Weight Reduction

[big_dave]

My first proper thread. This weekend I have a 740 mile round trip to do. So recently I have been looking to see what I can do to improve my FE. I've done the upper grill block and blocked off my inter cooler. This has seen the air intake temperature go from about 10oC to 20-30oC. MPG has improved slightly on the short runs I have done so far. This afternoon I decided to remove the rear seats, my sub and all the boot junk. The sub easily weighs 15kg and the other junk must be good for a couple of kilos. But the back seats, I just weighed them. 28kg! Yes, twenty eight kilogrammes. Hopefully that will get me much improved MPG on the run.

So thanks to everyone for all the fabulous information on this site.

[bikin' Ed]

Dave, I wish you lots of luck with your trip, but doubt that the weight reduction will help too much on highway trip. (It will help some.) Weight is a big factor in acceleration/deceleration, but your aero and intake mods will mean a lot more to increased FE on your long trip.

[big_dave]

Unfortunately a lot of the trip will be up and down hills so was hoping the weight reduction would help on the climb. I taped up the bonnet seams today as well. Every little helps.

[dichotomous]

reducing your waistline will help with that too, though some more than others. kudos if it wouldnt help you too much. I could easily go from 114kg to 100kg and still be healthy, that would help a lot, especially on my bike

[Ford Man]

Don't forget to check the tire pressure before starting out.