Specifications

  • Custom fiberglass fairing
    • Frontal area: 6.3 ft2
    • Drag coefficient = 0.416 **
  • Trimmed rear fender
  • Multiple front fenders (class-dependent)

** Calculated CD range = 0.412 – 0.416, based on power absorber test and race data

Jump to: [Fairing] [Front Fender] [Tail Development]

Fairing

The fairing has been used for most races since the 2013 season which classifies the motorcycle as partially-streamlined (PS). The red fairing is a 1970’s Harley Davidson XR-750 design which was cutting-edge at the time, having been shaped in a wind tunnel.

Amy sitting on the red motorcycle on the white salt flats
Bonneville Speed Week 2019

The fairing is trimmed along the belly seam to reduce the overall width to fit the 350 Moto Morini. A custom windscreen was also made to fit. The overall frontal area is 6.3 sq. ft. The shape and the angle of attack of the fairing and windscreen are adjustable to fit the rider from the side and front. The space between the fairing and the top of the front fender defines area of the engine air intake. The fairing has been lowered to reduce overall frontal area while still maintaining sufficient airflow to the engine.

Front Fender

The Red Baron raced with the OEM steel front and rear fenders for several seasons. The Red Baron now completes with either (i) the OEM front fender, (ii) a modified Kawasaki fender, or (iii) a maximum-coverage fiberglass fender. Both non-OEM fenders provide aerodynamic coverage of the suspension fork tubes which improves flow around the bike and into the engine.

  • Side view of motorcycle on dirt lakebed
    The Baron, 2014
  • El Mirage (May 2018) 108.476 mph
  • Full aerodynamic configuration for Altered Partially Streamlined class

Tail Development

Usually The Red Baron has a very small tail design behind the rider that covers the ignition box and fuses. The first prototypes were relatively small, like the “mailbox” tail, which were still legal in the Modified Production class.

The “doghouse” tail followed which was much larger, and changed The Red Baron into the Altered or Special Construction class. The Red Baron raced with the full tail in 2017, although side-wind concerns and other priorities have shelved the project for the time being…

  • Tuft testing for small aerodynamic tail (the “mailbox”)
  • Original prototype of full tail design (the “doghouse”)
  • Aerodynamic testing of final full tail design
  • First run with the full tail and front fender, May 2017
  • El Mirage (Oct. 2021) 126.009 mph