Kawasaki Ninja 250R (249cc) Vs Honda Nighthawk (234cc)

[RningOnFumes]

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.as...article_id=813 is the Nighthawk
http://www.cycleworld.com/article.as...article_id=816 is the Ninja

On paper, they seem comparable (enough). Cycleworld says the honda can get 90mpgs vs the ninja at 60mpgs.

Please give me your opinions not based on "for new riders"--you wish if you want but for over all hypermiler attributes and personal opinions. For the record, I will be getting my first bike next year.

Fumes/Dave

Edit: Main purpose...commuting to school and/or work. Work is about 50miles round trip, school is same city as home.

[RningOnFumes]

Found a really comprehensive long term review of the 2005 and 2008 Ninja 250R.

http://www.theyeagergroup.com/kawasaki_ninja_250.htm

[cat0020]

With majority of your commute (in CA) involve highway speed (50 mph+), the Ninja 250 twin engine might be better suited for you, IMO.

[RningOnFumes]

Yep, that's what I'm leaning towards. I only ran into the honda because it was in a mpg article in cycleworld. I really like the new ones even if they are just the new body.

[cat0020]

Fuel economy on a motorcycle, depends largely on your right wrist.. not so much on articles in mags.

[RningOnFumes]

You're right, I'm sure it's about the same as for cars' epa ratings--driver dependent.

I really wish I there were to dedicated riders here or elsewhere who ride those two bikes for fuel efficiency (the way hypermilers think) and could tell me their experience. I've been reading the motorbike forums and I am leaning towars the Ninjette.

[Project84]

I still want a ninja 250.

[RningOnFumes]

LOL!! I was assuming form this thread:
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6059
...that you already found your bike!!?????

LOL..I was even hoping you would chime in this thread about how great your fuel mileage is! lol

[RningOnFumes]

I know how FI engines work with DFCO and such, in engines with carburetors, they keep pumping gas even when DFCO should occur? Is there a way to manually keep the engine starved of gas? (thinking of long hill descents)

From reading motorcycling forums, I get the idea that you need to have the engine on and engaged in gear from a safety stand point. Don't know when you may need to accelerate out of a dangerous situation and such.

[theholycow]

Carburetors kinda just put the gas out there and allow the air that's rushing past to pull fuel while it goes. You would need to invent the DFCO-capable carburetor. There were computer-controlled carburetors on cars for a short time, and I'm not sure what the computer was able to control, but possibly they could DFCO. I don't know if bikes have them or not.

You will get the same idea about sudden acceleration on any non-hypermiling forum. Having never operated a motorcycle I can't say for sure whether or not it's true for motorcycles; for cars it is definitely not true. A car driver who cannot brake and steer out of danger is a dangerous driver, not roadworthy, and absolutely should not be using a manual transmission. Vehicular bicyclists do much of their riding at or near prevailing motor vehicle speeds and operate as a motorcyclist does but without the ability to suddenly accelerate, for what that's worth.