Back in the day, some of the nicer minibikes had a two pulley setup that worked the same as the CVT system. Most of the lower end bikes just used the chattering, centrifugal clutch system.
Back in the day, some of the nicer minibikes had a two pulley setup that worked the same as the CVT system. Most of the lower end bikes just used the chattering, centrifugal clutch system.
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage 1.2 automatic: 39.7 mpg (US) ... 16.9 km/L ... 5.9 L/100 km ... 47.6 mpg (Imp)
You probably could, but there's more involved than just swapping the hardware. You've got wiring harnesses and the computer modules set up for a CVT. It would probably be more hassle than it's worth.
The good news is that there seems to be a steady supply of Mirages in salvage yards (well...maybe that's not a good way to say it ). A low-mileage used CVT only costs about $1,000.
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View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage 1.2 automatic: 39.7 mpg (US) ... 16.9 km/L ... 5.9 L/100 km ... 47.6 mpg (Imp)
It's not necessary to use extreme driving techniques to exceed the official MPG rating of a manual-equipped Mirage: you only need to do one thing, and that is upshift to the highest usable gear for your road speed.
The Mirage will happily cruise in top gear at 50 km/k = 30 mph (or less) on level ground. But the EPA test procedure prohibits doing this because the dyno test pilots must up-shift and down-shift at predetermined speeds during testing (for repeatability). They are not eco-friendly shift points.
Shift points: EPA testing of manual transmissions (why beating MT ratings is easier)
Because of this, it will always be easier to beat the EPA rating by a bigger margin with a manual car than with an automatic. (And if you throw in a number of other manual-transmission hypermiling technques, the gap will be even bigger.)
And if you need more power... downshift!
The manual will win, provided you don't drive around in 3rd gear all the time (see above).In terms of regular daily driving which may occasionally require going fast, which one wins?
"Warm-up hit"
Here's another thing to consider since you're in Canada (or for anyone who lives where it gets cold for a big chunk of the year):
Automatic transmissions suffer from a "warm-up hit" to fuel economy that is much bigger than with manual transmissions: the computer prevents the CVT from using its "highest gear" until coolant temp (and possibly transmission temp) passes a certain threshold. So fuel consumption is going to be even worse than a manual until things have warmed up.
Using a block heater will reduce the warm-up hit a bit. (But it will also improve a manual's cold-weather MPG.)
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If you don't have an aversion to shifting, get the manual.
Please don't be our 2nd member who freaks out after buying a CVT and then learning the manual delivers better real world MPG on his actual commute. (He traded the CVT for a manual after going back to the dealer and trying one on the same route. Considering how small the difference was, not the smartest thing I've seen.)
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)
Cobrajet (02-16-2017)
Manuals are getting more and more difficult to find! Sadly!
watching the real mpg on our 2 the manual beats the CVT even on the highway but if you get an area of open flat land and cruise 60-62mpg without traffic the cvt a few times been better which negates when hills, entrances, exits, and traffic come into play