Buying a bike for MPG/Vetter Challenge, what would be your favorite?

[sendler]

The Aprilia SR Max 300 would make a deluxe starting point for a streamliner with it's 91 mph top speed and larger wheels. The 125 should also just have enough hp to be able to keep up if it has enough top speed in the final drive.
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New Aprilia SR Max 125 and 300 scooters - | Motorbike reviews | Latest Bike Videos | MCN
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[sendler]

Honda has bumped the power on the PCX150 to the point where it might keep up after aero and gearing mods. It would definitely be the most fuel efficient starting point you could buy off the shelf and could use a low seat height with the stock frame.
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2013 PCX150 Overview - Honda Powersports

[sendler]

Honda has improved the PCX scooter this year. They added displacement to 153cc. This along with other minor engine tweaks has raised the top speed to 70 mph and makes the bike legal for California super highway use. I believe that streamlining and a slight, although difficult change to the final gearing such as fitting a 15 inch rear wheel or maybe even just finding a slightly larger tire would allow this machine to hit 80 mph. The engine would certainly be the most fuel efficient turn key powerplant to choose from. The only question being the efficiency of the CVT trans.
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2013 PCX150 Overview - Honda Powersports
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[HHOTDI]

Well done Sir, as Craig Vetter found the CVT trams is the weak link. Not being able to change the gearing/sprockets easily is a huge hindrance. The tire sizing is another issue. On my scooter, the stock rear tire is so close to the frame work that I wasn't able to change to a taller size although this one you mentioned might be different. I still think the best one to date is yours, the CBR250R...Go Sendler!

[woodsrat]

Here's the thing, though. While CVT's aren't very efficient they're extremely user friendly especially in urban situations. Mr. Vetter has said he wants the ideal bike to be the first one you go to in the garage. Would users really go for a bike with a six speed gearbox that has to be constantly rowed to keep the bike in it's powerband? Or would they prefer the ease of operation of an automatic transmission?

My buddy and I went for a ride the other day, he on his WR-250R and me on my XT-225. Even on a mix of city and backroads we both mentioned that we have to shift a lot to keep the little buggers on the boil and especially in town it gets tiresome. (As an aside the XT returned 78 MPG and we definitely weren't being conservative with the loud handle.)

So is some sort of CVT or other automatic transmission worth the tradeoff in MPG for the convenience factor in the construction of the ultimate Vetter Freedom Machine?

[sendler]

Despite the CVT, PCX owners are averaging over 95 mpgUS at 45 mph. Good hypermilers are doing 120 mpg with stock bikes although at a much lower speed than Vetter conditions. With streamlining and some sort of gearing or possibly even just a high end variator swap, the PCX would do 120 in Vetter competitions even with the CVT trans.

[sendler]

I just got back from test riding a left over PCX125. It's hard to tell how much a 0 mile bike will change with some break in and as the fuel injection adapts ( my CBR250R ran weak for the first 20 miles). It could use the couple more ponies that the 150 got. One of the steeper hills in town leading up to the High School had me stuck at 42 mph. The seat will have to have a hump ectomy and I will also level out the front with some foam as well to keep from sliding forward while I am at it. I would also probably change the front brake pad to something grippier. The ride is very dialed in and nice over all but the fastest sharp edged bumps and the handling feels perfectly stable at the top speed I saw of 60 mph indicated. The low speed parking lot handling is very quick and takes some getting used to. Styling, fit and finish is great. I had them dealer trade for a red PCX150 which I will pick up next Saturday. My Salesman busted his ass on the phone to find me the bike I wanted so I gave them $50 over list to split the cost of going after the bike, $50 doc fee and $100 title and tag fee which is about the same as it would have cost me if I had taken the day off to go to DMV. 8% sales tax takes me to $3900 and change out the door with 0 down and 1.99% interest for 3 years. I will also be adding a larger windscreen. 13hp might still not be enough to keep up on a Vetter challenge but I have wanted a PCX since they came out. Beautiful styling, light weight, fuel efficient and a CVT trans so I can use it to encourage more people to get into motorcycling.

[gil]

Originally Posted by sendler

I just got back from test riding a left over PCX125. It's hard to tell how much a 0 mile bike will change with some break in and as the fuel injection adapts ( my CBR250R ran weak for the first 20 miles). It could use the couple more ponies that the 150 got. One of the steeper hills in town leading up to the High School had me stuck at 42 mph. The seat will have to have a hump ectomy and I will also level out the front with some foam as well to keep from sliding forward while I am at it. I would also probably change the front brake pad to something grippier. The ride is very dialed in and nice over all but the fastest sharp edged bumps and the handling feels perfectly stable at the top speed I saw of 60 mph indicated. The low speed parking lot handling is very quick and takes some getting used to. Styling, fit and finish is great. I had them dealer trade for a red PCX150 which I will pick up next Saturday. My Salesman busted his ass on the phone to find me the bike I wanted so I gave them $50 over list to split the cost of going after the bike, $50 doc fee and $100 title and tag fee which is about the same as it would have cost me if I had taken the day off to go to DMV. 8% sales tax takes me to $3900 and change out the door with 0 down and 1.99% interest for 3 years. I will also be adding a larger windscreen. 13hp might still not be enough to keep up on a Vetter challenge but I have wanted a PCX since they came out. Beautiful styling, light weight, fuel efficient and a CVT trans so I can use it to encourage more people to get into motorcycling.

Wait, did you trade in you CBR250? On a side note, I owend a 1985 Yamaha Riva 170cc a few years ago. It would do 72mph no problem, I loved its short wheel handling characteristics. I have been wanting to get something similar to it for a long time. Please do keep us up to date on your impresions of the scoot.


GIl

[sendler]

Originally Posted by gil

Wait, did you trade in you CBR250?

I bought the scooter for my son and anyone else I can round up to learn on. He wasn't enjoying weight of the Ninja650 so I will sell it. My CBR250R is my hypermiler and commuter.

[sendler]

I rode my new PCX150 around some tonight and I am very happy with it. I normally ride a CBR250R which is a great high speed minimal touring bike but I also wanted a super light automatic to teach people how to ride on and the zero down financing made it easy for them to hook me again.
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Have you ever noticed how when you switch bikes, it is easy to pick out the things the new bike doesn't do as well as the first bike? Well I'm not noticing too much wrong with the PCX. It is pretty dialed in all in all, especially the PCX150 which is quite a bit quicker than the 125 I rode last week. I'm glad I spent the extra $400 to get the benefit of the improvements that Honda incorporated after only one year. I also think the seat slants you forward less on the new model. I may not even end up modding it much. It is that much faster up the hills than the 125.
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I like the riding experience. There is a strange freedom from thought riding a low powered, super light automatic. Floor it and follow the road. Simple. Relaxing. No decisions about what gear to use or how fast to go. I have heard mountain bikers say the same thing after switching to a single speed.
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Below 10 mph the small wheels are a bit too quick to turn in but once up to speed the PCX feels very well balanced. No head shake or wobs coming 60 back down the giant hill that I just went up at 51 mph. The combined brakes stop nice and even, and it even looks cool enough that people don't automatically dismiss it as a scooter. It is so light and easy, I could flip the keys to any novice in the parking lot and they would never drop it. The PCX150 is a really good compromise of price, size, and performance. But as a Vetter streamliner, it might be just not quite enough to keep up.