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Post by bwader on Sept 16, 2013 15:57:14 GMT -5
I reread these again. The most I'd do to my Suzuki is put on the 16 tooth sprocket to get a little better gas mileage.
Got 60mpg riding gentler except when I have someone behind me.
scootnwinn has a good point the engineers know what they are doing, or else they wouldn't be there.
I'm just agreeing with the idea that Japanese bikes were designed for more city stop and go riding than riding continuous speeds closer to 55mph.
Can't really complain I got 60mpg but I want to get the best I can reasonably.
Truck people that don't ride 2 wheels don't like hearing us trying to get better mileage when they get much worse.
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Post by prodigit on Sept 16, 2013 19:46:50 GMT -5
Torque can very easily be converted to top speed through higher gearing.
I see no reason why any person should get a bike greater than 500cc, as when the engine is running at 2-3k RPM, you can put such a heavy gears on them, that you could be going 50MPH in final gear, and still accelerate!
I think 500cc eats too many MPGs. 250-350cc might be the sweet spot; more on that, when I receive my 229cc motorcycle.
I've gotten some nice mpg numbers on my 125cc, 118MPG @ 35-40MPH, and 96MPG @ 55-60MPH WOT riding.
125cc is too small, but I'm interested to see how much my 229cc can deliver.
Generally 250cc's are maxed out at 75-80MPH; so too low for long interstate rides. I presume a 350-400cc would be the optimal bike, able to go 90MPH, but since interstate is upto 80MPH anyway, it should be able to bring you anywhere; while using less gas than a 500cc geared identically; especially at lower speeds.
I'm always repeating myself, but IMHO, a 75-100cc CVT scooter is what you need in the city (upto 35MPH).
A manual geared 100-125cc, is what you need in the suburbs, when not riding highway rides.
A 250 cc is good for occasional highways,
and a 350-450cc is good for frequent highway rides.
That's all on level ground. Don't know about hills.
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Post by bwader on Sept 17, 2013 15:42:07 GMT -5
I can go 66mph gps on my GZ 250, it takes time to get there but it gets there.
55-60mph is good cruising speed I like to go 40-45 in 5th or 35mph is pushing it a little in 5th.
I got behind a semi and got to 71mph yesterday
I weigh 240 pounds so if I lost weight I could go faster and better mileage.
Today it was very windy and I only got to 60mph WOT and 55mph on the low end. Bike is all stock and 5,300 miles. Most days I can go 60mph and above pretty easy, just takes time to get there.
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Post by prodigit on Sept 17, 2013 21:38:39 GMT -5
I'm 150LBS , and do 55MPH @wot on my 150cc scooter with CVT. 63MPH on a good day (meaning with some wind in the back).
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Post by bwader on Sept 19, 2013 18:16:13 GMT -5
I wouldn't want to have to deal with 4 different scooters or motorcycles. One is enough maybe two. That would be a lot of licensing fees, inspections, and up keep every year to have all those kinds of vehicles.
The way to go is just pick the best fit for your situation.
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Post by rockynv on Sept 19, 2013 22:19:43 GMT -5
I wouldn't want to have to deal with 4 different scooters or motorcycles. One is enough maybe two. That would be a lot of licensing fees, inspections, and up keep every year to have all those kinds of vehicles. The way to go is just pick the best fit for your situation. Indeed, choose wisely and the one right bike will cost you less in the long run. I know many don't agree however the high compression Aprilia 250cc scooters when on factory special for $2,999 are the best overall commuters and weekend bikes. With the addition of a $100 Puig Sport Fairing they can hit  + mph per gps reading on level ground and get up to 70 mph faster than most cars. I get around 75 mpg at speeds below 60 mph which is 20 to 30 mpg more than a 150 got me hauling my 245+ lbs around commuting to work. My recent ride where I encountered a kid on a 600cc Suzuki Bandit allowed the Aprilia to shine as the 250cc Aprilia had no problems keeping up with the Bandit. The kid pulled up beside me when we stopped to ask about the bike and was really surprised it was just a 250 as we were ranging between 40 and 75 mph maybe 80 on a mixed State/County/Local road with sections having stop lights and others just open divided highway. It was about a 100 mile run. When the kid heard Aprilia he said oh that explains it those are like Ducati's. Yeah but without the high price tag. Closing in on 18,000 miles and the third scheduled oil and filter change. Enjoy the Suzuki and eventually you'll get it all sorted for the way you ride. You may find that the addition of a aerodynamic windsheild can add about 15 to 20 mph top end and improve fuel economy above 45 mph too. I was checking out Bike Bandit and the Plexistart, SS-28, S-09 and S-00 looked like the covered enough of the handle bars to reduce wind resistance and were yet small enough to just divert the air around you without creating the pushing the barn door down the road effect you get from some of the taller flatter cruiser style windshields. www.bikebandit.com/2000-suzuki-gz250-windshields/n1420?m=22367 |
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Post by prodigit on Sept 20, 2013 4:21:13 GMT -5
The aprilias are still a bit on the expensive side for me.
