Best MPG for Motorcycle

[roguerower]

I've been offered a summer internship at andrews air force base and am looking to get a bike to commute rather than worrying about a car (a) because of the gas mileage and (b) because of the horrendous traffic and my ability to use the HOV lanes by myself on a bike.

Since I will be riding on the highway, especially I-95, I don't think a 250cc will cut it but I don't want a massive engine.

This will be my first bike.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Suzuki V-Strom 650

This bike will get mid 50mpg and has plenty of power up into triple digit speeds. I have a Suzuki SV650 (same basic bike but more aggressive and a little more powerful) and it will do 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. The V-Twin engine has a lot of torque and in this bike it makes for a light and powerful bike that handles very well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

BTW-Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? This may seem like a good idea but for a n00b to jump in and expect to be commuting everyday on one in DC traffic is not going to be what you expected.

First of all, a motorcycle has a lot of power and they are inherently unstable because you only have two wheels i.e. they fall over easily. Second, you are completely exposed to the elements and all the vehicles around you. Some people find this alone to be enough to put them off the sport. Even 60 degrees is enough to cause you to freeze your ass off if you don't have the proper gear.

Also, you can carry very little on a bike so you really have to plan everything out and pack and then you have to spend time gearing up to ride. Oh, and what if it is clear and sunny when you go to work but it is pouring rain out when you go home? Ever ride a motorcycle on wet roads? You thought it sucked in the cold? Riding in the rain sucks.

It also takes time for your body to get used to riding a motorcycle. When you start out your body will ache from hugging the tank with your knees, your neck muscles will fatigue easily and your ass will kill you.

If you decide you still want to do this I would highly recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Course at your local college. I would do this before you even start looking at bikes personally.

 

[StageLeft]

Commuting in DC traffic to save gas will be a small win when you're in traction, for real I would not want to commute a bike in that kind of condition at all. There's a reason why damn few people do it.

 

[angry hampster]

Just pick up a beater Honda Civic from the early 90s for a grand or two. I agree with everything JM said. If you've never ridden a motorcycle before, that is an absolutely terrible situation to throw yourself into. My sister lives in Arlington, I've seen the traffic. That's not the kind of thing you want to be thrown into when you first start riding.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
If you decide you still want to do this I would highly recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Course at your local college. I would do this before you even start looking at bikes personally.

And if it's anything like here, sign up right away, as there seems to be a year long waiting list.

 

[Arkaign]

If you really want a bike, start yourself on an old Honda NX125. Bit hard to find, but they are very easy to work on, and easily get 100-120mpg when properly maintained (good spark, clean fuel, good oil).

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Suzuki V-Strom 650

This bike will get mid 50mpg and has plenty of power up into triple digit speeds. I have a Suzuki SV650 (same basic bike but more aggressive and a little more powerful) and it will do 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. The V-Twin engine has a lot of torque and in this bike it makes for a light and powerful bike that handles very well.

I own one. If you aren't riding aggressively and aren't going 70 you can get 60MPG.

I don't get 60MPG.

IMHO the power tops out at 90MPH, though...not that this is a problem. I wouldn't recommend it for a new rider, but it works fine for a second bike. If you're tall.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Suzuki V-Strom 650

This bike will get mid 50mpg and has plenty of power up into triple digit speeds. I have a Suzuki SV650 (same basic bike but more aggressive and a little more powerful) and it will do 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. The V-Twin engine has a lot of torque and in this bike it makes for a light and powerful bike that handles very well.

I own one. If you aren't riding aggressively and aren't going 70 you can get 60MPG.

I don't get 60MPG.

IMHO the power tops out at 90MPH, though...not that this is a problem. I wouldn't recommend it for a new rider, but it works fine for a second bike. If you're tall.

I haven't ridden the Wee-Strom but my SV will do almost 130mph top speed. I find that anything over 100 and it begins to hit that wall of aerodynamic drag. 0-100 is no problem though and it is quicker than most cars in that respect and it will absolutely kill 99% of cars 0-60.

Best I've seen for mpg is 56 on the freeway or out in the country doing 50+ mph. Stop and go city riding is around 45-46mpg.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

DO NOT BUY A BIKE FOR THE GAS MILEAGE.


Buy a bike because you want to ride - there are too many early 90's civics that get 48mpg to be buying a bike purely for the gas savings.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Also,

A v-strom is WAY too tall/wide/big for a first time rider.

