Windshield equals better fuel mileage?? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

dankrencisz · 07-08-2008, 03:02 AM

Fuel blinky light used to go on at around 170 miles. Today it started blinking at 192 miles. Could this be the result of the windshield? This would be the first full tank through it since I put it on. It isn't one of those big road king goldwing type, but it is a tiny sporty one angled the same as the forks.

Any thoughts?

Easy Rider · 07-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankrencisz

Could this be the result of the windshield?

Yes, could be.
Then again, maybe not!

A properly sized and positioned shield will often increase your mileage just a tad.....because the total wind resistance is less than when it was hitting you in the chest.

Sounds like you did it right.

rogerl · 07-08-2008, 12:00 PM

I have a National windshiels on my M50 and the fuel light usally starts blinking around 180 miles. I do mostly freeway riding.

Roger L

MotoJPizzle · 07-08-2008, 07:46 PM

are you filling up from the same station that you filled up last time? Same gas, etc..

nativenyerintexas · 07-09-2008, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerl

I have a National windshiels on my M50 and the fuel light usally starts blinking around 180 miles. I do mostly freeway riding.

Roger L

When the fuel blinky light comes on how much fuel do you have left in the tank? I went about 170 miles without it turning on and it took 3.577 gallons but I think I over fill it.

Is over filling a problem? I fill it up to just below (about 1/4 inch) the bottom of the neck in the tank. The salesman told me to fill it only up to the top of the sheet metal you see inside.

womper · 07-09-2008, 07:35 AM

safest was is to fill it up on the sidestand and the gas just touching the bottom of the neck... i fill until it hits the bottom of the neck on the right side... i've never spilled any fuel in twisties or due to heat...
(gas around here is usually at about 15 degrees celcius and it can expand a lot in the summer heat)

overfilling isn't a real problem, if you like to have fuel all over a hot engine and on your crotch

as per blinky, my manual says it comes on at about 3litres and stays on at 1.5 litres...
so.. that's about 0.8 gallons for blinky, 0.4 gallons for solid on...

the most i've ever ridden it was about 190 miles (blinking, but never on solid... i had a little more than 1/2 gallon in the tank left
it really depends on the riding style and properly inflated tires...

windshields and fairings can greatly improve your gas mileage...
think goldwings have those fairings just for the speakers? (well.. maybe

)

around 1966-70 Craig Vetter started making fairings for bikes (series 100 and windjammer series)

at any rate, windshields and fairings reduce the drag coefficient... it's all up to shape/size and unless you have a wind tunnel handy, it's hard to tell if you are increasing your drag or reducing it

anyhow... this guy is responsible for the 470mpg bike... and that was in 1985

Craig Vetter

Ray Nielsen · 07-09-2008, 09:39 AM

My experience with large fairings is limited to Slipstreamer Enterprise and National Plexifairing models as well as their smaller sized fairings. On several bikes I've found that a fairing increases gas mileage and one with lowers does even better. That seems counterintuitive, but I think the reason is aerodynamics. A ride on an unfaired bike is terrible from that standpoint.

Covering the upper body helps and lowers extend the coverage to some of the lower body as well. I've recorded about a 2 MPG increase by adding a small fairing and another 2-3 MPG when adding a fairing with lowers.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and going for a ride today!

jmckell · 07-09-2008, 10:09 AM

I may have to put my windshield back on.

NCxM50 · 07-09-2008, 11:10 AM

I added the Memphis Shades Pop Top (it's fairly small, but at 5'7" i fit behind it no problem) to my M and noticed an immediate jump in mpg from about 45/46 up to a steady 52.5 mpg. I ride an almost equal mix of backroads and highway, with maybe 10% city driving. Like others said, I believe it has to do with the aerodynamics of it all, if you think about it the rider on a bike is a giant kite, the windshield directs most of the wind around that kite.

womper · 07-09-2008, 02:49 PM

from what i read, drag coefficient on a bike is like 8 square feet, when on cars it's much lower...

a sports bike has about the same drag coefficient as a pickup...

even if i don't get better mileage... at least i don't get battered around when i'm at 55+mph

'08-M50 Rider · 07-09-2008, 04:22 PM

I bought a PopTop and installed it but my gas mileage went to hell. The bike felt so wonderfully stable and solid that I ended up driving in excess of 100mph the whole time. Took it off when I got home though cuz it's summer and it's hot up in Cali. Also, I love the way the wind feels even at speed w/o windshield.

ranger04 · 07-09-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankrencisz

Fuel blinky light used to go on at around 170 miles. Today it started blinking at 192 miles.

