|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 4, 2013 14:47:56 GMT -5
It all depends on how it is geared, and how fast you want to accelerate.
You can't base it on MPH, you have to base it on RPM.
If you want to accelerate fast, you can accelerate in the torque band. Most motorcycles have their torque band below 5k RPM, as they are tuned to have low end torque, rather than high end torque like the 50cc's or like kawasaki Ninja's (that increase in torque the higher the RPM goes).
If you want to accelerate easy, most of the time, revving to 2,5k RPM and then shifting is recommended. The needle should fall down to 2k RPM after a shift from 2,5k RPM.
On most bikes it would be
1st to 2nd gear ~10MPH
2nd to 3rd gear ~20MPH
3rd to 4th gear ~30MPH
4th to 5th gear ~40MPH
5th gear all the way to the tops of the revs (if it's 2k RPM @ 40MPH, at 5k RPM It'll do ~100MPH, and should be anywhere between a 500 and a 750cc).
A 150cc is usually geared differently.
In final gear it usually does 70MPH @~7k RPM tops, which means it's final gear kicks in @20mph.
Either a 4 speed, or very short geared bike.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 4, 2013 14:36:51 GMT -5
yeah, roketa has made quite some nice bikes. That one is with a 250cc lifan engine.
They also made a sports bike with 250cc. They all look awesome for the price, but it's still more than twice the price of the MC-05-127
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 3, 2013 21:44:04 GMT -5
Maybe your air intake can only take so much?
Maybe you are actually running a tad lean? (Like, sometimes you're running a tad too rich, and when you change you'll be running a tad too lean, just missing the peak performance of optimal AF, and getting exactly the same performance out of the bike?)
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 3, 2013 21:39:58 GMT -5
I'll have to figure out why it is happening. I know it slips in second gear when trying to accelerate WOT. It could be because of the synthetic oils I use. If there's a way to adjust clutch spring tension, I could adjust it. I don't think the clutch is glazed yet.
It could be because the smaller sprocket requires lower engine RPM, and the clutch can't keep up,
but what I don't understand is that it only happens in second gear acceleration, and final gear top speed.
The bike is going 5-10MPH over it's stock speed with the modified sprocket, so the clutch has to handle 15% more power compared to the stock sprocket, yet when I open the throttle to WOT somewhere in the middle of 4th gear I don't have clutch slip.
Which makes me believe it might not be a centrifugal problem.
It only started happening with this new oil change I did (Mobil 10W40). Previously I used different oil.
It could also be because the engine was pretty warm running WOT for almost a full hour.
Anyway, too many variables now, the first to eliminate will be changing the engine oil to heavier.
I might add a bit of 15W50 to it, overfilling it a little bit, to make the mixture a bit thicker. Hopefully that will help.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 3, 2013 21:33:26 GMT -5
What they usually do with higher cc bikes, is put heavier transmissions on them, so the engine will be pulling heavier load, to compensate. Usually they have a fifth, and it wouldn't surprise me if they have a sixth gear as well; so their final gear ratio's (MPH/RPM) is much higher.
Also, the Burgman has a CVT. CVT's eat MPG. ranging anywhere from 5-25MPG.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 3, 2013 19:16:25 GMT -5
Did a 300 km, ~200 mile WOT trip to Okeechobee from Miami.
On the way to the lake I had wind in the back, and the meter was constantly at 70MPH (~65MPH GPS).
On the way back, I had a lot of wind against, and the 34T sprocket makes the bike really susceptible to speed drops due to wind. On my way back I had speeds ranging from 55MPH to 60MPH.
About 50% of the trip I was tailgating a truck, to get there faster.
The bike, with it's thin tires, was susceptible to side winds a lot. The front wheel would sometimes move 1 inch sideways due to wind blasts.
Something I didn't have with my Honda.
And while riding at WOT, having strong winds against me, I noticed that the clutch slipped regularly. That's probably the reason for the lousy gas mileage.
I did the whole trip 100MPG to, 95MPG back (due to winds).
If it wasn't for the truck I was tailgating, I would probably have been closer to 90MPG.
The clutch worries me a little. I don't know if it slips because of lower revs (if it grips better at higher revs, a centrifugal clutch), or because of the wrong oil or what the reason is...
I'll be forced to mix Diesel oil (15W50) with my 10W40, as the clutch probably is a wet clutch.
Doing so, will lower MPG. In order to compensate that, I'll have to do another sprocket change.
So I'll probably go downto a 31T, and switch to 15W40 in the future.
Yet another trade of performance for gas mileage, and longetivity.
I'm almost at my 1500 km oilchange. The 1000km oilchange looked good.
Thus so far, the oilchanges of a 50cc hold true on this bike:
50km
150km
300km
600km
1000km
1500km
2000km
3000km
4000km...
....
It will be interesting to see how the oil looks after the first 1000km oilchange (at 2k to 3k miles).
Once the engine has been broken into, usually after 500 km, it runs so much smoother.
At this moment, ~1000km it runs perfect, so I think I'm going to do the switch to heavier oil, for the sake of the gears and clutch.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 3, 2013 19:05:37 GMT -5
The TU is known to be geared too high. A sprocket change could give you better top end.
Also, it's a single cylinder. From the specs, it's more fuel efficient, but has less torque than the dual cylinder Honda.
It's only to be expected...
Just for reference, my 127cc sports bike rides between 55 and 65MPH depending on the wind, so your 250cc, being double the cc's, can definitely go faster than 60MPH!
