Rich OLiver
Quote, "I really notice the Ryno fender does improve the handling of my Team Oliver Yamaha. It makes it more stable in the high speed corners, loading the front end more. Also top speed improves substatially. I noticed right away the bike is also quieter with less buffeting around the windscreen"
Rich OLiver #97 AMA Pro 250GP
Bill Wickersham
Dear Jim,
My name is Bill Wickersham, I'm a C-5 Pilot with the Air Force Reserve (on active
duty at the moment). On my time off, I try to help Ed Sorbo (AMA 250 GP #6)
at any of the nationals I can make it to. I'm a degreed Aerospace Engineer,
and a second generation aerodynamicist. After reading about your tests with
the Ryno Fender in Road Racing World, I was certain it would be a clear competetive
advantage. It is.
The Ryno Fender is a clear advantage at every track we go to. Not only does
it clearly help us with improved top speed, it makes a huge difference in front-end
feel and grip. Since switching to the Ryno Fender we've gone from the bottom
third of the trap speeds to the top few bikes. In terms of front-end grip, I
personally swapped between the standard fender and the Ryno on Ed's TZ-250 to
conduct comparative testing at Willow Springs in preparation for the AMA national
there. Entering high speed corners (like Willow's turn eight) we showed a night
and day improvement while running the Ryno Fender. Although it should be noted
that we needed to change our set-up because front end lift at speed was so dramatically
reduced.
We have NEVER shown ANY increase in coolant temp under any circumstance.
Thanks for the great product. Thank you for your sponsorship of Ed's racing.
Ed Sorbo
My name is Ed Sorbo, I race
a 2000 TZ 250 in AMA 250 GP. I have been using a Ryno
Fender since ‘98. My bike’s engine temperature has never been affected
by using the
fender. A friend of mine saw the Ryno story in Roadracing World. He told me
it was a
good idea and that I should get one, I did and liked it from the beginning.
At Willow
Springs we did some back to back testing. With the fender on I was running through
turn
eight with the throttle pinned all the way. I pitted and we put the stock fender
on. On my
out lap I had to check throttle in order to stay on the track in turn eight
but I thought the
problem was because it was my out lap and so I did another lap. Again I had
to check
throttle to stay on the track. I pitted and we put the Ryno Fender back on.
On my out lap
and for every lap after that I had the throttle pinned in turn eight and the
Ryno fender has
been on my bike since.
The Ryno Fender is all about your radiator. In order for a radiator to work
air must pass
though it. Because there is an engine right behind the radiator very little
air can flow
through it. All the extra air coming to the radiator packs up in front of the
radiator and
forms an area of high pressure that extends to the front and a little to the
sides of the bike.
Much like the bow wave in front of a ship. This high pressure wave makes a larger
hole in
the rest of the air slowing you down and taking weight off the front end by
lifting the
fairing. This lift makes the front end less stable and you can feel it in fast
corners. With
the Ryno Fender some but not all of the extra air is parted before it gets to
the radiator.
This allows enough air for cooling, reduces the bow wave and takes away the
lift. Giving
you a higher top speed, better acceleration and more stability.
As for the increases in top speed, I have not been able to do any scientific testing to prove it. However I do know this: 1) My bike is always near the top of the AMA speed charts but maybe thats my riding or tuning. 2) At Brainered, during one of the practices Rich Oliver was five seconds a lap faster than me. On one lap he came out of turn ten (the turn that leads onto the nearly mile long front straight) with the perfect gap so that he could jump into my draft without being slowed by me in the turn. Rich pulled out of my draft to pass and could not. He got back in line and passed me coming out of turn two. 3) Now that Rich has a Ryno Fender of his own he can draft past me and then I jump in his draft. Rich said that his Ryno reduces the wind noise.
I have heard a lot of ideas from people about how this fender can’t work. None of them have tried it. Everyone I know who has tried the Ryno Fender has liked it. I have two extra TZ Ryno Fenders that I bring to all my races. Come by my pit and borrow one.
Ed Sorbo
AMA 250 GP #6
5th overall in 2002 AMA 250 GP