For 100 marks to the south

Posted on by admin

Table of contents

motorcycles

For 100 marks to the south

For 100 marks to the south
With Clara to Riva

With a Clara Schumann portrait, so only 100 marks gasoline money, to Lake Garda and back? Is the? And if so, how? MOTORRAD sent six drivers and very different motorcycles on a search for minimum consumption.

Ralf Schneider

10/25/2001

What lofty gasoline-saving plans everyone had! One wanted to install smooth-running C4 wheel bearings, the other the delicate chain of a GP-250. The third brought along age-old, hardened zero-grip tires and extolled their minimal rolling resistance. They discussed the aerodynamics of drop-shaped loaded luggage rolls, four bar air pressure in the tires, wanted to lean the mixture until the engines could only run with air and love, and install endlessly long gear ratios. And there was talk of iron self-discipline, which one wanted to impose on oneself in dealing with the throttle, in order to get to Lake Garda and back with only 100 marks or even less fuel money.
That resolution was the only one that saw the morning of departure. Luckily! Six motorcycles, alphabetically from BMW F 650 GS to Yamaha YZF-R1, displacement from MZ RT 125 to the 1449 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic Injection and historically from the tried and tested Honda Deauville up to the current Suzuki GSX 1400 staggered, run their fuel-saving regatta in an unspoilt series condition.
100 marks, that’s roughly enough for 50 liters of gasoline. With a distance of around 1000 kilometers, it was important to consume less than five liters on average. Of course, each driver had his own strategy and route, which, adapted to the characteristics of the motorcycles, should reduce consumption.
So three of them, the pilots from Harley, MZ and Yamaha, after a few kilometers of stop-and-go traffic in Stuttgart-Degerloch, turn onto the A 8 in the direction of Ulm. BMW driver Faidt, in an effort to keep the proportion of city traffic low, joins the B 10 in Wendlingen. The four of them drive together for a few kilometers, as the route promises to roll evenly close to Stuttgart as the crow flies? Riva del Garda. In doing so, the first knowledge of the motorway faction quickly forms. Saving fuel at less than 95 km / h is not recommended; unless someone has a suicidal desire to re-enact the “Spedition Mordhorst” scene from the Werner comic. In plain language: Truck drivers do not appreciate being slowed down to 80 km / h by some two-wheeler snails in their very own territory. They then jostle around in large format in the rearview mirror. It is better to come to terms with them at their pace level, then they turn out to be generous slipstream donors.
The Honda-Suzuki duo, which formed because GSX rider Thomas appreciates the navigation skills of colleague Henniges and simply follows the Honda Deauville, has other worries. It does not roll on the country road route across the Swabian Alb. There is a lot of commercial traffic, and from the petrol-economical point of view it is a disaster because of the constant stop-and-go. Fortunately, when the two of them are faced with a whole system of road construction sites and diversions between Saulgau and Ravensburg, help in the form of Peter. Peter, 53, on the road with a BMW R 100 RT, follows them for a while, overtakes them and tells them to stop at the side of the road. Because of their snail’s pace and because their bikes are so new, he concludes sharply that they must be beginners, whom he immediately offers to help. »What, do you want to go to Lake Garda? I know a shortcut. ”Whereupon he kidnaps you into a labyrinth of small and very small commercial roads and puts you back on the planned route at the end of the last detour. “We saved 20 kilometers with it,” says Henniges appreciatively.
Meanwhile, the Autobahn quartet has split up into a soloist heading for Munich-Kufstein and an Allgau trio. The weather will be sunny, and so will the mood. Soloist Reiner Froberg on the Harley glides along his autobahns with exemplary regularity. Although he misses the strengthening of the Harley sound through open exhaust pipes, he is also a little surprised at the seating position, but all in all he travels very relaxed.
The first refueling stop seems sobering for four of the six drivers. According to the first interim report, the Harley, the Honda and the Yamaha need around four liters per 100 kilometers. The Suzuki even pulls almost five liters through the injection nozzles, although its driver Jorn Thomas used the enormous torque almost exclusively in sixth gear below 3000 rpm. So even stricter economy driving is necessary.