I have the Roketa MC-05-127, goes upto 60MPH. I put another sprocket in that gives me greater gas mileage. it starts up a bit faster than a 50cc scoot, in second gear moves along with traffic normally (does not pull away from it), and in third and fourth is accelerating normally when you rev it high.
It gets 96MPG when going ~60MPH, and 118MPG when going 35-45MPH.
because it's only highway worthy at 55MPH, I needed something bigger.
I made an order for the DongFang MC-D250-RTC-B.
It's a 229cc bike, that probably will get around the same 110MPG at 45MPH, with the difference that it will go 70+MPH; which is good enough for me.
For highway riding I much prefer my Honda Shadow 750 anyway, but as a local commuter, that doesn't look like a hybrid between a motorcycle, scooter, and bicycle like the MC-05-127 looks like.
The DongFang is only $2400 delivered. I'm gonna see if it lives up to my expectations.
As an an economic, MPG monster commuter most surely it will.
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Post by rockynv on Sept 20, 2013 11:53:10 GMT -5
Prodgit - I don't know how $2,999 is expensive compared to the what is it now? $500 50cc, $1,299 to $1,599 125/150cc, $2,400 229cc and $5,999 to $8,000 750 thats somwhere between $12,000 and $15,000 dollars not counting any of the upgrades etc you did to set them up. I saved $12,000 by getting the Aprilia which more than makes up for the difference in fuel economy between your smallest and largest bikes.
I also only have to come up with storage space, insurance, registration and do maintenance on one bike. Never get to find I took the wrong bike either. One good all around choice and you will always choose the right bike for the day. Makes life simple.
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Post by prodigit on Sept 20, 2013 16:11:01 GMT -5
My 750 only costed me $3k, had 3,5k miles on it.
The 229cc is 2400 delivered, 2600 taxes included. Your Aprilia costs 3k + dealer fee + taxes, which is closer to $3,5k.
That's $1k more than my 229cc, probably performs better yes.
I pay no insurance, not necessary in FL; only a tag sticker every year. I only have 2 tags, do illegal by swapping them, but for the most part I only ride 1 scoot, and 1 motorcycle. I only take out the others every month to get the battery and gas going; or like right now, because one motorcycle needs a new bearing.
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Post by rockynv on Sept 21, 2013 6:19:19 GMT -5
My 750 only costed me $3k, had 3,5k miles on it. The 229cc is 2400 delivered, 2600 taxes included. Your Aprilia costs 3k + dealer fee + taxes, which is closer to $3,5k. That's $1k more than my 229cc, probably performs better yes. I pay no insurance, not necessary in FL; only a tag sticker every year. I only have 2 tags, do illegal by swapping them, but for the most part I only ride 1 scoot, and 1 motorcycle. I only take out the others every month to get the battery and gas going; or like right now, because one motorcycle needs a new bearing. Still has cost you more than my one versatile bike and your admittedly doing something illegal to pull it off. Remember that insurance is required in Florida unless you have provided proof of financial resposibility in the amounts required by Florida law which has been posted here chapter and verse directly from the Florida DMV. You must be quite wealthy to have enough liquid assets available at all times to satisfy the Finacial Responsibility Requirements mandated by Florida Law that would allow you to forgo insurance. If not then you are riding illegally on that count also. Florida law also stipulates that you must wear a helmet if you do not have bodily injury insurance that meets the states minumum requirements. If you ride without a helmet and don't have the required personal injury insurance then you are outside the law on that one also. You have to read the "IFs" attached to these things and abide by them. |
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Post by bwader on May 26, 2014 12:30:54 GMT -5
Wanted to update on this forum, With the 16T front sprocket I average about 60-62mpg,max speed 60-65mph with 65mpg if I take it easy and go 55mph max.
