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

sendler · 08-17-2012, 05:41 PM

I rode my new PCX150 around some tonight and I am very happy with it. I normally ride a CBR250R which is a great high speed minimal touring bike but I also wanted a super light automatic to teach people how to ride on and the zero down financing made it easy for them to hook me again.
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Have you ever noticed how when you switch bikes, it is easy to pick out the things the new bike doesn't do as well as the first bike? Well I'm not noticing too much wrong with the PCX. It is pretty dialed in all in all, especially the PCX150 which is quite a bit quicker than the 125 I rode last week. I'm glad I spent the extra $400 to get the benefit of the improvements that Honda incorporated after only one year. I also think the seat slants you forward less on the new model. I may not even end up modding it much. It is that much faster up the hills than the 125.
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I like the riding experience. There is a strange freedom from thought riding a low powered, super light automatic. Floor it and follow the road. Simple. Relaxing. No decisions about what gear to use or how fast to go. I have heard mountain bikers say the same thing after switching to a single speed.
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Below 10 mph the small wheels are a bit too quick to turn in but once up to speed the PCX feels very well balanced. No head shake or wobs coming 60 back down the giant hill that I just went up at 51 mph. The combined brakes stop nice and even, and it even looks cool enough that people don't automatically dismiss it as a scooter. It is so light and easy, I could flip the keys to any novice in the parking lot and they would never drop it. The PCX150 is a really good compromise of price, size, and performance. But as a Vetter streamliner, it might be just not quite enough to keep up.

08-17-2012, 05:41 PM	#90 (permalink)
sendler Master EcoModder Join Date: May 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY USA Posts: 2,935 Honda CBR250R FI Single - '11 Honda CBR250R 90 day: 105.14 mpg (US) 2001 Honda Insight stick - '01 Honda Insight manual 90 day: 60.68 mpg (US) 2009 Honda Fit auto - '09 Honda Fit Auto 90 day: 38.51 mpg (US) PCX153 - '13 Honda PCX150 90 day: 104.48 mpg (US) 2015 Yamaha R3 - '15 Yamaha R3 90 day: 80.94 mpg (US) Ninja650 - '19 Kawasaki Ninja 650 90 day: 72.57 mpg (US) Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,315 Times in 968 Posts	My PCX150 I rode my new PCX150 around some tonight and I am very happy with it. I normally ride a CBR250R which is a great high speed minimal touring bike but I also wanted a super light automatic to teach people how to ride on and the zero down financing made it easy for them to hook me again. . Have you ever noticed how when you switch bikes, it is easy to pick out the things the new bike doesn't do as well as the first bike? Well I'm not noticing too much wrong with the PCX. It is pretty dialed in all in all, especially the PCX150 which is quite a bit quicker than the 125 I rode last week. I'm glad I spent the extra $400 to get the benefit of the improvements that Honda incorporated after only one year. I also think the seat slants you forward less on the new model. I may not even end up modding it much. It is that much faster up the hills than the 125. . I like the riding experience. There is a strange freedom from thought riding a low powered, super light automatic. Floor it and follow the road. Simple. Relaxing. No decisions about what gear to use or how fast to go. I have heard mountain bikers say the same thing after switching to a single speed. . Below 10 mph the small wheels are a bit too quick to turn in but once up to speed the PCX feels very well balanced. No head shake or wobs coming 60 back down the giant hill that I just went up at 51 mph. The combined brakes stop nice and even, and it even looks cool enough that people don't automatically dismiss it as a scooter. It is so light and easy, I could flip the keys to any novice in the parking lot and they would never drop it. The PCX150 is a really good compromise of price, size, and performance. But as a Vetter streamliner, it might be just not quite enough to keep up.