Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexlebrit
But panniers do nothing for aerodynamics whereas bags tucked behind the rider tend not to make much difference. With the Derbi and panniers and throwing in a headwind is a bit like throwing a parachute out of the back.
When are you two off? We should all come and wave you off.
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Hi Alex. Even on bigger bikes (my 600cc CCM for example) adding panniers makes a big difference - 60mpg without them and 50mpg with them - averaged over 1500 mile trips down to the Alps and back. On my 125 just about everything makes a difference - even wet roads knocks a few mph off the top speed.
Frontal area is the main killer though - the bike is about 10mph and a good 15mpg worse in winter trim - wider screen and with small panniers on wet roads, than it is in summer mode (small screen no wider than me, dry roads and no panniers). 10mph is a lot to lose when it only does 60 anyway and 65 instead of 80mpg makes it less economical than one of our cars.
Main A type roads and dual carriageways are probably the worst for small bikes. On motorways you can use the trucks as shelter and if you can run at their speed it can be ok as everyone trundles along at the same speed. On main roads it's always always the vans that are the problem - cars are small enough and fast enough to go past easily and trucks can't really overtake if you're doing 55mph but you're just a mobile chicane to the vans who force their way past and then cut you up. That's been my experience anyway.
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