LAMBRETTA PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS SERIES FRICTIONAL LOSS
Friction is that annoying thing which occurs just about everywhere on a vehicle but as it can’t be seen as such is often just swept under the carpet. Ignore it at your peril; it prevents you from achieving the maximum performance potential from your scooter. There are several ways friction affects performance but in this article, we are looking at how it affects the wheels. More commonly, it is described as rolling resistance or drag and anywhere it occurs it’s sapping the power created by the engine.
The main areas
Within the wheel, there are three main areas to look at where friction is occurring: 1) The tyre, where it touches the road surface. 2) The hub, including the bearings and anything else that is being driven off it. 3) The braking system, the biggest area of friction that is created. All are subject to high forces being exerted through them and consequently wear will occur. This is where the problem can get exaggerated even further. So remember, just because you have made the rolling resistance as efficient as possible, regular checks will still be needed to make sure it stays that way.
The tyre
The rear tyre is the last point where the power created by the engine finally reaches the road surface
