Any Motorcycle MPG sites ?

[razmataz]

Actaully bikes are WAY ahead of cars in engine technology, it just isn't geared toward FE, but performance.

Bikes get good enough FE that it isn't even measured (thus the posting of this thread) and emmisions controls were not even required on motorcycles until recently. I'm not even sure if they are even required now in most states. Definetly not tested after initial purchase.

Sportbikes typical use the exhaust system to extract more power. It is tuned and variable (with moving parts) to create different back pressures at different RPMs. No cars are doing that! There are a number of things on bikes that come directly from racing, testing and design that show the detail and thought that go into them. Some of them even make it onto production cars.

Performance sells (Japanese\European) bikes!
Bikes excel in performance with complete model changes occuring even faster than the Japanese car updates.

BTW this is my first FI bike and I love it. It runs great, requires less maintenance and ALWAYS starts right up.

[red91sit]

Also, they have made motorcycle engines with Variable cam timing. The Honda CB400 in Japan has this, as mentioned earlier in this thread. The other thing is, most sport bikes are running around 150 hp/liter, 100 hp/liter is about the minimum you'll fine these days. Which is right about the maximum cars have (except for exotics, and the S2000)

[GasSavers_Ryland]

Originally Posted by red91sit

I have a Carbeurated, non-vtec CB400F , but it's from 1976. I would also love it's never modernized conterpart.

the newer one is a water cooled inline 4, insted of air cooled, alowing the engine to be much more compact, slightly wider then a twin cylender air cooled engine.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by razmataz

Actaully bikes are WAY ahead of cars in engine technology, it just isn't geared toward FE, but performance.

Bikes get good enough FE that it isn't even measured (thus the posting of this thread) and emmisions controls were not even required on motorcycles until recently. I'm not even sure if they are even required now in most states. Definetly not tested after initial purchase.

Sportbikes typical use the exhaust system to extract more power. It is tuned and variable (with moving parts) to create different back pressures at different RPMs. No cars are doing that! There are a number of things on bikes that come directly from racing, testing and design that show the detail and thought that go into them. Some of them even make it onto production cars.

Performance sells (Japanese\European) bikes!
Bikes excel in performance with complete model changes occuring even faster than the Japanese car updates.

BTW this is my first FI bike and I love it. It runs great, requires less maintenance and ALWAYS starts right up.

Bikes are ridiculously behind cars in technology. The average bike emits more HC and NOx than the average car. And scaled for displacement and weight, bikes are the true fuel hogs, not Hummers. The only thing keeping bikes from being regulated out of existence is the fact that bike numbers are too low to affect smog or national fuel consumption.

A lean burn, long stroke, single cylinder DFI / VVT bike of about 250-300 cc should be able to go well in excess of 120 mph. When geared properly and with a few fairings, such a bike should be able get about 200 mpg. That bike design would be just barely catching up with car techology.

[mustngr]

Bikes are not in any way behind cars in technology. The market, certain mechanical/ aerodynamic characteristics specific to motorcycles, weight and production costs dictate what's available.

Fuel injection adds weight, cost and complexity to a bike. Controlling most fuel injection systems is difficult in aircooled designs due to the vast temperature fluctuations. Intake systems, radiators and airflow measuring devices dictate awkward layouts, reduced fuel capacities, etc.

Fairings and aerodynamic developements aimed at optimizing fuel economy present their own set of problems. A bike that is faired for maximum fuel economy will get you killed in the first crosswind. Ask Mr. Vetter. Just a fact of life.

I agree that a lot of the available technology cold be combined to make a practical, comfortable and safe commuter, but who'd buy it when most of the buying public is looking to escape the boredom generated by practical, comfortable, safe commuters? How many people would line up to buy the 2 wheeled equivalent of a Prius?

Not only are bikes a minor segment of the motorng public at large, but they represent a small segment of the profits generated by the manufacturers themselves. Most of the Japanese companies make more money by far with their other interests (in shipping, financing, industrial equipmant, aeronautics, ice cube trays, etc.) than they do from their automotive and motorcycle production.

For now you gotta build your own.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

Anyway you slice them, bikes are WAY behind cars in technology. They're just getting around to EFI on bikes but it's been on most production cars for 15 years. Very few bikes have closed loop emission control or catalysts.

Um, they have had DOHC for 30+ years! Way back when almost no automobiles had overhead cams, let alone two of them. 600cc crotch rockets all have over 100hp, at the tire! EFI is great for emissions. Yea they are behind in the FI dept cause of the added weight, complexity which doesn't do much for a 400lb bike. The motor itself on metric bikes is where their technology is. My G/F's 2002 Monte Carlo has all that FI automatic headlight, electronic stuff on it. all you gotta do is to turn the key and drive. But it has a 40 year old push rod motor in it. Technology is just applied differently for 2 wheels...