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?
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. :thumb:
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.
+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 :thumb:
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.
bike only has 10k miles on it, it was in a pretty nasty wreck a year ago however...could this mess up valves?
Quote from: gsatterw on April 29, 2012, 06:50:54 PM
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................
valve clearances maybe....the bike was sort of bouncing down the road for a few hundred feet...
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.
Quote from: gsatterw on April 29, 2012, 05:08:41 PMI 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% :dunno_black:
Quote from: gsatterw on April 29, 2012, 05:08:41 PM
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
Quote from: craigs449 on April 29, 2012, 06:34:14 PM
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.
Quote from: twocool on April 30, 2012, 04:16:05 AM
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
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 :dunno_black: 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
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.
All stock, upshift at 6rpm. After 200miles, filling to the top shows 4 gallons
you could ride sanely, jab a hole in the gas tank and still get better milage. wow.
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 02, 2012, 07:03:23 AM
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
Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.
Michael
Quote from: mister on May 02, 2012, 12:35:37 PM
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.
I got/get a 60 mpg overall average on my 97 GS for 80k miles and for 93k miles and counting on my 02 GS spring, summer, and fall. It drops to the 50-55 mpg range in the winter. Only exception was in the mountains when running all out at 7-9k rpm for hours it would drop to as low as 45 mpg at times. Both of my GSs have been stock and carbs never touched. Nothing to be gained running a stock GS over 9-9.5k rpm since the power of a stock GS peaks at 8500 and takes a nose dive after that.
I get about 160 miles before reserve on a stock bike with momentarily tight valves (waiting on shims). If my math is correct this puts me at only about 36mpg (160m/4.4gallons) My riding style is a lot like yours with hard launches and shifts somewhere between 7-8k when Im cruising and 10-11k when I'm going for it. However I dont take short rides as Im either commuting or searching for new backroad twisties for hours and I get off the choke asap. Hopefully getting my valves straight will give me some more mpgs on my spirited commutes.
Quote from: ohgood on May 02, 2012, 11:48:39 AM
you could ride sanely, jab a hole in the gas tank and still get better milage. wow.
I do ride sanely, you gotta realize that me pushing my gs500 to the limit is like someone on a pushing a 600rr at less than 50%. Why not use your acceleration on the open road? Part of owning a motorcycle, for me at least, is to have a bit of fun. I stay safe, I'm not weaving of being a jackass in residential areas. But I completely agree with your statement minus the sanely part, I would say less aggressively.
I have a lunchbox and rejet to 40/140 on my 98 and I'm getting around 50mpg. I generally cruise at 4-6k and do 65-75 on highway in 6th. I get on it only in second and third, but I do it rather often.
My engine and carbs are stock and I'm good for 400+ km a tank. As its been said with the filter, re jet, and exhaust you have opened it up so more fuel will flow. Think of it this way, if you hold your breath and sit still and don't move you can hold it for a while, now hold your breath again and move about and flail your arms about and you'll find you won't be holding it for long. A stock GS is like you holding your breath while doing nothing, oxygen (fuel) lasts a longish time. Now with your bike how you described its like holding your breath while jogging, oxygen (fuel) is used quicker to keep up with the demand that's there.
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 02, 2012, 08:10:19 PM
My engine and carbs are stock and I'm good for 400+ km a tank. As its been said with the filter, re jet, and exhaust you have opened it up so more fuel will flow. Think of it this way, if you hold your breath and sit still and don't move you can hold it for a while, now hold your breath again and move about and flail your arms about and you'll find you won't be holding it for long. A stock GS is like you holding your breath while doing nothing, oxygen (fuel) lasts a longish time. Now with your bike how you described its like holding your breath while jogging, oxygen (fuel) is used quicker to keep up with the demand that's there.
i understand that all the modifications as well as the way that i ride negatively affect gas mileage, I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar degree of loss in fuel economy.
I found out today I get 36 mpg when the engine just stopped in rush hour traffic. The tripmeter was only at 160 so I didn't even think to toggle reserve mode. I randomly was able to restart the engine after turning choke back on.
wow...that's terrible mileage...........
Did you ever go to the "Fuelly" website?......yours is probably the worst I've seen.......
The more I post of Fuelly, the more my mileage is seeming to average out to about 64...
Cookie
Quote from: chsonnu on July 22, 2013, 08:43:22 PM
I found out today I get 36 mpg when the engine just stopped in rush hour traffic. The tripmeter was only at 160 so I didn't even think to toggle reserve mode. I randomly was able to restart the engine after turning choke back on.
