Gas Guzzlers 'n Dirt Bikes

[Stu]

I want to know how many of you are now riding your dirt bikes around to save on (obscene) fuel charges, and, what sort of mileage you are getting doing that. In a way, we are the leading edge for fuel conservation in spite of the State of Kansas viewing us as merely evil dirt bikers. I nearly double the mileage that I get with my pick up by riding my '07 (street "legal") KTM 525 EXC around town (52 MPG). (I could improve on this with a scooter but the scooter wouldn't poke its front wheel at the sky with wild teen-age abandon the way the 525 does and still get great mileage.)

What are you riding around to save on gas and what sort of mileage are you getting doing it?

Stu

[Hayden]

I was riding my XRR for a while over the winter and some now. It gets about 30 mpg. I just went to storage and grabbed the BMW Dakar to get it ready for Alaska. Im riding it mostly now with right around 60 mpg. Ive seen 69 mpg out of it though. The 640 Adv get about like you, 50 ish mpg although its still winterized in storage BMW 1100s gets about 40-45 mpg. Again still in storage winterized

Motard wheels comming for the XRR this week. Then gas milage will be shot to hell

Ooopps forgot the KLX. Dad has stollen it and wont give it back. It gets right around 45-48 mpg. Dad gets over 50 with it but he rides like 40 mph everywhere.



Hayden

[Hank Moody]

The Husky gets 30 MPH no matter how it is ridden. I'm thinking about getting a used KLR for commuting or one of these:

http://www.baronbob.com/kikker-hardknock.htm

[tp_cracker]

2007 KLR

Just filled up this morning and got 54mpg. This is riding on interstate the whole way to work. No putting around and I still got 54. Normally get around 48-50.

[Jeff620RXC]

Winterized!?! It's JUNE!

I'm riding my LC4. I only get about 40 mpg with the FCR carb.
Got 50 ish with the old carb but it was junk and wouldn't start or run very well.
Very happy with 40 mpg and a smile.
I'd like to ride my 450 it gets over 50 mpg but it doesn't have a key.
I have ridden it and chained it to a pole but that doesn't make my mind secure.

[BeemerBill]

I ride my motorcycles a lot ( 20k to 25k a year), but rarely ride them around town. My miles are out of the city, and drive my F150 around town. That is until the crazy gas prices arrived. This is the first year since I can remember that I have been actually riding my bike in town. My DR350SE is a blast to ride, and gets 55 to 60 mpg, that compares with my F150's 15mpg. Now days the only time the pick-up is started, is if I am needing to carry something I would have trouble carrying on my DR, or of course if it's raining (like it has been doing so much of lately). I am really enjoying the little Suzuki, but still don't care much about riding in the city. I have probably cut my gas usage in half or better, and at todays gas prices, that is a lot.....

[Stu]

I'd like to ride my 450 it gets over 50 mpg but it doesn't have a key.
I have ridden it and chained it to a pole but that doesn't make my mind secure.

No key? My 525 key switch can be hot wired with a paper clip. I usually just leave the key in it. If theft is on the mind of someone wanting your dirt bike they can pick it up and put it into the back of a truck, key or no key. (That is why you have insurance.) However, if you want to flummox them remove the cable to the starter so they have to kick start it! I'd find them on the pavement with a broken leg with my 525.

Anyone have a 250? A friend tells me he gets about 80 mpg with his.

Stu

[safiri]

A lot of days I go without 4 wheel convenience ... unless you count a trailer's wheels!

This is what I use to drop off and pick up my son from daycare (yep, that is mom in the picture). 4 mile RT.


Otherwise I try to ride my F650GSD. Commuting to work (teaching school), I get about 55 mpg at 65-70 mph on a 38 mile RT. I ride year round and have for 3 years. This winter sucked in terms of moisture keeping me from riding. I have passed a bank temperature sign at 70 mph that said 6 oF. Ice on the roads will keep the bike in the garage, and did this winter quite a bit. Last year I rode SAG for a bicycle century ride. I averages about 40 mph for 200 miles and got btw 75-80 mpg with the F650. Nice.

[Stu]

Nice pix!

I just now got this from a friend:

"I was looking through several manufacturers sites tonight, and I came across new Yamaha scooters coming out later this year.
They are going to be 125's which should give them decent power for around town. They will list for around $3,000 and will get approximately 90 mpg! Might be worth looking into for around town transportation. I have said that they needed something in that size range for a long time. The price is actually less than I would have thought, so they should sell like hot cakes and be hard to get. I might seriously consider buying one as a way to save a ton on gas and wear and tear on the old Acura. I would imagine that he 125 should manage 55 mph fairly easily, which is good for around town and keeping up with traffic."

