Page 37 - August 2025 Edition.cdr
P. 37

“Without doing CFD, wind tunnel or on-track testing it's

                           impossible to know what will happen,”


     leave many key questions:               may  limit  functionality  given               aero loads.
                                             fairing volume.
         ·  W h a t   d o w n f o r c e                                                 ·   At  stop  lights  or  low-
            m a g n i t u d e   d o e s   a                                                 speed, retraction ensures
            c o m p a c t   d e p l o y a b l e   Industry  Context:  Why  Active           n o   o b s t r u c t i o n s   f o r
            winglet  produce?  Without       Aero Matters Now                               pedestrians or parking.
            CFD  or  wind-tunnel  data,      Aerodynamics  has  become  a            S u c h   a   s y s t e m   d e m a n d s
            realistic  performance           competitive tool, not just in racing    consistency—rider  trust  hinges
            values are guesswork.            but in premium production bikes:        on  seamless  behavior  and

         ·  How  reliable  are  the              ·  MotoGP and WSBK trends           o n - b o a r d   d i a g n o s t i c s   i f
            actuator  mechanisms                    forced homologated bikes         misdeployment occurs.
            u n d e r   r e a l - w o r l d         to include fixed winglets.
            conditions—exposure  to                                                  From  Patent  to  Production:
            rain, grit, wear—and what            ·  Riders  and  engineers           Realistic Timelines
                                                    d e m a n d   m o r e
            happens  if  they  stick
            partially deployed?                     p r e d i c t a b i l i t y   a n d   CFMoto has a history of moving
                                                    corner-specific  stability,       patents  into  real-world  product
         ·  Could  dynamic  wind                    pushing  interest  toward        concepts—like  adaptive  position
            loads  during  lean  and
                                                    active control.                  systems  for  handlebars  and
            high-speed  maneuvers                                                    footpegs,  predictive  suspension
                                                 ·  Advances in small actuator
            introduce  instability  or                                               tech,  and  even  rider  seat-belt
            unpredictable  torque  on               technology  and  sensor          concepts.
            the bike's chassis?                     integration make dynamic
                                                    aero  more  viable  for          Given  this  trajectory,  actively
         ·  Will the added complexity               production  models—if            deployed winglets could appear
            l e a d   t o   c o s t l y             manufacturers  choose  to        in  2026  or  2027  models,
            maintenance or recalls if               invest.                          especially  on  high-performance
            components falter?
                                             CFMoto's  patents  suggest  the         bikes  like  the  750SR-R  or
     CFMoto is betting on engineering        brand  sees  active  aero  not  as      upcoming  V4.  First  sightings  at
     m a t u r i t y — n o t   j u s t   v i s u a l   gimmick,  but  as  functional   events  like  EICMA  or  China's
     appeal—but  performance  value          edge—a  bold  move  that  could         motorcycle fairs seem likely.
     will  depend  on  how  well  these      inspire  larger  brands  to  take
     systems hold up over time.              active aero seriously.                  Initial  applications  may  limit
                                                                                     functionality  (e.g.,  single-speed
                                                                                     deployment or track-only mode),
     Where  Might  it  Appear?  The          Rider  Implications:  How  It           evolving later into lean-sensitive,
     750SR-R and Beyond                      Could Feel on the Road
                                                                                     multi-parameter control.
     CFMoto is already developing  a         Imagining deployment maps tied
     high-end  750SR-R  four-cylinder        to ride modes:                          Voices & Community Take
     supersport  bike,  featuring  fixed          ·  In Sport or Track mode,
     aero  elements  like  rear  wheel              winglets  deploy  above          From  technical  and  enthusiast
     covers and winglets as part of its             ~120  km/h,  adding  front-      forums,  revolutions  in  aero
     striking design. This model seems              e            n             d     generate cautious excitement:
     a logical candidate for active aero            downforce—enhancing              “Without doing CFD, wind tunnel
     inclusion—especially for variants              braking  grip  and  pitch        or on-track testing it's impossible
     like a track-focused “R” spec.                 c o n t r o l   u n d e r   h a r d   to  know  what  will  happen,”  a
                                                    deceleration.                    R e d d i t   a e r o - e n t h u s i a s t
     Moreover,  with  a  planned  V4
     superbike  on  the  horizon                 ·  On leaning into a corner,        cautions—highlighting  the  gap
     (referenced  in  other  sources),              asymmetric  modulation           b e t w e e n   c o n c e p t   a n d
     CFMoto  has  an  opportunity  to               might  counteract  roll  or      dependable performance.
     debut high-tech aero on flagship                y a w ,   s m o o t h i n g      On  the  other  hand,  other
     models first.                                   t r a n s i t i o n s   b e t w e e n   hobbyists note:
                                                    edges.                           “Reviews  are  generally  glowing
     Even smaller bikes like the 675SR
     could  adopt  scaled-down                   ·  In  Urban  mode,  winglets       as value-for-money option but …
     versions  of  the  winglet  system,            remain  flush—minimizing          concerns  about  safety  and
     though  packaging  constraints                 drag,  preserving  styling,      warranty remain given complexity
                                                    and avoiding unnecessary         and  parts  reliability”  —  a

                                                           37
   LHR Motorcycle Magazine Issue 16                                                                                                                 AUGUST 2025
   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42