Superbikes to get MotoGP-style wings in the near future

Manufacturers spend a great deal of money on making their motorcycles the fastest for the MotoGP. Technology from these MotoGP bikes almost always trickle down first to the manufacturer’s flagship offerings and further on to lower segment motorcycles. Which means, soon superbikes are likely to receive the wing treatment.

The wings are a very controversial subject between the MotoGP riders, as some love them while some doubt the performance gain from them. Talking about the wings, MotoGP ace rider Valentino Rossi said, I tried the winglets, they are very interesting, they change the airflow, but I don‘t feel a difference. I prefer the bike without the wings, it‘s more beautiful.”  While, Ducati’s rider Andrea Dovizioso said, "The new winglets look big, but the effect of them isn't that big, I didn't feel any negative points with them and if you don't feel anything negative and in turn the overall effect is positive, you'll continue to use them."

Even though the performance gains are negligible, manufacturers always want  to showcase their latest technological and engineering feats on their production motorcycles. Ducati claims the wings are to reduce wheelies up to about 160kmph while some aero experts have said it is more to do with downforce and therefore grip at much higher speeds.

To put it into perspective just how close motorcycles are from sprouting wings, Kawasaki’s flagship H2 and H2R already possess sharp little wings.