Gas Mileage

[VerdonD952]

Looking for a gas mileage thread,  cant seem to find one.

Hate digging up old topics that have been hashed out a bunch of times.  But if you cant show me a link ill ask the question.

Q:  Im only getting ~160 miles out of my tank, now most of it is going back and forth to work and such, but i feel i should be getting more.  (ok, not really a question, but a statement)

thanks for understanding and holding my hand the entire way, i dont want to cut the umbilical cord anytime soon. 

[epalm]

On highway trips, my 2005 GS500F has gotten over 200 miles before hitting reserve.

In the city, I don't get much more than 185 before hitting reserve.

If I hit reserve at 160, I'd be pretty surprised, but then again I ride pretty conservatively, mostly cruising around 4000 rpm.  How hard are you riding it?

[VerdonD952]

yeah, getting to and from work i don't have space to get on her too hard. lots of stop and go....i hate red lights and Charlottesville is going to be putting about 4 more in from home to work. Stupid Mall!   Riding in the twisties i like to be a bit more aggressive. 

[BockinBboy]

Search for threads about reserve range and so forth - lots of talk about mileage.

I regularly get over 200 miles before reserve - But I drive pretty conservatively, mostly highway, and cruise around 4k rpm as well.

However, this can depend on the year of your bike too because older tanks are smaller in size - Mine is newer and has a little more capacity. 

You may also not be filling your tank completely, too.  Make sure it is on the center stand when filling, and that you fill it up to the neck just inside the tank.  Filling it completely will increase your range before switching to reserve.

What is your mileage?  If you fill your tank the same way everytime, its easy to figure out - you may not have a mileage problem at all, and it could be just how you fill it up.  Average mileage depends on other things too of course, but make certain you eliminate the variables that you can before searching for a problem that may not exist 

- Bboy

[BassWoW]

  My drive back and forth to work is 110 miles and I can usually get two going onto my way home before hitting reserve. That would be around 220 at least. The reserve is bigger than the older models as well so you could get some great milage.

[applecrew]

Depends on driving habits and time of the year!

I ride my 2007 70 miles a day round trip to work, 95% highway miles. In the summer, I'll frequently see more than 230 miles before I hit reserve at the peak of the summer heat. In the winter, I've hit reserve as early as 190 miles.  I'm not an aggressive rider much of the time - my last three fill-ups I got 65.2 MPG, 58.9 MPG, and 65.2 MPG. Can you guess which fillup I was giving it the beans more frequently (80-85 indicated on the freeway)? Most of the time I'm in the mid 70's indicated on the freeway.

[jestercinti]

I'm an auditor by trade, so I'll give my famous line:  It Depends.

• Older GS models have a smaller tank than newer ones.
• Things like speed, use of throttle (jackrabbit starts), affect fuel economy.
• How's your tire pressure?
• Have a tune up lately?  How are your plugs and air filter?
• Changing jets will reduce fuel economy.
• Driving primarily in the city will reduce fuel economy.
• Fill up using center stand.  You'll get more gas in that way.

I get about 200 miles before reserve kicks in.  I have a 2009 F model with modified jets and air filter.  Most of my commute is highway.  Put Neodymium magnets on your center stand to combat red light wires in the road.

[VerdonD952]

  Put Neodymium magnets on your center stand to combat red light wires in the road.

no idea what your talkin about.

[Soloratov]

I must be doing something really wrong with my bike. I only average 45mpg. I don't really beat on it too hard, and the jets are 40/127. Drop in filter, stock exhaust. 1990. Plugs are pretty clean. Any ideas?

[jestercinti]

**Begin Tangent**

Sorry, probably confusing without a proper transition...You mentioned a lot of stop lights in your area.

In Ohio, I get stopped by stoplights a lot and they won't seem to turn green.  I then bought some strong magnets used to trip those wires in the road by the stoplight for "sensing" when a car is there.  Since bikes do not have a lot of metal compared to a car, mounting a strong magnet to the center stand will tell the traffic signal that you are there, thus reducing the amount of time you are waiting for lights in your area.

Neodymium Magnets are stronger than regular magnets and work well in the above case.

**Tangent over**

[VerdonD952]

**Begin Tangent**

Sorry, probably confusing without a proper transition...You mentioned a lot of stop lights in your area.

In Ohio, I get stopped by stoplights a lot and they won't seem to turn green.  I then bought some strong magnets used to trip those wires in the road by the stoplight for "sensing" when a car is there.  Since bikes do not have a lot of metal compared to a car, mounting a strong magnet to the center stand will tell the traffic signal that you are there, thus reducing the amount of time you are waiting for lights in your area.

Neodymium Magnets are stronger than regular magnets and work well in the above case.

**Tangent over**

I always thought that the lights were pressure switches and because the bikes arnt very heavy they dont set them off.

[Soloratov]

Most places use a wire grid that creates a small electrical field...at least, thats the theory. I have never been able to see this work, but the idea is to use some of the magnets from old hard drives to disrupt that field.

[Flux Maven]

I am pretty sure you put magnets on your bike for more horsepower. They are almost as good as stickers. 