Any thoughts?

You no see blinky until 170 miles

Blinky visits me at 130 miles, and I do mostly freeway miles-generally about 70mph and try to stay easy on throttle

dankrencisz · 07-09-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger04

You no see blinky until 170 miles

Blinky visits me at 130 miles, and I do mostly freeway miles-generally about 70mph and try to stay easy on throttle

\

130 miles?? You get way crappier mpg than I get. I routinely get 200-210 miles out of 3.7 +/- gallons. 1/3 city 2/3 highway on premium unleaded.

Is your engine mod'd?? I'm stock as far as engine, pipes, and breathing.

jmckell · 07-09-2008, 10:40 PM

I am stock also and I get 200 miles a tank

oyrider · 07-10-2008, 12:26 AM

If I stop right away after the light first comes on, it takes 2.9 gallons. My mileage routinely is 48-52 for mostly highway riding (commute). My windshield is usually sitting in the garage and I use it on longer trips.

MotoJPizzle · 07-10-2008, 08:10 AM

the first and last time I let it get down to blinky light - it stopped blinking when I finally got to station (probably gas shifted around or I was on a hill when it was blinky) but anyways, it was at 180 miles and needed about 4 gallons of gas.

Easy Rider · 07-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger04

Blinky visits me at 130 miles, and I do mostly freeway miles-generally about 70mph and try to stay easy on throttle

Maybe you need to change your blinker fluid.

Sorry!

flboxerboi · 07-10-2008, 02:14 PM

I just put mine on last week too. I installed the factory sport shield because I picked it up at cost $225+tax btw. I was getting about 54 MPG so I will let you know what I get now. I drive back and forth to work about three times a week on the bike but it will still take a few weeks to fill it back up.

OH thats 3.5 gallons and 190 miles

07-08-2008, 03:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
dankrencisz Seat Tester Joined: Jun 2008 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: Brunswick Ohio Posts: 82	Windshield equals better fuel mileage?? Fuel blinky light used to go on at around 170 miles. Today it started blinking at 192 miles. Could this be the result of the windshield? This would be the first full tank through it since I put it on. It isn't one of those big road king goldwing type, but it is a tiny sporty one angled the same as the forks. Any thoughts? __________________ I just got lost in thought... It was unfamiliar territory Help me make a dollar, please click this link. http://tinyurl.com/6gaua9 It's Free and won't cost you anything! Current: Garmin Quest GPS, Saddlemen Explorer seat, Sissy Bar, Luggage rack, Tank cover, Sik-lite blue LED's, Skull license plate bolts, SpitFire windshield, Tourmaster Sissybar bag, Gremlin Bell, Chrome Tank Trim, Pro Burner Halogen driving lights. Upcoming: Grips, throttle lock, Floorboards, Highway pegs. more??

07-08-2008, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
MotoJPizzle Fender Buffer Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Limited Location: Noble OK Posts: 436	are you filling up from the same station that you filled up last time? Same gas, etc.. __________________ M50 Secret Hideaway - For M50 Owners, By M50 Owners!!! Moderators ________ (Fill in Blank) 2007 M50 Limited (Gray with Tribal Flames) Vance and Hines StraightShots Cobra FI2000R (because some friends said I needed it) Irate Customs Radiator Cover. K&N Filter (SU-8005) purchase from K&N Directly Street Shield EX - from aeagles Trying to get to 10,000 views Please help by watching and getting your friends to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxql8S47cIw Loud Pipes Save Lives!

