Zen and the increase of mileage
As you might now I ride a rather old motorcycle that’s not very fuel efficient (Roughly 42 miles per gallon if I converted it correctly. 18 km/l). As I was riding on the highway last Saturday my fuel ran out, thankfully I have a reserve in the tank so I switched to that. An additional 3 liters of fuel (0.8 gallon) to get me home. More than enough range but as I rode off to uni today I was feeling a bit uneasy as to how much fuel was left, I didn’t fill up yet. Would I run out halfway and have to walk?
This wasn’t the case, but after class I walked back to my motorcycle wondering if I could make it to the gasstation. I can tell you, it’s very unpleasant riding like that. Anyone driving a car with the fuel light on can tell you that.
Well, now something interesting happened: I started holding back. Easing down on the throttle, trying to predict/time stoplights and even shutting down the engine entirely on a long stretch downhill, all in the name of fuel economy. This huge change in style got me thinking, how much effect can you have on your mileages if you change your driving style. I usually tend to gun it a bit.
A short internetsearch later I ended up with a frequently used term on the internet although I’ve only found it in combination with cars (and hybrids in particular) “hypermilers”. A phrase used to describe those people who try to squeeze every last inch out of every gallon while using street-legal production cars.
Although not all tactics are usable on a motorcycle there is one main tactic that is more important than all others combined: stay calm and relaxed. This means no sudden changes in speed or direction, also described as “Foot control, hand-eye coordination, and anticipation”. One study found that jackrabbit starts and hard brake stops reduce travel time by only about 4 percent—that’s 75 seconds on a 30-minute trip. And we didn’t even factor in tire, engine and brake wear. A few tactics applicable to motorcyclists are:
- Stay off the brakes
- Accelerate as slow as you can without causing problems for other road users
- Idling is zero miles per gallon…. stay moving if possible
- Stay out of puddles and grooves
- Uphill: gather momentum to take you over, you’ll slow down at the top. Time it so you barely roll over and start gaining momentum again on the downhill.
- Turning off the engine and rolling (Can be illegal, check local laws)
- Tailgating/slipstreaming (Again, can be illegal)
- Get your tuires up to proper pressure, perhaps even a bit harder
- Clean out the air filter
- Check and clean your oil regularly
- Keep the chain properly lubed and at the right tension
- Try to minimise drag
- Try to minimise weight
Try these tactics at your own risk of course, and please do put on a high-vis vest, you’re vulnerable as a motorcyclist even without doing these things. And of course, if you can do something on a bicycle or by walking, don’t use something with a combustion engine.
Now if you’re wondering why I would like to save gas, I have exactly one reason for it: Frugality. If I calculated this correctly I filled up my gastank today at the cost of $7.31 per gallon. (€1.32 per liter). Thankfully it’s a small country and my average trip is just over 40 miles but still, it’s no fun seeing all that money just evaporate so some frugality is in order. I’m not one for extreme green thinking, I wouldn’t mind solar panels on my roof and a windmill in the backyard but it’s not a must for me. Just by being a minimalist I find that I’m greener than most, no need to overdo it and build a composting loo as well. When the time comes for a “new” car I’ll go for a prius or some other hybrid but for now, it’s an old ratbike and doing everything I can to save money on gas.
Stay calm while riding and control your right hand, slow down and enjoy the view at the same time. It’s a true challenge to get as many miles as possible, treat it as a game and constantly try to get the new highscore.
Good luck and remember: relax, focus and have fun!
Good post, it’s so easy to save lots of fuel. I do it for the same reason as you “Frugality” i always liked to squeeze the most km i could out of a fuel.
I just another sport..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermiling#Hypermiling_as_a_sport
I do the exact same thing in my Honda, both for frugality and environmental concerns.
I don’t know if I would ever compete in it (thanks for the link Allards), but I agree with Christiaan that is fun to keep track of mileage and try to beat the mpg’s you got on the last tank!
It’s also a good way to notice all the people speeding by whose minds are so preoccupied and distant that they completely miss all the wonders happening in the present.