No, but I'll check it out. To be fair I bought this bike with 14K miles and have yet to inspect the valve clearances or clean the carbs.
Quote from: twocool on July 23, 2013, 03:14:25 AM
wow...that's terrible mileage...........
Did you ever go to the "Fuelly" website?......yours is probably the worst I've seen.......
The more I post of Fuelly, the more my mileage is seeming to average out to about 64...
Cookie
Quote from: chsonnu on July 22, 2013, 08:43:22 PM
I found out today I get 36 mpg when the engine just stopped in rush hour traffic. The tripmeter was only at 160 so I didn't even think to toggle reserve mode. I randomly was able to restart the engine after turning choke back on.
I think I'm averaging in the high 50s on my '07. Last two tanks were 61.5 and 59.5 mpg. I try to sip rather than chug :cheers:
Last tank 63.48, average for close to 1k miles 61.9. 1994 with 11 k miles now. I just got the bike a month ago, fork seals shot, carb slide spring broken in half, choke stuck, chain filthy. I ride carefully and accelerate with the flow of traffic or just slightly faster. Shift before 6k RPM. Bike is a little lean at low revs with a load but it is getting better. Was sitting for probably two years.
regards
Mech
I went on my first ever highway journey a couple months ago and got 50 mpg and pretty much had it pinned at red line in top gear. Much better mileage than the 35 I get with city riding, where I am pretty much accelerating 95% of the time.
Graham :2guns:
;) :thumb:
I think your problem is the stop start riding you do around towns/cities. My GS has a K&N lunchbox and aftermarket exhaust, 15t front sprocket, jetted 20,62.5,145 and i think its a bit rich on the main but my average in the last month (870 miles) is 59.6mpg.
When i got my bike it was jetted very lean and i only ever got around 40-45mpg, if you run your bike over lean you will lose mileage as you have to work the bike harder to get it anywhere.
I ride pretty hard, cruise at 6-7k, change gear at 8k most of the time and sometimes take it up to 11,500k (mine pulls hard to the end which it didnt when running lean)
GS500E, 24k miles, K&N Std intake, mufflerectomy on stock exhaust, 40/135 jets, bypassed factory petcock for in-line on/off valve running off reserve nipple, Michelin Activ tires (not sure what pressure I'm at right now), I weigh an estimated 230lbs.
Usually ride out gears to middle-high RPM range (8-9k at most), keep it in 6th whenever possible, on the work commute I keep it at 80mph on the hwy in 6th at about 7-8k.
Averaging just under 60mpg. Last I did the math on a fill up I got a figure of about 57mpg. I play it safe and fill up every 150 miles or so, but knowing I can hit at least 200 is great!
201.7 miles today on 3.178 gallons of cheap WalMart regular ($3.439 @ gal), same as last tank. 63.5 MPG including one blast on the Interstate to 85 indicated on a ride to pick up some parts for my 1989. Got the 89 roadworthy but still needs fork seals. Last tank was 63.48 MPG (all US). Average since puchasing the 1994 over a month ago is 62.3 and it sat for a couple of years without running. Every time I get on the Interstate and open it up for 15 miles, each way, the idle speed climbs and I adjust it back to 1250.
I never hit reserve, it should go about 225-240 without reserve at this rate. I could probably get over 64 if I did not run it fairly hard as much as I do but it is still cleaning up the carbs even after 1000 miles in just over a month.
regards
Mech
Quote from: mister on May 02, 2012, 12:35:37 PM
Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.
Michael
The tag on my bike says 33f/41r, does it change from year to year?
And hell, even tossing the bike around like mad I still don't seem to drop below 45 MPG or so. I'm actually more concerned about burning oil at high engine speeds than I am about my fuel economy. I average about 50-55 typically. These are US MPGs.
I think if you look carefully, you will see that the 41 PSI is for two up riding.......
Cookie
Quote from: Watevaman on July 24, 2013, 02:27:47 PM
Quote from: mister on May 02, 2012, 12:35:37 PM
Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.
Michael
The tag on my bike says 33f/41r, does it change from year to year?
And hell, even tossing the bike around like mad I still don't seem to drop below 45 MPG or so. I'm actually more concerned about burning oil at high engine speeds than I am about my fuel economy. I average about 50-55 typically. These are US MPGs.