An SV is too big of a motor for a first time rider.




Get a used GS500 or a Ninja 500. A ninja 250 will keep up with traffic just fine, but it really isn't ideal for extended highway or anything.

 

[DVad3r]

Buell Blast

72 MPG or something like that, 500 cc.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper
Also,

A v-strom is WAY too tall/wide/big for a first time rider.

An SV is too big of a motor for a first time rider.




Get a used GS500 or a Ninja 500. A ninja 250 will keep up with traffic just fine, but it really isn't ideal for extended highway or anything.

Ninja 250's do just fine on the freeway.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper
Also,

A v-strom is WAY too tall/wide/big for a first time rider.

An SV is too big of a motor for a first time rider.




Get a used GS500 or a Ninja 500. A ninja 250 will keep up with traffic just fine, but it really isn't ideal for extended highway or anything.

Ninja 250's do just fine on the freeway.

Man, that dude has HORRIBLE taste in music.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper
Also,

A v-strom is WAY too tall/wide/big for a first time rider.

An SV is too big of a motor for a first time rider.




Get a used GS500 or a Ninja 500. A ninja 250 will keep up with traffic just fine, but it really isn't ideal for extended highway or anything.

Ninja 250's do just fine on the freeway.

I won't watch the video until later but I will say this - I'm probably one of the biggest proponents of starting on a SMALL bike. I recommend most start on ninja/nighthawk 250's. However, they are borderline unsafe on the highway. Yes, you can get where you're going, however it's fairly often that you need to safely accelerate from ~45mph to ~75-80. A ninja 250 takes a lot of effort to do this combined with lighting accurate downshifting and for a new rider that specifically wants to commute it's pretty difficult. If all you're doing is buzzing around town with an occasional highway blast then a 250 is just fine. However, cages during rush hour don't have a lot of patience for a motorcycle that can't do 80 without beating against red line.

I still stand by GS500's/Ninja 500's being the perfect starter bike for a ~180 lb rider that wants to commute, get good gas mileage, and cheap insurance.


Edit:

How much riding experience do you have?

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Suzuki V-Strom 650

This bike will get mid 50mpg and has plenty of power up into triple digit speeds. I have a Suzuki SV650 (same basic bike but more aggressive and a little more powerful) and it will do 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. The V-Twin engine has a lot of torque and in this bike it makes for a light and powerful bike that handles very well.

The 88 Cubed H-D's 900lb dresser gets in the 50's.

OP don't get a bike for MPG, otherwise you will have wasted your money and probably quit riding pretty quickly.

 

[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.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
BTW-Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? This may seem like a good idea but for a n00b to jump in and expect to be commuting everyday on one in DC traffic is not going to be what you expected.

First of all, a motorcycle has a lot of power and they are inherently unstable because you only have two wheels i.e. they fall over easily. Second, you are completely exposed to the elements and all the vehicles around you. Some people find this alone to be enough to put them off the sport. Even 60 degrees is enough to cause you to freeze your ass off if you don't have the proper gear.

Also, you can carry very little on a bike so you really have to plan everything out and pack and then you have to spend time gearing up to ride. Oh, and what if it is clear and sunny when you go to work but it is pouring rain out when you go home? Ever ride a motorcycle on wet roads? You thought it sucked in the cold? Riding in the rain sucks.

It also takes time for your body to get used to riding a motorcycle. When you start out your body will ache from hugging the tank with your knees, your neck muscles will fatigue easily and your ass will kill you.

If you decide you still want to do this I would highly recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Course at your local college. I would do this before you even start looking at bikes personally.

Words of wisdom. Personally, I've commuted in DC traffic for 10+ years, and I'd NEVER do it on a motorcycle. Too many people around here are just awful drivers, playing with their cellphones/Blackberries/Palms/make-up/whatever instead of paying attention to the road, and on a motorcycle, you've got little protection against the legions of idiots who might kill you and barely notice.

 

[Zenmervolt]

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.

Test-riding bikes sounds like a great idea, but there are several things to keep in mind:

1) Dealers will not allow you to test-ride unless you have a valid motorcycle endorsement (not just a learner permit), but you need a motorcycle to take the test to get the endorsement... Some states will allow a person who passes an MSF course to get a motorcycle endorsement as long as they pass the state's written test, but that can take a lot of time.

