2011 Las vegas to Barstow Vetter Challenge report

[jkv357]

Have you looked into any 200cc or 250cc single enduros?

I know Charlie from Parabellum Fairings used a NX250 for one of his mileage cycles. Not sure how many are liquid cooled - maybe the KLX250.

NX250 - http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_nx_250_1989.php

Looking at the latest KLX 250 (2011 Kawasaki KLX 250 specifications and pictures), it sounds like a decent canidate - FI, 6-speed, liquid cooled. Not sure when it was first produced like that though, so it may have to be pretty new.

The little Ninjas are cheap and available, but overall a FI single would still have significant mileage advantages I would think. The little Ninjas are pretty weak down low where you'd want to be cruising if you were to try to gear it higher.


Jay

[low&slow]

Hi Jay, That's an interesting suggestion. I agree my ideal bike would be a single cylinder 4-stroke 250cc, water-cooled, chain-driven street bike. Fuel-injection would be nice but rare for the price range of bikes I can afford for this project. I'm not sure many 250cc enduros are water-cooled and they may be too tall for a small frontal area and good high speed handling ( particularly in the wind. ) . I've looked for a NX 250 but haven't found any for sale. The Ninja 250 has a proven track record and with my friends Alan and Craig doing a lot of work on streamlining and maximizing output for the Ninja 250 it just makes sense to consider the Ninja. I made an offer on a nice 2006 Ninja, and have 2 more bikes to check out . the search continues......

[jkv357]

Originally Posted by low&slow

Hi Jay, That's an interesting suggestion. I agree my ideal bike would be a single cylinder 4-stroke 250cc, water-cooled, chain-driven street bike. Fuel-injection would be nice but rare for the price range of bikes I can afford for this project. I'm not sure many 250cc enduros are water-cooled and they may be too tall for a small frontal area and good high speed handling ( particularly in the wind. ) . I've looked for a NX 250 but haven't found any for sale. The Ninja 250 has a proven track record and with my friends Alan and Craig doing a lot of work on streamlining and maximizing output for the Ninja 250 it just makes sense to consider the Ninja. I made an offer on a nice 2006 Ninja, and have 2 more bikes to check out . the search continues......

The NX and the KLR are both water cooled and have 6-speeds, but I agree - you don't see them used everyday. You would have to do some mods to drop them down for a fairinged MPG streamliner.

The little Ninja has a lot going for it, and certainly has put up some pretty decent MPG numbers both stock and modded.

Let us know what you end-up with.


Jay

[low&slow]

I found a Ninja 250 on CL this afternoon for a good price and decided to go immediately to check it out. Its a 1999 Ninja 250 that had some cosmetic damage with 23K miles on it but seemed to run strong with a straight frame and forks. I left a deposit on and will pick it up the bike tomorrow. Attached is a picture of it. Let the aeromodding begin!!!
all the best, Vic

[FXSTi]

Low&slow,

Congrats, I hope to be reading about you in the vetter challenges next year.

Kirk

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by low&slow

I found a Ninja 250 on CL this afternoon for a good price and decided to go immediately to check it out. Its a 1999 Ninja 250 that had some cosmetic damage with 23K miles on it but seemed to run strong with a straight frame and forks. I left a deposit on and will pick it up the bike tomorrow. Attached is a picture of it. Let the aeromodding begin!!!
all the best, Vic

Sure take the easy way out by getting a proven performer like the Ninja 250.
this websight is helpfull in showing how little power is needed for driving at 70mph on a well streamlined bike. Bowling's Aerodynamic & Rolling Horsepower Computation I suspect that 4 hp - 8hp would be enough for the Ninja 250.
Let the modding begin...

[low&slow]

Thanks guys! I got the bike home this morning and so far no disappointments. Guess I am taking the path of least resistance but I was getting tired of being Craig, Alan and Fred's whipping boy !!
Redyaris, I'm going to continue working on the Vision and hopefully break the 70 mpg barrier but I'll being riding a streamlined Ninja at the Carmel Vetter Challenge.
all the best, Vic

[redyaris]

...path of least resistance... that sounds like streamlining. I have desided to go all out on the Honda VT500 and will be fabricating a full dustbin fairing with a boat tail, to get to the 100mpg level if posible.