de tour 2006 **fuel economy**

[Jeff Saline]

On Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:50:40 -0800 (PST) Jeff Khoury writes:

> What would you say was your average speed over that distance?

<><><><><> <><><><><> Jeff, Here's a post replying to a similar question 5 years ago. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 <><><><><> <><><><><> Thanks for asking. I thought about making a comment about the different conditions and then thought it might confuse the issue. Since you asked for clarification I'll try. First let me tell you two years ago when getting ready for the GDR Steve and Mike Frederick were up here for a week of wrenching and riding. I had the 14/46 combo, Mike was using a 14/43 combo and Steve was running the stock 15/43. That just about equals a change of 14%, 7% and stock or 0%. We rode for three days together and that means we were pretty close to the same speeds and conditions. When we filled up the differences in amount of fuel received was just about a perfect match for the percentage of gearing change between the bikes. Now on this trip I used the 14/46 combo until the last two days which were going to be paved only in the mountains of NM, CO, WY and the Black Hills. I'd suggest most of our riding together on this trip using the lower gearing was done at speeds averaging 40 mph or so. Now one section we got into took maybe 4 or 4 1/2 hours to do about 40 miles. I'll get into that in another 8 days or so. And some of the gravel roads were good enough we could ride at 50 mph or faster. On the paved sections I don't think we ever exceeded 65 mph unless it was a long downhill section. We didn't do any riding where my engine was over 5,000 rpm for steady extended intervals. There were lots of sections where we never saw 4th or 5th gear. When I changed to the 16/46 combo for my ride home I was on paved two lane roads for almost the entire ride. I did maybe 15 miles on I-25 in WY just because that was the smart thing to do. Lots of the riding was at speeds of 50-65mph indicated. That means 45-60 mph actual. The bike ran well at elevations over 10,000 feet and I didn't take it easy just cause I was at elevation. I'd guess most of the riding on the way home was in 4th or 5th gear. I found after riding with the lower gearing for about two weeks I had absolutely no interest in going faster than 65 indicated. Even on the interstate. There was a heck of a head wind in Colorado on the way home and I probably did 2-3 hours of 45 mph max as I was getting blown around quite a bit. But not much of that was a head or tail wind. So, your guess about mpg having to do more with speed than gearing may well be correct. But the Steve, Mike, Jeff test done two years ago may be understood to indicate under identical conditions the gearing will make a difference in fuel economy. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT . . ____________________________________________________________ 60-Year-Old Mom Looks 27 Mom Reveals Free Wrinkle Trick That Has Angered Doctors! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f185c5278b3e129f49st04vuc

[jguarfn28]

Is there a safe way to check if my Harbor Freight torque wrenches are operating at the set weights? I used mine last week on my rear axle and couldn't get it to click, even when tightening at the lowest setting. I just decided to go on feel and this is a big 1/2" bar. I was afraid I'd break the bolt. I know they aren't Craftsman and that is part of my reluctance to push it.