101.5 MPG on my 2003 Ninja 250!!!

[janvos39]

If I would tuck like you ,my back and neck would hurt too. Reason for my seat upright on the Suzuki Burgman is comfort. I probably count some more years than you. I am very interested to see how your full comfortable FE will figure. If your riding speeds etc.stay the same maybe the difference in Cd*A can be calculated?

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by janvos39

If I would tuck like you ,my back and neck would hurt too. Reason for my seat upright on the Suzuki Burgman is comfort. I probably count some more years than you. I am very interested to see how your full comfortable FE will figure. If your riding speeds etc.stay the same maybe the difference in Cd*A can be calculated?

My neck never hurts. The only other thing besides my back that gets a little strained is my feet. This is because when i tuck, my legs push down on the pegs a little harder and i feel a little more pressure in my hamstrings and bottoms of my feet. The thing is, the position of my tuck really is decently comfortable, and i can usually withstand it as far as taking trips to see my girlfriend at college (like 75 miles). I guess the fact that i'm off school and working extra as well as taking summer classes, i'm riding the bike a lot every day. Maybe the constant use every day has put a toll on my back.

If i can still achieve 90mpg sitting upright, i will probably never tuck again. 90mpg is great anyway and the 10 extra mpg i may achieve from tucking really doesn't justify discomfort.

[MetroMPG]

Finally got this onto the EM home page.

Also updated the thread title from 94.1 to 101.5 mpg.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Finally got this onto the EM home page.

Also updated the thread title from 94.1 to 101.5 mpg.

Really appreciate the support !!

[eco_generator]

Awesome job. Makes me want to start looking at bikes again!

[Christ]

Hell, I'd trade Cara for a newer Ninja 250, or even a couple 50-60CC Scooters! *Something that the wife and I could drive around together, that we don't need "M" licenses for.*

[wolfraven]

Already saving for a Ninja

[derangedhermit]

I see some minor aero mods that will help a bit, if you care to do them. Putting on flush mount turn signals front and rear. Removing the blocks on the fairing that carry the side reflectors and using reflective tape, like 3M Solas, will help (and you can increase your visibility, too). Then just look for other things sticking into the wind - pillion pegs, the loop at the rear of the seat, etc -and decide if you need them or not. Also look for details you can clean up - leading edge of the windshield, things on the bars, position of brake lines, horn, etc.

Cutting an inch off each end of your bars will probably reduce your frontal area.

The biggest reasonable aero mod would be your clothing - time for some tight leathers! Or at least try to make yourself smoother to the wind.

I read your post about gearing changes - all motorcycles, no matter how powerful, lose speed at constant throttle when you sit up at 70 mph. You are already geared toward maximizing mileage, but it might be worthwhile going a little either way to look for a sweet spot, or at least to chart what difference it makes.

You might try to reduce drivetrain frictional losses - one grade thinner synthetic oil, carefully aligned drive sprockets and well-cleaned and lubed chain.

Congrats on what you have accomplished so far.

[dcb]

Originally Posted by derangedhermit

...You are already geared toward maximizing mileage, but it might be worthwhile going a little either way to look for a sweet spot, or at least to chart what difference it makes...

It's just that sprockets cost money, so some guesswork is in order. But in pretty much every vehicle on the road, a step towards taller gearing is a step in the right direction.

[derangedhermit]

Originally Posted by dcb

It's just that sprockets cost money, so some guesswork is in order. But in pretty much every vehicle on the road, a step towards taller gearing is a step in the right direction.

Good point. tcmb has 14 and 15 fronts, and 45 and 39 rears. He has tried:
45/14=3.21
45/15=3.00
39/15=2.60

He could try:
39/14=2.79
for free, getting back a little torque, at an unknown cost (if any) in mpg.

A front sprocket is $10-$15. If a 16T will fit on the bike, he can try 39/16=2.44. Since he is rarely going over 1/2 throttle with 2.60, there's a good chance he will find it OK.