The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1285484
I f you're attempting to establish a land speed record on a motorcycle, optimizing the physical conditions won't garner any grief at breakneck. So in July 2021, the Voxan Wattman obviously won't have any traffic to dodge or dead- end signs to ignore. An endless salt flat opening its road, drag heavy front breaks will be le behind and the extra slack will let loose when the needle hits 330Km/h. But pulling out all the stops requires much more than just loading up on the acceleration. "So we focused on two main points: drag and stability at high-speed," said Louis- Marie Blondel, who oversaw the project's development. Warp speed was far from the starting point, though. Set in place, wind tunnel and computer simulations tested the aerodynamics and helped gauge Wattman's stability at high speeds. 240km/h was the maximum blowback that the technology allowed, but 90km/h shy, still provided plenty of data. However, the deficit le engineers navigating "uncharted territory," so the process had to go on the move. e test track got its fair share of mileage and confirmed Voxan's two point agenda—especially in consideration of the low-grip track. "e slightest deviation can have very significant implications for stability. at's why the design and aerodynamic profile of the motorcycle are so important," said Franck Baldet, the project's technical director. In response, the distance between the front and rear wheels was maximized. So instead of a telescopic fork, a double- wishbone front suspension was employed, and the lay of the land secured by a longer wheelbase. Additionally, both sides of the spokes were le clear—reducing the drag in a very practical manner. V U E N J . C O M 171