What's your best motorcycle MPG?

[janvos39]

Thanks for info on the Ninja. It looks like on the picture that maybe a job of covering part of the front wheel could already assist in lowering the Cd. On my Burgman I am trying now to divert the air away from the opening above the front wheel. I assume your Ninja is water cooled? So maybe that could also work for you. I let know how it works on my FE.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by janvos39

Thanks for info on the Ninja. It looks like on the picture that maybe a job of covering part of the front wheel could already assist in lowering the Cd. On my Burgman I am trying now to divert the air away from the opening above the front wheel. I assume your Ninja is water cooled? So maybe that could also work for you. I let know how it works on my FE.

The fact that my ninja 250 is watercooled is why i need to figure out the best frontal design as to maintain proper airflow over the radiator to keep the bike cool.

My first approach may be to design a better front fender to fully enclose the front wheel, and divert air off to the fairing. However, i think it would be better to design a fairing that extends infront of the front wheel anyway, so that air always flows over it smoothly. Then i may design coned shaped air inlets that will let air flow through the radiator.

This is why i am working in solidworks to come up with the best design. I can run wind tunnel testing on my designs in this program as see exactly where i need to make improvements. Its a very complex program, and im only a beginner at it. I do feel that its going to be time well spent.

Its important to note that a lot of the drag is because of the inefficiently designed rear of the bike (including my body as part of it). I think i will improve miledge if a tail is installed on the bike.

[theycallmeebryan]

It will probably turn out something like this....

[spoil9]

^^^
Now that does not look very fun to drag your knee on.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by spoil9

^^^
Now that does not look very fun to drag your knee on.

You may be right, but its my commuter bike so fuel efficiency is more important.

Besides, dragging knees on this is much more fun

[spoil9]

Duc 900s. Very nice.
I must ask though, what bike did you base your commuter on? At least I'm assuming that you started with a bike and just changed body fairings on it so as to keep the registration simple.
And either way, the way your body is positioned just does not look comfy. Then again I've never seen myself when I tuck down behind the windscreen. I guess I look weird also which my chest on the tank and elbows tightly in.

[theycallmeebryan]

Originally Posted by spoil9

Duc 900s. Very nice.
I must ask though, what bike did you base your commuter on? At least I'm assuming that you started with a bike and just changed body fairings on it so as to keep the registration simple.
And either way, the way your body is positioned just does not look comfy. Then again I've never seen myself when I tuck down behind the windscreen. I guess I look weird also which my chest on the tank and elbows tightly in.

That blue bike is not mine.... go back to page 8 and you'll see my ninja 250. I was just saying that the blue bike is what my design may turn out looking like.

On my ninja 250, i mastered a crouching position that i can sustain for over an hour just fine.

And i dont care "how i look"

[spoil9]

Ahh, yeah, the act of reading has escaped me. To be honest I didn't feel like reading 8 pages so I just jumped in the kool aid with out knowing the flavor. lol

[Frank]

Originally Posted by dcb

LOL, 0–60 mph: 2.47 seconds AND 50mpg

I once got 60 mpUSg on my Hayabusa; slow trip on a very busy 2-lane road. I habitually get 50 around here as long as I stay out of the throttle, lol.

My best was 65 mpUSg on a 1990 Suzuki DR350S. Very competent bike but extremely devoid of any character!

[beatr911]

Funny how horsepower potential does not directly translate to mpg. The 180hp 'busa ridden with a 50mpg riding technique makes 36hp/mpg. Assuming a similar conservative riding nature that produces 70mpg, the 24hp ninjette 250 makes .34hp/mpg.

Given the power potential, the 'busa is hugely more efficient though the 250 uses less fuel for the trip.

The point here is that it is a commonly held belief that big engines=bad mpg. With modern engine management, big engines can be remarkably fuel efficient, or warp you into the next zip code before 5th gear at the whim of the throttle position.

It really has to do with engine load (how hard it's ridden) and the horrible motorcycle aerodynamics. With the 'busa ridden at the same speeds and acceleration rates as the ninjette the mileage is very good for both, but the 'busa taking a 29% hit in economy just smokes in power output potential.

A long time ago Lee Iacocca said that in the future there would be no need for an passenger vehicle engine larger than 2.5 liters. That's when he was turbocharging everything, AND getting remarkably good mileage. This from a guy who just didn't understand the silly SUV craze. My hero.