MOTOGP » Rossi red hot at Sepang

Go Rossi!!
I have to agree with some earlier posts..
That seat height on the Yamaha looks realy high!!
His butt was the same height as the top of the windscreen!!!
Very high Centre of gravity!!

That's good because then it's easy to put your head down

OK, your head is down under the 'screen,
But your back & buttocks are higher...
creating drag!!

Depends on the size of your buttocks...

Seriously though... I'm pretty sure they do windtunnel testing, Rossi is the biggest bloke in the paddock at 1.80 m
when he tucks away behind the screen the streamline is ok
the frontal area of the fairing has changed a lot over the past few months, it's broader now.
the tail of the bike is now slightly curved down instead of 'pointing up'.
A lot of the sideview pictures are made at low speed under heavy braking (easier for a photographer, he still has to drag the camera along at the same speed to get it sharp), that is the moment they sit up and that changes the picture.

Morgue, hate to disagree on the CofG issue, but the lower = better is rather outdated (early 1980s). The reason for underseat tanks is to get mass centralisation, the more weight closer to the center of gravity, the less effort is required to rotate the machine. Classic example.. hondas first V4 NSR500, underbelly fueltank, very low CofG, handled like a pig, very slow steering and unstable.

Low CofG does have some advantage, when it come to pushing a bike around, you're less likely to drop the thing, or the classic, I'm sure I'd put the side stand down!

Yea Al you are right, I know that first V4 was a misbirth (interesting design though with the exhausts at the location of the 'fuel tank') but on that bike the CG would have gone up as the tank got empty wouldn't it?
The position of the current tank is also because of the emphasis they put on size shape and placing the airbox above the engine

I would say the Ducatis were faster on the straight not only that they had more horsepower but also the Fairings were way more aero dynamic than the Hondas and Yamahas. At 300 kmph every single drop of drag helps. Why do you think Lance armstrong do the drafting. Yamaha should cut the Fairings sharper instead of making them look nicer. I have a Honda VFR and I park it beside my neighbors Ducatti 1098. everytime I park everyday, i see the ducatti and I am envious and amazed at the design andtechnology applied. I dont see it in the Yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki or Honda. Aprillas are way ahead in the 250cc and 125cc. I hope Yamaha will re-design the Head Fairing and lower the seat for Vale

Guy's,
surely if Vale wanted the seat lowering I'm certain it would have been done by now.

Morgue, yes the CofG would move up on the 84 NSR as the tank emptied.

And yes, it helps not having to worry about a fuel tank so you can be more creative in airbox design (also means on a road bike you don't end up with something that looks like it holds 20 gallons and you can't get your knees around it...)

Saran, I think you'll find the Yamaha fairing is more aerodynamic than last year and the revised seat is to help with back end aero as well (which is just as important), lowering the seat could well upset the aero rather than improve it.

As for being envious of a 1098, yes they are a nice bike, but could you live with it as everyday do anything transport like a vfr