Has anyone ever changed their factory windshield on a Champion Legend to a flat fold down type windshield? I think I would like to get rid of the permanent factory windshield because it cuts down on MPG. A fold down would allow me to easily transition from a passenger needing a windshield to no passenger and no windshield. I have seen fold downs but they were all on old sidecars.
Sounds like a great idea. We have brooklands windscreens in stock but they are not very wide. A wider version may be the ticket for you. Go for it or give me a call and we can possibly fab something for you.
Has anyone done any tests to see how much a windshield effects MPG?
Also wondering about using a toneau cover instead of a windshield.
Does an open cockpit adversely effect mpg?
Howard
PS Sorry if I'm off track on this topic
Most windshields have the aerodynamics of a barn door and do absolutely no good as far as performance goes. If you have a sidecar now just take off the windhsiled and you will probably feel the difference rigth away. Some of course are better than others as far as how they break the wind.
I would have to assume that a tonneau cover woudl never be a downside to mpg whereas a rig without one could very well be.
Claude,
I'm in the process of putting a Wixom fairing and windshield on my bike.
Are you suggesting that a windshield will hurt performance and mpg?
Howard
A big touring type fairing can certainly decrease MPG. They also add substantial weight. Small, race type fairings and mini-windscreens can help.
I hate to sound skeptical but I find it hard to believe, without some kind of figures to back it up, that a faired bike has worse performance than an unfaired one.
For a number of years I've ridden recumbent bicycles. I've down many roll down tests with and without fairings to test the advantages of different designs and shapes. At no time did I achieve higher performance without a fairing.
Anyone have any results (mpg?) they can share about riding with and without a fairing?
Howard
the bicycle fairings I've seen were all designed to improve aerodynamic performance. Large touring fairings aren't - they often increase frontal area and aren't shaped for anything more than styling purposes and to keep wind off the rider.
1950s motoguzzi dustbin fairings helped a lot - 180mph speeds with an 80hp engine. Modern fairings don't come close to that.
I too think it'd be cool to see some comparitive numbers - anybody got a fairing the want to remove in the name of science 🙂
Hi Bob,
Next time I ride the beast to breakfast take a look at the folding screen I fabricated for the Sputnik. I expect you can easily make your own using a similar approach. This is the second version, the first one made out of acrylic is somewhere on a fire road above the North Umpqua. For this version I used Lexan and so far it seems to be holding up. I bought most of the hardware at True Value in Bandon, the rest was made from bits & pieces of scrap metal, etc. Should be interesting to see if it survives the trip to Alaska.
LL
Very cool larrylarry ...looks great.
Originally written by gilberth on 4/6/2008 6:16 PM
Claude,
I'm in the process of putting a Wixom fairing and windshield on my bike.
Are you suggesting that a windshield will hurt performance and mpg?
Howard
Howard,
I was speaked more to sidecar windshields. You will probably see a differnce with the Wixom also but it may not be too dramatic. I had one on my /5 for a while and it worked well.
Originally written by gilberth on 4/6/2008 7:01 PM
I hate to sound skeptical but I find it hard to believe, without some kind of figures to back it up, that a faired bike has worse performance than an unfaired one.
For a number of years I've ridden recumbent bicycles. I've down many roll down tests with and without fairings to test the advantages of different designs and shapes. At no time did I achieve higher performance without a fairing.
Anyone have any results (mpg?) they can share about riding with and without a fairing?
Howard
I can address the original question about a windshield on a sidecar. My most common trip is from Menomonie to Watertown which is 238 miles. All but 17 are on the Interstate. I leave home with a full tank. With the windshield removed, I can make it to Watertown on the second tank's reserve. If the windshield is in place on the Ural sidecar I need to stop at Madison for a third fill, so I lose about 30 miles.
More important, though, is the change in wind buffeting to the driver. With the windshield removed from the sidecar I get a lot less buffeting and wind noise so I'm not exhausted when I arrive in Watertown.
Mike,
Thanks for your results. I wonder how much if any difference there might be in mpg if you had a passenger in the s/c and no windshield.
Howard
Originally written by gilberth on 4/7/2008 8:34 AM
Mike,
Thanks for your results. I wonder how much if any difference there might be in mpg if you had a passenger in the s/c and no windshield.
Howard
That I can't answer. The one time I forgot to bring the windshield with me and my daughter had to ride in 40 degree temps with an open faced helmet she complained too loudly for me to pay attention to mileage. :0)
I have a Brooklands fold down windscreen on my Motorvation Spyder, along with a tonnau cover. My mileage went from about 32mpg average with the Valkyrie down to 28mpg with the sidecar. The Valk has a large windshield for protection.
I think that the shape of the screen has a lot to do with resistance. I would think that the Spyder with the Brooklands and tonnau cover would be "slick". In the Valk's situation, Valks are very bad on fuel mileage but good at everything else so the drop in mileage with the car was expected.
