
120 miles per gallon!

First time I've heard that one. From brief on-line survey, apparently worm gears have been used in shaft drives, even as late as a 1952 Sunbeam. You have one in your Virago? I'm pretty sure there is no worm gear in the drive on my Moto Guzzi.elimia wrote: While there is virually no maintenance involved with a driveshaft, they have to turn some worm gears to operate. Mechanically, this seems to be less efficient and some energy loss than a simple chain or belt drive.
I'm no mechanic, I assume what is working in the driveshaft is some sort of vertical and horizontal gears. Looking at where the thing runs, I guess. I agree about the windshields providing comfort; my bottom line is fuel economy so I skip it.Donn wrote:First time I've heard that one. From brief on-line survey, apparently worm gears have been used in shaft drives, even as late as a 1952 Sunbeam. You have one in your Virago? I'm pretty sure there is no worm gear in the drive on my Moto Guzzi.elimia wrote: While there is virually no maintenance involved with a driveshaft, they have to turn some worm gears to operate. Mechanically, this seems to be less efficient and some energy loss than a simple chain or belt drive.
As for fairings and windshields, there is a lot that can go wrong. A good one probably isn't going to look like a '60s police motorcycle, and it probably isn't going to be one-size-fits-all, but when it works, it decreases wind resistance and general road fatigue, that's my opinion. A bad one definitely makes it worse, though.
Hey schlepp, Nighthawks are about the most reliable bikes made. and very low maintenance, with hydraulic valve lifters, (no adjustments needed), shaft drive (no chain to oil or brake), and they just keep going and going and going, etc. In fact the 700SC you are talking about is on my short list. I get around 50-55 mpg on my 81 Yamaha Seca 550 (unless I redline it in every gear! which is alot of fun BTW), so i would think the 700's mpg would be in the 40's. How much gas can you buy for $1500? Obviously while you may be saving gas on the bike, you will not be saving money. Bikes are toys and you have to look at them as such, unless you are a diehard allweather rider, which I am not. Tires only last about 6 - 10 thousand miles, batteries rarely last more than 4 years, brakes , etc. need to be changed and the nighthawk has 4 carbs to tune and sync, you ain't tunin no chevy...schlepporello wrote:OK friends and foes, I've been out of touch with the motorcycle world for a long, long time and my knowledge base is way outdated. But given the current gas price escalation, I'm considering getting one for transportation to and from work. Of course the debate concerning cost efficiency can go on forever on this, with taking into consideration the initial purchase price, helmets, insurance, tags and registration. Just how long I'd have to ride it before I start coming out ahead gas savings wise is beyond my reckoning. But this is one avenue I'm looking at.
The motorcycle I've found in my area at the price range I feel comfortable with ($1500) is a 1986 HONDA Nighthawk 700SC. All I know about this bike is that it has a 4-cylinder engine (good in my opinion) and a seat style that I like (because momma can snuggle close to me). I don't know what kind of mileage this bike would get, but I'm judging that with a large displacement 4-cylinder engine I'm probably looking at around 34 MPG.
Am I too far off base in my reckoning?
Does anybody have any experience with this particular motorcycle?
bloke wrote: Personally, I also realized that most of my trips away from home either involve dragging my tuba with me (gigs) or dragging a bunch of horns back here from some school (repair work) ...
Two points:elimia wrote:Something else I think may be relevant to gas mileage (based on discussions wth friends, not empirical data) - chain/belt drive vs driveshaft. My Virago has a driveshaft. While there is virually no maintenance involved with a driveshaft, they have to turn some worm gears to operate. Mechanically, this seems to be less efficient and some energy loss than a simple chain or belt drive. My 750 cc Virago gets between 37-45 mpg and I don't ever goose it. My buddy, who has a newer model 750 cc Honda Shadow with a chain drive, never gets below 60 mpg no matter how hard/easy he rides it.
Ah the PC 800 another bike on my short list. If you ever want to sell it let me know.....Doc wrote:Aw phooey! Give mama a ride or two, and she'll be just fine.
I had a 79 Gold Wing and rode it throughout college (when I didn't have to pack instruments around). I bought it from a professor for $500. It needed carb work and new tires. A friend of mine did the work and I was set. Only other thing I had to do was replace a cracked fairing mount, which I found easily at a bike junkyard for $7.50. It was an outstanding bike. Mileage was not a concern at the time, but I estimated it at 30-35, even with bags, trunk, fairing, and my fat ***. Eventually sold the bike to my dad. Man...was I sad about that. Even more sad when he traded it for a Honda Pacific Coast, although I grew to love that little bike (little like 800cc?) That's ok, since my dad no longer rides, and I've been offered the bike. I just need to figure out how the hell to get it here. Wayne, you make any runs up to Walmart HQ and Houston, or still just locally?
Doc