Aprilla MotoGP bike gets a rear wing.

[herr_oberst]

I thought the front wing was over the top, but this weekend, the Aprilla team showed up with this little appendage tacked onto the rear fairing! It's working so far, Espargaro has been fast in practice.

[Eric Hahl]

IMO, Aero should be the domain of cars, not bikes. Just sayin. Freaking 200+mph knife blades.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Love it!

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

Freaking 200+mph knife blades.

That was my first thought too.

[masraum]

They are fast enough to benefit, I don't see why not. Hell, I'm surprised it's taken this long.

[astrochex]

Fences on the tail fairing too.

I wonder how much downforce and/or drag reduction the wing provides? Seems like characterizing airflow with a moving rider is not a straightforward endeaver.

Just noticed the front wings have multiple elements.

[David]

Once they figure a way to do power steering, the aero will be crazy.

[flatbutt]

Aprilia has come a long way since 2015 and the bike is now a serious contender.

Michelin has a tough time developing tires that can deal with these changes. Everything I've read confirms that these wings develop serious downforce.

Ducati hit 220mph in Mugello this weekend.

[David]

I read an article years ago I think about Honda where they said they could cut a couple seconds per lap with aero but the rider could only do a lap or two before they were worn out.

[Jeff Higgins]

I wonder how long before the first rider loses an appendage to one of those things.

[herr_oberst]

^ Probably not a racer, but if those make it onto street bikes, then all bets are off.

[jyl]

Maybe a movable airfoil on either side of the fork. When bike is leaned over more than a certain amount the foil on the outside of the turn extends to produce downforce. The downforce acts on unsprung part of fork and hence on the contact patch, no suspension involvement, force vector perpendicular to ground. Foils are otherwise retracted. Maybe a similar arrangement on the rear, air probably dirtier but feasible to have a larger foil.

[jyl]

Hope MotoGP doesn’t go the way of F1.

https://the-race.com/motogp/motogp-has-to-end-its-aero-spiral-for-the-sake-of-racing/

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

^ Probably not a racer, but if those make it onto street bikes, then all bets are off.

Yeah, I think you are right. FIM certainly has some sort of safety qualifications associated with them, like ensuring they break off before the rider's limbs.

Fast forward to the same kid who pours Nos Energy Drink into his gas tank, and all bets are off.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

^ Probably not a racer, but if those make it onto street bikes, then all bets are off.

all of the numbnuts that like to ride wheelies down the highway at 60 or 100 will have a much harder time.

[flatbutt]

I don't think that the winglets work at speeds less than 60-80 mph. Biker boyz may mount them to look cool but unless they get into serious track days the winglets aren't of any use on the street.

BTW Jorge Martin hit 226 mph today.