Fuel Economy

Manfred

Manfred

Stuart Brogden
Joined
Sep 6, 2024
Messages
405
Location
La Vernia, TX
Bike
2010 Honda nt700v
I continue to smile when I ride this bike. This is one reason.

Date Odo Gal MPG AVG Trip
28-Mar-26 34,924 3.8 54.3 50.5 205
30-Mar-26 35,114 3.6 53.5 50.3 190
14-Apr-26 35,311 3.9 51.1 50.4 197
24-Apr-26 35,472 3.5 46.0 50.1 161
24-Apr-26 35,669 3.5 56.8 50.4 197
27-Apr-26 35,885 3.9 56.0 50.6 216
3-May-26 36,099 3.7 58.0 51.1 214
4-May-26 36,310 3.8 55.8 51.3 211
5-May-26 36,527 3.9 55.3 51.3 217
10-May-26 36,749 4.0 55.2 51.5 222
 
Manfred said:
Yes, but I would not like the chain drive.
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Yes, I understand that notion. After 372,000 miles on shaft drive bikes and about 130,000 miles on chains I'm keen to dispel the reality behind the notion. Modern chains just don't need much attention. A chain on my NC lasts over 25,000 miles and I usually only mess with the adjustment when I change a rear tire. The NT1100 is new to me, just 17,000 miles so I don't know how long the chain will last me. I just covered almost 5000 miles on a 9 day trip and I gave the chain about 3 minutes attention every other day - for a wipe down and toothbrush's worth of 80/90w gear oil, some days covering 700 to 900 miles. At 17,000 miles it still has not needed adjustment.
 
dduelin said:
Yes, I understand that notion. After 372,000 miles on shaft drive bikes and about 130,000 miles on chains I'm keen to dispel the reality behind the notion. Modern chains just don't need much attention. A chain on my NC lasts over 25,000 miles and I usually only mess with the adjustment when I change a rear tire. The NT1100 is new to me, just 17,000 miles so I don't know how long the chain will last me. I just covered almost 5000 miles on a 9 day trip and I gave the chain about 3 minutes attention every other day - for a wipe down and toothbrush's worth of 80/90w gear oil, some days covering 700 to 900 miles. At 17,000 miles it still has not needed adjustment.
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I know modern chains are a lot better than 30 years ago. I settled on shaft drive about that long ago. This will be my last bike, so there is no decision for me to make. Shaft still requires less maintenance.
 
Manfred said:
I know modern chains are a lot better than 30 years ago. I settled on shaft drive about that long ago. This will be my last bike, so there is no decision for me to make. Shaft still requires less maintenance.
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Still, just saying the mpg of the NC with roughly the same horsepower as the NT700 is easily 40% better.
 
Who doesnt like shaft drive? But if the rest of a bike is so much better, I can deal with a chain. I still think it is possible to build a bike like the Yamaha XV920RH with a fully enclosed 630 chain in a lithium grease bath. Many small bikes in Asia have fully enclosed chains. The biggest issue I have with chains actually is how hard they are now to replace. On my Yamaha YM1 , changing the chain and sprokets was no big deal....Ask a Harley dealer how hard it is to change some of their belts.
 
My NT religiously got between 55 and 58 mpg since I've owned it. There were a few times, like Blue Ridge Parkway (slow speed cruising) where I got 68 mpg, and when I did the Grand Loop in Yellowstone (40 to 45mph) I got 72 mpg. Only know of 4 times I ever got that kind of mileage. I'm going to miss that, as I am going to part with the NT. I picked up a 2010 FJR1300A with only 13,509 miles on it, like a brand new bike. So far getting 43mpg in the nearly 1000 miles I ridden it.
 
WVRider said:
My NT religiously got between 55 and 58 mpg since I've owned it. There were a few times, like Blue Ridge Parkway (slow speed cruising) where I got 68 mpg, and when I did the Grand Loop in Yellowstone (40 to 45mph) I got 72 mpg. Only know of 4 times I ever got that kind of mileage. I'm going to miss that, as I am going to part with the NT. I picked up a 2010 FJR1300A with only 13,509 miles on it, like a brand new bike. So far getting 43mpg in the nearly 1000 miles I ridden it.
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I like my 2014 FJR except it puts on weight every year and I have to be careful it doesnt take a nap at gas stations. Mid 40s is about right for a bike of that weight, CCs and cyl wall area. And Ballistic coefficient/aerodynamic drag.
My NT with the tall windscreen and me being tall and carrying lots of crap would get low 50s. The VFR and Vstrom do a bit better.
I enjoy learning about fuel economy (for some reason both my Subarus get close to or above 40 mpg on two lane 55 mph roads in Wisconsin....I would keep stopping and getting out and checking for winds but there were none. I would have expected 35 or so at that speed. And of course with aircraft, we can vary the prop speed, manifold pressue, mixture, etc.
But at the end of the day, whether you get 45 or 55 av on a bike will have very little to do with the cost of the bike per mile in the State of WA.
 
WVRider said:
My NT religiously got between 55 and 58 mpg since I've owned it. There were a few times, like Blue Ridge Parkway (slow speed cruising) where I got 68 mpg, and when I did the Grand Loop in Yellowstone (40 to 45mph) I got 72 mpg. Only know of 4 times I ever got that kind of mileage. I'm going to miss that, as I am going to part with the NT. I picked up a 2010 FJR1300A with only 13,509 miles on it, like a brand new bike. So far getting 43mpg in the nearly 1000 miles I ridden it.
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Congratulations on your new ride, Duane. 👏 I came very close to buying one of those when they first came out. Didn’t need it but I was impressed.

