What's your best motorcycle MPG? - Page 12 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

1337 · 07-08-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I've never ridden any other motorcycle any distance, but I have to say I didn't really like my Ninja 250 for long trips ... more than an hour was too long for me. Bothered my neck/shoulders. I'm average height & light build.

Yeah, Ninja's the hunched over riding position would probably be bothersome on long rides. I wonder if I could install some handlebar setbacks for a more upright posture (at the expense of MPG).

Christ · 07-08-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1337

I love that I could buy a 1990s Ninja 250, and it still looks new and cool. I'd probably buy sort of a beater and fix whatever is wrong.

That's what I'm looking at doing, but I don't want to "really fix it"... I'd prefer that it be running, but I can fix minor damage and cosmetic blemishes.

I don't want anything newer than like '07, and I'd actually prefer something closer to '02 - '05.

I've even considered a few bigger bikes, because I can always swap the motor out later for something smaller, still using the larger frame (I'm good at stuff like this.)

Darin - As far as being uncomfortable, I can imagine that you could get that way on long rides if you have to lean forward like you commonly do on sport bikes. One fix to this is adjusting the bars inward and down(if applicable) to make you a little straighter, and another fix (that requires some work) is shaving the seat foam so that you sit a little lower below the tank line, then recovering the seat.

The second method, I found, does the best for long rides... you'd think there would be some butt-hurt, but no more than usual.

1337 · 07-08-2009, 02:36 PM

[QUOTE=Christ;114451]That's what I'm looking at doing, but I don't want to "really fix it"... I'd prefer that it be running, but I can fix minor damage and cosmetic blemishes.
[QUOTE]

Sounds like a good plan. I'd buy a runner, but only if it's well under KBB pricing. If I bought a non-runner, I'd want it to at least crank and be mostly assembled. I wouldn't mind a few weekends of cleaning carbs and fixing vacuum leaks, though. It's always nice to learn a bike by fixing it up (as long as it runs eventually).

Froggypwns · 07-08-2009, 03:02 PM

I bought my 03 Buell Blast 492cc for $1500 a few weeks ago. It barley ran when I bought it, it just wasn't used much and I think the carb was a little gunked up, I just beat it on it for a few miles and it runs great now.

theycallmeebryan · 07-08-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1337

Yeah, Ninja's the hunched over riding position would probably be bothersome on long rides. I wonder if I could install some handlebar setbacks for a more upright posture (at the expense of MPG).

The 87-07 Ninja 250 is actually pretty confortable in the upright position for me. Its not as bent over as an "actual" sport bike. I am 6'1, 185 lbs and I am pretty confortable during hour+ trips. The only thing that may benefit you is to either reshape the seat or by a new one(cross country ninja 250 owners do it). The seat is fine for 30 minute rides, but you start to get "hot butted" a little bit after that.... atleast with my height and weight.

theycallmeebryan · 07-08-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froggypwns

I bought my 03 Buell Blast 492cc for $1500 a few weeks ago. It barley ran when I bought it, it just wasn't used much and I think the carb was a little gunked up, I just beat it on it for a few miles and it runs great now.

Just have to respond to this

Check this comparison out.

Buell Blast vs Ninja 250 - Ninja250Wiki

Froggypwns · 07-08-2009, 04:28 PM

Nice biased article

I have no experience on a Ninja 250, so I can't comment on it, but I don't regret the Blast even for a moment. One thing that is nice about it but not mentioned, is a lot of the parts are the same as my Buell 1200. Simplifies tools and maintenance. I just love putting around town on it, so much easier to squeeze into tight spots than my 12, and once I picked it up and threw it over a median to make a Uturn in stopped traffic. (Ok more like carefully dragged it

)

MetroMPG · 07-08-2009, 04:43 PM

Well, I started as a noob on my 250, and retired as a noob, I guess. I didn't know about the bar end trick or seat shaving. I guess I didn't hang around the Ninja forum enough!

Christ · 07-08-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Well, I started as a noob on my 250, and retired as a noob, I guess. I didn't know about the bar end trick or seat shaving. I guess I didn't hang around the Ninja forum enough!

I just learned it from repairing bikes for friends... back before I wanted one. LOL.

It was always a matter of my friends and their friends complaining about this or that, and me finding a way to fix it.

Some older gentleman that I used to work with decided that he's not going to use my name anymore... he started calling me "The Professor" after I fixed his bike for him.

theycallmeebryan · 07-08-2009, 05:23 PM

Thing is, on the 87-07 ninja 250, the handlebars are not clip-ons. You cant simply slide them up or down the fork tubes to adjust them. They are bolted to the top triple tree. To raise them, you can buy a spacer that goes underneath the stock mounts and raises them up a couple inches. To lower them, a company sells bars with lower extensions on them.