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motordavid: I've been riding almost as long as you have, since I got a Suzuki X6 Hustler in '67 (a 2-cycle 250cc). My '84 V65 Sabre is still going strong at 102K miles.
catman, GetOuttaTown!
I had a '65, (called a T20 Super Six or something like that, when it first rolled into the dlr, then). It was my first street bike, as I had learned to ride in the woods, a year or so before that. It was very quick, the brakes sucked, and it got wobbly up near its top of ~90. I drove the crap out of it and sold it for almost what I paid for it, a year later...
It was not exactly a neophyte's first street bike,
The X6 was my first street bike. I rode it all ove most of the USA when I was playing bass with the Mexicali Brass (a Tijuana Brass style group). I got tired of sitting in a car with four other people and told them I was going home to get my bike and I'd meet them in wherever the next engagement was (I don't recall now). For the next month, I met up with them in the next town. It was great fun, although I remember that once I showed up 15 minutes before the gig after riding 688 miles! But I was 20 years old and it didn't matter...ah, youth. I enjoyed that little bike!
motorcycles are not gas savers unless you go to itty bitty
here are some fuel rates
over 500cc 40 mpg or less
350cc 40 - 50 mpg
150cc 60 to 70 mpg
50 cc over 80 mpg or better
problem is everybody is driving engines the size of small car engines.
unlike japan where the honda 90 is king
motorcycles are not gas savers unless you go to itty bitty
here are some fuel rates
over 500cc 40 mpg or less
350cc 40 - 50 mpg
150cc 60 to 70 mpg
50 cc over 80 mpg or better
problem is everybody is driving engines the size of small car engines.
unlike japan where the honda 90 is king
If just saving gas is the objective, my 900cc Vulcan that gets about 45 MPG around town saves gas vs almost any car with just the driver. Now if that car that gets 20 MPG has three of more passengers the car is saving fuel. Unless that car has two foxy looking ladiesin it, I'll take my bike.
motorcycles are not gas savers unless you go to itty bitty
here are some fuel rates
over 500cc 40 mpg or less
350cc 40 - 50 mpg
150cc 60 to 70 mpg
50 cc over 80 mpg or better
...
Not to arm wrestle, but those 'fuel rates' are not based on any world experience I have observed...
-my '94 Goldwing has rarely gone below 40 mpg, and usually avg's 45-46 ish in 60K miles of riding, and cross country touring, 2 up.
-my '87 Honda Hurricane 1000 does mid 40s for the past 24 yrs no matter how hard I crank it.
-hellsbells, my '75 HD Shovelhead, (had it since new), does 45+ all day, every day, when it runs.
Dunno where you got your 'stats', but generalities, and not very accurate, imo. Would like to see the link(s) that support that 'data'.
And, as many have responded, most of us ride for 'fun' in some form or another.
Dunno where you got your 'stats', but generalities, and not very accurate, imo. Would like to see the link(s) that support that 'data'.
I'm with David, i've owned 4 motorcycles and none has gotten worse than 40 mpg...
I actually get the same mileage on my 79 Honda 400 as I do on my Suzuki 650....I get close that mileage on my Honda 750 as well. The issue w/ the 400 honda was I rode about 70-80mph, pushing 7500-8000 rpm, the 750 sits about 4500 rpm at 65, and my suzuki would do it at 5000 rpm...Best mileage I ever got was mid 50's on my 02' Suzuki SV650...worst mileage was probably my Honda Magna 750, which was still above 40 mpg.
If you take into account costs of ownership the bike comes out significantly cheaper too. I've purchased ALL my motorcycles for a combined $3470...I pay more than that in one years worth of car payments, not to mention the bikes are all below $100/yr to insure. It's true it can take a while to recoup the cost of buying a motorcycle/gear/tires etc if your hopes are simply to save money. However if the bike was your first vehicle, you'll come out ahead almost immediately. If it's your only vehicle, you'll be doing very very well...Prius or TDI fuel economy w/o the $20k+ sticker price.
It depends on how one rides too. My V65 Sabre (1100cc) will easily go below 40 mpg if I hotrod it around town, but gets up to 45 mpg cruising at near-legal speeds on the highway.
motorcycles are not gas savers unless you go to itty bitty
here are some fuel rates
over 500cc 40 mpg or less
350cc 40 - 50 mpg
150cc 60 to 70 mpg
50 cc over 80 mpg or better
problem is everybody is driving engines the size of small car engines.
unlike japan where the honda 90 is king
My BMW R1150R (1150) Gets over 40MPG (About 44) With me, and all three boxes loaded.
At 100MPH
My Honda XR650L (650) often gets over 50. (MPG)
Going slower however.
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My '84 V65 Sabre is still going strong at 102K miles.