07-09-2008, 04:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
'08-M50 Rider Ditch Magnet Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2008 Suzuki M50 Grey and Black Location: California Posts: 196	I bought a PopTop and installed it but my gas mileage went to hell. The bike felt so wonderfully stable and solid that I ended up driving in excess of 100mph the whole time. Took it off when I got home though cuz it's summer and it's hot up in Cali. Also, I love the way the wind feels even at speed w/o windshield. __________________ I love my 2008 Black & Grey M50!!! So Far: Corbin Classic Solo Seat, Scorpio i900 Alarm Next: Debaffle, John's forward controls

07-10-2008, 08:10 AM	#16 (permalink)
MotoJPizzle Fender Buffer Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Limited Location: Noble OK Posts: 436	the first and last time I let it get down to blinky light - it stopped blinking when I finally got to station (probably gas shifted around or I was on a hill when it was blinky) but anyways, it was at 180 miles and needed about 4 gallons of gas. __________________ M50 Secret Hideaway - For M50 Owners, By M50 Owners!!! Moderators ________ (Fill in Blank) 2007 M50 Limited (Gray with Tribal Flames) Vance and Hines StraightShots Cobra FI2000R (because some friends said I needed it) Irate Customs Radiator Cover. K&N Filter (SU-8005) purchase from K&N Directly Street Shield EX - from aeagles Trying to get to 10,000 views Please help by watching and getting your friends to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxql8S47cIw Loud Pipes Save Lives!

07-10-2008, 02:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
flboxerboi Newbie Joined: May 2007 Posts: 6	windshield and fuel milage I just put mine on last week too. I installed the factory sport shield because I picked it up at cost $225+tax btw. I was getting about 54 MPG so I will let you know what I get now. I drive back and forth to work about three times a week on the bike but it will still take a few weeks to fill it back up. OH thats 3.5 gallons and 190 miles Last edited by flboxerboi; 07-10-2008 at 02:16 PM.

07-08-2008, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
rogerl Ditch Magnet Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2006 Silver M50 Location: Northfield, Ohio Posts: 155	I have a National windshiels on my M50 and the fuel light usally starts blinking around 180 miles. I do mostly freeway riding. Roger L

07-09-2008, 09:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ray Nielsen In Training Joined: Jan 2008 Bike: 2005 Boulevard M50 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 139	My experience with large fairings is limited to Slipstreamer Enterprise and National Plexifairing models as well as their smaller sized fairings. On several bikes I've found that a fairing increases gas mileage and one with lowers does even better. That seems counterintuitive, but I think the reason is aerodynamics. A ride on an unfaired bike is terrible from that standpoint. Covering the upper body helps and lowers extend the coverage to some of the lower body as well. I've recorded about a 2 MPG increase by adding a small fairing and another 2-3 MPG when adding a fairing with lowers. Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis and going for a ride today!

07-09-2008, 10:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
jmckell Clunked into first gear Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: '05 Suzuki M50 Blk Location: DFW, TX Posts: 230	I may have to put my windshield back on.

07-09-2008, 11:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
NCxM50 Clunked into first gear Joined: Mar 2008 Bike: Silver '06 M50 Location: NE NC Posts: 229	I added the Memphis Shades Pop Top (it's fairly small, but at 5'7" i fit behind it no problem) to my M and noticed an immediate jump in mpg from about 45/46 up to a steady 52.5 mpg. I ride an almost equal mix of backroads and highway, with maybe 10% city driving. Like others said, I believe it has to do with the aerodynamics of it all, if you think about it the rider on a bike is a giant kite, the windshield directs most of the wind around that kite.

07-09-2008, 10:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
jmckell Clunked into first gear Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: '05 Suzuki M50 Blk Location: DFW, TX Posts: 230	I am stock also and I get 200 miles a tank

07-10-2008, 12:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
oyrider In Training Joined: May 2007 Bike: 06 M50, 06 Ducati ST3s, 07 Honda cbr600rr Location: SoCal Posts: 134	If I stop right away after the light first comes on, it takes 2.9 gallons. My mileage routinely is 48-52 for mostly highway riding (commute). My windshield is usually sitting in the garage and I use it on longer trips.

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