New guy n sc

[Rider of d storm]

this is my 2000 yamaha virago 250 . I bought 3/2012used 4 1300$ wid 10,000 miles on it .the only engine mod is , I drilled 3 one inch holes n d bottom of air filter cover 2 help it breath , which accounts 4 better power & mpgs . I change sprockets from 16/45 to 16/33. I made the "funky look n " front end/ windshield from scrap aluminum & plexiglass I hav lay n around, also storage box , & seats all from scrap , so it cost me nut n but time & a couple a cans a spray paint . I rode it 17,000 miles last yr, & averaged 92 mpg . Top speed is now around 90 mph compared to 75 mph when I first got d bike . I can ride 70-75mph & git 85- 92 mpg.around 45 mph it gits around 100-105 mpg best ever wuz 108 , but I hardly ever ride that slow ,all my ride n is n real world traffic, so u gotta run wid d flow or git run over.

[Rider of d storm]

I read about d CRAIG VETTER CHALLENGE last yr b4 I bought d 250 , I wuz ride n a 800 boulevard , it constantly got 55-60mpgs , a great bike , but shaft drive & can't chg gear ratio w/o MAJOR expense ! A guy wanted it ,so I sold it 2 him ! Bought d 250 & chgd sprockets 40$ from eBay , what a difference , faster & better mpgs n 1 mod ,, win .. Win! I can git about 60$ worth of groceries n d box . I named d bike SMILES cause ppl r always smile n when they look @ it , & wid 90 + mpg ,,I'm smile n @ d gas pump .

[Jay2TheRescue]

Grocery shopping @ Aldi!

[Rider of d storm]

Oh yey,,, same amount a groceries @ Walmart would 85$

[Rider of d storm]

I made d seats from 3/4 plywood 4 d base , I used foam from d seats of a worn out SUV that I scraped out , & covered wid an old black tarp . I made a pocket n d passenger seat 2 hold a phone so my wife can listen 2 music while we ride . I made her sum floor BOARDS from a scrap piece a 2x6 & strapped em on d foot pegs wid sum pipe straps & a couple a brackets .. Cost 0 $$$ . My wife says its waaaay more comphy than d MUSTANG seat we had on d boulevard !!!

[Rider of d storm]

drill n 3 one inch holes n d air filter cover is only " engine" mod I've dun . D bike came wid a foam air filter that crumbled n2 pieces when I got d bike last yr , so I got a 4 inch paper filter from parts house & cut d bottom of a peaches can 4 d lid , parts house lid cost as much as d filter ! This mod gave d bike a noticeable power boost & added 10 mpg . Bike wuz very cold natured b4 , now I never hav 2 use choke , crank & ride !

[Rider of d storm]

I started this project last yr n march as soon as I bought d bike wid 40$ sprocket chg , & that 1 chg. made so much difference n bike power & mpg ,, 2.8 to 2.2 gear ratio . Then I modded d air filter another noticeable gain . Then I started build n d aero front , I started wid a traditional cruiser windshield , d bike wuz now git n 100 -105 mpg @ 45 mph but anything over 55 d mpgs dropped n2 70's wid top speed of 75 mph . So I started build n d " transformer" front end ,( I'm now run n a 2.06 gear ratio & now hav about a 90 mph top speed ) it took about a dozen tries ( it's a good thing I had a lot of scrap aluminum lay n around ,,, so it cost me nut n but time) 2 find what worked . Other than upgrade n the lights , I haven't spent much $ on this project , the front end , box , seats & floor boards , r all made from scrap I had leftover from jobs ( I do home repairs 4 a living) that's another reason I named d bike "SMILES" it's bin so cheap 2 do ! I saved prolly about 3,000 $ n gas $ last by ride n d bike @ 92 mpg instead of our 18 mpg minivan , that more
Than paid 4 d bike ( 1300$) & new battery , tire, & the nuts & bolts needed 2 put all d MODS 2gether & a few cans a spray paint ....;-)

[theholycow]

I like your resourceful design/construction methods, making use of scrap materials and such, all to make things better including efficiency, performance, and comfort.

[Rider of d storm]

Thanks , it's really a BIG accomplishment 4 me , since this my 1st experience @ motorcycle modification , d bike is a work n progress , I PIK @'my wife & tell her " why ride an ordinary bike ,, when u can ride such a cheap head turner " lol ,,cause ppl come up 2 me every where I park & ask about d bike . Even on d hwy ppl do double takes when they c us , which is a good thing ,. The reason I painted it yellow is so other drivers can c me & hopefully NOT run over me. & it works . D boulevard I had b4 wuz black & ppl wuz always pull n out n front of us even tho I kept headlight on hi beam all d time . I'm 56 & bin ride n bikes since I wuz 13 , & I wanna live 2 ride another day & is also d reason 4 d extra lights front & rear

[Rider of d storm]

my original sprocket chg wuz from stock 16/45 to 17/37 , which wuz the BIGGEST front & d SMALLEST rear sprockets available . But I felt d bike could do better wid a smaller rear sprocket but because of d bolt pattern I couldn't go any lower . So I saw a pic of a Honda rebel 250rear wheel & it looked just like my wheel except 4 a smaller bolt pattern . So looked @ a friends rebel & I decided 2 find one . I found several on EBAY , so ordered one that wuz complete wid tire, sprocket , & brake assembly . Since it wuz used wid only 500 miles on it , I paid about d same for it as a brand new tire. Only mods I had 2 do 2 make it fit wuz I used belt sander 2 short n d 4 sprocket bolts ( wid sprocket on ) made correct length spacer on brake side ( original spacer bout 3/8 to long) & reused virago brake lever instead of Honda brake lever , That bolts right on ..Both wheels use same axle, wheel adjusters & brakes . I now hav a much wider choice of ratios wid d rebel wheel as u can git factory sprockets all d way down to 30 teeth & when this chain & sprocket (16/33) 2.06 wears out I'm gonna go wid a 15/30(. 2.0) to save a little on chain weight . I extended my chain guard 2 keep sum of d mess off d bike , I use lithium grease 4 chain lube , it's messy put n on , but lasts waaaay longer than any of those expensive chain lubes , & it's waaaay cheaper ! I also made my Mtc jack from a scrap 2x8 wid osb nailed 2 one side ,2x4 on d bottom & about 4 ft section of fence top rail , all of which I had as scrap . It's easy 2 operate & sturdy