I have my New gs 500 F for a week now...........almost 1000 miles on it. Checked fuel economy three times....
70 MPG.........66 MPG........68 MPG..........
Specs say should be 58.........
I'm really happy with the good mileage..........I do longer rides, no city driving, all on 45 to 55 mph roads
What does every body else get?
Cookie :woohoo:
I've got a 2008 GS500f and get mid top 60's too on high octane fuel.
I have a 2007 and hit 64mpg running highway. However, most of all my driving is city and it hovers at 40+ (I use fuelly.com to keep track as you can see in my sig).
I get 48-52mpg depending on how hard I ride that week.
Check here to get a good idea of what to expect:
http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/suzuki/gs500f
My average is 52.8:
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/discourteous/gs500f-2
As per my sig file Fuelly, 58-ish average. But higher on standard/premium BP gas than anything from Shell or any E10. 90-95% of my riding is highway. My bike is a naked.
Michael
I get about 13 miles per gallon.
About 40mpg, sometimes 35. Running too rich.
I am convinced that driving style has the largest effect on fuel economy...........Stop and go city driving is terrible for economy........driving at one steady speed for long periods is great for economy.......
Heavy throttle on acceleration will also use the fuel........
I don't beleive that fuel grad has any effect on economy for a machine which is desigened for regular......that is high test will not give any better mileage............I am also suspecious of those who say one brand of fuel is better than another........I think many different brands get their gas from the same refinery!
Just MHO...........
Cookie
the gs motor is build to run at its best (in stock form) on pump 87 octane gas. running anything else is just costing you more to fill up. with all my mods including my 14/45 sprockets along with my 160 rear wheel im getting over 50 mpg every tank and i dont go easy on the throttle and thats on 87 or 89 octane depending on the station
See my sig for current average. Max I think was 55mpg @ 80mph. I think I could get close to 60mpg if I rode a long way at 55mph.
Quote from: Paulcet on June 28, 2010, 05:47:55 PM
See my sig for current average. Max I think was 55mpg @ 80mph. I think I could get close to 60mpg if I rode a long way at 55mph.
I think closer to 70 mpg at a steady 55 for long periods.........
Not bad for that speed.........aerodynamic drag goes up as the square of the speed, so lots of drag at 80 compared to 55.........(just about 2x the drag).......plus a lot a gas burned in the acceleration to 80..
Does the fairing on the F model actually reduce drag? Or is it just for "looks".....seems to me it may actually INCREASE drag..........it is kind of a big air scoop.........
Cookie
Cookie
i took a ride a few months ago and got like 68 mpg doing about 70 mph a good part of the way. 06 gs500f no mods.
into vs with the wind makes a big difference too.
My '99 usually gets 39 - 42, hard city driving.
Quote from: twocool on June 28, 2010, 04:47:13 PM
I am also suspecious of those who say one brand of fuel is better than another........I think many different brands get their gas from the same refinery!
Well, seeing as *I* am the one who mentioned Brand, I must be one of your "Those".
Shell is owned by the Dutch Queen. BP is short for British Petroleum.
In my city we have three refineries... BP, Caltex and Shell. They most certainly do not run them just for show and only get their gas from one of them. Because, it is Not only gasoline they get from their refineries. They get gases which are subsequently used to make other products - such as fertilizes, UREA.
Shell is the provider of gasoline to 7/11 in my city.
Here's a snap of my fuelly...
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4744880484_64e35d3647_b.jpg)
Every fill up on what you see above is from BP - except two of them. Can you guess which two? The first drop off is Standard Shell, the second drop off is Freedom Fuels E10 (they put ethanol in All their stuff and reckon they refine their own fuel - which means adding their own range of additives).
So you can be as suspicious as you like. I'll go with what my wallet tells me and how my bike performs on the different fuels. (things might be different in the USA regarding brands) I say, do your own testing and see if you get different results depending on brand and octane.
Michael.
Quote from: mister on June 28, 2010, 08:57:58 PM
Quote from: twocool on June 28, 2010, 04:47:13 PM
I am also suspecious of those who say one brand of fuel is better than another........I think many different brands get their gas from the same refinery!
Well, seeing as *I* am the one who mentioned Brand, I must be one of your "Those".
Shell is owned by the Dutch Queen. BP is short for British Petroleum.
In my city we have three refineries... BP, Caltex and Shell. They most certainly do not run them just for show and only get their gas from one of them. Because, it is Not only gasoline they get from their refineries. They get gases which are subsequently used to make other products - such as fertilizes, UREA.
Shell is the provider of gasoline to 7/11 in my city.
Here's a snap of my fuelly...
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4744880484_64e35d3647_b.jpg)
Every fill up on what you see above is from BP - except two of them. Can you guess which two? The first drop off is Standard Shell, the second drop off is Freedom Fuels E10 (they put ethanol in All their stuff and reckon they refine their own fuel - which means adding their own range of additives).
So you can be as suspicious as you like. I'll go with what my wallet tells me and how my bike performs on the different fuels. (things might be different in the USA regarding brands) I say, do your own testing and see if you get different results depending on brand and octane.
Michael.