Quote from: twocool on July 24, 2013, 06:49:02 PM
I think if you look carefully, you will see that the 41 PSI is for two up riding.......
Cookie
Quote from: Watevaman on July 24, 2013, 02:27:47 PM
Quote from: mister on May 02, 2012, 12:35:37 PM
Stock air pressure for tires is 33 front and 36 rear.
Michael
The tag on my bike says 33f/41r, does it change from year to year?
And hell, even tossing the bike around like mad I still don't seem to drop below 45 MPG or so. I'm actually more concerned about burning oil at high engine speeds than I am about my fuel economy. I average about 50-55 typically. These are US MPGs.
My tag doesn't specify and only has one set of pressures per tire.
Rode 150 miles today. Refilled with same cheapest regular. 153.7 miles @ 2.405 gallons @ $3.439 per gallon (US).
63.91 MPG. Almost all highway at 55-65 MPH. Picked up some parts for the 89, left signal light, front brake lever, and a couple of screws and washers. Put the lamp and lever under the seat and the rest in my pocket. Installed them when I got home. Fork seals still needed and she will be roadworthy.
regards
Mech
Riding style has a greater impact than pretty much any other factor. I got about 13 on my race bike. A hyper-miller could probably get 50 on a GS.
A hyper miler could easily get 80
My "lifetime average" is around 64..
Cookie
Quote from: burning1 on July 26, 2013, 12:45:29 PM
Riding style has a greater impact than pretty much any other factor. I got about 13 on my race bike. A hyper-miller could probably get 50 on a GS.
Who buys a naked or sports bike Witt the intention of being an economy hypermiler?
I don't know about hypermiler...but I did buy my GS500 for the economy......twice as good as my car....I have a long commute!
But you are missing Burning's point completely...
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on July 26, 2013, 05:53:10 PM
Who buys a naked or sports bike Witt the intention of being an economy hypermiler?
I completely get his point the harder you twist and the longer you rev it out the worse your economy will be. Riding style makes the biggest impact on economy. And yes I agree the gs is economical, bikes by in large are more economical than cars. BUT, with the freedom a bike brings and the rush it can give who hypermiles all the time on the bike? Not me ill tell you. But if you we're on a long trip of course the hypermiling techniques apply to get the most range. All I'm saying is who buys a 'big' naked or super sport for economy. Now I will say that I am not including scooters, and bikes 300cc and under cause if it were me and tomorrow I wanted to buy a bike to commute with the sole purpose being economy I would go low displacement. You might even say its a catch 22. I dunno without being face to face its kinda hard to convey the direction im going in.
My 125 cc scooter, and my 250 cc Honda only got slightly better mileage than my GS500....But I do go quite a bit faster on the GS..and its better for long trips...so the slightly worse mileage is a good trade off........
There are some fairly large displacement bikes out there which are rated for pretty good mileage.......
Again, it is not really the displacement which matters......If you are gentle on the throttle, you don't use all the HP which is available, and good mileage is possible......
If you are a fan of the "Top Gear" TV show, they did a mileage contest between a Prius and a larger engined BMW.........they ran both cars at or near the Prius top speed........the BMW was just "loafing" at this speed......and the BMW got better mileage!
But the point you missed is that differences in fuel, whether real or imagined....will never add up to anything significant.........as compared to riding style........
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on July 26, 2013, 06:33:52 PM
I completely get his point the harder you twist and the longer you rev it out the worse your economy will be. Riding style makes the biggest impact on economy. And yes I agree the gs is economical, bikes by in large are more economical than cars. BUT, with the freedom a bike brings and the rush it can give who hypermiles all the time on the bike? Not me ill tell you. But if you we're on a long trip of course the hypermiling techniques apply to get the most range. All I'm saying is who buys a 'big' naked or super sport for economy. Now I will say that I am not including scooters, and bikes 300cc and under cause if it were me and tomorrow I wanted to buy a bike to commute with the sole purpose being economy I would go low displacement. You might even say its a catch 22. I dunno without being face to face its kinda hard to convey the direction im going in.
Did you not read the part in my last post when i said i completky get the point and riding style makes the biggest difference? And im a hugr fan of top gear, and yes I did see that bit. And if we break into the fuel side of it let me just say this. Every little bit helps.
If I get better mileage out of a certain brand and a certain octane than another ill use that. My comparison is I do a quick average fuel consumption on my calc every fill up. and I can get a variance of between .1 and .5 L/100 km between brands and octane so every little bit helps. Which is why I posed the question in the other thread. Just so happens that the fuel that gets the best mileage also seems to make the bike run at its smoothest.
