup is that there will be a lot of turbulence where the air has to close up behind the bike, and then the trailer will have to part the air again and close it up again.

A raindrop is basically the best aerodynamic shape. It moves the air out of the way, and then puts it back together gradually so that by the end there isn't much turbulence. Same effect with a fish.

Your bike and trailer won't be shaped like that at all. It'll be a bad setup aerodynamically. Victor who had the turbo Nomad in Custer had the biggest, boxiest trailer I've ever seen behind a bike. Anyone have a picture of that?

[cactusjack]

A stock Nomad is about as aerodynamic as a brick. The trailer should be the least of your worries.

[rickyboy]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Rent a wind tunnel and perform your own test. But seriously, I have never heard of nor seen such a thing.

I might have met one or two people in Custer {who will remain nameless} that might qualify as a wind tunnel.

[schoeney]

I just performed the a wind tunnel test on my Nomad. The wind comes out the back!

I assume the 1500's and 1600's are the same.

Sorry....couldn't resist.

[macmac]

So that's what I did wrong... no tunnel. plenty of wind...

[skeeter]

Make plans to attend a rally. Plenty people blowin smoke.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Lot of people on this forum blow smoke. Heck, I do too.

As this is your first post let me welcome you from Alabama.

[Kawhead]

Originally Posted by skeeter

Make plans to attend a rally. Plenty people blowin smoke.

Yeah. and some try to blow it up places you don't really want it blown.