More evolution than revolution, it is easy to see the lines of the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc peaking out from underneath the complex shapes of the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc. Building upon the design that won his company the 2011 SES TT Zero, Michael Czysz says he has finally had time to truly address the aerodynamic aspect of his designs, though he admittedly had to make some aesthetic concessions to find the right aerodynamic package for the job.
These concessions cause the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc to have a bit of Buck Rogers feel to it at first glance, as the winglets, ducts, and neon colors hit you all at once. While it all seems a bit over the top, there is some method to the madness. Relying on computational fluid dynamics to develop his designs, Czysz’s designs aim to make the 2012 E1pc as slippery as possible in the wind, but also serve to allow the team to continue a design philosophy that first started way-back with the MotoCzysz C1 project.
Whipping the air over the combined form of rider and machine, the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc should be able to hit and maintain higher speeds with less energy than before, but the real secret sauce for the Portland-based company is in how it has routed the air through the bike to maintain cooling temperatures. Bringing air through the basking shark front end, the internal aeros bring the air through the bike, presumably over the batteries, back towards the rear of the bike, and through a radiator located in the tail section.
If my social science major’s understanding of aerodynamic principles holds fast, the routing of the air through the center of the E1pc’s mass, and dumping the exhaust of that routing duct to under the bike’s tail section, should help remove the vacuuming effect normally suffered by motorcycles, further aiding in the streamlining cause — without the need of dustbin solution.
We see the same aerodynamic principle in road racing, where holes are cut in forward-facing fairings and windscreens, to help alleviate the low-pressure spaces that are created behind those barriers. This theory seems similar to, though should be entirely separate from, Homer Simpson’s speed holes theory of automotive design.
Like all MotoCzysz machines, it is the detail touches that make the machines such a sight to behold. LED accents cover the lower lip of the 2012 E1pc’s RAM air duct, and are right above the now ubiquitous raison d’être-clad front mudguard. This year’s slogan is “< 22:38.28″ which is a reference to the time necessary to break the 100 mph barrier on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course — with the consensus being not if, but by how much, that barrier is shattered this year. Another regular item to the Czysz design philosophy is the subtle “Made in America” sticker on the tank, reminding us that for now, electric motorcycle racing is the only field being dominated by American entrants.
A carry-over from the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc, the suspension system is again housed under the carbon fiber mock fuel tank, with linkages connecting the two Race-Tech shocks to the six-axis front forks (another regular MotoCzysz design element) and rear swingarm. For 2012, the previously carbon fiber clad swingarm’s linkage has been replaced with one made of metal, presumably to allow Miller and Rutter to hit the jumps along the Mountain Course with their full-might.
On Rutter’s bike last year, the Dow Kokam battery packs were split into two units, stacked one on top of the other. For 2012, both bike’s have one larger pack that extends well past the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc’s twin-spar carbon fiber frame, both fore and aft. According to Czysz, the new pack is volumetrically similar to last year’s, though it should bring the center of mass on the bike much lower to the tarmac.
Officially housing 14 kWh, it wouldn’t surprise to find that number has been sand-bagged a bit, with a few more pouches to be found in the battery enclosure than before, along with a more dense lithium-ion formula working its electron magic inside them.
With the Mugen team in full-attendance at the MotoCzysz unveiling behind the main TT grandstand along Glencrutchery Road, the competition between the two heavy-hitters is an exercise in the definition of an oxymoron– being both incredibly demur and yet also immensely intense at the same time. A good showing by either party only enhances the victory by the other…and neither team has any intention of leaving the Isle of Man with a second place podium to show for their efforts.
With Mugen showing the guises of a massive battery pack on its Shinden motorcycle (20 kWh sounds high, though not absurd), the Japanese squad is exhibiting a very modern one-two punch on the old American adage that “there’s no replacement, for displacement” which stands in stark contrast to the aikido of Michael Czysz’s wind-shaping zen state. If we lend ourselves to stereotypes, there is a good role-reversal going on here, and the first bout in this mixed-martial arts fight comes to us tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Photos: © 2012 Jensen Beeler / Asphalt & Rubber – Creative Commons – Attribution 3.0
it’s possible that there is an internal duct to the motorcycle that sucks
air passes from the front flowing to radiators rear?
someone can answer this question?
I think I said as much in the article, no? Sorry, I know English isn’t your first language.
Let’s think about it this way, there would have to be an internal duct in order for any
Without a duct, the radiator in the tail would be completely sealed in (low-pressure under the tail section isn’t going to force are in through the “back door”), so in essence it would act like a reservoir, which isn’t exactly an efficient or useful on the Mountain Course.
Sorry ! I wrote this hypothesis on twitter and your first post “MotoCzysz 2012″ and instinctively I repeated the question without reading the new post!
I confess that Unfortunately when I read the post was too late and I had already commented!
I am very pleased that my hypothesis is true, the duct reduces the rolling resistance!
Great idea of Michael and his staff! congratulations!
“With Mugen showing the guises of a massive battery pack on its Shinden motorcycle (20 kWh sounds high, though not absurd), …”
I hope the E1pc has more than their advertised 14 kW-h pack! I am pretty sure Honda, oh sorry Mugen, was able to cram in at least 20 kW-h in theirs as I tried to demonstrate in my previous comment on the Shinden!
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/mugen-shinden-photos-isle-of-man-tt/#comments
Like you said, we’ll see if it’s brute power or efficiency that takes it!
” Made in America”…………………………………. REALLY ? ! AMERICA ? ! LMFAO. It never gets old. It still sounds like something some patriotic pretentious douche would say.
How about just “Made in the U.S.A”…………….. or NORTH AMERICA to be more accurate yet not accurate enough ? ! LMAO.
Sorry guys, i couldn’t hold back myself on this one.
@MikeD: I understand your point except that most of us from the states do refer to our nationality as American. And having traveled all over Europe most people there do as well. Even though a Canadian or Mexican are also North Americans, most understand that an American is someone from the United States. No?
@Rich Melaun:
Indeed my polite, well traveled/educated fellow reader. \(^_^)/
@MikeD: Yes my friend. Cheers – Rich
Czysz had a falling rate rear suspension on is Moto GP bike. Did they mention if this bike has a rising rate or falling rate rear suspension?
Note to the rule makers – Please ban any front , rear or side wings. Those segway wings look retarded not to mention dangerous.
Truly innovative designs, though I’m not too sure about the winglets. Buck Rodgers and Flash Gordon would be proud…
Brute force shows a lack of creativity, however, efficiency reveals ingenuity of design…
After last year’s bike’s almost sensual curves, the 2012 is a bit of a let down aesthetically. Lets hope its worth it.
I too, was goggle eyed at the winglets. Love to hear more about how effective they are in terms of aerodynamics. Beeler, heard any info there?
I am, for one, a person who thinks beauty is as function does. The “winglets” (which look more like turning vanes) appear to have a function; one has to wonder were they designed with CFD software, or with CFD and a wind tunnel?