Thinking about a bike - Page 10 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

sendler · 01-21-2016, 07:19 AM

Honda is the champ for fuel efficiency right now as they have been placing a big emphasis on this in their new engine designs. They also commited to fuel injection and cats and O2 sensors with a corporate edict in 2000 to develop a cost effective modular system to fit the range from 50cc to 300cc.
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The square stroke CBR500R engine and ultra long stroke CTX700 engines are interesting as well but the 44hp is overkill for fuel economy. The PCX, 300, 500 and 700 are world bike engines so the compression is kept low to accomodate questionable fuel.

Grant-53 · 01-21-2016, 06:10 PM

What tires are you using in this weather?

sendler · 01-21-2016, 06:42 PM

I don't ride when there is ice on the road. But I do ride at temps below 0C if the roads are clear and dry. And find the performance and traction of the stock IRC's on the CBR250R perfectly acceptable still in those temps. I would put studded snows on the PCX in the winter just for fun but they are not sold in the USA and shipping from Europe for two tires is kind of expensive.

Andy_T · 01-22-2016, 05:55 AM

I had a '87 CB450S when I was studying that I rode for about 40,000 km's until that fateful day when a car and myself were crossing the same exchange at the same time, coming from different sides.

After that, I got a used '80 CB 400 S (the predecessor), and that was also a nice bike. Both were easy to ride, reasonably fast and had good fuel economy (around 70 mpg when ridden reasonably).

Nowadays I am riding a 200 CC KTM duke 200 (was the most affordable "big bike" where I live now) and am surprised how much fun a 27 hp bike can be, if it only weighs 135 kg. Would LOVE to have that with an electric engine. Maybe a few years more, and they will hopefully build one.

Best regards,
Andy

sendler · 01-22-2016, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_T

Nowadays I am riding a 200 CC KTM duke 200

Let's see a fuel log. What was the price of that bike where you are and how much is the Honda CBR250R or CB300F if they sell them there?

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 01-23-2016, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_T

I had a '87 CB450S when I was studying that I rode for about 40,000 km's until that fateful day when a car and myself were crossing the same exchange at the same time, coming from different sides.

After that, I got a used '80 CB 400 S (the predecessor), and that was also a nice bike. Both were easy to ride, reasonably fast and had good fuel economy (around 70 mpg when ridden reasonably).

Nowadays I am riding a 200 CC KTM duke 200 (was the most affordable "big bike" where I live now) and am surprised how much fun a 27 hp bike can be, if it only weighs 135 kg.

Apart from any "nostalgia" and eventually some ease of maintenance due to their low-tech, there is no practical reasoning to get an ancient 400cc motorcycle instead of a modern one in the 200 to 300cc range.

ProDigit · 01-24-2016, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Apart from any "nostalgia" and eventually some ease of maintenance due to their low-tech, there is no practical reasoning to get an ancient 400cc motorcycle instead of a modern one in the 200 to 300cc range.

Except for perhaps gearing. Modern bikes are almost all short geared, and meant to be ran in the 4-8k rpm range, while the older ones ran in the 3-5k range.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 01-24-2016, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDigit

Except for perhaps gearing. Modern bikes are almost all short geared, and meant to be ran in the 4-8k rpm range, while the older ones ran in the 3-5k range.

Sure, but there are also other variants. If low engine speed was the only criterium, the Honda NC700/NC750 would be the no-brainer...

Grant-53 · 01-25-2016, 08:14 PM

Maxxis makes some Motocross tire that fit 14 and 17 inch rims. The tire stores in Syracuse may be able to insert studs into tires. I know of one ice racer club in the area.