Looks like the Japanese have once again responded to a rapidly changing market with products that more and more people will seriously consider. 90 MPG isn't shabby especially given that the latest estimates are that gas prices will slowly rise to about $7 a gallon in the next 3 to 4 years. That is what I paid for VP race fuel last year.

Stu

[will_kc]

Thought I'd add to the list of economy minded rides. My Kawasaki Liquidcooled Road machine bounces around 52 - 60 mpg. My wifes XT225 runs 72-80 mpg. Best mileage when driving under 55, cutting wind resistance. I don't get to commute to K.C. but we are allowed to ride to Iola or Ft. Scott to run errands. Even that little bit helps out.

My sister in-law has a 250 scooter that gets about the same as the XT. The big sell for the scoot' is the storage! I would go for the largest body style to mpg ratio, just to get the extra storage. Getting a bag of groceries under the seat isn't a bad concept at all.....

[xr-nut]

The Husky gets 30 MPH no matter how it is ridden. I'm thinking about getting a used KLR for commuting or one of these:

http://www.baronbob.com/kikker-hardknock.htm

hank, after checking out the supplied link i thought i should warn you. you know, since im cool like that. anyhow- i HIGHLY doubt with that blonde hair she will get any mileage at all! although, like stu above, who cares about mileage when huge smiles are involved! it took me a few minutes on the site to even figure out what they are trying to sell! if you need anymore help, let me know. Im here for ya-jr

[Savage]

I just bought my modded DRZ 450 E and am checking my miles to see how it does. If it doubles my suv I'll be alright with that. 50mpg would be even better but I doubt that'll happen. I just sold my Lifan 200cc DS bike and it would get 75 mpg commuting, 60 mpg screwing around on trails and giving the kids rides.

[Jeff620RXC]

[quote="Stu"][quote="Jeff620RXC"]I'd like to ride my 450 it gets over 50 mpg but it doesn't have a key.
I have ridden it and chained it to a pole but that doesn't make my mind secure.[/quote]

No key? My 525 key switch can be hot wired with a paper clip. I usually just leave the key in it. If theft is on the mind of someone wanting your dirt bike they can pick it up and put it into the back of a truck, key or no key. (That is why you have insurance.) However, if you want to flummox them remove the cable to the starter so they have to kick start it! I'd find them on the pavement with a broken leg with my 525.

Anyone have a 250? A friend tells me he gets about 80 mpg with his.

Stu[/quote]

Yeah, but I couldn't replace it with the $$$ I'd get from insurance. Unless you know where I can get a good deal on an 07 525 located around the Lawrence area!
I had good luck with the previous owner of my current steed!

[safiri]

In terms of no key ... any of our bikes, even my 320 lb LC4 - Exxon Valdez, could be loaded in a pickup pretty darn easily by two guys.

An idea is to mount a shortout switch hidden somewhere on the bike that shorts out the ignition coil to ground. No spark, no run. If the switch fails, just snip the added wire at the coil and you are back to stock configuration.

[Stu]

Back in ancient times we put cut out switches on our English sports cars on the battery cable (the "sport" was in figuring out how to get them running again when they failed somewhere). That worked. They were heavy and hard to steal without a truck and winch. In Mexico we used big log chains wrapped thru the frames and both wheels of our dirt bikes and anchored them to light poles. Sometimes we just put them in the motel rooms with us at night.

Riding around in Kansas and Missouri does not present the threat of theft that you have in Mexico. Dirt bikes are just not "sexy" in the minds of customers for stolen motorcycles. Dirt bikes are mostly stolen by kids that want a dirt bike to abuse (and they get them from back yards or break into garages for them) and by slimeballs that need parts for their dirt bike. I think this drops the probability of theft quite a bit. I don't worry much about it as a result. And yes, my insurance would not begin to cover what I have in it in both time and add-ons. (And you don't want it Jeff. It has been made user unfriendly by me and, Whoa! is it ever!)

I do worry about legislation to eliminate dirt bikes from the transportation mix, especially since so many of them get great mileage. This is government theft of value, to us personally (we can no longer use it on the street -- you 625 SXC owners know all about this) and to the common good (reducing fuel consumption). This is mandated by the federal DOT and state changes in the law end with the F-DOT threatening to withhold highway construction funds. Blanket blackmail. Gas guzzling vehicles continue to be available and purchased whereas dramatically reduced mileage dirt bikes are mostly illegal on the highways.

Stu