Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Motorcycles / Scooters
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 07-20-2018, 04:07 AM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 18

Aveo - '12 Chev Aveo LS
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
My Yamaha SR250

Terence here from South Africa.

So here is my little bike, its an 80s designed engine, absolutely no aerodynamics at all on it, top speed is around 80-86mph, it will cruise happily at 70mph all day long. I have put a 1 tooth larger front sprocket only and a louder exhaust off an Yamaha Virago 1100. I use it 90% for daily commuting approx. 42.5 miles per day, mainly freeway and main roads, not too much stop and go. My other vehicle is a Nissan 1400cc pickup (same shape as the Datsun 1200 ute) which is not at all fuel efficient, does approx. 30-36mpg driving as economical as I can LOL

I started tracking my fuel recently (a few weeks) after quite a while. Its winter here currently (we in our coldest part of winter actually) and im getting 79.94 mpg. Last year when I tracked over the period of 4-6 months (summer weather) I was getting 90+ mpg and I wasn't trying to be economical LOL, so I think this bike has good potential if I can get some decent fairings for it and start employing some hypermiling techniques. I also need new fork seals as they are leaking and my battery is going bad, have to push start in the cold mornings, after work, starts up fine with the electric start.

So any suggestions for better fuel economy? In my country at the moment, fuel increases on a monthly basis due our really bad economy so im trying to cut costs wherever I can.




Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180409_104832.jpg
Views:	1047
Size:	103.1 KB
ID:	24562   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180410_102647_1.jpg
Views:	1030
Size:	73.3 KB
ID:	24563  

Last edited by Tbird1983; 07-20-2018 at 04:18 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 07-20-2018, 11:19 AM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 2,652

Dark Egg - '12 VW Touraeg
Thanks: 300
Thanked 1,176 Times in 806 Posts
I don't know about your questions, I would be happy with 80-90 mpg, and it looks good to me! Welcome to ecomodder.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2018, 11:53 AM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 82
Thanks: 12
Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird View Post
I don't know about your questions, I would be happy with 80-90 mpg, and it looks good to me! Welcome to ecomodder.
The OP seems to want to be more economical... no reason needed to explain why one would want to do something better. (especially if they could do it on the cheap)

I think if he is using mostly freeway and main roads that his speeds would have him up where streamlining would have significant results. (depending on how well the streamlining is implemented of course.) So I'd say it's up to him to decide the balance between the cost in time and money of what he would be willing to invest and the complexity/completeness of the streamlining efforts.

Riding technique is basically free so I guess asking bike hyper-milers here would be a good first step; even before doing any streamlined fairing work. And when it comes to streamlining, I think it would be best to start working from behind the rider where the air trails behind.

This is just my opinion since I am not as well versed in the finer points of ecomodding as others here. (but I'm thinking I'd not be too far off the mark)
__________________
_______________________________
Southeast Michigan Dark Side Rider
4 Honda Reflex scooters & PS250 Big Ruckus
Originator of the "Darkside" Honda Reflex.
"Yeah dude, that IS a car tire there on the back of my scooter."
Sometimes I'm so far outside of the box, the Hubble telescope can't find me
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2018, 11:41 PM   #4 (permalink)
EcoModding flying lizard
 
Daschicken's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 742

Cibbie - '88 Honda CBR 250R
Motorcycle
90 day: 48.49 mpg (US)

Rarity - '06 Honda Accord EX V6
Team Honda
90 day: 29.88 mpg (US)

Baby viff - '86 Honda VFR 400R
Motorcycle
90 day: 42.15 mpg (US)

Latios - '08 Suzuki SV650SF
Motorcycle
90 day: 64.56 mpg (US)

Mazda 3 - '14 Mazda 3 i Sport
90 day: 43.25 mpg (US)
Thanks: 618
Thanked 261 Times in 174 Posts
If you want to focus on aerodynamics, you could start with an aero front fender, just cut up a panel and attach it to the forks and curve it up to the front fender. The more you cover, the more winds will affect you however.

Here is what my CBR 250R's stock fender looks like compared to an aero fender for the older CBR 250 Four.
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1256.jpg
Views:	94
Size:	47.4 KB
ID:	24566


On the bike. It took a lot more work than I thought it would!
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1258.jpg
Views:	90
Size:	51.9 KB
ID:	24567

I haven't run the fender on my CBR enough to confirm the difference is noticeable, and won't be able to confirm until it comes back from painting. I had it on for one whole tank, and that was my best tank yet, but it just squeaked above my previous record and I was tucking on highways with very little romping for that whole tank.

