01-08-2008, 03:38 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Motorcycle fuel economy champ's advice for efficient cross-country touring...
I've been going through Craig Vetter's site again. For those who aren't familiar, this guy pretty much revolutionized motorcycle touring with his frame-mounted aerodynamic fairings which he put in commercial production and are a common sight on the roads today.
His interest in motorcycle fuel efficiency lead him to hold annual competitions in the early 80's, the goal being results in "real", on-road driving. Each year the machines got more and more extreme.
One multiple winner, Japanese participant Matsu Matsuzawa, achieved 470 mpg in the last year of the competition, hunched over on a small, almost fully faired 185cc Honda called "SPUD".
Years after the '85 competition, Vetter asked the champ:
"Today, if you wanted to build a usable, high mileage machine for real, solo, cross country riding (coast to coast) please describe what kind of machine you would start with and what you would do to it"
Matsuzawa answered:
"Buy Honda Insight, drive easy with air conditioner."
Ba-dum, dum!
( source)
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01-08-2008, 03:43 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Dartmouth 2010
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Matsu matsuzawa, that's a funny name...crazy looking bike though...
I hope the cr-z can fill the boots of the insight well, :/
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01-08-2008, 03:46 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Haha, I know what he means. I have an 83 CM400. No fairing, just hold on tight at 70 mph. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SVOboy
I hope the cr-z can fill the boots of the insight well, :/
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Ditto. I'm eagerly awaiting this car. |
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01-31-2008, 12:47 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Awesomeness personified
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SVOboy
I hope the cr-z can fill the boots of the insight well, :/
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Good god that car is 'purdy. If that makes it into production with half the good looks it has now (and a good helping of the Insights FE) then I may well renege on my vow to never buy another car... 
__________________
"I got 350 heads on a 305 engine. I get 10 miles to the gallon. I ain't got no good intentions." - The Drive By Truckers.
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01-31-2008, 01:23 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,490
Camryaro - '92 Toyota Camry LE V6 90 day: 31.12 mpg (US) Red - '00 Honda Insight Prius - '05 Toyota Prius 3 - '18 Tesla Model 3 90 day: 152.47 mpg (US)
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Quote:
t what you are doing today?
*Creating Honda’s Global Corporate Advertisement.
*Trying to make Honda as the most crazy company.
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An Insight eh? |
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01-31-2008, 01:38 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Yeah, you caught that too, huh?
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