Can 1983 Honda VT-500 Meet the Vetter Challenge?

[janvos39]

There are several ways to solve the balancing without having to make a new crank.

[solarguy]

Nicer to ride.

Vastly better cargo hauling.

Improved FE.

Impossible to ignore rolling billboard for aero improvements and eco modding.

Not rotting away in a garage somewhere.

Didn't have to buy a new bike.

I'm sure it's already generating ideas for the next project.

I like the red/gold/ironman idea.


Big win even if not 100 mpg.

Finest regards,

troy

[renault_megane_dci]

Originally Posted by janvos39

If you place a balance weight on one of the connection rod places you can take of a complete cylinder with head. .

Can it be as simple as that ?
Piston and rod is dead weight and more at some point of the cycle, then it is powering the crank.

I can't really make my mind around that.

But if there is no more than that, losing a cylinder is definitely the best way !

[renault_megane_dci]

I double checked for you :
apparently VT 500 have a 16" rear wheel whereas CX 500 have a 18" rear wheel.

I don't know if it fits but it is worth looking into it.

[redyaris]

janvos39
If this was the only option I would consider it but I already have a Yamaha WR250 with fuel injection that will be streamlined after I do the CBR600. the steamlined WR250 will be an attempt to win the Vetter challenge, the CBR 600 is a streamlining project for very high performance in all performance catigories with fuel economy being the number one priority. The CBR 600 will be what a sport bike would be like if the FIM had not banned the dustbine fairing in 1957...

renault_megane_dci...
I suspect that there is still about 10% -20% FE improvement to be had, so that I will be in the 80 - 90 mpg range, so this is what I am aiming at right now. If I can get very close to 90 mpg I will be satified because it will be a great bike to ride. There is no room for a larger rear tire

solarguy
You are right on the money!... the present objective of 10%-20% FE improvement will get me to 2.7L/100km [87mpg], so that the range will be 370km/10L. This is more than enough range to give one a sore butt...!

[renault_megane_dci]

Originally Posted by redyaris

renault_megane_dci...
I suspect that there is still about 10% -20% FE improvement to be had, so that I will be in the 80 - 90 mpg range, so this is what I am aiming at right now. If I can get very close to 90 mpg I will be satified because it will be a great bike to ride. There is no room for a larger rear tire

Maybe the whole CX500 rear end can be made to fit ?
Appart from intensive hypermilling (wich are helpless for the Vetter challenge) or massive rpm reduction for a given speed, I don't see much potential devellopement.

Actually I did the sprocket swap on my bike before anything else.

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by renault_megane_dci

Maybe the whole CX500 rear end can be made to fit ?
Appart from intensive hypermilling (wich are helpless for the Vetter challenge) or massive rpm reduction for a given speed, I don't see much potential devellopement.

Actually I did the sprocket swap on my bike before anything else.

In fact one of the big benefits of the streamlining a motorcycle, is that it is then much more amenable to hypermiling, than an un-streamlined motorcycle. At some point I will try to get to the 100 mpg objective using P&G, EOC, and slow speeds on secondary roads. With respect to development potential it is the same or better than a boat tail on a car, because a motorcycle is so un-aerodynamic to start with, even without the ability to change the final drive gear ratios. The VT 500 had a very low final drive ratio, so much so that in 6th gear it could not maintain speed up hills and into head winds, so one could say that the original gearing was ideal for a streamliner.

[redyaris]

On the first leg of the trip to meet up in Cheyenne I will hyper mile the new streamlined Honda VT 500 to see if 100 mpg is achievable without the benefit of changing the final drive gear ratio. This will mean that I will try for over 323 km on less than 7.5L of fuel. I will select a rout that will allow me to go 80 km/h as well as P&G and EOC.
On the last tank I got 82.3 mpg with an average speed of 92 km/h [57 mph] and no hyper mileing, so if I lower my driving speed to 80 km/h [50 mph] then my average speed will be around 72 km/h [45 mph]...

[janvos39]

I see that interesting projects are to come. If the 600 gets the streamlining then an amaizing topspeed will be the result. For the vetter contest you are wright probably the 250 injection is the best choice. I hope to meet and discuss with you , I am on my way to the Ohio contest during my vacation in the USA.

[redyaris]

janvos39
I am very much looking forward to meeting you. I am presently in Great Falls Montana on my way to meet Allen & Vic in Cheyenne to travel together as a group of stream liners across the USA. So far I have been getting 2.9L/100km weather I go 80 km/h or 110 km/h?! I think I may be running rich so I may have to change the jetting when I get back home, the panel beside the exhaust exit is black...the bike itself is soooo much better on the highway, I can stay in 6th gear all the time and have no need to down fshift for passing, hills or headwinds...