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Motorway miles.

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4Stroke
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 04 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 14:42 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Motorway miles. Reply with quote
Hi.

I commute daily on a 48 mile round trip with consissts in about 38 of those miles on the motorway the rest is inner city.

What's going to be the good balance of bike for MPG on the motorway? and as a result would MPG into the city would be worse than the ZXR?

Bigger bikes fair better on the longer, crusing. But obviously smaller machines should fare better around the city.

Thinking ... at some stage, hopefully end of this year sorting something out that can really serve as a decent long distance communter that isn't too heavy on MPG(in general) and around the town when off the Mway.
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Bat
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: 15:02 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
It depends on cruising revs. I wouldn't necessarily say a smaller bike will get more MPG around town than on a motorway cruise, just that a bigger, less stressed engine will do better comparatively on a steady cruise.

If you're looking at economics then a twin 500 would be a good bet as an all rounder. You should take servicing/maintenance costs into account as well. A bike that gets an extra 5MPG average isn't so great if the oil/plugs/tyres etc cost a fortune.
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4Stroke
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 04 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 15:11 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bat wrote:
It depends on cruising revs. I wouldn't necessarily say a smaller bike will get more MPG around town than on a motorway cruise, just that a bigger, less stressed engine will do better comparatively on a steady cruise.

If you're looking at economics then a twin 500 would be a good bet as an all rounder. You should take servicing/maintenance costs into account as well. A bike that gets an extra 5MPG average isn't so great if the oil/plugs/tyres etc cost a fortune.


Hm this is true. Servicing costs for my ZX7 are highish due to type and age of the machine.

Yeh above 70 the zxr really starts making dents in the fuel enconomy. I regulary cruise at 85/90 when conditions allow and I feel it's safe to do so. So I'm thinking bigger bike at these speeds should do better.

Problem is I don't want it to be countered in the city driving also, whilst it's small % of my overall trip it's still stop start stop start.
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Bat
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: 15:28 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
4Stroke wrote:


Hm this is true. Servicing costs for my ZX7 are highish due to type and age of the machine.

Yeh above 70 the zxr really starts making dents in the fuel enconomy. I regulary cruise at 85/90 when conditions allow and I feel it's safe to do so. So I'm thinking bigger bike at these speeds should do better.

Problem is I don't want it to be countered in the city driving also, whilst it's small % of my overall trip it's still stop start stop start.


Yeah difficult to get the balance right. I don't think any bike is going to give stunning MPG at 80+ though.

My Hornet 900 is a good mix of big, lazy power and light, nimble handling. Had it a few months and am very impressed with the fuel consumption.
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4Stroke
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 04 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 15:31 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bat wrote:
4Stroke wrote:


Hm this is true. Servicing costs for my ZX7 are highish due to type and age of the machine.

Yeh above 70 the zxr really starts making dents in the fuel enconomy. I regulary cruise at 85/90 when conditions allow and I feel it's safe to do so. So I'm thinking bigger bike at these speeds should do better.

Problem is I don't want it to be countered in the city driving also, whilst it's small % of my overall trip it's still stop start stop start.


Yeah difficult to get the balance right. I don't think any bike is going to give stunning MPG at 80+ though.

My Hornet 900 is a good mix of big, lazy power and light, nimble handling. Had it a few months and am very impressed with the fuel consumption.


What are you getting generally?

ZXR is about 45mpg on book but real world with the 70+mph i'm seeing about 30/32ish mpg
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Bat
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: 15:43 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
4Stroke wrote:


What are you getting generally?

ZXR is about 45mpg on book but real world with the 70+mph i'm seeing about 30/32ish mpg


I'm getting a shade under 40MPG average. That's with short journeys and mixed riding including dual carriageway and lots of filtering in traffic. I don't ride it hard though 'cos it still scares me Very Happy
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 15:57 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
4Stroke wrote:
ZXR is about 45mpg on book but real world with the 70+mph i'm seeing about 30/32ish mpg


That seems pretty awful. I am getting over 55mpg from a ZZR600 on fairly long motorway journies cruising at rather more than 70mph although it is probably running a bit lean.

1200 Bandit gives about 45~46mpg in commuting use on back roads. FZR600 gives about 48mpg on the same journies. FZ750 when used for regular 25 mile fast dual carraigeway commutes used to give about 45mpg.

Would suggest the carbs need looking at to find out why it is using about 50% more fuel than I would expect (assuming you do not spend the journey doing standing 1/s and then slamming on the brakes).

All the best

Keith
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Bat
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: 15:59 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:
4Stroke wrote:
ZXR is about 45mpg on book but real world with the 70+mph i'm seeing about 30/32ish mpg


That seems pretty awful. I am getting over 55mpg from a ZZR600 on fairly long motorway journies cruising at rather more than 70mph although it is probably running a bit lean.

1200 Bandit gives about 45~46mpg in commuting use on back roads. FZR600 gives about 48mpg on the same journies. FZ750 when used for regular 25 mile fast dual carraigeway commutes used to give about 45mpg.

Would suggest the carbs need looking at to find out why it is using about 50% more fuel than I would expect (assuming you do not spend the journey doing standing 1/s and then slamming on the brakes).

All the best

Keith


Wouldn't you say the regular cruising at 85/90 would explain it?
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 16:07 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

That is the speed I am cruising at (and sometimes a bit more) and still using 50%~80% less petrol than he is. Given how bad bikes are are with aerodynamics I would expect increasing speeds to have a fairly large negative effect on fuel economy.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing
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4Stroke
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 04 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 16:08 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Likely yes.
But when I feel it's safe to do so I ride a motorcycle as I like the freedom and ability to travel long distances quickly without taking the piss too much on the speed limits.

We call it 'swift progress' no? Wink

So ideally I'd like a bike that can cope with this a little better than the ZXR with regards to MPG. Besides it's getting long in the tooth for touring/commuting and needs to be turned into weekend rioter. Thumbs Up

Last edited by 4Stroke on 16:19 - 17 Feb 2009; edited 1 time in total
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 16:12 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

Would have a look at why the ZXR has a serious drinking problem first. Could be worn atomiser tubes, could be a badly fitted dynojet kit, could be leaking needle valves (eg, 48 miles a day means 3 trips on a tank, so 6 times being parked up, and 6 times the contents of the fuel pipes dribbling into the engine wasted when parked), could be a sticking choke, could be rediculously low gearing, etc.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing
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Bat
Nova Slayer



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: 16:12 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:
Hi

That is the speed I am cruising at (and sometimes a bit more) and still using 50%~80% less petrol than he is. Given how bad bikes are are with aerodynamics I would expect increasing speeds to have a fairly large negative effect on fuel economy.

All the best

Keith


Fair enough, sounds like something may well be awry then!
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4Stroke
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 04 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 16:23 - 17 Feb 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:
Hi

Would have a look at why the ZXR has a serious drinking problem first. Could be worn atomiser tubes, could be a badly fitted dynojet kit, could be leaking needle valves (eg, 48 miles a day means 3 trips on a tank, so 6 times being parked up, and 6 times the contents of the fuel pipes dribbling into the engine wasted when parked), could be a sticking choke, could be rediculously low gearing, etc.

All the best

Keith


Agh. I've been over it with a fine tooth comb.
Chains a tad dirty but nothing too serious.

Pretty much had a full service recently I put it down to age and high milage, carbs have been dialled back to factory settings and definitely no fuel leaks, emulsion tubes could possibly be worn but didn't look excessive or oval.

Poor thing's not as taught as she used to be. Float bowls could be leaned back out a bit but it wouldn't make a world of difference.
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