Honda CBR250R and Ninja 250R are stable mates.

[sendler]

My Honda CBR250R and Ninja 250R are now stable mates. I hope they get along well. Gearing and aero mods to follow for the Honda (the Ninja will be the "fast bike").

[beatr911]

This should be interesting, comong from a dedicated 250 fan. The CBR seems like it has even more mpg potential than the old Ninja. I have considered one but really need more weather protection than the styling-only fairing that is common on small sport bikes. Also my aging frame is needing more comfortable ergonomics as time passes.

The aero mods will be the most interesting as they are the most difficult to do right for performance and appearance.

Please keep us updated on the progress and keep a detailed fuel log so we can see the results of changes! I'm predicting you will reach 100 mpg without too much trouble and sustain at least 85 mpg at normal traffic speeds.

[sendler]

70.3 mpg on the second tank of the Honda including some new toy hammering by all my friends and an hour of riding around the parking lot with my daughter on the Ninja. I will set up a fuel account tonight when I gat back from work and fill up after the 90 mile round trip.

[beatr911]

71 is about what the press was getting. Still new, better figures are yet to be had!

By the way, what are the speeds you are riding during your commute?

[sendler]

For the Honda CBR250R:
also follow me on Fuelly
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Honda CBR250R FI Single (Honda CBR250R) | Fuelly
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I won't be posting the fuel milage of any sport rides with friends and relatives flogging the CBR250R even though it got 70.3 including an hour of following my daughter on the Ninja around the parking lot. I want to show what this bike can do as a high speed commuter. Commutes will be 80 miles round trip, 80% highway, 70mph average on the highway.
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80.6 mpg
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70 mph on highway. Large trunk bag with sides unzipped. No extreme hypermiling techniques. Need to re check odo calibration. Using an additional 1.5% milage as was previously determined by highway markers at 20, 30, and 100 mile on a trip, the 79.8 corrected (78.6 on odo) still seems short. All of the cars I have driven over the same commute never show less that 80 miles.
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83.1 mpg
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Flying at 67-72 mph again with trunk bag.

[alvaro84]

Hah, you're in the same shoes as I am with the distance measurement... I correct it by 1% in my log now, may be conservatively estimated, last year on my motorway trips I saw the same 1.5% difference as you, and since I have these new tires the measurement may be even more off (my commute used to be 24.6km at the end of the last pair of tires, now it 'is' like 24.4km). And when we ride together with shiNIN, her bike always measures 1-1.5% more.
And I still couldn't measure it by GPS, damn my phone...

Anyway, how the two bikes' FE compare? Heck, if I had more bikes, they'd be a bit more different

(The next one would probably be a very light dirt bike. Or a little CBR, like yours, or even the 125, I love its 'KTM orange' theme )

[vguy]

What a great combo to have.
I would love to fool around with the Ninja and the CBR with a "dustbin" fairing. Airtech Streamlining makes them here in SoCal and I've seen them at El Mirage Dry Lake.

[beatr911]

Sheesh! Look at the fuelly log!!

He's repeatedly over 80mpg for three fill-ups at apparently freeway speeds 65-70. That is one efficient bike. I guess I'll need to reconsider getting one and modding it for a little more comfort. Sounds like Honda did a nice job on this little bugger.

Thinking... In a year or two find one with damaged bodywork and fit the dustbin and a tail. Hmmm, nearly 100 on the freeway, but might not pack 4 bags of groceries tho.

[alvaro84]

Originally Posted by beatr911

He's repeatedly over 80mpg for three fill-ups at apparently freeway speeds 65-70. That is one efficient bike.

Yeah, I envy that FE a bit

[low&slow]

Hi Sendler, Doing good with the 250's. Since I rode in the Vetter Challenge I've been working on the aero package of my 1982 Yamaha Vision and have a best tankfill of 66 mpg. I realize the 550 cc engine size, weight and shaft drive all are working against me in acheiving really high MPG but will keep working on it as its my only motorcycle. A fuel-injected 250cc bike like your new Honda seems to be the one of the best starting points out there. I'd suggest changing your chain sprockets for lower rpm cruising speeds and better aero. TheycallmeBrian got 1 100+mpg tank with his regeared Ninja 250, Alan Smith got 94mpg in the last Vetter Challenge ride on his Ninja 250 .
Keep working at it and you'll see some great results.
All the best L&S