What simple/cheap fuel saving modifications are there available?

**Flyingpony** · 25th January 2006, 12:27

So I go into the bike shop and ask about performance modiciations.

There are ones to make the bike stop better, sound better, look better, go faster, handle better, and make it lighter, but when asking about the performance modification of interest to me, shop keeper gives that blank expression response and "Sorry son, those don't really exist".

I've no worries about tading a couple hp for a cost effective extra 50-100+% i.e. the ROI should be under 12 months and not years upon years.

So what fuel saving modifications are there available today?

I'm sure they'll eventually appear in the common modification list as fuel prices keeps climbing.

**bugjuice** · 25th January 2006, 12:29

loose weight and go easier on the throttle is a good start.
Else you could lean it out slightly, but not heaps. The bike needs to run with something
use your legs more for shorter trips on nice days and/or get a push bike

**Fishy** · 25th January 2006, 12:35

Your already on one of the cheapest bikes to run mate. I'm thinking of buying one myself to commute on instead of the car.

**vifferman** · 25th January 2006, 12:41

Wrap yourself and the bike in cling film before setting out, to reduce drag?
Pump the tyres up to 200 psi?
Coast down hills?
Replace the barrel and piston with one off a lawnmower?

Luckily, I don't have to worry about such considerations. My bike is an expensive toy, not cheap transport. If I wanted to save money, I'd cycle (nup - too tiring and dangerous), take the bus (too slow, smelly and uncomfortable), or buy a scooter (too silly).

**merv** · 25th January 2006, 12:43

Yep leaning it out, but not too much or else you'll wreck the engine, but can you drop the needle one notch on the carburettor on your bike?

The biggie is as mentioned above just don't wind the throttle on so much.

**ManDownUnder** · 25th January 2006, 12:46

Coal gas. They used 'em in World War 2 and basically heat charcoal to give off the flammable gaseous component and you run the motor on wood...

Problem is the bit making the gas weighs a ton! I'll need to do a bit more research on it.. but it's been done.

Other options (more likely) are solar derived power sources, or extraction of Methane from the various sources (decomposing waste at the dump, excretia) or a digester working on organic matter.

**ManDownUnder** · 25th January 2006, 12:47

Originally Posted by merv

Yep leaning it out, but not too much or else you'll wreck the engine, but can you drop the needle one notch on the carburettor on your bike?

The biggie is as mentioned above just don't wind the throttle on so much.

errr - yeah... I'd be inclined to make sure the bike is tuned properly rather than just lean it out...

**Karma** · 25th January 2006, 13:02

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

decomposing waste at the dump, excretia

Ok... I'll let you chuck some banana skins and a turd in your tank first... tell us how it goes

**R1** · 25th January 2006, 13:02

in your first post you mentioned "making the bike lighter" that will do what you want, why? how many k's you get per litre? and what would you like to get?? you can also do small things like keeping ya chain oiled, run higher psi in the tyres(but this will cost you else where) use thin oil insteed of grease in your wheel bearings, as already said "loose wieght" ditch ya leather and wear lycra(i wouldnt recomend it tho) i dont quite understand why you would be all that bothered by how much gas a 150cc bike goes through? my lawn mower has more cc's than your bike and its only a 4.5hp B&S...

to my way of thinking you should go on a diet, your bike will have better economy, you will save money on food, your bearings, chain, and tyres will have less load so will last longer...

**Marmoot** · 25th January 2006, 13:05

Originally Posted by Flyingpony

So what fuel saving modifications are there available today?

Start pushing.

It'll make you healthy and cut down health cost as well.

**bungbung** · 25th January 2006, 14:18

Are you a fatty?

www.fatchicksinpartyhats.com

losing pork will help on a fxr

**ManDownUnder** · 25th January 2006, 14:57

Originally Posted by Weasel

Ok... I'll let you chuck some banana skins and a turd in your tank first... tell us how it goes

Septic tank? No problem - fire away.

I suspect curry turd/drizzle would be best for sheer octane although I have no scientific basis to that.

**phoenixgtr** · 25th January 2006, 14:59

Dude! Youre riding an FXR! Whats your problem? It costs me $15 to fill up mine and that could last me a month if I was only using it to commute. Thats a hell of a lot cheaper than the bus was for me. You don't want to lose a couple of hp. If you did that you wouldn't have any left. If you were so bothered about fuel economy you should have bought a scooter

**The_Dover** · 25th January 2006, 15:05

Buy a GSXR1000. They actually won a fuel consumption test by some yarpie bike mag. And that was for economy, not seeing how much you could burn in one track session.