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click and clack, the tappet bros. on the issue of fuel economy

"Snag" wrote in news:WURTg.27658$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

Also, don't forget the moped craze of the late '70's/early '80's that arised after the gas shortages/scares of the 1970's. These things got

120mpg and could do 35mph and this was using 1970's technology. They only cost $250-$300 brand new down at the Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki dealership. I lived in a semi-small city in a decent climate area back in the late '70's. Tons of people drove mopeds around town back then. And before I get flamed, yes, obviously, I realize they're not practical for highway travel. But for short trips around town to work or school, etc., they're great. Outside the local diners/cafes, there'd be 2 or 3 mopeds out front belonging to the old men who were inside drinking coffee and perhaps one owned by the waitress. Ir ecently bought a Suzuki FA50 Shuttle for $80 from a barn that looks this this one:

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After a carb rebuild and some fuel line cleaning, it runs great. I scoot around town on it. As I was loading it into the back of the minivan, my wife was pissed, of course. "Why are you spending money on junk!" Then I explained the mpg advantage and plus it's just fun to ride! At least I didn't drop $13000 on a Harley!

Reply to
grappletech
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Get a REAL bike.... ;-)

My 1200 Venture will turn in 45-50 mpg. That is a full dress touring bike with the ability to turn well over 100mph VERY WELL OVER....

Now if you want to look at a mileage car it's real simple. Buy some little tiny car like a Geo or something. Just don't EVER get into an accident with it....

Reply to
Steve W.

Yeah, wives are like that. Several men at work ride motor bikes to work. A co-worker buys a new BMW every time they come out with a new one. Another friend got a ticket a few weeks ago for doing 140 in West Texas... cost him $300+. I rode a newer BMW. Gets 40 mpg and 0-90 mph in less than 5 seconds. Talk about exhilarating! Yes, a decent bike may be the way to go! Except in the summer... Burning hot sun and pavement is a real problem. And many bikes overheat if not moving.

Reply to
=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul

It's rated to do 0-60 MPH in under 10 secs. Is that considered barely adequate nowadays?

Reply to
larry moe 'n curly

Neither did I . I'm into my '76 FLH about 7500 now , but it's drop dead reliable . And my daily transportation . But I only get between 35 and 42 mpg ... And new Big Twin Harleys are a bit more than 13k , unless you get the bottom of the line Dyna .

Reply to
Snag

It's obvious you didn't read my sig , I DO have a real bike . It's called a Harley , 1976 FLH to be precise . Full dress bagger (all original !) that gets around 35-42 mpg , depending on how hard I ride it . And MUCH more comfy on the long rides than momma's Red Rocket . It will do over 100 , but I won't ... unless I'm on the CB750 or the Kaw .

Reply to
Snag

That depends on how much under 10 seconds. 10 seconds is certainly a long time to get up to 60.

Reply to
Mike Marlow

Sounds like you think there's a brickwall preventing good mpg in excess of

50, nope. And I won't go down a road about motorcycles that everyone knows can easily exceed 50 mpg, especially the toy ones you're speaking of. "Toy" cars in western Europe regularly get much better gas mileage. There's no equivalents here to speak of. Two differences. One is EPA standards, the other is smaller size and less weight along with smaller CC engines. Even the terms for midsize on one side of the lake is different than ours.
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to some opinions expressed in the past in this newsgroup, Western Europe does have an EPA equivalent bureacracy.
Reply to
Jonny

Add an enclosed body, three more seats and two more wheels, heating system and windows and what will it get???? ;)

mike hunt

Reply to
Mike Hunter

Everybody points to what they get in ideal conditions on the highway, like what my one grandson says about his Civic. If he drives on the interstates at 55 MPH he gets close to the EPA highway mileage figure. However the EPA mileage is around 10 MPG higher than what he actually gets with his normal driving...