Only Christian Vetter on the MZ and Helmut Faidt on the BMW can continue their journey unchecked after the first stop. The rapidly purring 125 cc did not even need 2.5 liters per 100 kilometers; In view of the larger displacement and the additional power, the 2.7 liters of the BMW look almost even more impressive ?? if you can call such a small amount of fuel impressive. The two of them unanimously forget that gasoline costs around 25 pfennigs less in Austria than in Germany or Italy. You cross the Fernpass and Brenner and refrain from drawing as much cheap fuel as possible in Austria. They can afford that, but they are excluded from the group of those who are allowed to complain about the ecotax.
The hour of twilight strikes for the Honda-Suzuki double near the Reschenpass, for Yamaha riders Schneider in the Otztal, on the journey to the 2509-meter-high Timmelsjoch at a maximum of 60 km / h. The lighting mood and the mood of the driver change from a quarter of an hour to the next. The joy of the scent of fresh hay that wafts through the Otztal, the enjoyment of huge mountain panoramas or the charming gas station attendant gives way to a strong inner tension. As if they had only been waiting for this moment, the first ailments appear, a tense neck here, aching bum there. In addition, it will be very cold up on the Timmelsjoch in mid-September.
And still such a long way! Those who drive in the beam of light from their headlights like in an endless tunnel see little. Mainly he sees his good intentions fading. Actually stupid to save gas at any price. That is why Yamaha rider Schneider gives up every thought and starts rolling ?? only holding the 60 km / h doggedly, annoyed by the constant howling of the sixth gear ?? on various superstrade from Merano in the direction of Riva. While MZ and Harley have long since delivered their pilots to the hotel, Henniges is plagued by a culinary mirage on the Deauville. He chases the taste of pizza and red wine, which he almost thinks he has on the tongue, with over 130 things; Jorn Thomas can no longer counter this urge with a moderating influence.
It hits BMW driver Faidt very badly, whose 2.7-liter motivation at Trento bursts at the same time as the inner tube of his rear tire. Who would then prefer to race to the finish line at full throttle, but now has to drive really slowly. 30 kilometers to the Rovereto motorway filling station, which takes him over an hour. The breakdown spray he buys there only keeps the air up to the hotel parking lot.
When five easy-to-use fuel-savers meet at the lake for an espresso the next morning and drive optimistically into a sunny, warm day, Helmut is left alone.
Henniges and Thomas, who yesterday consistently couldn’t find driving pleasure off the autobahn, are now happy to take conveniently located autobahn sections with them, MZ driver Vetter continues the economy regatta with the calm of the safe leader, while Harley driver Froberg is enjoying a Dutch truck follows, which advertises large areas of breast enhancement among women. At this sight he seems to forget that, according to the interim balance sheet, he will hardly get by with the 100 marks gasoline money.
Schneider knits his way over the Gampenpass with the R1 and finds that it is best to drive slowly where you cannot drive fast. On the Timmelsjoch it is a bit fresh again, but not quite as scary as the evening before. Downhill with the engine switched off, the R1 reaches reasonable speeds, it also brings so much momentum through the bends that it can manage long distances without any fuel.
In this phase of the race, everyone on the road manages to maintain fuel consumption or even reduce it significantly. Which becomes difficult again when it starts to rain on the north side of the Alps. But because no one gives up so shortly before the end of the company, everyone drives home behind spray-spraying trucks, grinding their teeth slowly and disciplined.
And what about Helmut Faidt? He takes petrol-drenched revenge for being left alone with a flat tire. After wasting a lot of time looking for a hose, he races home with eighty percent of what the F 650 has to offer. And when it gets into the rain, it also squeezes the last 20 percent out. A top speed of 177 km / h is worth all honors for a packed 50 hp motorcycle. Consumption of an average of 5.4 liters per 100 km / h for the entire return trip and a full throttle peak of 5.75 liters as well. The BMW manages to stay below the limit of 100 marks, while the Suzuki needs first aid from its driver’s credit card despite consistently economical driving with fuel costs of 102.99 marks.
Conclusion
Ultimately, only BMW shows how it has to be: Motorcycles have to be more economical in general and at a decent speed that is adapted to the flow of traffic. Anything else is too dangerous and unsustainable for the drivers. When an R1 needs 18 hours of driving time for 1090 kilometers and then still swallows 3.96 liters, when a GSX 1400 with less than 4.5 liters cannot be driven over 100 kilometers or a Deauville not under 4.0 Liter comes, then the designers did something wrong. The 4.6 liters of the Harley are almost negligible in view of their aged engine concept and high weight. And even the MZ could consume even less, although it won the economy regatta with aplomb.

