Mythbusters: Is a bike greener than a car?

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by sendler

What car gets 74mpg lifetime on a highway commute?

What car? Mine. I don't have a highway commute, but I did a 400-mile highway trip 2 weeks ago at 69 mpg.

And then there's Aerocivic that will walk all over that.

Bikes are more fuel-efficient than the average car, but some of us here don't have the average car and/or driver. That changes the story a bit.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by sendler

The lifetime mpgUS of my 2011 Honda CBR250R is over 80.

Sure, but would you want to take it on the interstate? There are always tradeoffs. Some Vespa models claim 80-90 mpg, but have a 39 mph top speed. With an 80 mph top speed, the mpg drops to the 65 mpg range. (Not that I'd even want to try riding a Vespa at those speeds.) Vespa vs. Auto MPG, Save Gas, Green Travel, Vespa Scooters | Vespa USA

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by sendler

What car gets 74mpg lifetime on a highway commute?

Honda Insight easily could. My lifetime (over 105K miles) is at 71.4 mpg, and most of that is driving mountain roads, summer & winter, with the occasional bit of dirt thrown in. On a good highway trip in summer, say from my place near Reno out to the Toiyabe Range via US 50, Nevada 722, and about 20 miles of dirt, I'll average over 80 mpg.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

What car? Mine. I don't have a highway commute, but I did a 400-mile highway trip 2 weeks ago at 69 mpg.

And then there's Aerocivic that will walk all over that.

Bikes are more fuel-efficient than the average car, but some of us here don't have the average car and/or driver. That changes the story a bit.

Impressive.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Sure, but would you want to take it on the interstate? There are always tradeoffs. Some Vespa models claim 80-90 mpg, but have a 39 mph top speed. With an 80 mph top speed, the mpg drops to the 65 mpg range. (Not that I'd even want to try riding a Vespa at those speeds.) Vespa vs. Auto MPG, Save Gas, Green Travel, Vespa Scooters | Vespa USA

That is highway at 65mph. Top speed is 93mph. 6,000 miles since July. I get 87mpg all summer long. Low 90's at 50mph with normal cruising. It will be better next year with longer gears.
.
Now I gotta get me one of them magic Insights to go with my new magic tires. I've had my 2001 Insight since 05. Put 130,000 miles on it. New batteries ect. in 07. I hypermile and I draft. No kill switch, P and G, or MIMA though. Best tank under perfect conditions 69.5mpg. Tank fill not computer readout. The computers read high. Average lifetime summer mpg was 67 before they changed the gas and the engine started to get recently tired.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

What car? Mine. I don't have a highway commute, but I did a 400-mile highway trip 2 weeks ago at 69 mpg.

And then there's Aerocivic that will walk all over that.

Bikes are more fuel-efficient than the average car, but some of us here don't have the average car and/or driver. That changes the story a bit.

At what average speed was the 400 mile trip?
regards
Mech

[PaleMelanesian]

50-65 p&g on the open road, so average maybe 55 cruising speed. Speed limits varied from 55 to 70.

Of course, an aerocivic could do the same at higher speed or even better at the same speed. So could a bike for that matter. My daily routes are low speed so I don't see much value in major aeromods. I'll go a little slower when I do make a highway trip, but even then "slower" is relative.

[user removed]

I think it is very relevant that fuel economy numbers include average speed numbers, as it shows the true capability of the driver themselves.

That is remarkable to average that mileage under those conditions. I would have estimated the average speed to be considerably lower.

Many here would benefit from your technique. Pulse to glide ratios, etc.

regards
Mech

[sendler]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

What car? Mine. I don't have a highway commute, but I did a 400-mile highway trip 2 weeks ago at 69 mpg.

And then there's Aerocivic that will walk all over that.

Bikes are more fuel-efficient than the average car, but some of us here don't have the average car and/or driver. That changes the story a bit.

You are obviously a highly skilled and dedicated hypermiler. If you rode the CBR250R in the same manner, you would get over 100mpg. Maybe more.

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by sendler

You are obviously a highly skilled and dedicated hypermiler. If you rode the CBR250R in the same manner, you would get over 100mpg. Maybe more.

Right you are.

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Of course, an aerocivic could do the same at higher speed or even better at the same speed. So could a bike for that matter.

The point that I didn't make very clear (sorry) is this. Once you get to this level of fuel (non) consumption, the differences are small. So you may as well start looking at other non-fuel attributes. Those who chose bikes enjoy the environment in a way I can't from my car. I get that. I have family and hauling needs that require more than a bike can give me. So that's why I lean to the car side of the spectrum.