OZZY
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posted October 10, 2002 04:21 AM
Does Kawasaki need a new wind tunnel?
What is it with that tail section on the ZX RR?? Dam that is ugly,but does it flow the air well?
I just cant believe that the airflow of the riders back, slamming into the tall scooped out area right behind him is not a very turbulent area creating high drag. Should the rider slide back against this and seal it up on the straights?
How was the rider setting when Kawasaki developed this bike in their wind tunnel?
It just doesnt look to me like much more of an attempt at aero's than some guy in his garage with some cardboard, duct tape and body putty making his own tail section.
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"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses......HIT IT!"
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VincentHill
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posted October 10, 2002 04:30 AM
Two schools of thought that I know about is the tapered close the air up as carefully as possible and the Dr. Kamm effect! Put a lip on it and get the air to make circles behind you to "Push" you down the road! The GT-40 of the 60's used this to win Le Mans 24 hour race!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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bagster
Zone Head
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posted October 11, 2002 08:35 AM
maybe they were trying to create some kind of turbulence to let the air get around the tail easier.
That ZX RR tail section looks oddly like a stealth bomber with all those angles.
I Found a nice picture of a Yamaha being wind tunnel tested.
also found a very interesting article on a new "pressure sensitive" paint that Ford engineers developed so they wouldn't have to put thousands of those pressure taps all over vehicles being tested.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/010621-1.htm
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VincentHill
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posted October 11, 2002 09:25 AM
I think Doug Teague worked for Ford! (The guy that designed my F-1 seat!)
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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OZZY
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posted October 12, 2002 04:49 AM
I thought the angular design of the stealth fighter was for radar evasion and actually hinders the planes ability for fast flight.
____________
"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses......HIT IT!"
Blues Bros.
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bagster
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posted October 12, 2002 08:41 AM
Thats true Ozzy, but there is a big difference between "our" speeds and stealth bomber speeds and their ammounts of drag.
I'm not trying to say that the angular design is helping the airflow.
Maybe they just did it that way to "look cool", (if thats what it is doing.) 
Kawi could overcome the small ammount of drag they may induce with that tail by making their engines more powerful as you know they are doing.
Only God knows what they were trying to acheive with the tail they put on that ZX RR.
Wouldn't it be nice if Kawasaki made us a total angular bike that was radar invisible?
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frEEk
Administrator
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posted October 12, 2002 10:18 AM
i suspect the big sail that is the leading edge of the tailpiece won't be much of an issue because it's in a low pressure area. that and the aforementioned fact that u will be backed up against it when u'r hittin speeds where there is no longer excess engine power (which is to say u'r WOT). i can still see times when u may be WOT but not backed up against the tailpiece, but chances r u'll be doin under 100mph or so so the aero's prolyl arent a big issue yet.
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OZZY
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posted October 12, 2002 01:20 PM
I have read where water is like air only thicker when talking about flows. The way I am thinking is how come a fish is smooth and tapered, a bird is of the same shape, but the tail on the ZX RR is anything but?
As for Kawi overcoming the drag factor with horsepower, well they have their work cut out for them, Honda had a good 5 mph on the ZX RR.
I hope they ditch this ugly tail shit and put a tail like the new ZX6RR on it and use the flow. Surely in the very contested 600 supersport class, aero's are very important and they dont want to be giving any advantage to the competitors.
I just think somebody thought that the ZX RR tail was cool and different, probably the same dumby that put those ungodly mufflers on the ZR1000.
____________
"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses......HIT IT!"
Blues Bros.
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ZHooligan
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posted October 12, 2002 04:42 PM
I have had my doubts about Kawi and their aerodynamics. When the 12 was coming out they where all proud about their airplane experience and bragged up the aerodynamics of the 12. When it came out the bike's areodynamics have been the problem with it's ability to beat the busa on top end. You got to wonder about how it is that the busa with less power goes faster if indeed kawi is the airplane builder!!!
Of course it is the ugly ass tail on the busa that they claim helps it's aerodynamics so much.
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VincentHill
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posted October 12, 2002 05:15 PM
Other than the "Velocity" Stacks! I am still wondering if they dirtied up the Aero Package somewhere to slow it down! I still believe that they had the Bike running 197 before the word came down! The Tail Section could have been wider! The fairing could have been wider in front and we cannot see it! There is still "SOMETHING" They know that we do not and may not ever know!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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ZHooligan
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posted October 12, 2002 05:33 PM
It is a possibility. You have to think Kawasaki's and for that matter Suzuki's lawyers all cringed when the company said lets make a 180 plus motorcycle!
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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bagster
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posted October 13, 2002 06:40 AM
"I just think somebody thought that the ZX RR tail was cool and different, probably the same dumby that put those ungodly mufflers on the ZR1000."
I couldnt agree with you more ozzy, those mufflers gotta go!
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beansbaxter
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posted October 14, 2002 11:05 PM
I know my 12 is an 02 model, but for those of you who purchased an 00 model 12, should have received a really nice book from Kawasaki, silver mettalic cover with "Ninja" embossed into it. I have this book, it's really nice, and it talks a lot about the 12's areodynamic design.
Would be nice to see a follow-up book that accompanied Kawaski's flagship model. A new book every year with every year 12, or at least the first year of every generation. Would be nice to see what and how the new changes were incorporated into the new designs.
Wonder if the 04 model 12 will be a B3 or a C1? Inquiring minds want to know.
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