And I, too, remember getting 67 mpg on the BRP. But I also remember getting 38 mpg crossing the Dakotas at higher speed in a 25 mph headwind. My general experience is that bigger motors care less about higher speeds and headwinds. I do miss the great fuel mileage of the NT, but I’ve never missed the extra 100# that it weighed. And I really like the cruise control, heated grips, and 30 more hp when I traded up.
 
junglejim said:
Congratulations on your new ride, Duane. 👏 I came very close to buying one of those when they first came out. Didn’t need it but I was impressed.

And I, too, remember getting 67 mpg on the BRP. But I also remember getting 38 mpg crossing the Dakotas at higher speed in a 25 mph headwind. My general experience is that bigger motors care less about higher speeds and headwinds. I do miss the great fuel mileage of the NT, but I’ve never missed the extra 100# that it weighed. And I really like the cruise control, heated grips, and 30 more hp when I traded up.
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And excellent thought problem about bigger engines and higher speeds and headwinds and the delta MPG as a percentage. I have no answers but I have never had a vehicle that got better than expected milage at 80 mph into a 25 mph headwind. Car and Driver Magazine used to say it was all about rolling resistance below 50 mph...above and it was always about aerodynamics, for any given vehicle. An FJR sucks on aerodynamics, rolling resistance, engine efficiency at 60 and 80, so maybe you dont see a huge percentage in increase in fuel economy.
I will say that my 2006 Toyota Matrix with its small engine, light weight, manual trans, and tall gearing and aerodynamic design got about 38 mpg around town, and over the road up to 70 mph.
 
I concur with the thinking on shaft drive. And to that I would add tubeless tires and a decent windshield. At my age (71), just hanging out in the wind being battered by the elements has zero appeal.

That noted, once in a while when at the local dealership I'll sneak a look at the Kawasaki Versys X300. It's not much larger than the dual sport I started out on in 1970. Chain drive, yes, but ~ 135 lbs lighter than the NT700. And it has decent wind protection for that type of scoot. If the NT700 is not my last bike, my last may become that small dual sport.

Fuel economy: my typical riding is rural two lanes, but with occasional forays into town to the nearest dealership. MPG's remain consistently in the 50 mpg range.
 
basketcase said:
I concur with the thinking on shaft drive. And to that I would add tubeless tires and a decent windshield. At my age (71), just hanging out in the wind being battered by the elements has zero appeal.

That noted, once in a while when at the local dealership I'll sneak a look at the Kawasaki Versys X300. It's not much larger than the dual sport I started out on in 1970. Chain drive, yes, but ~ 135 lbs lighter than the NT700. And it has decent wind protection for that type of scoot. If the NT700 is not my last bike, my last may become that small dual sport.

Fuel economy: my typical riding is rural two lanes, but with occasional forays into town to the nearest dealership. MPG's remain consistently in the 50 mpg range.
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I enjoyed my X300 for the seven years I had it. Great little bike, but if you get one you will need to go up one tooth on the primary sprocket. It likes to run in the higher RPM range.


SAM_3498.JPGSAM_4263.JPGSAM_4276.JPG
 
Beautiful photos Chuck. And that is a nicely outfitted X300. Thanks for the tip on the larger counter-sprocket.

I noticed the Wolfman tank bag. I had that same bag on my DR650 when I rode the Continental Divide Trail in 2010, along with the Wolfman soft side bags. Great luggage, that.

Over on AdvRider a few days back I read an article that said Wolfman is closing down operations. No big calamity - it's just time for him to slow down. It did not appear from the article that anyone is in the wings to take up his business and continue the product line. That too bad - it is some of the best luggage to be found.
 
basketcase said:
Beautiful photos Chuck. And that is a nicely outfitted X300. Thanks for the tip on the larger counter-sprocket.

I noticed the Wolfman tank bag. I had that same bag on my DR650 when I rode the Continental Divide Trail in 2010, along with the Wolfman soft side bags. Great luggage, that.

Over on AdvRider a few days back I read an article that said Wolfman is closing down operations. No big calamity - it's just time for him to slow down. It did not appear from the article that anyone is in the wings to take up his business and continue the product line. That too bad - it is some of the best luggage to be found.
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I road the CDT in 2014 with a buddy of mine He rode V-Strom 650 and I on my DR650. We started at the Colorado Wyoming State line and rode to Silver City NM. Here are just a couple of pictures of many.

SAM_3517 (2).JPGSAM_3522.JPGSAM_3542.JPGDSCN4075 (1024x768) (1024x768).jpgSAM_3383.JPG
 
basketcase said:
Beautiful photos Chuck. And that is a nicely outfitted X300. Thanks for the tip on the larger counter-sprocket.

I noticed the Wolfman tank bag. I had that same bag on my DR650 when I rode the Continental Divide Trail in 2010, along with the Wolfman soft side bags. Great luggage, that.

Over on AdvRider a few days back I read an article that said Wolfman is closing down operations. No big calamity - it's just time for him to slow down. It did not appear from the article that anyone is in the wings to take up his business and continue the product line. That too bad - it is some of the best luggage to be found.
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I also have a Wolfman Dry bag that I took on my Euro Moto Trip back in 2019. Rented a V-Strom 650 and rode southern Bavarian Alps to places I use to live as a young man along time ago. Yes Wolfman's stuff is quality stuff.

SAM_4461.JPGSAM_4505.JPGSAM_4699 - Copy.JPGSAM_4715 (2).JPGSAM_4764.JPG
 
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