Ninja 250--Disappointing fuel economy

shatz · 07-11-2012, 10:21 AM

My husband used to own a 2002 Ninja 250 and got 60-70 mpg on it. He recently bought a brand new Ninja 250 and, though driving it about the same, is only getting 40 mpg. Most of his driving is on the highway, commuting to work, and he is not overly aggressive with it. Any thoughts on why the fuel economy is so much worse?

cbdallas · 07-11-2012, 01:53 PM

If the carb has been adjusted to run rich, MPGs will suffer. Any intake / exhaust mods? These bikes are tuned at the factory to run quite lean, but if that's been adjusted, it won't achieve its normal high MPG numbers.

Tire pressure, brake caliper condition, atmospheric & weather conditions, warm-up times, choke partially stuck on, oil type & viscosity, altered final drive (sprocket sizes), & spark plug condition can all contribute to reduced MPG.

CaptCrashIdaho · 07-11-2012, 02:00 PM

How to say this...

OK, there's kind of a 'sweet spot' for MPGs--rev too low and you'll knick your mileage. Likewise if Hubby was running the bike at good RPMs for long periods on the freeway (no stops & starts) he was in that sweet spot a long time. My Phantom gets 55mph in town, 60 if I keep it under 70 on the freeway and it drops under 50 if I'm running 75+ for long periods.

Isn't the new Ninja fuel injected? It also might not be broken in yet and unconsciously he might still be babying it. Until it's fully run in it won't settle to it's final mpgs...

Kawasaki feels he should be getting 61 freeway so my money's on the thing ain't fully mature and he's shifting early and often.

shatz · 07-11-2012, 03:56 PM

It's completely stock for now. I'm pretty sure it's carbureted. Hopefully it just needs breaking in...our checkbook misses those 70mpg!

MirrorrorriM · 07-11-2012, 05:49 PM

It's carbureted. Check the pressure of the tires. If I had to venture a guess, I would bet on that. Go by what the label underneath the seat says - don't eyeball it, motorcycle tires are tricky in that they may look inflated, but are 20psi under!

Hawkeye · 07-12-2012, 10:46 AM

That doesn't sound right to me either. Something wrong for sure (could be tire pressure + some other little things). Has the oil been changed 2 times yet? Not sure that would have a large effect on the MPG but helps a little from my experience.

For reference I get about 40MPG driving aggressively on my R6...

croz · 07-12-2012, 07:51 PM

I used to have an 08 Ninja 250 and I got 50 mpg wringing its neck on the backroads.

RobMoore · 07-12-2012, 08:11 PM

I had a 2011 250 that I'd have wound out all the way most of my 70 mile commute (which equated to 98-103 mph). It got 46mpg.

Hawkeye · 07-14-2012, 07:39 PM

Since the bikes top speed is 115 that is pretty unbelievable...

RobMoore · 07-14-2012, 11:19 PM

115? Not even going downhill.

zmago · 07-15-2012, 01:10 AM

With a tailwind.

tkkronic · 07-15-2012, 03:00 AM

115 top speed??

goalie · 07-15-2012, 08:55 AM

A friend looked at the Ninja before buying the CBR. Stats on the Ninja were impressive for the little engine -- over 100 top speed (I think it was 105 officially) from only 36 hp and 15 to 18 ft lbs of torque.

Definitely enough to have a heck of a lot of fun around town.

goalie · 07-15-2012, 08:58 AM

Guess my memory was wrong. This Cycleworld article says the Ninja only got 25.5 hp on their dyno.

http://www.cycleworld.com/2011/03/04...mparison-test/

RobMoore · 07-15-2012, 09:02 AM

Engine hp vs wheel hp

goalie · 07-15-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobMoore

Engine hp vs wheel hp

Re-looking at the article, I guess I'm not sure. I want to say they were talking about ... but I cannot say. I guess if I wasn't so lazy, I'd check the official website.

RobMoore · 07-15-2012, 10:06 AM

No, I was saying that 36 versus 25 is the difference between engine horsepower and wheel horsepower. When a magazine says they dynoed it, they mean wheel horsepower which is lower than engine horsepower. Manufacturers claim engine horsepower.

kat569 · 07-15-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MirrorrorriM

It's carbureted. Check the pressure of the tires. If I had to venture a guess, I would bet on that. Go by what the label underneath the seat says - don't eyeball it, motorcycle tires are tricky in that they may look inflated, but are 20psi under!

This. My Ninja 500R (2009, bought brand new) was getting 50-60MPG until I let the tires lose pressure; then it dropped to about 40MPG. Once I added 15 or so pounds to each tire, my MPG went right back up.

Team Elkhorn · 07-15-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shatz

My husband used to own a 2002 Ninja 250 and got 60-70 mpg on it. He recently bought a brand new Ninja 250 and, though driving it about the same, is only getting 40 mpg. Most of his driving is on the highway, commuting to work, and he is not overly aggressive with it. Any thoughts on why the fuel economy is so much worse?

