motogp style rear huggers

[Mickwitchy]

Hey guys,

Searching for credible info on the large rear huggers that the motogp/wsbk bikes seem to use. I've heard people say they use them for aerodynamics because without them, the rear wheel spins and causes turbulence or something so the hugger lets the air flow smoothly.

Anyone heard anything similar to this, or anything to the contrary?

I figure if it helps, might as well get one. Don't wanna pay for it if it's just for looks...

Cheers,

Mick

[Wattie]

On the road all they do is stop rocks gettig to your shock.

Any aero advantage wouldn't be untill you were going 200km/h+ I reckon

[Mickwitchy]

It's going on my track bike so will be spending most of its time up there

[Gosling1]

worth it for the track bike, just to keep things tidy.

No real advantage for air-flow at normal track-day pace.

May be worth a couple of tenths if you are running up the front of the pack in FX ?

[Wattie]

Which tracks are you frequenting that spend most of the lap that fast?

[Mickwitchy]

Well, I probably hit 120km down EC straight haha. I was just saying if it's a track only bike, then it spends most of its time going quite fast.

So far it sounds like it isn't worth it

[Wattie]

I wouldn't worry for a tracky.
Ginny's don't have one, you really only had to clean all the rubber off things.

[Mickwitchy]

It'd be nice to find out why moto gp bikes use them. I would have thought if it wasn't necessary, they wouldn't have them. Can't just be for advertising since I see some with just their number on it...

[Mickwitchy]

Although they do get up to 340km, don't they....

[Gosling1]

they stop all the rubber flicking up and making the entire undertail area really dirty - thats the main reason for having one. Its got SFA to do with airflow really. Worth doing just to cut down on cleaning time - you would be amazed how dirty the undertail area can get without a hugger.

[Wattie]

I think it could be a bit to do with heat transfer also.
They need to keep the heat from exhaust and engine away from the tyre to make it last longer.
But maybe I'm over thinking it now?

[Gosling1]

.......But maybe I'm over thinking it now?........

[Mickwitchy]

It's feasible. Could be anyone's guess, so that is as good as any

I must be tired, I'm wondering why I'm putting so much effort into the bloody rear hugger