Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Buying a bike for MPG/Vetter Challenge, what would be your favorite?

woodsrat · 07-30-2012, 03:02 PM

Here's the thing, though. While CVT's aren't very efficient they're extremely user friendly especially in urban situations. Mr. Vetter has said he wants the ideal bike to be the first one you go to in the garage. Would users really go for a bike with a six speed gearbox that has to be constantly rowed to keep the bike in it's powerband? Or would they prefer the ease of operation of an automatic transmission?

My buddy and I went for a ride the other day, he on his WR-250R and me on my XT-225. Even on a mix of city and backroads we both mentioned that we have to shift a lot to keep the little buggers on the boil and especially in town it gets tiresome. (As an aside the XT returned 78 MPG and we definitely weren't being conservative with the loud handle.)

So is some sort of CVT or other automatic transmission worth the tradeoff in MPG for the convenience factor in the construction of the ultimate Vetter Freedom Machine?

07-30-2012, 03:02 PM	#85 (permalink)
woodsrat Beginner Ecomodder Join Date: May 2012 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 104 Thanks: 10 Thanked 26 Times in 20 Posts	Here's the thing, though. While CVT's aren't very efficient they're extremely user friendly especially in urban situations. Mr. Vetter has said he wants the ideal bike to be the first one you go to in the garage. Would users really go for a bike with a six speed gearbox that has to be constantly rowed to keep the bike in it's powerband? Or would they prefer the ease of operation of an automatic transmission? My buddy and I went for a ride the other day, he on his WR-250R and me on my XT-225. Even on a mix of city and backroads we both mentioned that we have to shift a lot to keep the little buggers on the boil and especially in town it gets tiresome. (As an aside the XT returned 78 MPG and we definitely weren't being conservative with the loud handle.) So is some sort of CVT or other automatic transmission worth the tradeoff in MPG for the convenience factor in the construction of the ultimate Vetter Freedom Machine?