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Fuel Efficient Motorcycles

Elio Amazed

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I've heard and seen some pretty amazing things out of the Ninja 250 crowd. Now with the emerging sub 500 cc market small displacement and fun are back. I owned a "Little Giant Killer," AKA a Yamaha RS350. Talk about a fun bike with decent gas mileage.

I'm sure the new offerings from Honda, Yamaha, KTM and yes the true and tried Baby Kawasaki Ninja will create a greate option for those looking for a balance of fun and MPG's. If I was in the market right now for one, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

Personally I refuse to lose the hope and continue to wait for my Elio. I don't need one I just happen to like the idea and will continue to support it by waiting patiently..
This gets 80mpg and goes 90mph on a good day.
It was on one of those "top ten fuel effecient motorcycles" internet lists.
I looked a couple of days ago, but I couldn't find the particular one.
A new stock 2015 will run you $4340, but there are unsold earlier models still out there.

You can't have this one. It's mine. :)

newestvirago.jpg
 
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JEBar

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This gets 80mpg and goes 90mph on a good day.
It was on one of those "top ten fuel effecient motorcycles" internet lists.
I looked a couple of days ago, but I couldn't find the particular one.
A new stock 2015 will run you $4340, but there are unsold earlier models still out there.

You can't have this one. It's mine. :)

View attachment 5694


how would you rate the harshness of the ride on this bike ?
 

WilliamH

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This gets 80mpg and goes 90mph on a good day.
It was on one of those "top ten fuel effecient motorcycles" internet lists.
I looked a couple of days ago, but I couldn't find the particular one.
A new stock 2015 will run you $4340, but there are unsold earlier models still out there.

You can't have this one. It's mine. :)

View attachment 5694

.........."This gets 80mpg and goes 90mph on a good day."...........
Does it do both at the same time? ;);)
Looks nice. I'm jealous!
Had to give up riding. Spinal fusion. L4-L5. (L3-L4 still isn't right.)
 

Elio Amazed

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how would you rate the harshness of the ride on this bike ?

Not harsh at all.
15" on the rear and 18" on the front.
It probably weighs around 325lb. with the extra hardware.
The tires, stock shock set-up and stock seat combine to provide a great ride.
With the 650 having a Corbin Stinger seat, being lowered and having it's mono-shock set up a little stiff...
The 250 is quite a bit easier on the butt and spine.

As far as handling and control...
I can throw this thing around all day.
It manuevers like my 650 only wishes it could.
I'm 6'1". I have to sit back a bit on it.
But it's a very stable and comfortable position.
Wind buffeting @ speed was all but solved by the add-ons.

I'd still take the larger bike for long distance.
It's just pretty much point and shoot.
The 250 just wears you out more @ interstate speeds.
But the 250 is everything I want for a commuter vehicle.
It's also great for medium cruises at secondary road speeds.

.........."This gets 80mpg and goes 90mph on a good day."...........
Does it do both at the same time? ;);)
Never tried that. I'm a little skeptical.
It will do it while cruising @ a steady 72mph all day long though.
 
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JEBar

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info appreciated .... back problems ended my active biking days, so when looking at any vehicle (no matter how many wheels it may have) the quality of ride is important to me .... the reason we tow our camper with a Sportchassis has nothing to do with power, it was ride .... its air suspension and air seats make our travels around the country comfortable .... our plans are to pull out on Tuesday of next week on a 2+ month swing out west .... our former one ton dually was fully capable of towing our camper but its ride was such that it took away much of the fun .... I'd really love to drive an Elio prior to placing an order .... the uncertainty of the ride quality it will offer is a concern for me ..... hopefully it will prove to be a non-issue
 

DAVID BROWER

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Is that the prototype elio ?

SORT OF .
IT IS A CAR THAT WAS MADE IN MINNESOTA IN THE EARLY 80's WITH A LOT OF THE SAME HYPE .

IT IS CALLED A HMV ( High Mileage Vehicles ) FREEWAY .
IT WAS SOLD AS A SINGLE SEAT COMMUTER CAR WITH A 100mpg GUARANTEE .
IT WAS DESIGNED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MOTORCYCLES LAWS .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Vehicles_Free-way

I HAVE OWNED TWO OF THEM & THEY ARE SOME OF THE QUIRKIEST CARS IMAGINABLE .
TO BE HONEST , THEY WERE POORLY DESIGNED , POORLY ENGINEERED AND POORLY BUILT .

THEY HAD A SINGLE CYLINDER TECUMSEH FARM ENGINE WITH OPEN CHAIN DRIVE AND
E-Z GO GOLFCART BRAKES .

THE CAR WAS POORLY PROMOTED AND THE COMPANY WAS POORLY RUN .
IT WAS A ROAD-GOING TOY WHAT WAS OVERPRICED BUT THEY STILL MANAGED TO MAKE 700 OF THEM !

WHAT SOLD THE FREEWAY WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS , IT WAS THE AUTOCYCLE CONCEPT .
ELIO HAS A SIMILAR CONCEPT BUT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT THAT HMV GOT WRONG .

DSC_0052.JPG
 

Rickb

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info appreciated .... back problems ended my active biking days, so when looking at any vehicle (no matter how many wheels it may have) the quality of ride is important to me .... the reason we tow our camper with a Sportchassis has nothing to do with power, it was ride .... its air suspension and air seats make our travels around the country comfortable .... our plans are to pull out on Tuesday of next week on a 2+ month swing out west .... our former one ton dually was fully capable of towing our camper but its ride was such that it took away much of the fun .... I'd really love to drive an Elio prior to placing an order .... the uncertainty of the ride quality it will offer is a concern for me ..... hopefully it will prove to be a non-issue
I feel the same. I have to test drive before I buy. The Elio has to be a comfortable ride. Have a nice trip! Next year you may be reverse towing your Elio.
 

JEBar

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I feel the same. I have to test drive before I buy. The Elio has to be a comfortable ride. Have a nice trip! Next year you may be reverse towing your Elio.

good wishes appreciated but we tow a 5er and unfortunately towing anything behind a 5er or travel trailer in our part of the country isn't legal .... EM has stated that they anticipate folks who buy an Elio to tow behind a motorhome to be a significant part of their sales .... from what we've seen over the years, I believe they may well be right

we will buy an Elio no matter how it rides but how much we end up using it and how long we will keep it will be heavily influenced by how it rides ....
 
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Elio Amazed

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info appreciated .... back problems ended my active biking days, so when looking at any vehicle (no matter how many wheels it may have) the quality of ride is important to me .... the reason we tow our camper with a Sportchassis has nothing to do with power, it was ride .... its air suspension and air seats make our travels around the country comfortable .... our plans are to pull out on Tuesday of next week on a 2+ month swing out west .... our former one ton dually was fully capable of towing our camper but its ride was such that it took away much of the fun .... I'd really love to drive an Elio prior to placing an order .... the uncertainty of the ride quality it will offer is a concern for me ..... hopefully it will prove to be a non-issue
I can relate as I'm beginning to have some issues myself.
Life just seems to be a whole lot more work than it used to be.
I hope you're right about the Elio.
Give us some play by play of the trip if you feel like it.
I got to see the West during the eleven months that I put 110K on a Freightliner.
Pictures and video never do the landscapes justice.
"You have to be there" was never more true.
 
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