I own a 1972 Honda CL70, purchased new. Top speed around 65 MPH, best mileage per tank full is around 45, if not driven above 45 MPH. My Fat Boy will get close to that with two up, on a flat road, if I'm lucky ;)

mike hunt

Reply to
Mike Hunter

Perhaps if one lives in flat country. Drive one up a long grade and try to maintain the posted speed limit, or try accelerating from 60 MPH and you will see why it is a slug. On needs to drive with the throttle to the floor most of the time on anything but a flat road.and if you do that your mileage will drop way off ;)

mike hunt

Reply to
Mike Hunter

Sure one can get higher mileage on a bike than a car and yes one can get a bike to go very fast, but you will not get that higher mileage going fast. One can not change the laws of physics.

mike hunt

Reply to
Mike Hunter

Buyers in Europe buy small cars because they can not afford to pay all of the taxes levied on larger vehicles and on the fuel they use. In the US buyers are not restricted by higher taxes as to what they buy, so they buy the vehicle they want and can afford. Those buyers that can not afford the large safer vehicles, they may prefer, have to buy the smaller cars they can afford or buy used vehicles. Look at the sales figures of any vehicle line sold in the US and you will discover it is not the cheapest stripped down model of that brand that is the best seller. In the US it is mostly market forces that determine which one people will buy, not those forced upon by the government as is the case in Europe. Census figures show the average household in the US owns more than two vehicles, on average.

mike hunt

Reply to
Mike Hunter

And just don't EVER get into an accident while on a motorcycle...

Reply to
Dmarino217

My brother-in-law bought a Dyna about 5 years ago. A purple one! ick.......then his wife, my sister, wanted one, so they got her a Sportster

1200 Custom 2 years ago. A friend of mine bought a mid 90's Sporster 883 for $3800. It had only 2000 miles on it. The original owner bought it brand new and basically hardly ever drove it but did keep fresh gas in it and changed the oil regulary and rode it occasioanlly. I'd like to pick up a Sportster 883. I like them. My wife refuses to ride on a motorcycle, so I don't have to worry about hauling around a passenger. Plus, I'm kinda short -- 5'8". I've owned several bikes over the years. My first 2 bikes were hand me downs from my uncle -- a Honda 70, then a Suzuki 125 dual purpose, then I bought a mid 70's Honda CB500, then I had a Honda Trail 90. Then I bought this Suzuki FA50 Shuttle, cool, cool moped. Now, time for a Sportster!
Reply to
grappletech

Helmets and leathers . Been down twice recently , couple of years ago a Toyota tried to make me into a hood ornament. Scratch one cherry '88 Sportster . Got a bigger bike (the FLH) , slid out in a parking lot last December, too cold for the touring tires I run ...

Reply to
Snag

Missed it Snag, But it is a Hardly after all.... ;-)

I had a chance to buy a Harley a couple weeks ago, Just couldn't get comfortable in the saddle. Plus I LOVE the way my Venture handles. Since mine now has a full out VMax engine now it is even more fun.

Reply to
Steve W.

To each his or her own , Steve . I rides what I likes , you rides what you likes , we both be happy ! Really , it's a matter of personal preference . I fell in love with this bike the first time I saw it . Almost passed it up cuz of the hand shift , but ... at heart , I'm a bit of a poser , couldn't pass it up . And I "work very hard" at keeping the old girl in top form . Most people do a doubletake when I say the bike is 30 years old ... And the motah ain't stock ... KB pistons , S&S heads , Andrews cam , SE carb w/K&N , etc . Won't hang with your VMax , but has enough hp to get out of it's own way (heh,heh) .

Reply to
Snag

Not a problem. Ever read any of Daniel Meyers books. He REALLY rides...

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I'm a novice compared to him. But have done a few Iron Butt rides, Did an Alaska run and a loop through the states. The poor Venture is currently torn down for a bit of preventative work, and maybe some new paint...

Reply to
Steve W.

Neal Peart (drummer from the rock band 'Rush') went on a 2 year 25,000 mile motorcycle trip. He drove across Canada up to Alaska, down to the USA, crisscrossed the USA a couple of times, then drove through Mexico, Middle America, South America, then back up through S. American, M.America, Mexico then again across the USA then back up to Canada. He did it on a BMW 1100(?) dual-purpose bike. He wrote a book about the trip -- "Ghost Rider". Excellent and interesting book. Sometimes, some of his friends would hook up with him to ride a stretch of the trip with him, but mostly he was by himself. The morning that he left to start the trip, he drove down to the local gas station and the kid who works there filled his tank up with diesel! So he thought that might be a bad omen but it wasn't.

Another guy, back in the late 70's, took his moped on a 15,000 mile trip through Canada, Yukon, Alaska. interesting stuff:

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Reply to
grappletech

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