It will probably get better fuel mileage after it gets broken in. But...How can I ask this nicely?

Has he gained any weight since the first Ninja.

07-11-2012, 10:21 AM	#1
shatz Motorcyclist Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	Ninja 250--Disappointing fuel economy My husband used to own a 2002 Ninja 250 and got 60-70 mpg on it. He recently bought a brand new Ninja 250 and, though driving it about the same, is only getting 40 mpg. Most of his driving is on the highway, commuting to work, and he is not overly aggressive with it. Any thoughts on why the fuel economy is so much worse?

07-11-2012, 02:00 PM	#3
CaptCrashIdaho Safety Hooligan Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SW Idaho! Posts: 1,682	How to say this... OK, there's kind of a 'sweet spot' for MPGs--rev too low and you'll knick your mileage. Likewise if Hubby was running the bike at good RPMs for long periods on the freeway (no stops & starts) he was in that sweet spot a long time. My Phantom gets 55mph in town, 60 if I keep it under 70 on the freeway and it drops under 50 if I'm running 75+ for long periods. Isn't the new Ninja fuel injected? It also might not be broken in yet and unconsciously he might still be babying it. Until it's fully run in it won't settle to it's final mpgs... Kawasaki feels he should be getting 61 freeway so my money's on the thing ain't fully mature and he's shifting early and often. Last edited by CaptCrashIdaho; 07-11-2012 at 02:06 PM..

07-11-2012, 05:49 PM	#5
MirrorrorriM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 268	It's carbureted. Check the pressure of the tires. If I had to venture a guess, I would bet on that. Go by what the label underneath the seat says - don't eyeball it, motorcycle tires are tricky in that they may look inflated, but are 20psi under! __________________ -Clark

07-12-2012, 10:46 AM	#6
Hawkeye ├•┤ Pew Pew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,541	That doesn't sound right to me either. Something wrong for sure (could be tire pressure + some other little things). Has the oil been changed 2 times yet? Not sure that would have a large effect on the MPG but helps a little from my experience. For reference I get about 40MPG driving aggressively on my R6... __________________ If you don't sin... Jesus died for nothing.

07-12-2012, 07:51 PM	#7
croz Verified Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Atlanta Posts: 32	I used to have an 08 Ninja 250 and I got 50 mpg wringing its neck on the backroads. Last edited by croz; 07-12-2012 at 07:54 PM..

07-11-2012, 01:53 PM	#2
cbdallas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 1,786	If the carb has been adjusted to run rich, MPGs will suffer. Any intake / exhaust mods? These bikes are tuned at the factory to run quite lean, but if that's been adjusted, it won't achieve its normal high MPG numbers. Tire pressure, brake caliper condition, atmospheric & weather conditions, warm-up times, choke partially stuck on, oil type & viscosity, altered final drive (sprocket sizes), & spark plug condition can all contribute to reduced MPG.

07-11-2012, 03:56 PM	#4
shatz Motorcyclist Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	It's completely stock for now. I'm pretty sure it's carbureted. Hopefully it just needs breaking in...our checkbook misses those 70mpg!

07-12-2012, 08:11 PM	#8
RobMoore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Queen Anne's Posts: 623	I had a 2011 250 that I'd have wound out all the way most of my 70 mile commute (which equated to 98-103 mph). It got 46mpg.

07-14-2012, 07:39 PM	#9
Hawkeye ├•┤ Pew Pew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,541	Since the bikes top speed is 115 that is pretty unbelievable... __________________ If you don't sin... Jesus died for nothing.

07-14-2012, 11:19 PM	#10
RobMoore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Queen Anne's Posts: 623	115? Not even going downhill.

07-15-2012, 01:10 AM	#11
zmago Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Slovenia Posts: 752	With a tailwind.

07-15-2012, 03:00 AM	#12
tkkronic Verified Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 13	115 top speed??

07-15-2012, 08:55 AM	#13
goalie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fairfax, Virginia -- near Fair Oaks Mall Posts: 1,596	A friend looked at the Ninja before buying the CBR. Stats on the Ninja were impressive for the little engine -- over 100 top speed (I think it was 105 officially) from only 36 hp and 15 to 18 ft lbs of torque. Definitely enough to have a heck of a lot of fun around town.

07-15-2012, 08:58 AM	#14
goalie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fairfax, Virginia -- near Fair Oaks Mall Posts: 1,596	Guess my memory was wrong. This Cycleworld article says the Ninja only got 25.5 hp on their dyno. http://www.cycleworld.com/2011/03/04...mparison-test/

07-15-2012, 09:02 AM	#15
RobMoore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Queen Anne's Posts: 623	Engine hp vs wheel hp

07-15-2012, 10:06 AM	#17
RobMoore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Queen Anne's Posts: 623	No, I was saying that 36 versus 25 is the difference between engine horsepower and wheel horsepower. When a magazine says they dynoed it, they mean wheel horsepower which is lower than engine horsepower. Manufacturers claim engine horsepower.

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