Yes, Euro 6 is urea. We have this spec van as it is now impossible to deliver to some city centres with anything more polluting. Automatic van is about 0.05% of the market here at best. Owner operator only. No petrol option on commercials. The trend is definitely smaller in terms of engine. The old Isuzu 4WD pickup was 2.5L and is now 1.9L Bigger engines only on the consumer oriented vehicles for people that are wannabe US red necks. A few Dodge Ram trucks round here now (US spec engines and ridiculous fuel consumption figures to match).
I had to laugh at the Nissan panel van in the Autotrader review. It has a bulldozer engine in it. Very useful if you want to drive through the side of a house for some reason. I guess a lot of the fuel consumption is hauling round an engine that is bigger than the payload on a lot of small vans.
Dodge made a SRT 10 sports pick up with an 8L V10 petrol engine. I saw one once with number plate "7 MPG" and a bumper sticker that said.... "I'm burning what your Prius is saving!"
I picked up my USA version of the Fiat Doblo today.
Don't forget US gallons are smaller than UK ones. 30mpg in US gallons is 36mpg UK. Also is the van automatic or shift? Automatic uses more fuel as a general rule (some new auto are very good). The new European Transit Connect is Euro 6 which is (as best I know) far stricter than any US emissions regulations. The new models are returning about 60mpg UK (50mpg US) [1.5 diesel]
The US petrol van is described as having an "impressive" 21mpg. I am impressed. In fact I am amazed anyone ever buys one.
No manual gearbox available on any USA spec vans. Does Euro 6 have Urea injection? Between our emission spec, auto transmissions and possibly the way US diesel fuel is formulated.... Our diesel vans get lower MPG. My work Sprinter with heaviest GVW available, 2.1 L Turbo and 7spd auto, hauling 3000lbs everyday, only gets 21mpg. If I drive like a granny, it will get 23mpg. This is 15% better than my older 3.0L 5spd model. I'm buying a Promaster City (Fiat Doblo) for just bikes. US spec is 2.4 L petrol and gets 28mpg. As diesel fuel is generally at least $.60/gallon higher than petrol, it doesn't make sense to buy a diesel that gets 30mpg.
Small vans in the States at present are.... Ford Transit Connect, Nissan NV200 and Ram Promaster City (Fiat Doblo). Only the Ford is available with a diesel, but US spec emission controls lower the mpg by quite a bit. Transit Connect with 1.5L diesel is rated at 30mpg.
All different here, as commercial vehicles are taxed the same when purchased and commercial vans are cheaper to buy than the car version . In some States, such as NY where I live, a commercial van is cheaper to register and insure, than the car version of the van.
I'm shopping for a first trials bike and a new (used) car at the same time. I'm looking at different minimal setups for hauling, either enclosed or on some sort of class 2 (1 1/4", 350lb tongue weight) hitch carrier. Most carriers are for Class III hitches and fuel economy really suffers with that capacity vehicle. Trying to avoid a trailer too but need to read more on that.
The Honda Element is one of the best candidates i have come across so far. A trials bike should fit fine with some fork compression, or maybe deflating the tire, spinning the bars down in the clamps. Needs less than 3 inches to get through the door edge (41 inches). Probably have to pull the front the passenger seat in the Element too. Plenty of examples of guys fitting sport bikes in them or enduros with a removed front wheel (replaced by a small roller for the latter bikes).
Also looking at Volvo wagons, I've even seen some people turn them into dirt bike hauler 'trucks' which is hilarious. Thought about laying a bike over in something like that but I bet it would leak fuel.
Might just end up with a small truck like an old Toyota, but trucks seem really overpriced across the board right now and offer less security without the right bed topper, and potentially no bed access with a bike still on the hitch carrier.
So far I found an old thread here about using a Toyota minivan but the fuel economy would be in the teens.
After reading more old threads, wanted to mention I'm in USA.
Thanks for the input.
Honda Element would work. I've owned a lot of Volvo wagons and fuel economy isn't their thing for USA models. I think a Toyota minivan MPG would be better, than a Volvo.
I wouldn't worry about a spark arrestor too much. You stand a greater chance of starting a fire by dropping your bike and the hot header pipe igniting some dry leaves and being accelerated by some gas coming out your carb overflow( and this is actually very low risk), than an errant spark from your exhaust. If you are sure you want one, the Tryals Shop might be able to help, or make a simple screen insert for your end cap.
