[gregsfc]

I'm excited to find this site and to start learning the basics for improving mpg on my 2014 Honda CTX700 bike with modest adjustments in riding style and modifications, but, while I certainly have interest in major modifications, such as streamlining, I'll probably just be looking personally at making just some minor changes to my own bike while reading about the real fuel misers on here.

I actually decided to start riding PTWs in the Spring of 2012 at 47 years old to: add a little spice to my commute; to downsize (reduce our family's autos down to one); and to decrease my already-low fuel consumption for my long, rural commute even further by switching to a PTW for all the days suitable, weather wise, for riding. I decided originally on a Piaggio BV350 scooter. In stock form, I was able to achieve low 70s for mpg in the summer time running pure gasoline. I really loved the scooter, but when I heard that Honda was coming out with a bike that better fit me and my style of riding with a power train that I had fallen in love with (670 cc parallel twin), I traded the BV350 for a 2014 CTX700. Now I've got a bike that is slightly more capable, without the cost and hassle of the maintenance cost associated with CVT components that may have arisen using a scooter for almost all highway use for many thousands of miles per year.

The Honda has been very good so far. In stock form, even with this bike being a multi-cylinder and 670 ccs, I was able to achieve an average of 77.3 mpg in the summer running pure, regular gas according to the odometer and assuming a 2% trip meter error. Cold weather and a tall windscreen came around the same time, and then I dropped down to around 70 mpg per tank. As the temps have risen late winter and early this spring, I've raised my mpg per tank up to around 71.5. At this point, I don't know how much the screen I chose has hurt, but I do think it is hurting my mpg at least a little. I've also strapped a 55-liter (approximately) tail box directly behind me on the passenger's seat, and from what I can tell, it has not hurt my economy whatsoever.

I've contacted Craig Vetter and plan to enter the Challenge @ Mansfield in July just to meet and greet and to see what me and my bike can do; not to win of course, but I do want to do as well as I can in the challenge and to meet all the requirements to finish as a qualified competitor.

I've been searching and reading different threads and will probably be asking questions that I can't find the answer regarding fairing windshields, sprockets and chains.

I've attached a picture (edit--posting pic didn't work) of my bike before I put a larger box on the rear that is mounted the same way. When I get a chance, I take some updated pictures, but now, instead of a matching Bestem 2012 box strapped to the seat, I've got a Dewalt ToughSystem 08204 tool box. It holds a lot more and is a much easier-to-use box, but I'll have to add another 15 liters or so to carry the four bags of groceries required for the Vetter Challenge. At this point, I looking at possibly velcro-ing a satchel of some type to the right side of the tool box.