Helmut Faidt, 41

Helmut Faidt, 41Motorbike: BMW F 650 GS, 652 cm³, 50 PS, 193 kg full tank, 17.3 liters tank capacity, 13,730 marks, test consumption 4.7 liters super. * Strategy: What you do so that you don’t consume anything. Hardly accelerate, let it roll, brake a little. And keep three things: discipline, discipline, discipline. Route: There can only be one. Motorway Ulm to the end, over the Fernpass, the Zirler Berg, the Brenner to Riva.My mistake: I put a nail in my rear tire shortly before my destination. The repair cost me so much time the next morning that I burned back at full throttle. And someone could have told me that fuel is cheaper in Austria. Average consumption: 4.13 liters / 100 km Fuel costs: 96.58 marks ((quota)) »Observe three things: discipline, discipline, discipline« * Country road consumption on MOTORRAD test lap

Rolf Henniges, 36

Rolf Henniges, 36Motorbike: Honda Deauville, 647 cm³, 56 HP, 238 kg full tank, 19 liters tank capacity, 15,390 marks, test consumption 5.4 liters normal. * Strategy: Never lose the fun; 80 must be on the highway. Drive smoothly, let it roll downhill. Route: Stuttgart ?? Saulgau ?? Bregenz Hochtannbergpass ?? Arlberg Pass ?? Reschenpass ?? Meran ?? Trento ?? Arco ?? Riva, back over the Timmelsjoch ?? Fernpass ?? Feet ?? Autobahn to Stuttgart. My mistakes: I expected more from the Swabian Alb, but you can’t make any headway there, and you don’t save fuel. That’s why I chose a different route on the way back. The worst mistake was voluntarily going along with the story. Average consumption: 4.26 liters / 100 km Fuel costs: 87.57 marks ((quota)) »80 must be on the country road« * Country road consumption on MOTORRAD test lap.

Christian Vetter, 31

Christian Vetter, 31Motorbike: MZ RT 125, 124 cm³, 15 HP, 133 kg with a full tank, 13.5 liters tank capacity, 6690 marks, normal. * Strategy: I take the route that is the fastest and relatively short. In addition, I drive at most half-throttle. Route: Autobahn to Ulm, then to the end of the autobahn at Oy, Fernpass, Innsbruck, Brenner (state road, because of driving fun), then autobahn to Rovereto, Riva and the same back again My mistake: For my three-course dinner in Riva I should have drunk red instead of white wine. And I really don’t care that gasoline is cheaper in Austria than in Italy or Germany. Average consumption: 2.62 liters / 100 km Fuel costs: 55.16 marks ((quota)) “Even with the 125, half-throttle is enough” * motorcycle has not been tested yet

Jorn Thomas, 34

Jorn Thomas, 34Motorbike: Suzuki GSX 1400, 1402 cm³, 106 HP, 260 kg full tank, 22 liters tank capacity, 18900 marks, test consumption 6.6 liters normal * Strategy: I don’t want to achieve the absolute minimum consumption, I can do that with the GSX 1400 remove make-up anyway. Instead, what matters to me is the optimal relationship between fuel consumption and driving pleasure. This means that I can drive the entire distance in sixth gear, but also that my colleague Henniges is always ahead. This saves me reading maps. Route: Always after the Honda Deauville. My mistakes: None. Suzi is to blame for the 2.99 Marks too much. Average consumption: 5.03 liters / 100 km Fuel costs: 102.99 Marks ((quota)) “The important thing is the relationship between consumption and driving pleasure.”

