101.5 MPG on my 2003 Ninja 250!!!

[dcb]

Additional electrical load may complicate your charging situation with the tiny motorcycle alternator, especially if EOCing.

I managed many winters with a down coat and decent gloves. Full face helmet and thick dry boots, and a couple layers of pants. The control feel will sort itself out eventually (that is to say, there is none but that shouldn't stop you from figuring out how to control the bike reliably).

re: cold, once the bare parts are covered well, it is mostly attitude. Pretend you are skiing and you may enjoy it a lot more (same goes for sliding around in your car), unless you have had some major wrecks as a skier that is, in which case maybe pretend that you are doing some other exhilarating, but less terrifying cold weather activity.

[Christ]

DCB -

Thanks for the cold-weather advice. I can handle cold temps fairly well, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I was actually thinking about upgrading the bike to 12V, but I don't think I want to. I think I just want to lessen the load that's already taxing the generator/alternator, and go from there. Mileage will already suck in the cold weather, in theory, I don't want to tax the electrical system even more to the point that it drastically drops. If the mileage comes out to less than 50, I'd be better off driving the Van or something, even at 25 MPG, for the comfort factor.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by dcb

Additional electrical load may complicate your charging situation with the tiny motorcycle alternator, especially if EOCing.

I managed many winters with a down coat and decent gloves. Full face helmet and thick dry boots, and a couple layers of pants. The control feel will sort itself out eventually (that is to say, there is none but that shouldn't stop you from figuring out how to control the bike reliably).

re: cold, once the bare parts are covered well, it is mostly attitude. Pretend you are skiing and you may enjoy it a lot more (same goes for sliding around in your car), unless you have had some major wrecks as a skier that is, in which case maybe pretend that you are doing some other exhilarating, but less terrifying cold weather activity.

Funny you should mention it... i happen to enjoy skiing a lot! I'm anxiously awaiting for snow to come so i can put my new $1400 skis (that i got for 400$) to good use.

So on to the topic about the cold. The most important thing is to cover every part of skin and leave nothing exposed. Depending on how cold it is, that could also include wearing a ski mask underneath your helmet. I always wear all my gear all the time anyway, but ill usually wear a fleece long sleeve shirt under my riding jacket, and fleece pants underneath my riding pants when its cold. My new windshield helps keep a lot of the air off my body.

My experience last winter on the bike showed that the hands are the crucial point. I used to always wear my riding gloves, but they are meant for the summer and have air flow holes and slits in them. So i started wearing my gore-tex ski gloves and they work GREAT! My hands stay nice and warm even cruising at 55mph in 40*F weather. They have decent extensions that go about half way up my forearm over my riding jacket, so air stays out of the inside of my jacket arms. There is also a pouch on the top of the hand for hot packs, in case it gets really cold!

[Christ]

Originally Posted by theycallmeebryan

Funny you should mention it... i happen to enjoy skiing a lot! I'm anxiously awaiting for snow to come so i can put my new $1400 skis (that i got for 400$) to good use.

So on to the topic about the cold. The most important thing is to cover every part of skin and leave nothing exposed. Depending on how cold it is, that could also include wearing a ski mask underneath your helmet. I always wear all my gear all the time anyway, but ill usually wear a fleece long sleeve shirt under my riding jacket, and fleece pants underneath my riding pants when its cold. My new windshield helps keep a lot of the air off my body.

My experience last winter on the bike showed that the hands are the crucial point. I used to always wear my riding gloves, but they are meant for the summer and have air flow holes and slits in them. So i started wearing my gore-tex ski gloves and they work GREAT! My hands stay nice and warm even cruising at 55mph in 40*F weather. They have decent extensions that go about half way up my forearm over my riding jacket, so air stays out of the inside of my jacket arms. There is also a pouch on the top of the hand for hot packs, in case it gets really cold!

Have you thought about removable hand spats in addition to the windshield? They might help keep your hands warmer in the colder months.

I'm going to look into a windshield of some sort and a pair of hand spats to keep the air off me as much as possible, although none of it is necessary for this winter, since I won't be able to get it on the road legally until next season.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by Christ

Have you thought about removable hand spats in addition to the windshield? They might help keep your hands warmer in the colder months.

I'm going to look into a windshield of some sort and a pair of hand spats to keep the air off me as much as possible, although none of it is necessary for this winter, since I won't be able to get it on the road legally until next season.

Already have them! They are called winter wings. I had them last winter and they worked pretty well keeping the wind off my hands.

You can see them on my bike:


Here's a pic from the guy's website:


Check here : http://www.mikesshields.com/

[Gismobiker]

Bryan,

I too live in Jersey and ride the exact same bike in stock configuration for now. Congrats on breaking the 100MPG mark. I read all 19 pages of this thread last night and was so inspired by your exploits that I had to register to this site. My commute is only 6 miles one way all under 40MPH. I'm seeing mileages in the 80s now. I can't wait to see what I get once I change the gearing and start hypermiling.

I got the bike when it only had 1300 miles on it and in great shape. She needed a new clutch because it was used by a club to teach new riders. My plan for the bike is to use it for a project similar to the Hyper Rocket also posted on this site.

You said in an earlier post that you now see how others are wasting fuel in the way they drive. I too have seen the same since I got Little Ninjet. It now bothers me when I have to drive my truck on bad weather days. I hate the cold and wet at the same time.

[jcp123]

I'm jealous! I'd love to make that kind of MPG on my bike, though at 1200cc I'd even settle for 50mpg and can't even get that on my commute no matter the riding style. Keep up the good work!

[koihoshi]

have you experimented with sprockets? Since these engines rev so high....

I went to a 15T sprocket on my ninja 250 and picked up 3-4mpg on my trips. Lowered it about 1000rpm going from the stock tires to the MT75 tires with a 15T sprocket. MT75 tires are more sticky though, so i'd assume more rolling resistance. Those stock dunflops are harder than rocks, so less, i'm assuming you're rocking the stock flops?

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by koihoshi

have you experimented with sprockets? Since these engines rev so high....

I went to a 15T sprocket on my ninja 250 and picked up 3-4mpg on my trips. Lowered it about 1000rpm going from the stock tires to the MT75 tires with a 15T sprocket. MT75 tires are more sticky though, so i'd assume more rolling resistance. Those stock dunflops are harder than rocks, so less, i'm assuming you're rocking the stock flops?

Yes, on the first post i explained that the only modifications to my bike are a 15T front sprocket, 39tooth rear sprocket, and Kenda Tires (touring tires) that are slightly taller than the stock dunlops.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by koihoshi

have you experimented with sprockets? Since these engines rev so high....

I went to a 15T sprocket on my ninja 250 and picked up 3-4mpg on my trips. Lowered it about 1000rpm going from the stock tires to the MT75 tires with a 15T sprocket. MT75 tires are more sticky though, so i'd assume more rolling resistance. Those stock dunflops are harder than rocks, so less, i'm assuming you're rocking the stock flops?

Sport Demons have about the same grip as MT75's in my experience, but phenomenally longer life and lower straight-line drag. Plus they're taller, so you drop another ~500 RPM.