2) Starting out on a large bike may not be much of a problem once underway, but there is a lot of opportunity for a novice rider to drop a larger bike in low-speed (read: parking lot) maneuvers.

3) If you drop the bike while test-driving it, guess what? You just bought it. If you dropped it because it wasn't a good fit for you, tough luck, it's still your bike now.

4) Private parties will often not allow test rides at all, or, if they do, they will require a refundable payment in full (in cash) before allowing you to test-ride the bike.

I definitely believe in starting with a bike that is 600cc or smaller, a 250 standard may be a little too small, and a 250 sportbike is likely to be uncomfortable for normal-sized adult men, but something in the 450 to 600 range is what I feel to be a "sweet spot" for a starter bike. They are typically big enough to be comfortable to most people, light enough to be easy for a novice to control at low speed, and have more than enough power to cruise at highway speeds.

ZV

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

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.

Test-riding bikes sounds like a great idea, but there are several things to keep in mind:

1) Dealers will not allow you to test-ride unless you have a valid motorcycle endorsement (not just a learner permit), but you need a motorcycle to take the test to get the endorsement... Some states will allow a person who passes an MSF course to get a motorcycle endorsement as long as they pass the state's written test, but that can take a lot of time.

2) Starting out on a large bike may not be much of a problem once underway, but there is a lot of opportunity for a novice rider to drop a larger bike in low-speed (read: parking lot) maneuvers.

3) If you drop the bike while test-driving it, guess what? You just bought it. If you dropped it because it wasn't a good fit for you, tough luck, it's still your bike now.

4) Private parties will often not allow test rides at all, or, if they do, they will require a refundable payment in full (in cash) before allowing you to test-ride the bike.

I definitely believe in starting with a bike that is 600cc or smaller, a 250 standard may be a little too small, and a 250 sportbike is likely to be uncomfortable for normal-sized adult men, but something in the 450 to 600 range is what I feel to be a "sweet spot" for a starter bike. They are typically big enough to be comfortable to most people, light enough to be easy for a novice to control at low speed, and have more than enough power to cruise at highway speeds.

ZV

Great post - I'd like to add that a 600cc 'standard' bike is ok but an ~2002 and newer 600 supersport is not (r6, gsxr 600, zx6r, etc) for a few reasons - primarily the power delivery caters extremely heavily towards the upper end of the rpm scale. In other words, at 2000-5000 rpm you have about 35hp, 5000-8000 it gradually goes up to about 60 hp, then within a few thousand rpm it jumps up to 110+hp. When you're just trying to scoot along and hit that abrupt power delivery it can result in nasty things happening.

People jump on these modern 600 supersports not realizing that they are making more power than literbikes in the late 90's yet the power delivery is brutal esp for a new rider.

Also, you WILL fall over - most likely in a parking lot. Plastics are expensive as is insurance.


Edit:

The bikes I've owned in the past 7 years:
89 GS500 (first bike)
93 GS500
Ninja two fiddy
VFR 750
03 SV650
05 zx6r
97 TL1000S
07 675
08 1098

Bikes I've ridden >1000 miles (i.e. more than just a run around the block)
999
K1200R
K1200S
Monster 800
06 CBR1000RR
05 VStar 650
05 Suzuki M50 (I think m50, it was basically an intruder I think)
Strom 1000
f4i

Edit:

I keep remembering bikes I've borrowed/traded/ridden

 

[halik]

STUPID IDEA,
you're trading off your safety for some marginal amount of money. I don't even ride in 5pm traffic (too much strain on your fingers from all the clutch play), much less on a highway in DC. You ****WILL*** drop it and if you happen to be on the highway at the time, you will most likely die.

I ride an '05 R6 Raven btw (before that a Gixxer telefonica, CBR f4 ...)

 

[heymrdj]

God when gas is 2$/gal at the most, you're complaining about fuel mileage? What are you driving now? What will you pay for a new bike. have you computed how long it will take you to recoup your mileage $$$ vrs. the money you're spending on the vehicle. Of course that's basing on the fact your comfort has no value.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: roguerower
I've been offered a summer internship at andrews air force base and am looking to get a bike to commute rather than worrying about a car (a) because of the gas mileage and (b) because of the horrendous traffic and my ability to use the HOV lanes by myself on a bike.

Since I will be riding on the highway, especially I-95, I don't think a 250cc will cut it but I don't want a massive engine.

This will be my first bike.

Horrible idea.