2008 Linhai Aeolus - Need Better MPG

[prodigit]

An EFI system would give you best mpg improvements, but may cost quite a bit!

[4950cycle]

Hhmm.. , For some reason my girlfriends JCL MP 250 A 's windshield smacks me right in the face with wind. And yes Unclebuggie, I think that Blue scoots windshield does have a bit more protection than most. I don't know, it might just be an illusion ? Don't know what to tell you Prodigit ? Even with the upswept windshield I Wish it would shoot it over my head. My Ninja 250 ( with custom taller windshield ) blows my head off too ! Don't know what to say ?

[4950cycle]

Wish I had that EFI . Thats the sh#%t boy !

[jeridhill]

I've installed an app on my phone that will let me track mileage and figure out my overall mpg. I purchased the scooter from a dealer but before they delivered it, they told me the fuel gage was broke. They finally got the parts in and fixed it, but I realized filling up the tank, didn't necessarily mean filling up the tank. So I'm not 100% sure of my mpg at this point. I figured I would take the advice of calculating it over several tanks, and this app is a good way of doing just that.

I also want to contact the dealer and see if they had changed out the spark plugs and air filter. I'm not sure of aftermarket products instead of OEM that will increase performance, but any suggestions are good.

I do have another question though, how does using engine breaking save mpg over using your normal breaks? Is it just that you are decelerating over a longer distance and using less gas than if you were riding at xx mph until you have to stop quickly? If so, I can understand that, and if so, is it just a small savings?

Thanks again everyone! I will say, the balance is great on this scooter. I can take a sharp turn and spring back up with immediate full control. Very well built!

[jeridhill]

And another couple of questions.....

How much more mpg percentage-wise could I achieve by moving to an efi? I calculated if I could increase my fuel efficiency by 40%, in the amount that I ride, my savings would only equate to about $135 in a year. For the cost of an efi, I'm not sure it's worth it, unless I'm looking for more power and being able to monitor what's going on. So it seems to be more of a value-added service.

For those who have upgraded to an efi on the linhai engine, what were your increases in mpg? I did see the larger thread regarding the conversion, but no one seemed to talk about their increase, only what they were getting after the conversion (unless I read over it).

[unclebuggies]

I think before I'd invest in EFI for my Aeolus I'd just pick up a burgman.

[jeridhill]

Where I bought my Linhai, they had a Burgman 400. It was very nice, but they wanted twice what I paid, it just wasn't in the budget for now.

[scooteritch]

I just want to add some data to this conversation. I have had my Aeolus 260 since June of 2008. Since the beginning, I have kept up with the mileage on the scooter. I am 5'9 and weigh 160 lbs and through the four years of riding, I have averaged around 72 MPG. I have had MPG on single fill ups as high as 83 MPG and as a low as 48 MPG. Majority of the riding is from my commute to and from work which is around 30 miles each way. I currently have 19,500 miles so I think my data had time to smooth out and all the other factors such as incorrect odometer readings on the Chinese scooters are pretty much baked into this average. So overall, I feel comfortable with the numbers that I see from my own riding. I really think the biggest variable that I have to deal with is when is a "full tank" a full tank. I try to fill to the same spot every time but if I even spill few ounces during my fill up to get my tank to fill to same place, my mileage changes (very slightly but it does change).

So, with all this said, jerridhill's issue is that he is getting a performance from his scooter that is way below his expectation. I think we can all agree that a typical 250cc scooter with an average weight, average riding style and average road condition should produce an average MPG that is much higher than somewhere in the 40s. Maybe what we need is more riders that are in the same weight category and see what their performance looks like on their 250cc scooters.

Thanks

[jlee]

Oct 28, 2012 11:15:49 GMT -5 scooteritch said:

I currently have 19,500 miles so I think my data had time to smooth out and all the other factors such as incorrect odometer readings on the Chinese scooters are pretty much baked into this average.

The only thing that is NOT baked in is the inaccuracy of the odometer. Since that is a constant, it affects ALL your calculations, whereas the variable elements get averaged out over time.

To calculate MPG accurately, you MUST be sure that the miles and gallons are accurate. Everything else can be variable.

[jlee]

Oct 28, 2012 11:15:49 GMT -5 scooteritch said:

I think we can all agree that a typical 250cc scooter with an average weight, average riding style and average road condition should produce an average MPG that is much higher than somewhere in the 40s. Maybe what we need is more riders that are in the same weight category and see what their performance looks like on their 250cc scooters.

I will weigh in soon (pun intended) as I just picked up a Bandit UC-250Z (Linhai clone 257cc) and weigh in the 300 range.

[jeridhill]

I just did another tank and it's 38.6 MPG, clearly something isn't right. I did talk to the dealer I bought the scooter from and they said they would look at it for me.

I asked them how extensive they look over scooters before they sell them and they said they do change the plugs and inspect the air filter etc. I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and change the plugs and filter myself as well as run some kind of carburetor cleaner in it to try to boost it. The point of purchasing the scooter was to have a higher fuel efficiency than what I'm getting, any suggestions or ideas on increasing performance are welcomed (outside of purchasing another scooter).

[prodigit]

I get an average of 34MPG on my Chevrolet Cruze car, and that one has a 1,4Liter Turbo engine.