I'm so happy with this bike, I don't have to tinker with it daily or constantly check the carb. intake and hoses for leaks or cracks. I always felt like I had a never ending endeavor to get another mph top end by getting a better than stock part. The 150cc scooter I had I spent 1,200 with taxes and dmv fees and probably spent another 500 on better parts and the GZ250 cost me 1,800 with 5,000 miles. It needed a new tire and front brake pads and chain cleaned but it didn't cost me much to get it good. $60 for a shinko rear tire and $15 RIDE ON tire sealant/ balancer was worth it. Brake pads were $12 and changed brake fluid and changed oil.
I just know its well worth it to take a little time on craigslist and shop around for used bikes. The quality and ride is way better too. Riding at night is much brighter with a single motorcycle headlamp.
I don't like adding too much to a bike and keep it simple. Might get a new windshield for this bike in time when I have $100 to spare. But as I'm riding more time on the highway I'm looking into getting a slightly bigger bike in the next few years. At least when I get my moneys worth from this bike which should be a long time. I can maintain 65mph in 5th gear and hit 72mph in 4th gear at higher rpms if needed. I weigh 250 pounds too.
At 7,500 miles now, changed oil and filter, greased and cleaned chain, cleaned air filter and ran carb cleaner through the carberator fuel line til it ran out of gas then on straight carb cleaner until it ran out and did it once more. New spark plug and it runs a little better and starts up easier even when is colder out. |
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Post by rockynv on May 31, 2014 4:45:49 GMT -5
The numbers surprise me as most here would tell me a 250cc motorcycle would go faster and get better fuel economy than a 250cc scooter. But the joy of a reliable steed is a wonderfull thing.
Great that it has turned out so well. Getting a bike thats designed to work well from the get go doing so consistantly is the route that costs the least in the long run. Remember Maxwell's (business guru) Law of the Price Tag: "Sooner or later your going to pay it however if you don't pay it up front its going to cost you much more later on."
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Post by Jarlaxle on Jun 11, 2014 18:10:37 GMT -5
I reread these again. The most I'd do to my Suzuki is put on the 16 tooth sprocket to get a little better gas mileage. Got 60mpg riding gentler except when I have someone behind me. scootnwinn has a good point the engineers know what they are doing, or else they wouldn't be there. The engineers have to make some compromises, though. Offhand...to pass Kali emissions, some carb'd bikes are tuned so they run very lean. They pass emissions...but honestly, they barely run! My mother's Savage was like that...the shop retuned it, and WOW, what a difference! No sputtering, no stalling, no more hot misfires. |
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Post by rockynv on Jun 13, 2014 3:53:50 GMT -5
I reread these again. The most I'd do to my Suzuki is put on the 16 tooth sprocket to get a little better gas mileage. Got 60mpg riding gentler except when I have someone behind me. scootnwinn has a good point the engineers know what they are doing, or else they wouldn't be there. The engineers have to make some compromises, though. Offhand...to pass Kali emissions, some carb'd bikes are tuned so they run very lean. They pass emissions...but honestly, they barely run! My mother's Savage was like that...the shop retuned it, and WOW, what a difference! No sputtering, no stalling, no more hot misfires. The fuel injected bikes also run a bit lean however you can put an attenuator or trimmer on the Lambda to take care of that and get better off the line performance along with better fuel economy. The FatDuc made for Ducati is plug and play on my bike and I may just go for it. |
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+ mph per gps reading on level ground and get up to 70 mph faster than most cars. I get around 75 mpg at speeds below 60 mph which is 20 to 30 mpg more than a 150 got me hauling my 245+ lbs around commuting to work.