Understanding Your Motorcycle’s Aerodynamics

The more aerodynamic you can make your motorcycle, the better it will perform. Improved aerodynamics can make a motorcycle more fuel efficient and easier to control. If you’re interested in learning how to make your motorcycle more aerodynamic, check out this guide from Steel City Harley-Davidson®. 

Benefits of Improving Your Motorcycle’s Aerodynamics

There are several benefits to making your motorcycle more aerodynamic. For one thing, a motorcycle with less air resistance won’t need as much fuel to reach the same speeds. Better aerodynamics also mean the bike will be easier to control. It’s a cheap and easy way to get better performance out of your motorcycle. 

The Basics

If all this stuff about aerodynamics seems a bit too complicated, you don’t need to worry! The basic idea is that your motorcycle should have a narrow leading edge and taper outwards as it goes back. This will allow your bike to cut through the air. However, anything that increases your overall surface area will also increase your wind resistance, thus making everything less aerodynamic. 

What Impacts Aerodynamics?

Motorcycles are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible. Just about anything you add onto the bike will increase the surface area and make the bike less aerodynamic. This includes passengers, cargo, and accessories. If you want to install a windshield on your motorcycle, using a slanted model will decrease your wind resistance. You can also try packing your belongings into many smaller packages rather than one big package that sticks out. Another way to make your motorcycle more aerodynamic is to simply lean forward when you ride. 

Shop motorcycles at Steel City Harley-Davidson® in Washington, Pennsylvania. We’re proud to serve communities like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We also offer financing, parts, service, and apparel. We hope to see you soon!