Best bike for motorway

[richbeales]

Now don't get me wrong, I love my SV, however I've just taken a job with a 50 mile each-way commute. The SV would see me filling up with fuel every day.

What bike would you recommend to give me the best miles/tank and comfort for the motorway?

Also, I have a (fairly cheap) Lazer Blade helmet, which is very noisy at motorway speeds (even with plugs) and my head gets buffeted around a lot, are more expensive Shoei/Arai helmets noticably quieter?


Cheers,

Rich.

[jambo]

Depends on budget, I find my ZX6R J2 (2001) good on the motorway, the G models ('98 - '99) can be picked up cheaply now. I have an AGV TiTech Lid which I wouldn't consider using out of town without plugs. I seem to have a habit of buying very noisy helmets!

I would suggest looking at a flip up / taller screen for the SV first. You can also go for a smaller rear sprocket to raise the gearing, this should improve fuel economy on motorway runs at the expense of making the bike feel less punchy at low speeds.

[tigersaw]

I had a Honda Dullsville for a short while, it would do 200+ on the tank, but every one of them tedious.

[Dave The Rave]

VFR 800. That's what you want.

Yes, Shoei will be quieter. I just swapped my Nitro i had for 3 months for Shoei Xr1000. What a difference.

[plowsie]

Now don't get me wrong, I love my SV, however I've just taken a job with a 50 mile each-way commute. The SV would see me filling up with fuel every day.
I dont think many bikes do better than the SV on fuel economy. You could get 150 out of the tank if you fill it(Might be pushing it though), not liking that idea then i have heard the ZX-9s are not too shabby
Also, I have a (fairly cheap) Lazer Blade helmet, which is very noisy at motorway speeds (even with plugs) and my head gets buffeted around a lot, are more expensive Shoei/Arai helmets noticably quieter?
I have 2 helmets mainly i used my Caberg V2 and going from my AGV TiTech(Wrong name - One of the Rossi ones)i notice the difference, so noisy in the V2 so i still use the AGV sometimes as it is quiet-ish

HTH

Stu

[DanAbnormal]

VFR 800. That's what you want.



I second that. Great bikes, had 2 of them.

[richbeales]

Will the VFR do 200 miles to the tank?

[plowsie]

Looks like 22 litre tank i think, might be wrong.

[richbeales]

Does anyone have first hand experience of modifying the SV-S for long motorway slogs (changed gearing/screen etc)?

[DanAbnormal]

Will the VFR do 200 miles to the tank?

No, I had about 160 average IIRC.

[Biker Biggles]

If it's an S you could try a double bubble screen and a tank bag to lean on a bit.As for fuel consumption,the cheapest mod must be one tooth up on the front sprocket costing about £12.The bike is good for the mileage as long as you change the oil regularly and keep it serviced.

[The Basket]

The SV should be fine for fuel.
Are you talking comfort?
A Bandit 6 would be ok and cheap.
The 500cc twins are good for fuel and tank range...and comfort.
A Pan Euro or Blackbird...or any BMW.

[Mogs]

It's got to be the Deauville, boring workhorse but motorways and commuting is it's niche.

[plowsie]

A Bandit 6 would be ok and cheap
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!;-)

[Baph]

Does anyone have first hand experience of modifying the SV-S for long motorway slogs (changed gearing/screen etc)?
:D That would be me then :D

My commute, from home to where I park by work, the odometer reads 49.7miles. I can choose to do a little more distance and go other routes if I want, but the shortest route is just shy of 50miles, almost entirely on the A55 (tantamount to a motorway).

I've changed the gearing to get more acelleration (2 up on the rear sprocket). I've also got a Fabbri DB fitted, a loud can with baffle removed, snow shovel has gone, and a small plate (7x5).

The last tank, I got 147miles (I think - put petrol in this morning). The tank before that was 170 miles on the dot! I put 15.66litres in to fill it up, so still had 1.3litres left to play with. The light was on solid though. I generally fill the tank every 3 journeys (day & a half if you like).

Before I changed the gearing, she'd comfortably cruise along at 120, but now 120 feels like you're pushing it a bit hard, so I generally cruise around 100 (all numbers are in kmh officer!!). Generally, it runs 500 rpm higher in 6th to hold 70mph, which no doubt uses a little more jungle juice.

Overtaking is overtaking is overtaking, and the SV definitely doesn't complain.

Comfrot, not an issue for me & genuinely never has been. I started life on the SV commuting this distance, and it wasn't like I needed to get used to the seat, the seat kind of moulded around me.

Generally I ride with a tank bag, and pretty much lay down on it. This will help reduce drag but also I find it makes it more comfortable as your weight isn't on your wrists any more. Its also fun being able to close the throttle & sit bolt upright & use the air as a brake, or is that just me? :oops:

The DB helps a lot as it directs wind around me perfectly. Still get it on the head/shoulders unless I tuck down, but sometimes it's a bit welcomed to be honest.

