Save the earth, buy a scooter

[blues2cruise]

Save the earth....walk.

[RhadamYgg]

You know, as I understand it - gearing has a lot to do with fuel efficiency. There was a guy out there on the web with aerodynamic completely covered 250cc motorcycles that was getting incredible gas mileage - I think over 100. I'll have to search for it. There were criteria for it to work out right, engine size no larger than 250cc, weight, aerodynamics. It was cool when I found it - I think they produce the covering in a kit that you can modify for any motorcycle.

[RhadamYgg]

Something like this, but there was a guy manufacturing these things if I can ever find it. I was interested in it when I had my Ninja 250.

[Gunslinger]

Another bonus is that if you get killed on that thing they can probably just dump you in the ground, bike and all. Just kidding. But I would like to know how you can increase the bike's weight by 100 pounds and get nearly double the mileage. Does wind resistance really have that much of an effect on mileage? And this guy claims 214 mpg, wow that's impressive.

[BuzZz]

Wind resistance can indeed affect mileage to an amazing degree. Enough to make up for the extra poundage... at higher speeds.

But to pull off 200+MPG I would bet big money that bike never went over 35 MPH for the entire distance.

[Wrider]

Yeah wind resistance has a TON to do with efficiency. It's the main reason all modern racebikes have fairings. And it's the reason that the Hayabusa looks like it does.
As for the weight adding with efficiency going up, it wouldn't work in stop and go driving, like city traffic, but if you were just on the highway it would work beautifully.
Mythbusters actually did a test where they took a stock Taurus and checked it's highway cruising MPG, then added something like 500 lbs worth of modeling clay onto the outside, checked it again, and the cruising MPG was the same. Then they golf-balled the modeling clay, added the weight back into the car, and the MPGs went up drastically.
HOWEVER
Because of the weight added, the amount of fuel needed to get the car up to highway cruising speeds was also increased.

Performance
Efficiency
Safety/Comfort
Pick 2

[dean owens]

According to Yamaha, 2010 FZ6R = 43mpg and 2010 TMAX = 47mpg. If you really want to save Mother Earth a CBR125 like csspostal's might make a more significant difference.

fz6r is a different bike than the fz6.

worst i've gotten with the fz6 is ~40. best i have gotten is ~52+ ... i can't remember the specifics but it was pretty good. my average stop and go, around town commuting is ~45mpg.

[koji52]

Uhhhhh...I'll keep my aftermarket pipe. Did I get over 50 mpg on the Sportster? Yes. Did I trade in for my 1125R that gets less than 40 mpg? Yes. I also have a V-Rod and get 30 miles to the gallon the way I ride it. I'm pretty sure that the 2% of the U.S. population riding motorcycles is not generating the bulk of the emissions that are adding to a global warming effect. I'm also pretty sure that if the 2% traded in for scooters, we'd not have much an effect on slowing global warming (even if we rode it everywhere). Sorry, I think I'll keep my 1000cc+ "gas guzzlers."

[RhadamYgg]

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with the FZ6R - maybe they added the weight with the fairing and didn't get the lower wind resistance benefit.

Oh, definitely, if you get killed in that egg-cycle, you'll be jelly smush inside of it and they would have to bury you in it.

[jmillheiser]

Motorcycles are weird with their fuel economy too.

My bandit 600 got its highest mpg when I was thrashing it in the canyons when the engine was at 7k+ rpm most of the time, I have heard this from other owners of various 600cc 4 cylinder bikes too (I suspect it has to do with the way 600s are tuned). I would average 45-47 in town and on the highway, and 55-58 in the canyons.

Bikes are hardly fuel economy champs for their size/weight. My mom owns a Prius that will get 55mpg in town without trying and aobut 45mpg on the highway and drives better than most small cars.

I can only imagine what sort of fuel economy a hybrid motorcycle or scooter could get. Im suprised nobody has tried to develop one yet.