Fun and practical - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

The Atomic Ass · 07-25-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibsonvair

By the way, the tank is only 32oz, not 48oz. My wife and I ran out of gas on a 22mile ride. We made it 19.95 miles. I am using a bicycle "computer" and am in the process of verifying accuracy. That 30 mile trip must have been a fancy of my imagination! How is it though, that a Kawasaki Ninja or a 400cc mule gets better fuel economy?
Steve Gibson

What Frank said about raw gas going out the back end. That, and 2-stroke's are designed for power in a small package, not economy. I don't think you can tune a 2-stroke too lean, either, since it does get it's oil from fuel, after all.

Belt drive won't have THAT much of an effect.

Got them tires pumped up?

And I think we get better FE by not being at wide open throttle at 30mph cruise. I'm fairly certain you can get more speed or lower RPM's or both by regearing.

The Atomic Ass · 07-25-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by younggun

brakes?

We don't need no stinkin' brakes!

Gibsonvair · 07-26-2009, 12:56 AM

We've put 155 miles on the bike and it still gets almost exactly 80 mpg. I lowered the air pressure in the tires to soften the ride after complaints. It's a sort of community/family bike. I rode about 20 miles today adjusting the bicycle computer to match the GPS. The bicycle cumputer is a little faster to respond to change in speed. I adjusted the governor spring that attatches to the throttle by drilling a new hole in the throttle. The engine responds earlier in the throttle movement and opens to the stop now. I do have a 12 tooth sprocket to replace the 10 tooth that is installed now giving a 3:1 final drive vs. a 4.8:1. I also could install the high pressure trick bike tires (80 psi.)

Gibsonvair · 07-26-2009, 01:08 AM

Someone might have asked about brakes. The rears are in-line or "V" brakes and can lock up the rear even two-up. The fronts are side pull and basically suck. A good upgrade would be suspension forks and "V" brakes. The bike has already swelled in weight from 62lbs to 77lbs with the addition of rear baskets, rear seat, rear pegs and tool kit. My son called tonight and wants to fabricate a side car for younger passengers and winter use! It could attach to the pegs and be un-bolted. BTW, I stayed up all night reading Craig Vetter's site about his "Freedom Rider". Great stuff!
Steve Gibson

NiHaoMike · 07-27-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Atomic Ass

What Frank said about raw gas going out the back end. That, and 2-stroke's are designed for power in a small package, not economy. I don't think you can tune a 2-stroke too lean, either, since it does get it's oil from fuel, after all.

Couldn't you add more oil, then lean it out?

Christ · 07-27-2009, 09:58 PM

I don't think so... if you add more oil, you've technically already leaned it out per volume of fuel/oil mixture, since you're more or less going to put in the same amount of fluid volume through the carb, not counting viscosity.

Adding more oil to the fuel just makes it a bit harder to ignite, especially when you're already leaned out from too much oil in the fuel, then leaning it back even more, so that you're flowing the same amount of oil as you were before, but less fuel, will just piss off the engine even more.

That's my take on it, anyway.

walke2jd · 07-28-2009, 10:24 AM

You have probably heard this before, but from an environmental standpoint, you are probably doing more harm than good by using that over your car. Those little 2-stroke engines are unregulated and usually put off so many VOC's that the great gas mileage is negated.

But it sounds like a fun project. Now that you have it figured out with gas, try an upgrade to electric??

Clev · 07-28-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walke2jd

But it sounds like a fun project. Now that you have it figured out with gas, try an upgrade to electric??

Exactly. I have an old Currie electric scooter, and it got 10 miles per charge on very tired PbA's with 200+ pounds of me on it. I imagine a nice silent hub motor and a small light pack of Lithiums could go 15-20 miles easily--especially if you pedal lightly.