1990 zx6 at 55mpg
 

I recently purchased a 1990 zx6 with 30,000 miles. I downsized from a 1000cc yamaha. I have put 3,000 miles on this bike since purchase a few months ago and have been averaging 40-45 mpg. This is with commuting, alittle touring, and some spirited riding up the canyons.

I have decided to ride year round and want to get the max fuel mileage I can while commuting to work. I have been considering trading my bike for a ex250, but decided to try and see what I can do with this 600 first.

My commute consists of 11 miles one way. I ride home for lunch so I make this trip to and from work twice daily (44 miles daily). The commute is half city and hi-way but the hi-way does have a couple lights installed which really sucks for mileage. It has been between 15-40 degrees over these last three tanks so no ideal conditions for high mileage but I have been able to get 55 mpg over the last 3 tanks.

I have made no modifications to the bike, jetting, gearing, or aero. I get into a full tuck over 50 and cruise at 62 mph while on the freeway and usually 30-40 in town. Tires are 36 psi front and 40 rear. I will keep this updated but I really think that as the weather warms up and with some gearing changes I can get over 70 mpg out of this bike commuting. If this is possible I may forget the 250.


It is the bike in my avatar.

Quits, Welcome to ecomodders. Good job with the riding adjustments. Gearing up should help a lot and is very easy to do. There is a lot of good information here on aero mods if you really want to push the envelope. Check out Craig Vetter's website at Craig Vetter, designer and inventor of the Windjammer fairing,Triumph Hurricane Motorcycle and fuel economy motorcycles for more great information on motorcycle streamlining.
all the best , L&S

Thanks, I have really enjoyed the site so far.

I plan on gearing 17-45 from my stock 15-45 and see how it does. I'm pretty sure I can keep the stock chain length with that setup. I was really surprised at 55mpg out of a 600cc 100hp motor considering the outside temps are usually around 30, and I have 3 cold starts with choking required everyday. I also have stoplights on my route to work so I will have to stop and go atleast 8 times on each 11 mile trip.

My conditions are far from optimal and I feel as though I am getting pretty good numbers from a stock bike. I don't think 80mpg is impossible with better weather and no stop and go. Add in gearing changes and no cold starts it shouldn't be to hard I presume, but I haven't been able to find any info on these types of bikes and good mpg #'s. Although I doubt anybody buys them for this purpose.

From everything I have read it appears impossible to get much over 50 out of these racing motors, but I like a challenge. Also everyone seems to like the 250cc bikes and I even read of a few hitting 100 mpg with them. I want to be different and my goal is to consistently hit 70 mpg commuting, and 80+ all freeway cruising on a weekend cruise.

I will definately look into custom fairings or possible modifications to mine in the future. I will probably look into skinnier and taller tires as well.

I am also curious as to why the older carbed bikes seem to do better than the newer ligher fuel injected ones?

This seems extremely odd to me.

My bike weighs in at nearly 500 pounds wet. I am 230 without gear so this also makes me feel better about my numbers considering all the factors that don't help with optimal mpg.

I had a 93 zx600e, I assume your's is a D model, traded it for a ex250, big mistake, the ammount of mpg difference isn't worth the quality of the ride. I haven't ridden a D, but if it's close to a E, it was nice, imcredibly smooth to redline, tight, smooth handling, good brakes, prefect for me as far as ergonomics. I down sided from a FZ1 to the zx600e, then to the 250, back up to a concours zg1000.

Should have stoped trading before I started and stuck to the FZ1 or even better the KLr650 that came first.

By the way never got consitantly over 45 mpg with fz1, zx6e or KLR650, the ex250 might of, just hated riding it so much only put 3k on a 2004 before dumping it. I'd rather ride my KDX200 to work than than a 250 ninja. The advantage was KLR650 because of the price of tires and versatility, to be able to work, go exploring gravel on the way home, play in the dirt with the kids, or go deer or squirel hunitng.

That's funny because I downsized from a first gen fz1. I like this bike so much better except for the brakes. I am going to keep this one and see what kind of mileage I can get before considering trading to a 250.

I don't think there were many differences between the d and e models. I believe the e's had ram air.

I have ordered a 17t front sprocket and will have it within a week or so. I should be able to get one maybe two tanks before it gets installed (depending on weather of course). I don't think this fourth tank is going to be as good as I have had really bad wind while commuting and the traffic has been more backed up than usual.

I also adjusted my air/fuel mixture screws as they were turned 4 turns out. I have been adjusting them down in half turn increments. The book says 1.5-2.25 so maybe this will help alittle.

Also aired up my tires to 40 front and 45 rear with no significant change in performance.

I have 40 miles on this tank and will keep this updated.

Isn't more turns out richer? I cleaned the carbs for the zg1000, but took me a acouple tries to get it right. Check out the concours group website lots of tips that mayl apply to the zx6d. Lowering fuel level below the carb bowl/body separation about 1-2 mmm, adjusting without pulling them would be impossible so I wouldnt bother unless pulling them to clean them. If you are needing to plan on buying new boots for both sides of the carbs.

Since your already getting 55mpg, I think you are almost as good as they you can get. You maybe able to get more by accerating under heavier load, but still shift quick and keep rpm's down, possible skipping ever other gear.

Out is richer. Mine were 4 turn out, and the manual states 1.5-2.25 turn outs ( so leaner).

I have noticed that if I try to full choke it will flood, and when the choke was on I couldn't give it any throttle or it would die.

I have now turned the mixture screw in so that they are 2 turns out and it is noticeably better. I am just thinking that this might posibbly help a small amount in my mpg.

On some carbs it is. Depending on where the idle mixture screw is positioned, it may be an air-bleed and not a real adjustment of fuel flow. With an air-bleed adjustment, turning the screw out opens the air passage and leans the mixture.

