conti tires

[Matt Knowles]

On Apr 19, 2006, at 7:40 PM, Randy Shultz wrote:

> I have often wondered why, when you could buy VW rabbit diesels and > Honda CRX HFs 20 years ago that got 50 mpg, we can't seem to get any > better fuel economy out of a bike that has half the horsepower and > weighs one fifth as much.

Aerodynamics has some to do with it, and the KLR has to be the least aerodynamic of any bike out there. Our need for performance is the rest of the equation. Compare the bike to a Ferrari and you'll see that we're getting pretty good gas mileage. If you want the mileage but don't need the performance, there's a whole slew of moped/scooter manufacturers that would love you as a customer. Matt Knowles - Ferndale, CA - http://www.knowlesville.com/matt/motorcycles '99 Sprint ST - for going fast and far (2CZUSA) '01 KLR650 (A15) - for exploring the North Coast backroads '97 KLX300 & '01 Lakota - for playing in the dirt '79 KZ400 - just because it was the first vehicle I ever owned

[Ted Shigley]

Has anybody had any experience (good &/or bad) with the Conti Escape Dual Sport tires on a KLR 650? Thanks, Ted --------------------------------- Blab-away for as little as 1 /min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Matt Knowles wrote:

> > > Aerodynamics has some to do with it, and the KLR has to be the

least

> aerodynamic of any bike out there. Our need for performance is the

rest

> of the equation. Compare the bike to a Ferrari and you'll see that > we're getting pretty good gas mileage. If you want the mileage but > don't need the performance, there's a whole slew of moped/scooter > manufacturers that would love you as a customer. >

--- I'll buy that aerodynamics has something to do with it, but I'm not so sure about performance. I've got a standard SV650 that makes almost exactly twice the horsepower as my KLR, with virtually the same number of ccs, and the SV is actually a little heavier, depending on how much you believe dry weight numbers. And I get exactly the same fuel consumption: 50 mpg, out of both bikes. My SV is a first gen with carbeurators, not FI, so that ain't it either. Sounds to me like there is just a major difference in engine efficiency.