The most important factor in the mind of every bike owner and user is,
1>> HOW TO GET MORE MILEAGE / AVERAGE.
2>> HOW TO MAKE MY BIKE LAST LONGER.
To understand the factors that affect the mileage of any bike, let us first understand how the human body works. Just as petrol is fuel for bike, the fuel for human body is OXYGEN==the AIR we breathe.
To understand how to make the bike last longer, take a look at the CHEETAH==FASTEST animal in the world. It can run at 120 km per hour. The normal life span of CHEETAH is 14 years, that is, it LASTS for 14 years. As against this, look at TORTOISE, the SLOWEST animal in the world which moves at 120 INCHES per hour. Its life span is 300 years, that is, it LASTS for 300 years.
The same LAW OF NATURE that applies to cheetah and tortoise, applies EXACTLY
to human being, and also applies EXACTLY the same way to bikesNow understand how we humans breathe. When we are walking normally we breathe about 18 times per minute but when we run fast, we breathe about 72 times per minute. Since AIR is the fuel for living humans and animals, this means that when we run fast we consume 72 units of our fuel (air), while if we travel the same distance by normal walking, we consume only 18 units of our fuel (air). Thus by running, we consume FOUR times MORE amount of fuel than we consume by walking the same distance. This is law of nature and applies exactly same way to bikes.
Thus we understand that by driving our bike faster, the bike consumes more petrol (fuel) for same distance. It is not only faster road speed that consumes more petrol. Even if we travel slower, in a low gear (such as first or second gear), while the bike is moving slow, the engine is running (turning) faster than if we travel at same slow road speed in top (4th or 5th) gear. This is like human climbing steps or hill. Because while
climbing, even though our speed is even slower than normal walking, we have to do MUCH GREATER EFFORT to move upwards, because we are moving against (opposite to) the GRAVITATIONAL force of Earth which is always pulling us downwards.
So we know that when engine has to make greater effort (that is engine turns / runs faster), it consumes more petrol. There are two factors which resist all kinds of motion on earth, whether it is bike in motion, car in motion or human walking or running. One factor is the friction between tire and road surface (like our feet and road surface while walking or running) and the other is the friction between moving body and air. While friction between road surface and tire is necessary (we cannot move at all if there is no
friction, like skidding on wet road surface) for controlled motion, the friction between body and air INCREASES as our speed increases. By research it has been found that at speed of 40 km per hour, 40% of power (petrol) is used for overcoming air friction (air resistance) and 60% of power (petrol) is used to move forward, whereas at speed of 80 km per hour, 80% of power / petrol is used for overcoming air friction (air resistance), while only 20% of power / petrol is used to move forward. Thus, by moving at 40 km per hour speed, we are actually saving 40% of power (==petrol), which we waste for overcoming air friction resistance when we travel at 80 km per hour speed. This is because at lower travel speed, the air friction resistance is lower and lesser petrol / power is required to move forward than at higher speed.
Having understood the law of nature that applies to all kinds of motion, whether human walking or climbing, or bike moving slow in low gear, or bike moving fast in top gear, what can we do to reduce petrol consumption? We can adopt the following driving style:
1>> Avoid traveling in low gear as much as possible. At any speed, try to stay in as high gear as possible without bike giving jerks due to chain snatch or engine stalling.
2>> Avoid using brakes as much as safely possible because by using brake we are wasting energy (==petrol).
3>> Avoid higher speed, because at higher speed we are wasting energy (==petrol) in overcoming air friction resistance rather than covering distance, which is our objective.
In addition to above driving style, we can TAKE the following TEN steps:
1>>Keep brakes as free (loose) as possible, so that they do not un-necessarily touch (and waste energy==petrol) when we do not need them.
2>>Keep air pressure in tires to the recommended level because less air in tires creates higher friction resistance between tire and road surface, and wastes petrol.
3>>Keep clutch well adjusted, because slipping of clutch wastes petrol.
4>>Change engine oil at recommended intervals and use genuine engine oil of recommended grade to reduce friction losses in engine and keep engine cool.
5>>Clean air filter regularly.
6>>Clean drive chain and sprockets (with kerosene and brush) regularly (every 2000 km) and lubricate it with thick oil or grease.
Also check and adjust chain tension regularly.
7>>Clean carburetor, especially float chamber and jets, and also clean spark plug regularly every 2000 km.
8>>Daily check for leakages of petrol from fuel cock, cracked fuel pipes, fuel filter, and all pipe joints. I have found this to be the single most common reason for not getting good mileage.
9>>Lubricate all cables by putting drops of oil between cable inner and
outer to reduce friction. Also put grease on all cable ends, both sides.
10>>Lubricate both axles (front and rear) and steering cone bearings regularly (every 2000 km
