A motorcycle with an aerodynamic shell gets more than 200 miles per gallon
Cool Storage Besides increasing fuel economy, the shell allowed builder Allert Jacobs to add a trunk in the back.
Hans Pieterse
Dutch vehicle designer Allert Jacobs knew that his fuel-sipping,
shell-encased motorcycle was street-legal. Unfortunately, the police
didn’t, and impounded it after pulling him over during a test run.
Allert Jacobs' Aerocycle: Hans Pieterse
But Jacobs has a lot of patience. He first built a resistance-reducing
nose cone in 2007, in an attempt to increase his Honda Innova 125i’s
114-mpg rating. That design fell short, so he built a 1:5 scale model,
followed by a full-size polyurethane and wood mold. By 2009, he was
crafting the fiberglass shell. Steel tubes welded to the bike’s frame
attach it, and a frame and rails added to the front of the bike allow
the front of the shell to slide forward like a door and lock shut. Last
winter, he even made aerodynamic cones with indicator lights for his
side-view mirrors.
In the Shell : The top view of the motorcycle Hans Pieterse
Most of the mileage boost comes from the aerodynamic shape, but Jacobs
also converted the bike’s automatic clutch to manual to keep it from
slipping. Altogether, the changes worked: On one long trip, the bike got
214 miles per gallon. And as for the impound? “I got it back,” he says,
“and they had to apologize.”
Time: 3 years Cost: $5,000
HANDLING
Jacobs can put his feet down to steady himself when stopped, but the
shell prevents him from planting them out wide. He’s considering
building a new version with open sides in order to reduce balance
issues.
COMFORT
After lowering the seat and raising the footrests above the wheel,
Jacobs decided that they would improve steering if they were closer to
the hub, so he welded tubes to the frame parallel to the front forks and
attached the footrests to them.
SECURITY
Jacobs welded and bolted a steel rail to the front of the bike so
that half the shell can slide forward 18 inches, allowing him easy
access and exit. There’s a security bonus too, since he can lock up his
bike along with any valuables inside.
3 More MPG-Boosting Mods
Duct-Taped Dream: Thanks to ecomodder.com, a community of DIYers hell-bent on adding mileage, for help with this article.
Chang Ho Kim
Duct-Taped Dream
Chang Ho Kim, who runs an auto-repair shop in Massachusetts, skipped
doing airflow calculations and modified his 1989 Honda CRX HF largely on
instinct. He added a narrow, wedge-shaped acrylic nose to move the air
over the hood and roof, taped the seams between the body panels to
prevent turbulence, and installed acrylic skirts to keep air flowing
past the rear tires. An aerodynamic tail extends down off the hatchback
glass. A few screws and lots of aluminum duct tape keep the pieces
together. The mods yielded results: Previously, his Honda ran at 40
miles per gallon; now it routinely tops 60.
Greenie Van : Courtesy glassmarcus.com
GREENIE VAN
Glass artist and furniture maker Marcus Sabathil’s Toyota Previa
minivan is a moving example of his dedication to green principles: He
increased its highway mileage from 20 mpg to 36. Sabathil made more than
a dozen mechanical modifications, crafted a clear Lexan plastic
aerodynamic tail with stainless-steel trim, and added interior side-view
mirrors so he could fold in the outer ones on the road.
Wonder-Trailer: Courtesy Phil Knox
WONDER-TRAILER
Phil Knox, an aeromodding legend, attached an inverted and partially
sawed-off boat to the top of a utility trailer and added fairings in
front of and behind the wheels, as well as a smooth aluminum belly pan
to reduce drag beneath the trailer. As a result, unlike normal trailers,
Knox’s 430-pound creation—still awaiting a few tweaks before it’s
finished—does not appear to reduce his pickup truck’s mileage.
The H2Whoa Credo:
DIY can be dangerous. We review all our
projects before publishing them, but ultimately your safety is your
responsibility. Always wear protective gear, take proper safety
precautions, and follow all laws and regulations