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The Search for Fuel Economy
Pages from a Designers' Notebook Chap. 1: Streamlining Saves Fuel |
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The Making of the Last Vetter Fairing
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| You are looking at a year of my work and it still isn't finished. The goal is ultimate fuel economy and rider comfort. I am trying for 100 mpg at 70 mph, into a 20 mph headwind with 4 bags of groceries. Is it possible? I don't know yet. So far, I can get 64 mpg in these admittedly very tough conditions. Oh yes... in a garage full of vehicles, I want this to be so convenient, so easy to ride, so much fun and so comfortable that it is my first choice.
This would surely make it the Last Vetter Fairing. What else would there be to do? It is also the first Freedom Machine. Because with it, I hope to help establish a new class of licensed of vehicles in America that rewards responsible citizens with freedoms others don't have. |
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| Freedom Machine
Why we need a new class of motor vehicles |
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What is the Big Deal, anyway?
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Americans have developed such a thirst for fuel that we cannot generate enough from our own resources. Today, we import two of every three gallons from other countries. Some of these countries hate us and want to destroy us. Guess where their money comes from. We need do something about this. Our 7 mpg trucks need to get three times that mileage, or 21 mpg. Our 25 mpg cars need to get 75 mpg. Our 40 mpg motorcycles need to get 120 mpg. If we did this, we would not have to import anybody else’s fuel. |
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2 of every 3 gallons is imported
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This is my passion The goal is to make a cycle we will want to ride across country that gets at least 120 miles per gallon. We must begin with the right horsepower and then streamline it. Here you may follow along in my design process. |
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We must do our part to burn less fuel.
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Follow this project, chapter by chapter as I design and build the
Last Vetter Fairing... the First Freedom Machine |
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| It is my hope to inspire you to take the matter into your own hands and see for yourself what is possible. As you read the following chapters, you will notice that the Freedom Machine has been made entirely with simple tools which most of you already have in your workshops.
Do not expect Detroit or Japan or our government to solve these problems. "Doing more with less" does not make anybody money. But, "Doing more with less" can make our country stronger. Follow along. See how easy and how much fun this is. I hope you get inspired. We can do this together. Begin now: |
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| Pick a machine with the right horsepower. Something that sets low with about 15-18 hp. should be a good beginning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step one is to photograph the key views and size them in PhotoShop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Streamline it
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| Streamline it: Streamlining is round at the front... pointed at the rear. Streamlining allows less power to do more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step two is to do a quick sketch of a streamlined shape.
More is to be gained by adding a tail that can be gained at the front |
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| I already have the famous 470mpg Streamliner body parts which are perfect for "bent over" riding. But, I want to sit up. So, lets see how close the fit will be.
Step three is to put my existing Streamliner fairing over the Helix and see how close they fit. PhotoShop makes it easy We can see that they are much too small and will need to be "stretched" |
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| Leaving the ends together but widening the center will make them fit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step four is to cut and reposition the Streamliner parts to see how close they can come to my sketch
Actually, it may be easier to begin from scratch. We'll see. |
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| Cut it, pull it apart and tip the rear section up. Add a head fairing to help smooth the air behind my helmet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Next step: CAD Mockup of the streamlined body
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This page updated April 18, 2008
Updated May 19, 2009 |
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If you have not yet watched my DVD, How they Got 470 mpg it is time to get it for the basic foundation for what we are doing here