It's common knowledge, with every bike, that you run at top revs, WOT, that MPG goes down, not up. Like said, do a sprocket change, say from 40T to 36T, and you should have 10% better MPG, and most likely between 5% and 10% higher top speed.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 21:48:29 GMT -5
I presume the mpg numbers?
I've done the research, both Yamaha and Fuelly show that the V-star is at least behind on MPG. And just like you, the 250 was too small for me too. My legs would be too much up, my back would have to bend backwards, causing pain in the tailbone from long rides. The seating position of the TU is much better, more like a BMW, where the legs are almost under the rider.
I liked the rebel's leg spacing, a bit too small for me, but not uncomfortably small. But there's nothing that can beat the TU's MPG's.
It's average MPG is 80, but many have reached near to 100MPG on those bikes.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 18:36:41 GMT -5
I found no problems sitting on the TUx. The legs are more down compared to the cruisers.
I'm 6'3". The only problem I had was for the TU to be comfortable for me, I would have to raise the handlebars by 5 inch, but the max that the cabling would allow was 2 inch.
So unless you plan on putting new hydraulic brake lines, electric wiring, etc... The TU is probably good for upto 5'8-6' people with a 2 inch handlebar riser piece installed.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 12:07:14 GMT -5
I'm actually FOR the headlights on the handlebars, due to illuminating where I'm going.
On every cruiser motorcycle the headlights are mounted on the fork.
Though I got to agree, most scooters headlights don't look very nice.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 12:04:01 GMT -5
As far as I know from the specs, the V-star is about the most expensive 250 cruiser of all the big brands. Honda's rebel 250 was cheaper, Suzuki's is the cheapest.
Also the V-stars don't have great gas mileage compared to the rest.
The TUX is probably the most fuel efficient (also thanks to being a thumper, meaning 1 cylinder)
It's also less aimed for tall people
If I where to choose, the V-star would come last, eventhough it looks the nicest imho, the rebel second, and the TUX first.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 2:08:08 GMT -5
There are many cafe-styled racer bikes.
The TU-250x was the ideal one.
Not sure if there are that many chinese versions of it.
I personally am not too fond of cafe-style bikes,
but typing in 'cafe racer' in google images, should link you to enough sites, that have a variety of motorcycles converted to a cafe racer.
The Suzuki TU-250x is popular because it has many aftermarket parts that fit on this bike without too heavy modification.
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jul 2, 2013 2:07:53 GMT -5
Yeah, stock they come with what I believe is 15T and 40T sprockets.
Most people swear by 16/40T sprocket set, or 15/36T, but I think either a 16/38 or 16/36T would suffice.
In fact, if you want top speed in 3rd gear, instead of 4th gear, and have 4th gear as an overdrive gear for better gas mileage, you could get a 16/31 to 16/33T sprocket set on those bikes, and probably get 110-120MPG.
That sprocket change would be good if you're living in the suburbs with mainly >35MPH roads.
As far as second hand, this bike has gained a lot of popularity, and price increase.
So much, that most TUXes are sold at their new price second hand (meaning, a TUX of 2008 costed 3,5k, is being sold for as high as 3,2k) The 2013 model goes for $4,3-4,4k
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jun 30, 2013 21:55:25 GMT -5
Noticed that this site is called 'itistheride' and not 'scoot-something'? In other words, I thought since there are so many threads about scooters, what about (cheap) motorcycles? While the big brands usually don't go under $5k new price, there's quite a good amount of chinese bikes to be gotten for under $3k, and under $2k as well! I would like a list of new motorcycles, that are cheap, and good enough for the beginner and more seasoned riders amongst us. I've compiled a list of a few of my personal favorites. If you have found any NEW, good, cheap, and unique bikes, post them, their cc's and avg price including shipping if applicable. On number one, due to the low price, is the: Roketa MC-05-127For just over $1000 at your front door, 127cc, 55-65MPH,  -100MPG (with sprocket change).  2: Suzuki TU250x$4k, 80-85MPG, 70+MPH for great MPG!  3: Kawasaki Ninja 300: 100+ MPH, 48MPG, $5-6k, for speed!  4: Honda Grom:125cc, ?~60-65MPH, ?~100-120MPG, ?~$3-4k for budget and MPG  5: Chinese clones, of the grom 125cc (~$1600):  Of the old style Camino: ~$1400, 110cc  Enduro motorcross bikes with road tires, 250cc for ~$2k:  Chinese 250cc bobber for ~$2,5k:  Chinese 250cc mini Chopper for ~$2,3k:  Chinese 250cc racing bike, for ~$2,1k:  Chinese 250cc Honda Rebel clone (with Lifan engine), ~$2,6k:  Chinese 250cc Naked bike, ~$2,4k: www.scooterdepot.us/250cc-street-legal-motor-bikes-sport-motorcycles-p-744-286.htmlAnd seemingly the Chinese company Jialing, is going to release a Yamaha born 600cc naked bike soon: www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/user/2008/August/Naked-600s-from-China/ |
|
|
|
Post by prodigit on Jun 30, 2013 21:25:32 GMT -5
I would not get a bike prior to 2008. Fuel economy on some of those are horrible.
I've got my chinese 125cc beast, lol, and perhaps would get another bike with chain drive, so I can modify the sprocket. The Suzuki TU is a good one. I'm gonna start a new thread about it!
|
|
-100MPG (with sprocket change).