Vetter Challenge at Mid-Ohio , July 22

[jkv357]

Originally Posted by Bruce

I wonder how many of the motorcycle guys hauled their bike to the event?

Pretty sure the 250 Ninja (5th place - 115.9 MPG) rode there from quite a distance. Not sure about the others.


Jay

[redyaris]

I believe the Hayes diesle was ridden to Ohio from California.

[low&slow]

Alan Smith rode his Ninja 250 from Castro Valley CA to Oklahoma to Virginia and then on to Ohio. Most of the other competitors trailered their bikes to the competition which is understandable if you considered other people traveling with them and multiple bike teams. Some such as Craig were limited by tire size/wear issues: he would have had to change tires several times on the way to Ohio and back to CA. Still it doesn't dminish what they accomplished in Ohio Vetter Challenge.
all the best, L&S

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by low&slow

Alan Smith rode his Ninja 250 from Castro Valley CA to Oklahoma to Virginia and then on to Ohio. Most of the other competitors trailered their bikes to the competition which is understandable if you considered other people traveling with them and multiple bike teams. Some such as Craig were limited by tire size/wear issues: he would have had to change tires several times on the way to Ohio and back to CA. Still it doesn't dminish what they accomplished in Ohio Vetter Challenge.
all the best, L&S

True, it doesn't diminish what they are accomplishing and learning, but the practical aspects of the machines matter greatly to me, and I think it should matter more if Craig's goal is to wean us off foreign oil. If he needs three sets of tires to travel ~5000 miles then that needs to be calculated in the final cost. How many of us would live with a commuter vehicle that needs tires every other month?

Let's look at the winner. How many of us can "ride a pork chop past a wolf" and are willing to ride in a crouch? Same with the Hayes streamliner - my body doesn't bend like that for long. Want to strap your lunch box on your back and ride like that for 30 minutes on your way to work at 6 am? I don't, and don't suppose many others would as well.

Now consider at the car – one set of tires will likely last 50,000 miles. You can pack enough stuff in the second seat to last a couple of weeks. You can also double the mileage easily by car pooling. I commute to work with one coworker. If I ride the bike that option is out. If I drive a car then I only have to pay every other day. All the bikes eliminate this option.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be critical, but it just seems to me that some vehicles are turning away from the original concept of “practical, first vehicle in the garage to be chosen,” and towards winning first and foremost.

[jkv357]

I understand what you are saying. You're looking at more of a cross country-type competition where long-term practicality and comfort, in addition to mpg, are important. The Vetter Challenge is more of a test loop.

Not sure why Vetter's tires would only go 1700 mi on his scooter, you'd think with the low power it wouldn't be very hard on tires. I guess it's the tire's small size (high rpm) that creates the problem. The winning NX250 isn't that crouched I don't think (no clip-ons).

A long distance mileage challenge would be interesting.


Jay

[low&slow]

Bruce, You make good points and I know that Craig is concerned about how some the compewtitors get around the 4 grocery bag carrying requirement. The challenge just tries to include real world driving conditions in real traffic so that the mgg results are truly useful rather than closed-course slow-motion exercises that you could hop a bicycle and beat. At the Carmel Vetter Challenge most the competitors rode their machine to the event ( me, Craig, Alan, Treven? , Carol, the Gold Wing ) . For me it was a 400 mile day.
all the best , L&S