[gregsfc]

I've got a 2014 Honda CTX700. I've been very happy with my summer time mpg records. Winter time wasn't so good, and the difference has been much more than any vehicle I've owned so far. Up to 10 mpg difference between my winter time commutes and summer time, but overall, I'm very happy with my motorcycle choice and amazed with what Honda has engineered with respect to this power train. It's a great commuter bike that is substantial and weather protective enough for light touring and highway commuting in relative comfort and peace of mind, yet it gets great fuel economy.

I've talked myself into going to the AMA Vintage Days Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge near Mansfield, OH and competing just to try and meet my own goals and to see if my mpg records are anywhere near reality, assuming a 2.3% trip meter error based on several GPS comparisons. My goal is to use no more than double Fred Hayes fuel by volume. I hope Mr. Vetter will let me run pure gasoline as long as I write what I paid for it on my receipt that I turn in, because I'm going after maximum fuel economy and am not as concerned personally with the minimizing the fuel cost of the run.

I'm still fairly new to PTW riding with only a couple of years under my belt, and so it's taken me a while to find gear, luggage, etc. that suits me. I'm a daily, state highway commuter, 55 miles per day. Recently, I found a helmet that is not so rough on my tiny noggin. A low-profile, Bell Custom 500. As a bonus, it seems as though that helmet has improved my mpg by at least 1.

One particular problem I've got trying to make myself a qualified participate in the event, and something I'm not very happy with, is passing the grocery bag test. I understand the purpose of the bikes in the event being usable, but I consider the bike I've got, the way I've got it, very usable, and it is the first vehicle choice out of the garage for my personal transportation. But even with a 55-liter box strapped behind me on the pillion seat that carries just about anything anyone could expect to carry on a bike, I can't near carry 4 bags of groceries, left in the bags, kept upright, and zipped up. The main problem is vertical height, which is said to be about a 20" requirement. My box is about 15" high interior space. I can add an extra large, zippable tote bag to the hinge side of my box. It's around 18" high, about 14" wide, and can expand to about 9" deep. I still don't think this will pass the test, because that will hold probably on one or two tall bags. Then what about the other two bags. Alternatively, I can remove the box and replace it with a 70 liter, Nelson Rigg bag that I believe is much taller. This will cost me over $100, and I don't need it except for the Challenge, and I still may not pass the test. I don't have the financial or mechanical know how to create a custom box and don't have the motivation to do so if I did. I kind of pride myself in simple, cheap luggage solutions that doesn't negatively affect fuel economy, which is what I've already got. And the only items I can't carry that I'd like to carry are very long items, and neither can streamlined bikes, so I don't really see the point of trying to force everyone into oval luggage choices, but it is what it is.

Any suggestions: should I even worry about the grocery test and just ride as a non-contestant, or should I try and pass the test and possibly fail anyway.