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low&slow · 08-05-2012, 11:46 PM

Hi, Below is information Alan , Craig and I are putting together to compare the side by side performance of Alan's and my Ninja 250 streamliners as we crossed the country to the Ohio Vetter Challenge.

Beginning of trip from Livermore California to Ohio:

Alan’s Ninja 250: loaded down with gear, clothes, tools, and rider weighed 660 pounds.

Vic‘s Ninja 250: Loaded with the same 598 pounds

Alan's weighed 62 pounds more

July 13,2012: Leave for Ohio Vetter fuel economy contest.

Alan’s Ninja 250: 103.4 mpg

Vic‘s Ninja 250: 72.7 mpg

July 14, 2012: Nevada to Wendover UT

Alan’s Ninja 250: 92.041mpg

Vic‘s Ninja 250: 92.7mpg

July 15, 2012: Nevada to Wyoming high winds, hard rain climbing mountains

Alan’s Ninja 250: 82.388 mpg

Vic’s Ninja: 68.3 mpg

July 16, 2012: Across Nebraska at high freeway speeds some winds.

Alan’s Ninja 250: 93.66 mpg

Vic’s Ninja: 58.9 mpg

July 17, 2012: Nebraska to Iowa rolling hills at various speeds.

Alan’s Ninja 250: 88.412 MPG:

Vic’s Ninja: 68.6mpg

July 18, 2012: Iowa to Morton, Ill. Flat country side at 70-plus speeds. Very hot

Alan’s Ninja 250: 95.807 mpg

Vic’s Ninja: 69.6 MPG:

July 19, 2012: Illinois To Belleville, Ohio. Riders meeting.

Alan’s Ninja 250: 103.045 mpg

Vic’s Ninja: 87.9 mpg

Alan's Ninja: Total trip out: ???

Vic’s Ninja: Total trip out: mostly riding with Alan 2891 mi./39.44 gal= 73.3 mpg

Alan's Ninja: Total solo trip back: ???

Vic’s Ninja: Total solo trip back to Cal: 3107.4 mi./42.31 gal= 73.4 mpg

Needlessly to say, Alan's streamliner did much better on the trip than my bike which struggled with overheating, occassional fuel starvation and vapor lock.
However my bike did run very well in Ohio and during the competition.

The pace at the 2012 Ohio Vetter Challenge wasn't as fast as we ran in Carmel 2012 but it was not slow by any means. I think it was a more realistic pace in which to evaluate fuel efficiency. The course ( lots of hills, stop signs, not much freeway ), weather conditions, and relatively slower pace helped to produce optimal results for my bike, Ben's and Scott's.

Now that I'm rested up and feeling like a human being again, I started servicing my bike after its long, tough journey. I checked the valve lash yesterday ( no adjustment needed !) , cleaned the air filter and found a vacuum leak. The tires are still looking good.
This morning I took the bike for a short spin to warm up the engine prior to doing an oil change. It ran great after fixing the vacuum leak until it clattered to a halt on the backroads of the Livermore wine country. My chain had a broken link. I got it back home this afternoon and will be shopping for a new chain tomorrow. I still have to replace some leaky fork seals and change the oil and filter. Thank goodness I didn't have this happen during the trip, it could have been a very big problem.

08-05-2012, 11:46 PM	#263 (permalink)
low&slow Master EcoModder Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 341 l&s' Jag - '00 Jaguar S-Type SE 90 day: 25.86 mpg (US) l&s' Vision - '82 Yamaha Vision XZ550RJ 90 day: 59.92 mpg (US) L&S' Greenaero Ninja 250 - '99 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F Ninja 250R 90 day: 97.24 mpg (US) SilverAero Ninja 250 - '04 Kawasaki EX250 Ninja 90 day: 88.24 mpg (US) Thanks: 46 Thanked 176 Times in 91 Posts	Hi, Below is information Alan , Craig and I are putting together to compare the side by side performance of Alan's and my Ninja 250 streamliners as we crossed the country to the Ohio Vetter Challenge. Beginning of trip from Livermore California to Ohio: Alan’s Ninja 250: loaded down with gear, clothes, tools, and rider weighed 660 pounds. Vic‘s Ninja 250: Loaded with the same 598 pounds Alan's weighed 62 pounds more July 13,2012: Leave for Ohio Vetter fuel economy contest. Alan’s Ninja 250: 103.4 mpg Vic‘s Ninja 250: 72.7 mpg July 14, 2012: Nevada to Wendover UT Alan’s Ninja 250: 92.041mpg Vic‘s Ninja 250: 92.7mpg July 15, 2012: Nevada to Wyoming high winds, hard rain climbing mountains Alan’s Ninja 250: 82.388 mpg Vic’s Ninja: 68.3 mpg July 16, 2012: Across Nebraska at high freeway speeds some winds. Alan’s Ninja 250: 93.66 mpg Vic’s Ninja: 58.9 mpg July 17, 2012: Nebraska to Iowa rolling hills at various speeds. Alan’s Ninja 250: 88.412 MPG: Vic’s Ninja: 68.6mpg July 18, 2012: Iowa to Morton, Ill. Flat country side at 70-plus speeds. Very hot Alan’s Ninja 250: 95.807 mpg Vic’s Ninja: 69.6 MPG: July 19, 2012: Illinois To Belleville, Ohio. Riders meeting. Alan’s Ninja 250: 103.045 mpg Vic’s Ninja: 87.9 mpg Alan's Ninja: Total trip out: ??? Vic’s Ninja: Total trip out: mostly riding with Alan 2891 mi./39.44 gal= 73.3 mpg Alan's Ninja: Total solo trip back: ??? Vic’s Ninja: Total solo trip back to Cal: 3107.4 mi./42.31 gal= 73.4 mpg Needlessly to say, Alan's streamliner did much better on the trip than my bike which struggled with overheating, occassional fuel starvation and vapor lock. However my bike did run very well in Ohio and during the competition. The pace at the 2012 Ohio Vetter Challenge wasn't as fast as we ran in Carmel 2012 but it was not slow by any means. I think it was a more realistic pace in which to evaluate fuel efficiency. The course ( lots of hills, stop signs, not much freeway ), weather conditions, and relatively slower pace helped to produce optimal results for my bike, Ben's and Scott's. Now that I'm rested up and feeling like a human being again, I started servicing my bike after its long, tough journey. I checked the valve lash yesterday ( no adjustment needed !) , cleaned the air filter and found a vacuum leak. The tires are still looking good. This morning I took the bike for a short spin to warm up the engine prior to doing an oil change. It ran great after fixing the vacuum leak until it clattered to a halt on the backroads of the Livermore wine country. My chain had a broken link. I got it back home this afternoon and will be shopping for a new chain tomorrow. I still have to replace some leaky fork seals and change the oil and filter. Thank goodness I didn't have this happen during the trip, it could have been a very big problem.