The thing that will probably hit you hard is the servicing schedule. 50miles each way works out at 500miles a week!! That means services come & go approx every 8 weeks, faster if you use the bike for pleasure too (like I do). You quickly learn how to service the bike yourself if you don't already know.

Anything else you want to know, just shout :)

[richbeales]

So it looks like a DB screen is almost essential, however Baph, you seem to have gone 2 up on the sprocket for more acceleration rather than (say) 2 down for increased economy.

Has anyone gone for the more sluggish but better mileage sprocket? How much of an effect does it have on economy?

[plowsie]

:notworthy: the famous wise words of Baph strike again.

[richbeales]

Is a bigger tank a possibility?

Even looking at the Deaville the tank range is only around 180miles. Surely manufacturers must have thought that some people do high mileage!

[dyzio]

:notworthy: the famous wise words of Baph strike again.
what he said:thumleft:

A tankbag is compulsory for me on longer trips.
Doing around 120miles commuting a week - 130 miles to a flashing light. 160-170 when out riding.
Think I'll get one of the Fabbri DB screens as well.

[Jelster]

Speak to Lynn, she has a CBF1000, which I reckon could be exactly what you need.

Want a quiet lid ? Schuberth S1, no contest....

(Both my own opinion of course...)

[tigersaw]

just looked up my notes on the deauville - I was averaging 225 miles to the tank.

[Baph]

So it looks like a DB screen is almost essential, however Baph, you seem to have gone 2 up on the sprocket for more acceleration rather than (say) 2 down for increased economy.

Has anyone gone for the more sluggish but better mileage sprocket? How much of an effect does it have on economy?
That's very true, I went for acelleration.

The way I looked at it, the bike will still do 130mph with the sprockets I have on there now (indicated speed). That's fast enough to lose my licence (and in North Wales, a distinct possibility). Do I want more top end speed, or do I want more get up & go?

Get up & gone (one of the guys in the office has started referring to me as "Streethawk" - when questionned by one of the girls, apparently it's because he only ever sees the back of my bike :oops:) was the choice for me.

Yes, I'm loosing a little fuel efficiency, but I'm getting further out of a tank than most do on the org (and I genuinely have no real knowledge as to why). Could I care about an extra 500-1000 RPM? Nope. I'd rather get away from the numpty driving the car a little quicker.

Oh yea, and yes, she will power wheelie in 2nd, clutch in 3rd. :D

[plowsie]

That's fast enough to loose my licence
aha a glitch in the man himself :lol:

[Baph]

aha a glitch in the man himself :lol:
huh?:rolleyes:

[plowsie]

No way look magic it dissapeared lol





As you were

[Viney]

Motorway riding you say. Well its all down to how you ride. Nice gentle throttle, and motorway riding will be pretty much constant throttle, and you can easily see 180 to a tank of fuel. On that kind of journey, i did get 201 miles from a curvey SV fuel tank, but i had to push it to a petrol garage! If you are gentle as well, you wont eat tyres as much. Yes, they will squre off, but expect to get above average distance.

Gear the bike up as advised to a 15t or a smaller sprocket on the rear this can only help.

Its all about your control of the bike. Hard throttle = Increased MPG. simple!

Double bubble screen, and a good one at that can only help. So a F.Fabbri or powerbronze imho have the best 'bubble'

Or get a diesel car :)

[plowsie]

Or get a diesel car :)
Or that diesel bike someone posted on here on a thread similar to this.

[kwak zzr]

my sv1000 is rubbish on fuel in short runs but on the motorways its ace.

[embee]

Well since all these things have been mentioned.....................

I run a 16T (with std 45 rear) sprocket on my SK1S curvy. It makes very little difference to economy, especially on motorway runs, maybe the odd mpg or 2 at most. Riding style and speed will have more effect.
It does make it feel quite a bit more relaxed and I'd recommend it for that reason.
I've also fitted higher clip-ons, from a FJ1200 slightly modified to fit (grinding inside edge to clear the top yoke), and it's a vastly better riding position, more like a VFR750. Also reshaped seat helps a lot.

I also run a Deauville (650, 2002 model, any questions see http://www.deauvilleuk.org/forum/index.php )
Just returned from the Deauville owners meeting in Italy, 2.5k miles, ran without fault, no oil used, no chain adjustment ;) , something like 60mpg, pretty comfy, good weather protection, what more can I say? Boring? Try following some of the German and Italian Deauvillers up the Stelvio............:smt103
I have Mez Z6's on it now, and they are fabulous.
Deauvilles have very few faults, and those are pretty trivial and often easily sorted. Regularly serviced they are bomb-proof. Later ones suffer poor paint, especially on the engine and rear footrest hangers.

I also use a Schuberth S1 helmet. Quieter than anything else I've had, but still use ear-plugs above town speeds. The integral sun-visor is brilliant though.

[Girth]

i got 170mile on £11 worth of fuel with the reserve still there

[Steve W]

...Its all about your control of the bike. Hard throttle = Increased MPG. simple!




If only this were true ;)