Nice information!.........Alcohol in gas will ruin the mileage.........it takes almost 2x the alcohol to get the same power!
Your chart seems fairly conclusive...........providing your riding style is consistant, and the course you run is consistant, and the weather is consistant, etc........
Yes, cars and bikes can be "tuned" to run or 100% alcohol (drag racing, etc. I had a Triumph Spitfire that could be run on alcohol) but you have to mod the carbs.......vehicle will be faster than on gasoline, but the mileage is roughly 1/2. (different fuel / air ratio for alcohol.)
I would expect that 10% ethenol will lower mileage by 5%............
That's is all you can get around here....10% ethenol!
They used to put that mtbe crap in gas here too.........most got 10%-15% worse mileage on that!
You are not going to stop air pollution by using MORE fuel! MTBE also began to pollute the water supply.....environmentalists can be real dopes sometimes! Just MHO.........
I still stand by my statement the driving style has more to do with mileage than anything else, as I am getting mileage in the upper 60's while our GP racer is getting 15 or so, on a stock bike/engine!
Cookie
Quote from: twocool on June 28, 2010, 04:47:13 PM
I am convinced that driving style has the largest effect on fuel economy...........Stop and go city driving is terrible for economy........driving at one steady speed for long periods is great for economy.......
Heavy throttle on acceleration will also use the fuel........
Agreed ^^^
Quote from: twocool on June 28, 2010, 04:47:13 PMI don't beleive that fuel grad has any effect on economy for a machine which is desigened for regular......that is high test will not give any better mileage............I am also suspecious of those who say one brand of fuel is better than another........I think many different brands get their gas from the same refinery!
In the UK extensive tests have been done proving our higher grade pump fuels DO make a significant difference in fuel economy. As yet I have not run my bike on regular for this reason. My bike gets a 13mile run twice daily I still see 8k revs and cruise for around 5 miles of that @ 75mph.
In the UK extensive tests have been done proving our higher grade pump fuels DO make a significant difference in fuel economy. As yet I have not run my bike on regular for this reason. My bike gets a 13mile run twice daily I still see 8k revs and cruise for around 5 miles of that @ 75mph.
I would like to see these tests and data. What is "significant"........?
What is the scientific basis of high grade gasoline giving better mileage?
Octane is merely a rating of anti knock....really the speed of
the burn.........no more power in there........
If the engine is tuned/ designed for "regular", higher octane should not hurt, other than wasting money, but I see no way it can offer better mileage and / or power........
Now a computer controlled engine, that can sense knock, will probably run (slightly) better mileage on high test, as the engine will "tune" itself........also modifying an engine for use of high test will maybe give better mileage........in other words high test lets the engine be tuned to a more efficient operating range (regular would knock with this tuning)
But now you have to figure COST per mile rather than miles per gallon to see if it is really worth it.
But I still say that if mileage is a major concern (and it is to me) that it is driving style that is the #1 factor, fuel grad if it has any effect will be relatively minor......
If you want speed rather than economy it is easy, just buy a bigger bike!
Cookie
Cookie and Andrew:
Most modern cars and a few modern bikes will see improved fuel economy on premium fuels - this is not specifically because the premium fuels produce more power, but instead because the vehicles are equipped with knock sensors, which will detune the engine somewhat when lower grade fuels are used. The knock sensor will retard ignition timing and change the fueling to protect the engine, and permit it to run the low test stuff safely (my BMW K1300GT is equipped with a Knock sensor. The manual states that '89 octane' ron+mon/2 fuel should be used, but that 87 octane may be used with reduced fuel economy and power.)
On a bike like the GS, running a grade of fuel higher than necessary will not result in more power or better fuel economy.
Quote from: burning1 on June 29, 2010, 03:27:55 PM
Cookie and Andrew:
Most modern cars and a few modern bikes will see improved fuel economy on premium fuels - this is not specifically because the premium fuels produce more power, but instead because the vehicles are equipped with knock sensors, which will detune the engine somewhat when lower grade fuels are used. The knock sensor will retard ignition timing and change the fueling to protect the engine, and permit it to run the low test stuff safely (my BMW K1300GT is equipped with a Knock sensor. The manual states that '89 octane' ron+mon/2 fuel should be used, but that 87 octane may be used with reduced fuel economy and power.)
On a bike like the GS, running a grade of fuel higher than necessary will not result in more power or better fuel economy.
Yes.........
But when I hear a blanket statement that higher octane give better mileage, I wonder.........You have to look at the SMALL details.......
Essentially a car with knock sensors is DESIGNED to
run on higher octane in the first place........so we could say the regular DEGRADES the performance/economy.........
Older cars which were designed around higher octane, (without knock sensors) would be severely degraded if regular gas was used........
I will repete again, that an engine designed for regular, will not benefit from higher octane......just wast of money...
I had a car which specified to
NOT USE higher octane than regular under any circumstances......not sure why, but I figure the computer was calibrated to regular and higher octane would screw it up...
But for the bigger picture, I sold a 70 MPG scooter, and a 80 MPG 250cc motorcycle to buy my GS 500......I commute by bike almost every day it does not rain.......50 miles a day on week days, and 180 miles each Saturday and Sunday.........So mileage does matter to me!
