Maxi's in side/crosswinds

[StephenC]

The Satelis was designed in a wind tunnel.

[anonstarter]

I can certainly relate with you Drago!
With the Fabbri (winter) screen fitted my Citycom is 5'4" tall when I'm sat on it! There are a couple of high bridges that can have mega sidewinds on the A30, and when I'm cruising at 70 and it's blowin' a hoolie it's quite a buzz! From behind I imagine it looks like I'm banking left just to go straight ahead!

[rintintin]

The Satelis was designed in a wind tunnel.

So was the X10, but isn't that generally wind front to rear for aerodynamics. I've personally never seen any reference to side one
wind tunnel testing (though I could be wrong.....and no doubt, if I am, someone will tell me!)
I find the X10 less affected by crosswinds than the Xevo.

[MrGrumpy]

What makes one scoot prone to cross winds and another not, is puzzling. My personal experiences....

Leonardo 250 - lethal at M-way speeds -easily blown clear off course.
Aprilia Atlantic 500 - utterly unmoved by crosswinds- the wind would nearly blow you off it, but the scoot would be rock solid
Burgman 650 - good in cross winds - better than Honda Pan European.
Tmax mk1 / mk2 - good - they shudder and fight a bit, but were basically stable.
Tmax mk3 - can be a real handfull in high winds
Honda SH300 - almost as lethal as the Leo.

There is a school of opinion that scoots and other PTWs are actually entirely stable, due to the huge amount of gyroscopic forces generated by wheels and engine. In this theory, its the rider who's affected by crosswinds who upsets the scooter by trying to hang on to it in the winds.
This isn't my experience, but I suspect that this theory isn't totally wrong.

[StephenC]

The Satelis was designed in a wind tunnel.

So was the X10, but isn't that generally wind front to rear for aerodynamics. I've personally never seen any reference to side one
wind tunnel testing (though I could be wrong.....and no doubt, if I am, someone will tell me!)
I find the X10 less affected by crosswinds than the Xevo.

Do Piaggio quote a drag factor? It would be interesting to finally compare the Sat's figure with another - ever since 2006 only Peugeot amongst scooter manufacturers has published one that I could find. It is 0.402 SCx, BTW.

No idea if side aspect testing was included but I agree that the emphasis would indeed have been on the front. The idea was apparently to use the screen and bodywork to produce a "bubble" within which drag was reduced. I would have thought it followed that such a "bubble" would also have the effect of reducing cross-wind effects. Now I don't have much experience of different scooters but I can say that I have hardly ever had any issue with high speed running and cross-winds, yet I am on the motorway every day I go into London. I also find it ridiculously easy to bounce off the rev limiter on the flat in neutral conditions.

[StephenC]

Just been searching for the X10's drag factor. I've found a few references to wind tunnel testing but not a hint of the figures. The lack of which tells me all I need to know....

So it's a bit like a promo poster saying "this film is the greatest...all year". When the full quote was really "this film is the greatest pile of cack all year".

But I'm happy to be corrected.

[Deleted User 796]

Just been searching for the X10's drag factor. I've found a few references to wind tunnel testing but not a hint of the figures. The lack of which tells me all I need to know....

That noone give a crap about drag factors and they're a meaningless marketing gimmick?

How do you even know that the Satalis aero dynamics are better than other scoots? Because Peugeot said so

The real test would be if they used noticeably less fuel as that's the biggest point of the lower drag, so are the mpg figures better? Who knows as there's only one mpg figure on Fuelly.

Sorry if this post sounds a bit aggressive, it's not meant to be and I'm sure the Satalis is a fine machine like most maxi scoots

There is a school of opinion that scoots and other PTWs are actually entirely stable, due to the huge amount of gyroscopic forces generated by wheels and engine. In this theory, its the rider who's affected by crosswinds who upsets the scooter by trying to hang on to it in the winds.
This isn't my experience, but I suspect that this theory isn't totally wrong.

I think there's something to that. Gripping the handlebars and hanging on for grim death is harder than just going with the flow and letting yourself get blown around in your own lane. Having said that the Xevo is generally fine but you do need to slow down on the motorway if it is very windy (by slow down I mean do the limit )

[Drago]

I notice that with over half a tank of fuel the SYM GTS does feel more planted and less effected by the wind.

Yesterday I was on reserve, so around 1.2L left in the tank today the wind was about the same but I filled up
to the brim - 12L total. The wind has a lot less effect and the scoot feels more planted. I suppose the C of G is
lowered and as the fuel tanks low down at the front the front wheel is pushed down a little more than with a
half full (or less) tank.

I notice also that has been mentioned, lightly gripping the handle bars seems to reduce the winds effect, I rest my
hands/palms over the brake levers & handlebars. Gripping harder does indeed make it worse, not better!

[rintintin]

But I'm happy to be corrected.

There are people who will correct you.....but it involves ultra high heels and a whip.....and you'll have to pay

[StephenC]

Just been searching for the X10's drag factor. I've found a few references to wind tunnel testing but not a hint of the figures. The lack of which tells me all I need to know....

That noone give a crap about drag factors and they're a meaningless marketing gimmick?

How do you even know that the Satalis aero dynamics are better than other scoots? Because Peugeot said so

The real test would be if they used noticeably less fuel as that's the biggest point of the lower drag, so are the mpg figures better? Who knows as there's only one mpg figure on Fuelly.

Sorry if this post sounds a bit aggressive, it's not meant to be and I'm sure the Satalis is a fine machine like most maxi scoots

It's more likely that none of the other manufacturers have gotten anywhere near the Sat's SCx so don't quote a figure. I mean, if yours stats were crap you wouldn't, would you? I get around 90mpg on my 27 mile commute, which ranges from close-quarters-combat-filtering to flat out on the M11.

Don't apologise. I can't bame others for not realising that the Satelis is the finest machine of any type, anywhere. After all, it IS French.