Best MPG for Motorcycle

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: Greenman
I don't agree with most of what's been said here.
First of all, bikes can be very uncomfortable to ride, if you buy an uncomfortable bike. A lot of bikes have you leaning forward with your head tilted back so you can see, it's a position that's guaranteed to make your neck, shoulders and back hurt. If you get a bike that's designed for comfort, with an upright riding position and a good seat, there is no reason you couldn't ride several hundred miles a day without any discomfort. I also don't agree with the "buy an old beater or a dinky little 250" school of thought. Test drive a lot of bikes, buy the one that you like, and suits your needs. If the bike has a great deal of horse power, you will need to be careful not to twist the throttle too far.

I do agree that bikes are dangerous, you can mitigate that to some extant with good gear and a great deal of caution, but they will never be safe.

Tons of misinformation.

Of course some bikes are uncomfortable to ride - some bikes are built for different purposes than others. An extremely comfortable bike will not do that well up in the mountains or at a trackday and vice versa but even the least comfortable bikes are generally ok for ~100 miles or so at a time which is as far as you can go before refueling anyway. I've commuted on supersports for ~7 years and while they could be better they definitely aren't unbearable.

....dealing with a big bike (liter bike and SS 600's) is NOT just a matter of 'not twisting the throttle too far'. That's the dumbest comment in this thread thus far.

I also don't think someone with no experience riding will be able to simply hop on a particular type of motorcycle and ride for more than a few hours with no comfort issues at all. It is physically demanding and you really need some conditioning before your body is used to sitting on a bike for hours at a time. You *WILL* be sore the first time you spend a few hours in the saddle. I don't care what kind of bike you ride.

One thing I hear new riders complain about most is the wind and their head moving around. Sore butts is another. Cramping in the leg muscles is yet another. We're not talking about sport bikes with clipons either. We're talking about more upright naked bikes.

When I first rode my SV 100 miles my ass was killing me by the time I got home. I still have the same seat and after spending a few hours on it I don't have that problem anymore. I haven't changed a thing, I've just gotten used to it.

After not being on a bike for 30 years I jumped on mine and rode 200 miles. It didn't bother me at all. I will admit that I'm used to a great deal of physical abuse from years in construction, but I'm also an old fart so it balances out.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: Greenman
I don't agree with most of what's been said here.
First of all, bikes can be very uncomfortable to ride, if you buy an uncomfortable bike. A lot of bikes have you leaning forward with your head tilted back so you can see, it's a position that's guaranteed to make your neck, shoulders and back hurt. If you get a bike that's designed for comfort, with an upright riding position and a good seat, there is no reason you couldn't ride several hundred miles a day without any discomfort. I also don't agree with the "buy an old beater or a dinky little 250" school of thought. Test drive a lot of bikes, buy the one that you like, and suits your needs. If the bike has a great deal of horse power, you will need to be careful not to twist the throttle too far.

I do agree that bikes are dangerous, you can mitigate that to some extant with good gear and a great deal of caution, but they will never be safe.

Tons of misinformation.

Of course some bikes are uncomfortable to ride - some bikes are built for different purposes than others. An extremely comfortable bike will not do that well up in the mountains or at a trackday and vice versa but even the least comfortable bikes are generally ok for ~100 miles or so at a time which is as far as you can go before refueling anyway. I've commuted on supersports for ~7 years and while they could be better they definitely aren't unbearable.

....dealing with a big bike (liter bike and SS 600's) is NOT just a matter of 'not twisting the throttle too far'. That's the dumbest comment in this thread thus far.

I also don't think someone with no experience riding will be able to simply hop on a particular type of motorcycle and ride for more than a few hours with no comfort issues at all. It is physically demanding and you really need some conditioning before your body is used to sitting on a bike for hours at a time. You *WILL* be sore the first time you spend a few hours in the saddle. I don't care what kind of bike you ride.

One thing I hear new riders complain about most is the wind and their head moving around. Sore butts is another. Cramping in the leg muscles is yet another. We're not talking about sport bikes with clipons either. We're talking about more upright naked bikes.

When I first rode my SV 100 miles my ass was killing me by the time I got home. I still have the same seat and after spending a few hours on it I don't have that problem anymore. I haven't changed a thing, I've just gotten used to it.

After not being on a bike for 30 years I jumped on mine and rode 200 miles. It didn't bother me at all. I will admit that I'm used to a great deal of physical abuse from years in construction, but I'm also an old fart so it balances out.

A lot has to do with holding yourself up with your lower back - using your knees to grip the tank. You'd be surprised how well you can develop those lower back muscles just by riding.