All of the cycle carbs I have worked with (mostly dirt bikes) have been air bleeds, but that's not always the case.


55 MPG from that cycle is doing really well! My '06 SV650 (F.I.) has a reputation for getting decent mileage, and I'm getting 53-55 MPG on the hwy at 70+. Best I've done with it has been 58 MPG during some light backroad riding.



Jay

In the end it is all about versatility.

So you want good mpg from your bike and you probably will but if you are after ultimate mpg, then you have to forget about spirited driving and then the 250's or 125 become an option.

But, when 250's are concerned, forget about versatility, they are only good for going to work and back and occasionnal shift to the movie theatre with the missus.

I have own a 750 (took me two days to ride a one day long ride had I use my car instead), then a 650 single wich was already marginal for highway use : I wouldn't have put 500 miles on it in a single day. Then a 250 scooter wich was a joke as far as road handling was concerned (and I need proper road handling given my work commute) then went back to a 250 "proper bike" wich in almost standard trim (+1 tooth front sprocket, flat bars, small screen) gives me 74 mpg average.

I have my share of red lights, it gets its share of abuse (ha, the thrill of going flat out (ha the shame of 85 mph flat out)) but I wouldn't take it for a trip longer than say 100 miles.

Long story short, getting consistant 70+ mpg out of a 600 supersport is quite a challenge but this low target is the price for still being able to jump on the bike and ride to the other ocean if needs be.
A much smaller bike would definitely require a much higher level of urge to perform it ...

All in all : have fun modding it !

One of my nephews blew up the motor on his 05 or 06 Ninga 250, might offer him $200 come Christmas to have a project or find a new motor. Either way I'll come out OK. My current riding/driving style and route to work the 250 will probably be OK. Especially if it's cheap enough. Need to price for a replacement motor.

Look around here - Ninja250 Riders Club :: Index - for Ninja info and possibly engines or engine prices for the Ninja 250.


Jay

I want to note that I am getting 55 mpg with only one four mile stretch at a constant 60 mph. The other 7 miles is riddled with lights. I haven't traveled more than 11 miles at one time so I don't get the 40 to 50 miles straight running time. Mine is 11 miles and sit for 5-6 hours. Then cold start and drive another 11 miles then it only sits an hour and another 11 miles. It then sits for 3-4 hours and is cold started again for the last trek.

I have really bad conditions for max mpg, but I really think I can hit 70 mpg with my gearing change and warmer weather. Right now is under 20 degrees in the mornings and a high of 35-40 during the day. I have also ridden a few days with rain and or snow. Which really makes it hard to try any hypermiling techniques.

I plan on trying to get in a good 100- 150 mile ride at a constant 60 mph to see how it does.

Your commute is certainly less than optimum for high MPGs, so those numbers from a ZX6 are even more impressive.

Another factor currently holding the numbers down is winter-blend gas. You'll see a significant drop in MPG just because of those changes. It changes to winter-blend after Sept 15 in most areas, and I did notice a MPG drop with the car just after that time even though the weather was still reasonably warm.

Running a synthetic oil with a lower grade of 5W would probably help you also. A 5W-40 synthetic like Rotella T6 will reduce some of the oil's resistance to flow when cold and during warm-up. Because your commute isn't very long, and the temps are pretty low, I doubt the oil temp is getting high enough to reach its high range (40), so most of the time it's in-between. Oils with low "W" ratings give better mileage because they flow easier during the significant amount of time the oil takes to reach its high temp rating. All of the mileage advantage from lower viscosity oils (like Mobil1 0W-30 "Advanced Fuel Economy") comes during that time - there's no mileage increase once it's fully warm.

Gas without Ethanol will also help bump your mileage. Depending on the additional cost, and how much mileage increase it gives, it may cost less per mile or it may not.

My SV doesn't mind in-town riding, and has delivered almost the same mileage in-town as on the hwy, but it's not a full-fairing model so it's pushing a lot of wind at speed.

Let us know what you get at a steady 60 MPH if you get a chance, but don't be too worried if it's not what you hoped - I'm sure the mid-summer numbers will be significantly higher.


Jay

Your comment reminded me of this thread about touring on the CBR250R -

Artic circle journey - Honda CBR250R Forum : Honda CBR 250 Forums

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/66034749.jpg

Went from Florida to the Arctic Circle and back (12,000 mi) on a 250. That's getting the most out of what you got...


Jay

67.7 mpg
 

Had a few small snow storms, wet roads and cold temps, but still managed 67.7 mpg. I went 193 miles and filled with 2.85 gallons of gasoline. I had alittle help in that I made a few more trips to work due to customers needing things after hours. My bike usually wasn't as cold on these trips as it hadn't been sitting too long. Also I left my phone at work and had to make an extra trip to work and back with a warm engine on one day.

I usually fill my bike when the light comes on which is around 3 gallons depending on how quick I can make the stop. I filled sooner this time because when I got to 190 miles I got worried that the light wasn't working.

This tank I had my tires filled 40 front and 45 rear. I also had my carb mixture screws leaned out some. I also made a bigger effort to eoc as much as possible but with the cold temps I didn't kill the engine at stops. Sometimes I would eoc and let the clutch out to jump start the engine as I came up to the light and let it idle. I also made an effort to drive 55-60 instead of 62mph, and 30-35 instead of 40mph in town.

I am extremely happy and feel that 70 isn't that far out of the question. My goal in the spring and summer months with my gearing change is for 80 mpg consistently.

Why not pack a lunch, to avoid going home?

It makes my daughters day to see me and eat lunch with me.

When she is old enough for school then I will stop.

Good enough reason!!:D:D:thumbup:

Those young years are great, and you can't get them back. It's definately a priority for me.