Ralf Schneider, 40

Ralf Schneider, 40Motorbike: Yamaha YZF-R1, 998 cm³, 150 PS, 202 kilograms full tank, 18 liters tank capacity, 24500 marks, test consumption 6.3 liters normal. * Strategy: The R1 is geared too short to be really economical. That’s why I choose the shortest route, use the torque uphill and switch off the engine downhill. Otherwise the following applies: truck speed on the motorway, no more than 70 on the country road. And refuel a lot in Austria. Route: Autobahn to Ulm, then to the end at Oy, then via Hahntennjoch and Timmelsjoch to Merano, etc. My faults: Filigree navigation does not work in the dark, so the outward journey was longer than planned. On the way back I got lost once. Total distance: 1090 kilometersFuel costs: 83.95 Marks ((quota)) »Between four and six liters the driving pleasure is unbelievable« * Country road consumption on MOTORRAD test lap

Rainer Froberg, 37

Rainer Froberg, 37 Motorcycle: Harley-Davidson Heritage Softtail Classic Injection, 1449 cm³, 64 HP, 335 kg fully fueled, 18.9 liter tank capacity, 39,000 marks, Super * strategy: The Harley is a super good straight runner, the Twin-Cam 88 engine with injection is quite economical. So I always drive the autobahn, and do it as smoothly as possible. Maybe I can compensate for the longer total distance. Route: Stuttgart ?? Munich ?? Kufstein ?? Brenner (Autobahn) ?? Rovereto ?? Riva del Garda and back. My mistake: I should have worked a little better with the cheap Austrian fuel, then I would have saved the ridiculous 94 pfennigs. Average consumption: 4.60 liters / 100 km Fuel costs: 100.94 marks (( Quote)) “The Harley and I only drive the Autobahn” * Motorcycle has not yet been tested

Under control

A great thing, such a GPS. It records the route that each driver has taken, keeps a record of distances, speeds, travel times and breaks. And much more precisely than would be possible with the vehicle’s own speedometers, which showed between three and eight percent too much on the motorcycles in this consumption regatta. In contrast to this, the GPS deviates by a maximum of 10 to 20 meters when determining the location ?? an almost uncanny precision in relation to the entire surface of the earth. The distances and average consumption values ​​in the table relate to the data determined and stored by the GPS. The recorded routes could be transferred directly to the map on the right using the software from Touratech, which provided us with all of the GPS equipment . With the help of the active antennas we use, which recognize and amplify weak signals, satellite reception was no problem even in deeply cut Alpine valleys, only in tunnels nothing works with GPS. The system then calculates a direct line between the entrance and exit of a tunnel. A mistake that hardly matters.

  • South America ?? Antarctic

    to travel South America ?? Antarctic South America ?? Antarctic 42 degrees of latitude On two enduros through the Andes ?? from the Chilean Atacama…

  • South Africa

    to travel South Africa South Africa From the monkey valley to hell In the western and eastern Cape provinces of South Africa there are some almost…

  • South America, part 2

    Photo Pichler to travel South America, part 2 South America, part 2 Dust, storm and gravel After around 14,000 kilometers through five countries in…

  • South and Central Asia

    Photos: Obert to travel South and Central Asia South and Central Asia Around the roof of the world It’s hard to believe, but the idea came spontaneously…

  • South Portugal

    to travel South Portugal South Portugal Rock festival In the Algarve, the Atlantic has modeled a magnificent rocky landscape. Between the coast and the…

  • South America, part 1

    Pichler to travel South America, part 1 South America, part 1 Call of the Andes Adventure South America: Venezuela, Colombia, Equador, Peru and Bolivia…

  • South America

    to travel South America South America Patagonia Express Patagonia. Vastness. Huge glaciers. Bizarre mountains. And dusty slopes on which hardly anyone is…

  • Trans Africa: The long way from Germany to South Africa

    Gerner-Haudum 27 pictures Gerner-Haudum 1/27 A holy book in a Jordanian monastery. Gerner-Haudum 2/27 Botswana: Pachyderms with young animals in the…

  • On the move: Spain from north to south

    Deleker 15th pictures Deleker 1/15 With the motorcycle across Spain, a trip with many highlights. Deleker 2/15 Ready for a movie: Spain’s castles are…

  • With a dog through South America

    to travel With a dog through South America With a dog through South America Tinka’s journey Eight months in South America. From Buenos Aires via Tierra…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *