Do what I'm going to do this summer, buy a bike. I love driving my truck around, but 12 MPG + the daily errands/commute to campus and around it really kills me in gas. I'm going to be buying some old cheap ninja 250 that gets something like 70mpg to get around school and errands.

 

Thats my plan too. But im looking at an older cruiser like a honda or something. I think im too tall for a 250ish crotch rocket.

 

I don't know where you guys live, nor how old you are, but when I did the math, I would NOT be saving any money in any way by buying a bike, insuring it, filling it up, making truck payments, and still insuring my truck. It didn't add up, insurance on the bike was stupidly high !

So, I drive a Mercedes 300 E occasionaly (decent on gas) and I also own an old beater of a Volkswagon Golf, get great mileage, no payments, and super cheap on insurance. The only problem with that, you gotta drive around at night so no one sees you in it !

Just something to think about before you jump into it

 

well i also am wanting to keep the daily grueling stop and go traffic abuse off of my truck.....

I need to open up an insurance plan seperate from my parents so im sure ill price everything out before i buy one. I want to pay cash for the bike so that should help too. And my truck will be paid off in a couple months

 

My truck is paid off, I haven't looked too much into insurance, but I should. I'm not spending more than 1200 on a bike, so it's really not that bad, the savings in gas will probably pay for it within the first 6 months of owning it.

 

ya, everyone's case is different, I have a buddy with a big ole Dodge 2500 Cummins, and he saves money by riding his ninja all over, just about everyday, rain or shine. Really only uses the truck as his tow vehicle.

My case, I use my truck pretty often, so I would still need to drive it occasionally. I remember pricing mine out when I was looking into getting a bike, and it just wasn't the smartest route I could go, so I chose to drive a POS car instead.

didn't want yall to buy a bike, start paying for everything, and realize your saving a buck or two a month.

 

Cheese and Rice man.................you CANT be serious.

 

It really is kinda funny to hear someone asking how to "save gas" with a big ol' lifted truck with 'monster' tires on it!

At least he has already admitted to the "you gotta pay to play" deal, so it is what it is...

Actually, if he has not regeared or recalibrated the speedo/odo, and he is making his mpg calculations directly from the odo miles and gallons of gas used, he is not getting the correct figures to begin with....

His speedo is going 'slower' then actual, so he is racking up LESS miles on the odo. He needs to figure out how much his speedo/odo is off and add that much back to get the correct number of miles traveled for x amount of gallons of gas used...

He may find he is actually getting closer to 10 mpg!!

Regear to the 4.88's and it might get 12 mpg..

So, still gotta 'pay to play'..

Enjoy the ride!

Mitch

 

No i realized that but honestly the amount of difference isnt that great! The truck needs to be regeared anyways good mpg or not.

Im also thinking he'd get alittle better than 12mpg with 4.88's maybe not.

And when I was looking into a bike I came up with the fact that you dont have to insure a bike... you can but you dont have too. IMHO theres just way too much traffic in Tampa for a bike.

 

You guys are killing me. I never said I want to get 30 miles a gallon or somthing. And yes Big truck, big tires= big gas bill....I get it. All I was looking for was a way to get better my gas mileage, or get the max gas mileage I can. Ok I'll admit maybe "Gas Saver" was a poor title choice but you know what I mean. I will look into gears next as it appears that should be next along with a tunner and exhaust. As far as a bike goes I'll keep paying at the pump before I go that route.....that is until its 7 dollars at the pump, which you never know. Thanks for the input....even the harassment.

 

You don't have to insure a bike ???

I would be all over that !! Over here in CA, if you want it on the road, it must be insured.


Simply Hooked: I understand. I also have a big truck, and make fun of the guys who normally buy, lift, then complain about their truck. But as gas prive gets closer and closer to $5 a gallon around here ($4.55 for premium) I see myself letting off the gas more and more. Making shorter trips, trying to do more in one trip, etc etc etc. Biggest thing I have seen is when I accelerate slow. I may get looks from grandmas, but I'm getting almost an extra 100 miles out of my tank. Accelerate slow, don't gun it, drive a MAX of 60-65 MPH on the freeways, etc. Easy on the peddle, and the truck will be easy on the gas.

 

I agree with this, what were you thinking?

 

do some research and find the lightest wheels and tires

 

Just because you lift your rig, doesn't mean you should be ok with 3mpg's.

He isn't asking for his vehicle to be fuel effecient, but rather asking for help and advice on how to snip a couple bucks off the bill. I'm pretty sure he is aware that the big *** truck ain't gettin GOOD gas mileage, but whats wrong with wanting BETTER mileage ? There are things he can do that will help him.

When I bought my truck and lifted it, gas was hovering just barely over $3 a gallon (very affordable for me), now its close to $5 (getting less and less affordable)... the price change has changed my driving habits, how was I to see the price nearly doubling in the next year or so ?

 

Couldnt have been said it any better!