Gas Mileage and Riding style

[gsatterw]

Hey there everyone, I've been noticing that my gas mileage is really low and was wondering just how much of a contribution my riding style has towards fuel economy. I usually push my bike pretty hard: fast launches and usually use most of my gears to near red line when accelerating and cruise at about 6/7k. My trips are pretty short usually so I use the choke a good deal (some trips I don't take the choke off) but never more than half way. I'm getting something like 25-30 mpg or so. I rejetted 22.5 65 and 145, lunchbox, v&h exhaust and am running 14t/41t.

I also have a strange problem relating to the amount of fuel in the tank and how well the bike runs. Full-half tank: runs beautifully. 1/4 tank-end of main: a bit rough, seems to be getting less fuel than when tank is full. Reserve: ok, so when I flip to reserve, the bike will idle but will die if the throttle is blipped.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[craigs449]

That MPG just plain sucks for this bike.  I am trying to better my current 42-45 mpg's! I would check both petcock's and be sure fuel is flowing freely as it's referenced to your lack of fuel flow with less than 1/2 tank. I had added inline fuel filters to mine and found that was restricting fuel flow when throttling hard to get on the freeway.....I ditched them and all is well now.

[Bluesmudge]

How many miles on the bike and how many miles since the last valve clearance check?

Other than that, it seems you have done everything possible to lower the fuel economy of the bike. However, I would expect you to still get 35+ mpg, so something is wrong. Perhaps one of your brakes are rubbing?

I get 49 mpg with some spirited riding and a 15t front sprocket. Lowest I ever got was 35 mpg but that was at 90 mph for at least 50 miles. I have done as well as 58 mpg with the stock gearing.

[Suzuki Stevo]

+1 on the pilots and the mains, +1 on the CSS (17T) the rest of the bike is Stock, my best tank was 69.8 Mpg (ideal conditions) without riding like an AzzClown, just commuting 

[craigs449]

Also adjust tire pressure.  I run 31 front / 37ish rear.   I always ran 25 in both until I read on here that the stock tires are supposed to be 31 front / 31-41 rear.

[gsatterw]

bike only has 10k miles on it, it was in a pretty nasty wreck a year ago however...could this mess up valves?

[craigs449]

bike only has 10k miles on it, it was in a pretty nasty wreck a year ago however...could this mess up valves?

I don't see how................

[gsatterw]

valve clearances maybe....the bike was sort of bouncing down the road for a few hundred feet...

[Funderb]

if i am racing, you know, the fun kind between friends on closed roads, i get about 38. and that was jetted over-rich cruising at 70 on the highway in 6th, about 60.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I usually push my bike pretty hard: fast launches and usually use most of my gears to near red line when accelerating

This is probably a large part of it, even if your bike is 100% 

[twocool]

Hey there everyone, I've been noticing that my gas mileage is really low and was wondering just how much of a contribution my riding style has towards fuel economy. I usually push my bike pretty hard: fast launches and usually use most of my gears to near red line when accelerating and cruise at about 6/7k. My trips are pretty short usually so I use the choke a good deal (some trips I don't take the choke off) but never more than half way. I'm getting something like 25-30 mpg or so. I rejetted 22.5 65 and 145, lunchbox, v&h exhaust and am running 14t/41t.

I also have a strange problem relating to the amount of fuel in the tank and how well the bike runs. Full-half tank: runs beautifully. 1/4 tank-end of main: a bit rough, seems to be getting less fuel than when tank is full. Reserve: ok, so when I flip to reserve, the bike will idle but will die if the throttle is blipped.

Thoughts? Opinions?

riding style = fuel economy (#1 factor) = bad mileage
I usually push my bike pretty hard= bad mileage
fast launches=bad mileage
most of my gears to near red line=bad mileage
cruise at about 6/7k=bad mileage
My trips are pretty short=bad mileage
use the choke a good deal=bad mileage
(some trips I don't take the choke off)=bad mileage
I rejetted=bad mileage
lunchbox=bad mileage
v&h exhaust=bad mileage
am running 14t/41t=bad mileage

You have done everything in the book possible to ruin the mileage......

What were you expecting to happen??

Cookie

[jestercinti]

Also adjust tire pressure.  I run 31 front / 37ish rear.   I always ran 25 in both until I read on here that the stock tires are supposed to be 31 front / 31-41 rear.

+1.  You'd be surprised how much the tires release air over the winter.

[gsatterw]

riding style = fuel economy (#1 factor) = bad mileage
I usually push my bike pretty hard= bad mileage
fast launches=bad mileage
most of my gears to near red line=bad mileage
cruise at about 6/7k=bad mileage
My trips are pretty short=bad mileage
use the choke a good deal=bad mileage
(some trips I don't take the choke off)=bad mileage
I rejetted=bad mileage
lunchbox=bad mileage
v&h exhaust=bad mileage
am running 14t/41t=bad mileage

You have done everything in the book possible to ruin the mileage......

What were you expecting to happen??

Cookie

Ok. Cool. Just making sure nothing was horribly wrong with the bike. I'd gladly trade fuel economy for the ridiculous amount of fun it is to ride this bike!

Graham

[Toogoofy317]

I just got 41 on Flick. 'Ole guy has always been a thirsty critter. But, just before I burnt a valve my gas mileage tanked to about what you were talking. But, I also don't run him that hard no need to    Seems like a quick way to kill a bike if you ask me. Also, aren't you supposed to adjust valves every 4,000 miles? I can't remember.


Mary

[jestercinti]

Used to get 210 miles on a tank before reserve kicked in.  I now get about 180.  Rejetting, lunchbox, and 80 indicated in the highway does that.  I also jackrabbit start.

[redge]

All stock, upshift at 6rpm. After 200miles, filling to the top shows 4 gallons

[ohgood]

you could ride sanely, jab a hole in the gas tank and still get better milage. wow.

[Phil B]

I just got 41 on Flick. 'Ole guy has always been a thirsty critter.

Owch. there's thirsty, and there's gluttonous
I get 56 regularly. only mod that I'm aware of is a K&N replacement air filter.

I do a lot of freeway riding and long 40mph blvd riding though

[mister]

Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.

Michael

[craigs449]

Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.

Michael

i am hoping to improve from my usual 42-46mpgs since bumping tire pressure up to 31/35 from 25 psi front and rear.  all stock, mostly highway commuting.