IMWO.["No not worthless"] as you are just starting out in trials you are going to drop your bike a lot [If you are trying] and it will get sratched and maybe take some damage .....paying 2000 euro more for a bike will not make you ride any better .....but it could be used to buy a new airbox or silencer end cap if you break them while using the bike....if money pours through your letter box or you have a tree in the garden then why ask the question, if it does not then the 17 GasGas is plenty good enough as would a 2004 GasGas pro be good enough with a bit of work. Whatever you buy still needs to be maintained at cost to you unless you are thinking of changing your bike every 3 months linklage bearings, fork seals and clutches wear out at the same rate on a 2017/2019 as they do on a 2004 or 2010 etc .........ok that's sense out the way and as every one else will chip in with 2019 bikes are sooooo much better than the 2017 GG as to make them essential to the first time rider its a no brainer.
So that sorts the problem....A 2019 Scorpa it is !......... @nhuskys changed from GasGas 125 to a Scorpa 125 and likes the Scorpa better and he is a 125 specialist so knows things.
Enjoy your new Repsol 260.
I vote Scorpa 125, but I'm a minority. For some people the technique for starting Gas Gas Pro motor.... even a 125, can be problematic.There is a thread right now about a 13 year old girl and 5 men who can't start her bike. It isn't the carb or the ignition.... It just seems you are built to start a Gas Gas or you aren't. I can start any other brand 125 Trials or Enduro bike easily, but not a Gas Gas, hence the Scorpa. If you can test ride one and start it easily, consider buying it. There is one other thing to consider..... The 6 speed dual range Gas Gas Pro transmission doesn't work that well with the 125 riding the loop and trails. You'll find yourself constantly shifting between the gears which have huge nasty grinding change. On a 250 or 300 you would just stay in a higher gear. I can't remember if it is 4th to 5th or 3rd to 4th gear.
I was under the impression that this has sold, then the ad popped up again. Hope it's not a scam.
I figured Bernie pick this up for his kid, as he just started riding. I'm sure guys in Switzerland are keeping a close eye on Craigslist in the States.....
We were going to have a demo day this Saturday, at the Tryals Shop in NY. A major snow storm is now predicted with blizzard conditions, so the date has been postponed, until we get a milder weekend. I was really looking forward to riding these bikes, and can't wait until the new date!.
I just started riding a Sherco 125 and would recommend it to anyone who is not to heavy , At 148 pounds I am light enough to not need anymore power than a 125 provides and I have had lots of bigger bikes but the 125 really teaches you how to ride in ways that a bigger bike cannot teach you .
Did you stop on the way home from the Tryals Shop and trade the Scorpa for a Sherco???
No. Just speaking to your general argument that a 125 isn't suitable. I've ridden tiddlers for years.... Enduro, MX, on the road, so I'm used to them and prefer them. I've owned 250 twin shock Trials bikes and 250 and open class Enduro and MX bikes. I've owned 1000cc Sport Bikes. We'll leave it at that.
I'll always recommend a 125 to start.... I started a Novice at 62, with a lifetime of enduro experience. I'm on my third bike and have stuck with a 125, as it hasn't limited my advancement to Intermediate level.
The way they are geared, makes for a slow ground speed in first gear. This makes the bike easier to control and gives you more time to prepare for a hazard in a section. A 125 is easy to start, and as a Novice... you'll stall a good bit. The power is more manageable, even with a white(fast turn) throttle tube. It is still quite adequate and will bring the front wheel up without the clutch. If you do outgrow it, a 125 has a good resale. They are built in smaller numbers and the demand for used 125 bikes is good. Good luck in your search!
I'm thinking about the USA version (Ram Pro Master City). All versions are petrol and the car version (we call it a wagon) is more expensive than the van. I have to also carry an enduro bike at times and that will be a squeeze. Does the headliner in the car version, take up a lot of head room? I've only seen vans.
Fuel efficient minimal bike hauler options
in Trials Transport
Posted
Dodge made a SRT 10 sports pick up with an 8L V10 petrol engine. I saw one once with number plate "7 MPG" and a bumper sticker that said.... "I'm burning what your Prius is saving!"
I picked up my USA version of the Fiat Doblo today.