I have never checked my mileage before and never a real reason to. But I had to ride out of town the other day so when I got there I filled back up and at a distance of 189 miles and refilled using 3.43 gallons, it averaged to be right at 55mpg. Not bad at all.
That sounds about right. Good for you! :thumb:
Yeah, beats the 35gal tank in my truck that gets 11mpg...... :(
you should use fuelly. it keeps track of everything so you can see trends in your usage and all that. pretty nifty and easy to use.
When I had mine I was averaging between 4.1 - 4.2 litres per 100km. On the Beemer I now average 4.05 to 4.6 per hundred combined urban/highway depending on the fuel brand I use and how hard I twist.
Liters per 100 km means nothing to me... It's not just in different units, it's backwards too... Guess that's OZ for ya...
- Bboy
Quote from: BockinBboy on May 29, 2013, 10:19:50 PM
Liters per 100 km means nothing to me... It's not just in different units, it's backwards too... Guess that's OZ for ya...
- Bboy
I could say the same about miles per gallon. Guess that's backwards America for ya
Don't get me started on the whole 'imperial vs metric' discussion.
The fact alone that US gallons differ from UK gallons proves my point...
Metric FTW! :woohoo:
I am a very conservative rider and have never taken it over 8500rpm as I have not felt the need to do so. The bike is stock except for gearing. If you are interested my average fuel consumption figures over the past 14,oookm (8,700 miles) are below:
3.7L/100km (best of 3.1L/100km and worst of 4.25L/100km)
or 63.5MPG (US)
or 76.4MPG (IMPERIAL)
:thumb:
... Just tryin' out some of that aussie humor stuff... been here long enough to know what comments will derail a thread, just didn't have any emoticons when replying from my phone. :icon_mrgreen:
Metric does win on every level, but it doesn't change that the Imperial system is ingrained to American brains since kindergarten... so it won't die anytime soon, Americans have too big of heads for that to happen.
:cheers:
- Bboy
Yes your attempt doesn't really come through
Maybe I'm the weird one, but I have never understood why we use the imperial system...it's just a complete P-I-A. fractions and weird decimal numbers...it's so arbitrary. I use metric for everything anyway, all the cars are metric, my bikes are metric, everyday all day at work it's metric. I will readily admit we are a silly stubborn country sometimes.
If metric is so darn good...how come a circle still has 360 degrees, not 100 degrees
how come there are 24 hours in a day, and 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute??
Should be ten hours in a day, ten minutes in an hour, ten seconds in a minute.....1000 days in a year......
Then there is longitude and latitude...
Say I have a 13 mm wrench...and I want one 1/2 the size......6-1/2 mm? half that....3.25 mm??
1/2 wrench...half size is 1/4 inch...half that is 1/8....easy!
Trivia question....anybody actually know why there are 360 degrees in a circle??
Hmmm..
Cookie
Quote from: BockinBboy on May 30, 2013, 05:37:15 AM
... Just tryin' out some of that aussie humor stuff... been here long enough to know what comments will derail a thread, just didn't have any emoticons when replying from my phone. :icon_mrgreen:
Metric does win on every level, but it doesn't change that the Imperial system is ingrained to American brains since kindergarten... so it won't die anytime soon, Americans have too big of heads for that to happen.
:cheers:
- Bboy
The time, latitude and longitude is all based on the universally accepted basis of the rotation of the earth and orbit around the sun...nothing to do with imperial or metric. The circle is the same idea, a universally accepted number based on an ancient division of time around an arc.
You would never need "half" a 13 wrench. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 may be great...anyone know what 13/16 is? I mean, really? I'm a machinist by trade and I can't even keep these numbers straight.
The point is, how arrogant are we that we are the only 1st world, industrialized "greatest nation on earth" that uses imperial measurement, and our way is the best way, therefore the measuring system used by the entire world is crap. Sorry, I don't buy it.
To get back on topic though....I am switching to an 18T sprocket this weekend, mostly to see how the mileage improves, and how much. Average now is 49-53 mpg depending on my riding. Would be amazing to hit 60, but on my old girl, I don't think that will happen.
More crazy stuff. I am a forestry student. In the US we measure distance in "chains," or 66 foot increments. Volume is measured in "board feet," which is the amount of wood in a 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch board. So we price lumber by thousands of board feet. The rest of the world just uses cubic meters.
just another thing to love about the bike.