[iclrag]

+3 Horsepower for an adidasguy chain gaurd 

[mister]

VerdonD952,

I'd be curious how you are tanking up. Do you shove the nozzle in and wait for it to click off, hold it out so you can see it fill, fill on center stand or side stand?

I always put it on the center stand for a more even fill. I then fill until it starts coming up the neck. As it gets close I slow, then when it starts coming up I stop, look at the price and keep filling until the next 50c or whole dollar. I could go more but that does more and gives me Roughly the same final level each time.

Michael

[SS Adrenaline]

**Begin Tangent**

Sorry, probably confusing without a proper transition...You mentioned a lot of stop lights in your area.

In Ohio, I get stopped by stoplights a lot and they won't seem to turn green.  I then bought some strong magnets used to trip those wires in the road by the stoplight for "sensing" when a car is there.  Since bikes do not have a lot of metal compared to a car, mounting a strong magnet to the center stand will tell the traffic signal that you are there, thus reducing the amount of time you are waiting for lights in your area.

Neodymium Magnets are stronger than regular magnets and work well in the above case.

**Tangent over**

Neat idea, where did ya get the magnets from and how were they mounted to the center stand?

[VerdonD952]

Fill up:

Step 1:  find gas station
Step 2:  pull into gas station
Step 3:  Turn off bike
Step 4:  look around, thinking yeah im cool, i have a bike!
Step 5:  Pull out key and put kick stand down. 
Step 6:  Search for wallet in one of many pockets.
Step 7:  No Wallet!!!  Return home!
...20 min later
Step 8:  Repete steps 1-6 and continue.  Also make sure its a different gas station....returning to same station after failed attempt makes you un-cool.
Step 9:  Insert Card/Remove card.  Repete until keyosk accepts credit card.
Step 10:  Open gas cap
Step 11:  Choose gas type....ummm That one!
Step 12:  Start Filling up
Step 13:  Optional!  Tell yourself how cool you are, sitting on a bike with a black jacket in the sun with sweat rolling down you back!  Yeah, cool people dont use AC, AC is for pussies!
Step 14:  Use my legs to stand bike up to get the gas to the brim....wait a sec for it to settle and spit just a little more in. 
Step 15:  Close gas cap!!!  Remember to do this before letting the bike back down on kick stand.  Ask me how i know!
Step 16:  Return pump to its home.
Step 17:  Turn bike back on
Step 18:  Rev engine, just to make sure everyone knows how cool you are
Step 19:  Tear out of the gas station at a moderately slow speed!
Step 20:  Turn back around because now you have to pee~

[adidasguy]

#5096

Good info here: http://www.wikihow.com/Trigger-Green-Traffic-Lights

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/FAQ.asp#traffic

54. Can I use neodymium magnets to trigger traffic lights with my motorcycle/moped/bicycle?
This one is a definite "maybe". We have received feedback that magnets as small as our D84 discs have successfully triggered traffic lights, but we have also received reports that magnets as large as our DX8C have failed to trip similar traffic light sensors. It seems that there are different types and different sensitivities of traffic light sensors, and magnets will trigger some, but not all of them. If you have any feedback or good information on this, we would appreciate an email with any details you may have.

Hard drive magnets are so weak they won't do anything.

The neodymium magnets are so strong, they stick to the frame and don't need any mounting unless glued inside the plastic fairing.
A few of these on the center stand or stuck to theframe work. And glued inside the nose of the fairing on an F. The more the better and the wider the distribution the better.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DX08BR-N52

These work, too.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=183

[jdoorn14]

Fill up:

Step 1:  find gas station
Step 2:  pull into gas station
Step 3:  Turn off bike
Step 4:  look around, thinking yeah im cool, i have a bike!
Step 5:  Pull out key and put kick stand down. 
Step 6:  Search for wallet in one of many pockets.
Step 7:  No Wallet!!!  Return home!
...20 min later
Step 8:  Repete steps 1-6 and continue.  Also make sure its a different gas station....returning to same station after failed attempt makes you un-cool.
Step 9:  Insert Card/Remove card.  Repete until keyosk accepts credit card.
Step 10:  Open gas cap
Step 11:  Choose gas type....ummm That one!
Step 12:  Start Filling up
Step 13:  Optional!  Tell yourself how cool you are, sitting on a bike with a black jacket in the sun with sweat rolling down you back!  Yeah, cool people dont use AC, AC is for pussies!
Step 14:  Use my legs to stand bike up to get the gas to the brim....wait a sec for it to settle and spit just a little more in. 
Step 15:  Close gas cap!!!  Remember to do this before letting the bike back down on kick stand.  Ask me how i know!
Step 16:  Return pump to its home.
Step 17:  Turn bike back on
Step 18:  Rev engine, just to make sure everyone knows how cool you are
Step 19:  Tear out of the gas station at a moderately slow speed!
Step 20:  Turn back around because now you have to pee~

Step 20 cracked me up.

[iclrag]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=61181.0 - current MPG thread 

But i hear from 50-67 MPG consistantly, these bikes are pretty good for MPG!

I've done the wallet part before!!
and #20, but only because there's only 1 gas station out where i was.

Great How-To you should add it to the Wiki