Two new Vetter Fuel Challenges
 

After 25 years, Craig Vetter is hosting two new fuel economy Challenges:
http://www.craigvetter.com/images/Pr...-challenge.jpg
May 13, 2011 at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, Carmel, CA
July 22, 2011 at AMA's Vintage Days, Mid Ohio Raceway, Lexington, OH

The idea is to challenge Vetter and his Streamliner in real conditions, at posted road speeds. Riders will be grouped between Vetter out front who will be setting the pace and a "Follower." You must be able to accelerate and ride the speed Vetter sets - which will be normal riding. However, if you drop behind the Follower, you drop out of the Challenge.

Both events will be 100 mile rides in the local countryside. Unique to the Vetter events is that the bikes must be able to carry a useful load: four bags of groceries, to be specific.

For more information and complete rules, go to Vetter's website:

I wonder what one of these would do, with a streamlined fairing

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooters.p...io%20MP3%20250

This 250 is rated at 60-65 mpg.

In Europe, we can get the 125 version as a hybrid, and it's rated at 140 mpg (US).
Not streamlined, it'd struggle to get up to 70 mph in a headwind however.

The beautiful thing about it, is that it can be balanced on the twin front wheels - eliminating the need to put one's feet down while being stopped.
This in turn would allow a fully streamlined fairing.

Whenever I suggest a goal for fuel economy, I always include the conditions which I try to ride:

Vetter Conditions are 70 mph, into a 35 mph headwind, with a useful load - like four bags of groceries, sitting up and comfortable, being our first choice of vehicles in the garage.

These are very specific goals. I find these conditions heading north on California Highway 101, between San Ardo and Salinas late afternoons in the summer.

I admit that there are not many places like this. But these conditions occur regularly here and it is where I like to test what is possible. Fred Hayes was certain that his Diesel got 125 mpg in his similar test conditions but when he ran alongside me last Fall, his mileage dropped to about 90 mpg. And that was with only 20 mph headwinds.

90 mpg in Vetter wind Conditions is pretty impressive. But it is not 125 mpg, is it?
He could not carry groceries, either. So far, no vehicle has proven to get 100 mpg in the Vetter Conditions.
Maybe 2011 will be the year.