Originally Posted by
Carley P.
Hotbike, I would assume that even with a head-tube mounted box, the extra protection in the event of a collision with a car would be minimal. Regardless of what you have in front of your bike, you're probably going to flip over the handlebars and end up on the car's windshield. I really can't see how it would make a bike any safer than it already is.
As for aerodynamics, I don't see why you would ever be carrying a heavy load of gravel at any high speeds where an aerodynamic setup would even be necessary. Furthermore, a pull-behind trailer shouldn't add too much wind-drag, and it could be made to haul more than 100 pounds. Also, it would be easier to detach from the bike.
If you're set on front-mounted things, why wouldn't a frame mounted rack do the job? It should be more aerodynamic because the bars would have less drag, and if you made it out of steel I'm sure it could hold a ton of weight.
Like I said before, I think it's cool that you're pushing the boundaries with bike modifications, and I think these bikes would make great art-bikes, (specifically the "type 10" before it was redone).
These bikes would make great art bikes, and i admire the amount of work put into them, but I still don't see how they would be any more useful than a bike with a trailer or a steel frame-mounted rack.
I'm trying to combine funtionality with good looks.
Your last statment contradicts what you said earlier, I have removed the fairing from the Type 10, exposing the rack beneath. You say you like the looks of the fairing, but the heavy carrying rack is right underneath it, it's just as functional with the fairing.
The Type 9 fairing is much more solid than the Suzuki fairing. I would not trust the Suzuki fairing in a crash.
The Type 7 & 9 fairings have rounded corners, which allow me to glance off of car surfaces, and continue steering into the swerve, to keep control. The fairing allows the front wheel to continue turning, while the car and my bike are still in contact. It may require a lot of skill to survive a crash, this is no "passive" system. As I said, you have to steer into the skid. But I crumbled a number of cars rear quarter panels. I don't like to break tail light lenses, on account the bulbs are too bright without lenses, and the light hurts my eyes.
The rear edges of the Type 9 are styrofoam, Yes, I hit my head on the styrofoam once, when a car right hooked me. But the car needed a new quarter panel.
As for going over the bars, think again. When a regular bike does an "endo", the weight of bike and rider pivot around over the front axle. The front rack, however, strikes the car fifteen inches higher than the axle, and forward of the front tire, so the tire continues turning.
The fiberglass used in the Types 7&9 is much stronger than you realize . It is ten times thicker than the steel used in automobile bodies, and it bounces back , rather than crumbling.
You need to go to a hardware store and study some fiberglass axe-handles. Not all fiberglass is weak.