I would take a guess that the tires on your bike right now are bias ply with tubes. You can seal up spoked rims to run tubeless, but you shouldn't do that without tubeless tires. I believe there was a rim profile change around the 80s, so not all rims are tubeless compatible, even non spoked rims. Finding a radial tire in an old bike size is usually pretty difficult, but worth a shot.

Running a dying battery can lead to other much more expensive electrical problems later on, continue at your own risk.
__________________
-Kaze o tatakaimasen-

Best trip in V6: 52.0
Best tank in V6: 46.0
Best tank in Mazda: 49.9
Best tank in CBR: 61.3
Best tank in SV: 83.9

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
You can lead a fashion-conscious horse to unusual-looking water...

  Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2018, 04:10 AM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 18

Aveo - '12 Chev Aveo LS
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanks for the reply and yes I know the economy is already good but I feel I can get it even better.

Im from south Africa so we work with kilometer and litres, I have been playing around with riding style, slower pull off, riding a bit slower and coasting with the engine off on long downhill sections for the past week or so and have already increased the fuel economy to 32km per litres (90mpg) based on distance driven between refuels. Will keep tracking and monitoring. Still need to sort the battery issue and im sure it could improve a bit more.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2018, 11:50 AM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
As a rule ecomodders find that the combination of hypermiling techniques and a full aero package results in doubling the stock fuel mileage. What materials are readily available locally?
Your riding position determines your shoulder height and the top of the main shell. The optimum body shell would likely be a 3:1 airfoil shape with a Kamm tail (0.85 x length) and curved sides. See the classic sailplane designs and the HPV body shell design software at recumbents.com. Attach the shell to the frame and not the forks. This greatly reduces the effects of side winds.

Last edited by Grant-53; 07-24-2018 at 11:55 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2018, 01:35 AM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 18

Aveo - '12 Chev Aveo LS
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant-53 View Post
As a rule ecomodders find that the combination of hypermiling techniques and a full aero package results in doubling the stock fuel mileage. What materials are readily available locally?
Your riding position determines your shoulder height and the top of the main shell. The optimum body shell would likely be a 3:1 airfoil shape with a Kamm tail (0.85 x length) and curved sides. See the classic sailplane designs and the HPV body shell design software at recumbents.com. Attach the shell to the frame and not the forks. This greatly reduces the effects of side winds.
Great, thanks for the advice, I have no clue what is locally available, would need to research and see what I can get my hands on for cheap.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2018, 02:37 AM   #8 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: West Wales,UK
Posts: 88
Thanks: 16
Thanked 57 Times in 24 Posts
Hi Terence, because you bike has cruiser styling and consequently an upright riding position, it would be impractical to go with dropped bars and an aero tuck, so work with what you've got.
My suggestion would be to try a Harley style top half fairing similar to this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392002175883.

Cheap copies are available from China, but I don't know what sort of import duties you pay on Chinese products. A pair of panniers might also help, and turn your bike into a mini tourer.

Some of the guys in the C90 club have reported an improved fuel consumption after fitting a screen which doesn't look in the least bit aerodynamic.
It also has the effect of making your ride much more comfortable, especially when riding in the rain or through bug infested countryside.
Just my tuppenceworth, or should I say '2 cents worth'

Whatever you decide to do, please keep us informed, that's how we build a database of knowledge that we can all benefit from.

Pete.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2018, 03:24 AM   #9 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,548
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,447 Posts
Trying to improve the aerodynamics in a motorcycle with a "classic" style like that without turning it ugly is quite challenging. Well, I'm gonna second on the suggestion of the "batwing" semi-fairing and a wind deflector.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2018, 05:10 AM   #10 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 18

Aveo - '12 Chev Aveo LS
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanks guys, initially considered an old retro race fairing or something similar to the above. As Ironside said, the least it will make it a comfier ride in unpleasant weather. Already have saddlebags but they material and definitely not aero at all LOL.

Thanks guys, will start a builds thread for the bike and pickup truck. Planning on doing loads of mods to the pickup, its ridiculous on fuel. Bike gets more than twice the mileage than the pickup truck.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com