Triumphrat

Gob-ny-geay

With the cost of fuel in the USA now inching up towards $4.00 per gallon, maybe it's time to have a thread on Modifications to increase fuel economy.
Yes, we know you fellow riders overseas have it much worse, but we've been somewhat spoiled here in the States, and barring some rioting and revolution, it doesn't look as if the fuel prices are going to stabilise for quite some time.
What used to be a fun ride every Saturday and Sunday morning is now costing me about $15.00 a pop. Not exactly free and easy anymore.

That said, I'll start:

1.) The #1 Fuel economy device is located between our ears - ride the bike conservatively, instead of like Mike Hailwood, and the MPG's should increase significantly. Easy to say... hard to do.
2.) 19 (or more) tooth sprocket?
3.) Loose weight - both the bike AND the rider! Remove anything you are not using today - saddlebags, tank bag, etc.
4.) Try to stay below say 65 MPH? I know that is rough, but the decrease in MPG is pretty dramatic once you exceed 70 or so.

These are only a few, and I guess debatable (isn't everything?), please add your expertise to the list.
Maybe we can establish a target, say 55 MPG for a Bonneville? Something like that.

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"I found myself homesick for a place I've never been to."

AceT100

Its still cheaper than a lot of places....

Its about $8.00 per US gallon in the UK, or $10.00 for a UK gallon.

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texas94fs

Remove all bulky fairings or anything to add wind resistance I imagine would help although marginally, but combine all of those suggestions I'm sure you could get more mpg out of em.

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"If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough"

grumpy_1944

The best mileage I've gotten was packing double at 70-75 mph during a group ride. Go figure

Never tried the 19 tooth yet, someone else will have to answer that. Thinking of getting one soon.

In the process of loosing weight now, will know something in the future.

See first comment. This makes sense but, has not been true for me at this point

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Bill;
I took the road less traveled---------now where in the hell am I??

sweatmachine

I don't think the 19t will really help any. It might lower the revs, but it's more work for the engine to turn the wheels.

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"If you will it Dude, it is no dream"

904cc Custom Bonnie Cafe Fighter!

ohiorider

A naked bike, with exposed rider, lots of odds and ends hanging in the airstream (including panniers, etc) give a motorcycle the aerodynamics of a cinderblock. Once we get up to speed where we're having to keep the throttle rolled on to overcome wind resistance, say over 30-40mph, it takes more and more hp to go faster, ie more and more fuel to cover the same distance. I think wind resistance increases with the square of the speed. Although I'm not representing these figures in any specific units of resistance, the results are relative:

30x30mph=900 "units of resistance"
60x60mph=3600 "units of resistance"
90x90mph=8100 "units of resistance"
Wind resistance at 60mph is 4 times greater than at 30mph, and 9 times greater at 90mph.

So, if the motorcycle was streamlined, say on the order of a mid 1950s Guzzi "dustbin" racer, it'd take less hp to push it down the road than it would to push a naked bike, since the streamliner would have a lower coefficient of drag. http://www.allposters.com/gallery.as...word%3D2554648

The answer to good performance and good mileage would be a nearly totally enclosed motorcycle that also took the shape and position of the rider into consideration, as well as how the rear of the bike was streamlined.

This look would probably not appeal to many motorcyclists, especially those of us who purchased bikes like our Bonnevilles for their appearance and retro-ness, not their aerodynamics. However, if I could have an 80hp machine that could run 80mph and give me 80 mpg, I could accept some ugly!

Bob

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03 T100 Lucifer Org and Silv: 122/42 jets, TORs, 18T, UNI filter, no AI, Polaris bellmouth, Metz 880 tires, Prog. 440 shocks (105/150 springs), 11-1124 fork springs, Thrux fork caps, gaiters, MotoTwin low bars, 6024 lamp, htd grips, 12v outlet.

Texascat

hmm. I actually lost 10 lbs over the last month... i wonder how much will that translate into savings $$$

I'll add one more:
Ride solo, leave wife home... although she might not like it

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2011 BMW GS 1200

5bassman

This doesn't make me feel any better. They're still sticking it to us because they can! We need to start drilling again ourselves! And I use Diesel in my truck!

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2005 Triumph Bonneville Black

Gob-ny-geay

Make sure tirres are properly inflated. More emphasis on not being UNDER-inflated.

Keep air intake filter clean. Would a low restriction filter - like a K&N make sense WITHOUT changing jets? Or would the bike run lean as a result.

How about using a lower viscosity oil, say 10W30 Vs 20W50?

Windshield? Better? Worse? I would think better, as long as it is somewhat curved, angled and streamlined. I've seen some on the market that appear to be HUGE, which would be great for riding without wind on the chest, but I'm not so sure about how effective they are at "cutting" through the air.

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"I found myself homesick for a place I've never been to."

sweatmachine

I have one word for you: Bicycle!

What's funny is, my Jetta Diesel gets more mpg's than my bonnie does, usually 40-42mpg and the bonnie usually gets 35ish mpg.

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"If you will it Dude, it is no dream"

904cc Custom Bonnie Cafe Fighter!