New patent drawings from Honda have been circulating the internet which reveal that the brand may be working on improving aerodynamic efficiency and increasing downforce on their motorcycles. Recently many motorcycle manufacturers have started adding intricate pieces of bodywork on the front end of the motorcycles to improve the airflow around the rider and improve downforce on the bike.
But Honda’s new design patents appear to improve things on the tail end of the motorcycle and this is not just a small kink on the rear cowling as seen on the recently unveiled Honda CB-F Concept but a proper, large wing-style spoiler. The design patents appear to have a rear spoiler unit sitting behind the rider’s seat and the spoiler wing has a hollow centre to channel airflow from behind the rider.
How much downforce will the spoiler create? is still in question. But we think it is moreover to improve the wake turbulence created on the rear end and clean up the air circulating behind the rider, rather than to create downforce. Creating downforce on the rear end could also lead to front-wheel lift-up tendencies, which is countered by the front end aero winglets.
Interestingly the motorcycle in the leaked patent drawings appears to be the SC60 model series Honda CB1000R by looking at the headlamp unit, its chiselled fuel tank, chunky swingarm unit and angular radiator shrouds.
The brand has also filed similar patents earlier such as the wing mirror design drawing that emerged on the internet last year was speculated to improve the front nose aerodynamics and airflow around the rider. The current generation 2020 CBR 1000RR Fireblade comes with aero winglets on the side fairing that improve the bike aerodynamic efficiency as well as reduces its front-wheel lift-up tendencies.
Many MotoGP motorcycles have used this technology on their machines and manufacturers have also adopted them on production models such as Ducati Panigale V4, Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory and the aforementioned Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
Honda could refine this into the rear cowling on its supersport motorcycles with a design similar to the Ducati Panigale V4’s rear cowling and this is not likely to go into production.
