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Thread: gas mileage and wieght

Created on: 03/18/10 09:40 AM

Replies: 3

painterdude


painterdude's Gravatar

Joined: 02/16/09

Posts: 136

gas mileage and wieght
03/18/10 9:40 AM

Okay you physics brainiaks ..answer this if you can..
If one lowers the wieght of the stock wheels via aftermarket rims significantly, will that have a net positive effect at all on gas mileage or the reverse? Is there some flywheeling action that is helpful to fuel mileage with heavier wheels?
If there is some advantaghe to lighter wheels would it be at all noticeable. Ya I know you lower the wheel wieght for handling ..but I roll up huge miles at times on trips so just wondering if I might get any extra distance out of a tank ful with forged aluminum rims .

I am and artist so do not clobber me if the answer is obvious to you number heads.

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Hub


Hub's Gravatar

Joined: 02/05/09

Posts: 13917

RE: gas mileage and wieght
03/18/10 9:22 PM

Why do you think I have my bike stripped the way I do. Because I rotate the stock and won't invest that kind of money in a bike I am going to sell pretty soon. So I throw that wheel money at a new mount. Now, if I had art that would sell and money is no object I act like my clients, then full ceramic bearing in trans and same in the lightweight wheels.

I am no physics major, but, one could observe the auto industry change from steel to plastic composite to conform to gov mandate, meaning, up the mileage out of the gallon and here is the due date. So, simple physics says to lighten up all over. Run one disc setup at the front. Pull off as much excess not needed on the bike.

You add road-pack and how much weight does that add? There goes the mileage you keep adding packs or trunk space. You can remove the ram snorkels and use that area for packing small stuff. You can pull the rear plastic off, run mini turn signals. We are now getting to the point I add bags to balance the back so the front does not shake and lower the center of gravity for stability.

So, yes, it is more than just starting out with light wheels. It is about, lighter exhaust weight, lighter tires like the OEM. The pretty parts that hang on the bike for aesthetics, are packed away, for they are not needed in the grand scheme of chasing high fuel mileage.



Tormenting the motorcycling community one post at a time

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9secondsflat



Joined: 03/08/10

Posts: 121

RE: gas mileage and wieght
03/19/10 4:05 AM

to be honest, I dont think you would offset and recoup the net benefit by adding in lighter tires, ceramic bearings etc....you could easily spend 2k just on wheels....if they weighed 10lbs less then stock...your savings may be 1mpg...so what is that .28 cents per gallon, so you save 1.50ish on a tank....hope you ride alot to get back the money you dished out....1330 tanks of gas, you will have just a hair under 200k on the bike to break even...

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painterdude


painterdude's Gravatar

Joined: 02/16/09

Posts: 136

RE: gas mileage and wieght
03/21/10 8:39 PM

thanks for the replies ..that was funny 9secondsflat!
I was just wonderin. Them gold aluminum wheels look awful good though!!

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