Now you may argue that .1 - .5 isn't much that you should worry about. Think about this: lets for simplistisity say that between 2 batches of fuel there is .25 L/100 difference you made note of over the course of a couple months to get a decent set of averages filling up once a week. You pay the same price for both batches and batch A gets you the best economy while batch B is the thirstier of the 2. You fill up then for 1 year with batch A which compared to batch B on average saves you 13 litres of fuel (.25L x 52 fill ups = 13 litres). On my bike this is nearly a tank of fuel so I go back to my statement of every little bit helps. Now depending on how long you keep the bike will make the real difference in long term savings here. And because the fuel price changes more often that you fill up who knows the $ savings but over time it would add up again depending on how long you kept the bike. Every little bit helps.
And again yes I agree there are a number of bikes out there with big Displacement that get quite good mileage. My BMW is a prime example is gets the same economy (sometimes better) as my gs did. And it's 800cc direct injection. But really is fuel economy the first and only thought on your mind when you buy a bike?
Jeeze slippery, you sure put a lot of stuff into one post...so its hard to break it down and have a useful, (or meaningless) argument....
We agree on about half, and disagree on the other half...
Starting at the end of your last post.....
People will buy a bike for any number of reasons.........maybe no reason...maybe they just fall into a certain bike......
For me, and it's just me......what tipped me to buy the GS was its low purchase price.....it was when they were phasing out in the USA so there was a big price drop......and my local dealer does not add additional "fees" like assembly or destination fee........
So for about $3000 (US) (I got $1000 trade in on my old Honda) I was on the road with a new bike....
But fuel economy was also big on my list.....and the gs could easily go highway speeds, where my Honda was a bit lame above 60 MPH.......
So its a bunch of factors..........
The beauty of motorcycles is there are so many variations available, you can get what fits your needs and desires.........
Now to disagree, where you still miss the point..........
There is no proof of any kind that one brand, or changing octane has anything whatsoever to do with fuel economy............
measuring fuel economy down the the tenth is pointless....as it falls within the "noise level"....
Do you track your mileage on Fuelly? Have you ever looked at the various GS's on Fuelly? Are you aware of the typical variations of fuel economy for the SAME rider on the SAME bike using the SAME brand, and the SAME octane?
Burning points out that he can get a low of 13 MPG....while I have documented a high of over 80 MPG (on a single tank)...so there you have a 500% variation, (and that's based only one one factor, riding style.....)
SO....1% or one tenth of 1% is insignificant and meaningless....
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on July 26, 2013, 09:12:24 PM
Did you not read the part in my last post when i said i completky get the point and riding style makes the biggest difference? And im a hugr fan of top gear, and yes I did see that bit. And if we break into the fuel side of it let me just say this. Every little bit helps.
If I get better mileage out of a certain brand and a certain octane than another ill use that. My comparison is I do a quick average fuel consumption on my calc every fill up. and I can get a variance of between .1 and .5 L/100 km between brands and octane so every little bit helps. Which is why I posed the question in the other thread. Just so happens that the fuel that gets the best mileage also seems to make the bike run at its smoothest.
Now you may argue that .1 - .5 isn't much that you should worry about. Think about this: lets for simplistisity say that between 2 batches of fuel there is .25 L/100 difference you made note of over the course of a couple months to get a decent set of averages filling up once a week. You pay the same price for both batches and batch A gets you the best economy while batch B is the thirstier of the 2. You fill up then for 1 year with batch A which compared to batch B on average saves you 13 litres of fuel (.25L x 52 fill ups = 13 litres). On my bike this is nearly a tank of fuel so I go back to my statement of every little bit helps. Now depending on how long you keep the bike will make the real difference in long term savings here. And because the fuel price changes more often that you fill up who knows the $ savings but over time it would add up again depending on how long you kept the bike. Every little bit helps.
And again yes I agree there are a number of bikes out there with big Displacement that get quite good mileage. My BMW is a prime example is gets the same economy (sometimes better) as my gs did. And it's 800cc direct injection. But really is fuel economy the first and only thought on your mind when you buy a bike?
Yep looks like we're gonna have to agree to disagree here. No I don't track my mileage with fuelly I can't be bothered my calculator does the job just fine. I got my way and it works just fine. I'm in tune with what works best in my car and bike and I'm happy with that.