I was worried that I was going to get only about 50 MPG.......I was delightfully surprised to see MPG in the high 60's.....
ON REGULAR GAS with 10% Ethanol to boot!!!!!!!!!
We see that our racer friend can degrade the mileage on a stock GS 500 engine to about 13 MPG, and I can get 70 if I drive smoothly...........That shows what driving style has to do with mileage......
Now If I switch to high octane, what will I get? 71 MPG? Not worth it! :thumb:
Cookie
Alcohol flat suxs for engines that are not designed for it. I have bantered this on this site before and there are those who defend it. It has cost me over a grand for my boat and bike since it's adoption by the state of Florida a couple of years ago and nearly cost me a Sthil weedeater today but the gas was so bad that my son couldn't run the thing.
My 2005 F gets typically gets right around 60mpg, 90% highway mileage, averaging 70-75mph indicated, with nothing but E10 fuel. I have gotten as low as 39mpg when really flogging it. I've also gotten as high as 73mpg when I took it really easy.
The testing I have read has been on injection car's :oops:
My only fall back is this:
"CHEAP GAS MAKES MATTERS WORSE
To save a few pennies per gallon and to increase the competitive and/or profit margin of gasoline, some suppliers have cut back on the amount of detergent they add to their fuel or have switched to cheaper and less effective additives.
Commonly used deposit-control additives include polysibutylamine, polyisbutylene succinimide and polyisobutylene phenylamine. But these same additives also can build up on intake valve stems causing them to stick. To prevent this from happening, additional additives called "fluidizers" must also be added to the fuel. But, over time, these can contribute to the formation of combustion chamber deposits that raise compression and the engine's octane requirements."
I will avoid supermarket fuel from now on but I may try regular fuel but from Shell/BP...
Thanks for the info though, you lot know your stuff! :cool:
Quote from: lilwoody on June 29, 2010, 07:12:16 PM
Alcohol flat suxs for engines that are not designed for it. I have bantered this on this site before and there are those who defend it. It has cost me over a grand for my boat and bike since it's adoption by the state of Florida a couple of years ago and nearly cost me a Sthil weedeater today but the gas was so bad that my son couldn't run the thing.
This is what happens when politicians try to do the work of engineers............
Cookie
Quote from: Eric_in_OR on June 29, 2010, 08:13:36 PM
My 2005 F gets typically gets right around 60mpg, 90% highway mileage, averaging 70-75mph indicated, with nothing but E10 fuel. I have gotten as low as 39mpg when really flogging it. I've also gotten as high as 73mpg when I took it really easy.
Again a good example of driving style making the greatest difference........75 is pretty fast, so lots of aero drag.....60 MPG is pretty good for that speed..............It makes sense that I get 68 MPG at steady 50~55
Flogging it brings it down a lot!
THe manufacturer claims something like 56 MPG..........consertive estimate!
Cookie
sadly on my '99 I get an avg of 43mpg, mainly in city riding and hills.....curse you SF.... In the mornings, I always have to use full choke to get it running b/c it'd be way too cold outside. I guess if I commuted on highways, I could probably get more. As for octane, I've used 87 and 89 and couldn't really tell a difference between the two, but I did realize that I get better mileage using 76 Gas compared to Chevron.
(http://www.suzukicycles.com/~/media/69AD80F6C8274CDE82ABE3E6FA91238C.ashx)
The Suzuki gas milage figure is based on the EPA emission test for city driving. YOUR MILAGE MAY VARY. :icon_lol: I find this to be good info for comparing bikes since my overall year around gas milage for my 02 GS runs about 60 mpg, a little better in the summer and a little worse in the winter. Even thrashing it hard in the mountain twisties it rarely drops below 50 mpg, same for high speed Interstate travel.
My gas milage was a wee bit better on my old 97 GS with 2 circuit carbs and I was riding a lot with a conservative cruiser friend a few years back and it seemed to be close to 70 mpg most of the time so I decided to go for 300 miles before filling up one day and made it, keep in mind it only had a 4.5 gal tank unlike the current 5.3 gal ones. Never touched the carbs on either and now have 80k miles on the 02 equalling the 80k I put on the 97. The 97 could have used rejetting but the 3 circuit 02 carbs don't need it in my opinion.
Front tire size can affect indicated mpg since the odometer is driven from the front wheel.
I get between 50-60 mpg. It just depends on my mix of interstate vs in town riding.
Cookie,
I agree with you completely on principal, and I think you're spot on... It's not the premium gasoline that makes the car go further, it's the advanced tuning. Anyone who drives a lesser tuned vehicle or a motorcycle without a knock sensor should keep that in mind.
Conversely, we need to keep in mind that in practice, higher grade fuels may improve power and fuel economy in some cars.
Also, for what it's worth, my street bike is a BMW K1300GT. I'm hard on the throttle. In the city it gets 35MPG, and on the freeway I usually get 42 or so. But, if I take it easy and pay attention to fuel economy, it is quite capable of getting 50 miles per gallon at freeway speeds.
Aerodynamics and gearing can have a huge impact on fuel consumption.