Can a motorbike be slowed down by another which is coming up from behind entreing its air pocket?

Question

Can a motorbike be slowed down by another which is coming up from behind entreing its air pocket?

Answer 1

Here's something for you to look at.

http://www.markmartin.org/drafting.html

Look at the last sentence of the first paragraph.

The frontal area of a bike doesn't have enough forward push to make the leading bike go faster.

You saw Wiggysan's vid. The trailing bike used the draft and pretty much blew away the two leading bikes.

Good question!!

Answer 2

Well you can delete answers 1 , 2 & 3 as they have not read the question.

Proc ( as normal ! ) has a very good point.

I dont think the lead bike slows down due to the "pull" Im sure it will stay the same.

The double wammy on this question is what happens to 2 lead bike ? Yes, thats right die hard MotoGP fans !! K.S #34 at Germany 1993!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwKSqhHIXz...

Thank you youtube!

Answer 3

I would say no becaues when cars do it pushes them forward.

Answer 4

Nope you would be able to go faster.

Answer 5

I'm with 'proc' on this one as he's the only one who's read the question properly!

Answer 6

I'm not sure . the air resistance is already there. and to go fast forward you disturb the air behind. we know the bike behind will get quicker  due to the hole in the air created by the first bike. as it gets into the pocket does it disturb the air flow enough to slow th lead bike down. I imagine it may but only until the air stabilises around the 2 bikes. when the now faster bike number 2 pulls out and breaks the bubble again thee is a drag effect on the first bike. but we are talking very small amounts . interesting point though.

Answer 7

no, that would infact speed it up due to "drafting".

Answer 8

No.

Answer 9

I would have to agree with "Proc" and "Wiggysan" on this one.

Answer 10

Yes, the lead bike is slowed down.

It has somthing to do with the air flow that is running off the lead bike, there then is a swirling effect that is created due to the drafting of the second bike.

This restrics the air flow coming off the lead bike which in turn slows the air flow from the front of the lead bike which cretes more resistance.

The best example of this is in Moto GP or better still superbikes, watch how they weave behind the lead bike just enough to create the air flow resistance but not enough to stop the second bike getting a tow in the slip stream.

I used to race and could never master this. (Nerves start jangling when I used to get to close as I had a couple of guys brake to soon and I snatched too much front brake and ended up on my ar$e, ooochhhhh it still hurts).

Answer 11

No you would go faster by getting 'a tow' due to the fact the bike in front is creating a hole in the air causing high drag, whilst the one behind will have less drag, less air resistance so the power of the bike won't have to overcome so much air resistance, hence it can go faster.