Yeah, that's why I love a foreign bike too. If my 13mm socket is too big, I know to go down to 12 or 11mm. If my 1/2" socket is too big I have to look at my toolbox and go two size down because I can't remember the order of the next wrench fractions. I'd be all for going to metric for measurements and length, length is really the only one that would require some getting used to. Hell, I already buy wine and liquor in liters, what else is there to learn [except for how to spell liter correctly, because I'm apparently illiterate.]
If you wanna get real technical two cool you can use mils (yes it's spelt like that) to measure a circle. A circle would have 6400 mils and the theory is you walk 1km from your start point now take a 1 metre step left or right and that is 1 mil. @2km you step across 2m and so on.
Sure....but 6400 is not really "base ten"....
Then there is radians......
A machinist friend of mine who spent time in France says they have a system with 400 degrees in a circle...makes sense...100 degrees for every right angle........that is more "metric" than 360 degrees!
The point is you can argue systems of measurement until you are blue in the face....it doesn't really matter.........
Although some systems seem kind of arbitrary, they had good reason at the time.
Somebody mentioned something about arrogance...well the arrogance seems to come from those who think the so called "metric system" is the "only" system, and best for all occasions......
Cookie
BTW the reason there is 360 degrees in a circle in the imperial system AND the metric system is "simple-do-it in-your-head" math.......
360 is divisible by: 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,15,18,20,24,30,36,40,45, 60, 72, 90,120, 180, 360
Try dividing 100 by those numbers ..."in your head"!
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 30, 2013, 02:04:08 PM
If you wanna get real technical two cool you can use mils (yes it's spelt like that) to measure a circle. A circle would have 6400 mils and the theory is you walk 1km from your start point now take a 1 metre step left or right and that is 1 mil. @2km you step across 2m and so on.
Radians is the only pure measurement system for a circle as it is based off of natural ratios (SIN, Pi, etc) and not man-made divisions.
Metric is best cause a normal person can't really be f%&ked learning more than one
Well ............math and trig and geometry are about as man-made as it gets......but then again you might say that "everything is natural"
Point is, there are different systems commonly used for certain applications because they work better........The so called metric system is not always best....and if you read up ont the metric system...it has lots of variation, and can't even agree with itself........
A lot of American machine stuff is done in "decimal inches"....this is essentially the metric system...and just as easy for most things......tenths, hundredths, thousandths etc........
Also if you look at most measuring systems, they are based on natural phenomenon.........
Kilometer is based on circumference of the earth ...but then again so is nautical miles...sort of, but with degrees and minutes thrown in for good luck...
Cookie
Cookie
Quote from: Slack on May 30, 2013, 05:39:07 PM
Radians is the only pure measurement system for a circle as it is based off of natural ratios (SIN, Pi, etc) and not man-made divisions.
Really? It is not all that hard....I mean you can do most of the conversions in your head...or remember the factors and use a pocket calculator...or just go to the computer and click on miles instead of kilometers....
Just to show how stupid it gets.......Around here (USA) when flying we tend to use the "Australian system"....Kilometers for distance...knots for airspeed...feet for altitude......feet per minute for climb and descent....... :cookoo:
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 30, 2013, 06:44:43 PM
Metric is best cause a normal person can't really be f%&ked learning more than one
Quickly then educate the world! Go forth and spread the imperial system to the world
The "world" is already educated......imperial system is used widely.........nautical, aviation, etc etc....
BTW..........even your beloved "metric" bike has imperial parts! Can you name a few?
Cookie
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 30, 2013, 10:40:23 PM
Quickly then educate the world! Go forth and spread the imperial system to the world
Then go forth to teach it some more but not me cause I couldn't care less
Then why do you keep making posts on the subject?
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 31, 2013, 04:18:20 AM
Then go forth to teach it some more but not me cause I couldn't care less
Cause some men just wanna watch the world burn.
Funny!
:icon_lol:
Quote from: slipperymongoose on May 31, 2013, 06:05:53 AM
Cause some men just wanna watch the world burn.
I can use metric and most imperial ... Plus .. And even better IMO .. Guesstimating!!
A bit more...
Not that much....
Bit to the left...
Over a tad...
Close as a mickey hair!
About that much..
Etc etc
:D
Not to derail this thread from its imperial and metric debate but i track my gas mileage and i get an average of 42 mpg (US gallons). My bike is 23 years old so that could have something to do with it but should i be seeing higher numbers. I typically fill up with your basic 86 octane with not fuel additives. Would putting higher octane fuel in or additives help out, and is it really worth it?
Quote from: popnlock on May 31, 2013, 10:44:55 AM
Not to derail this thread from its imperial and metric debate but i track my gas mileage and i get an average of 42 mpg (US gallons). My bike is 23 years old so that could have something to do with it but should i be seeing higher numbers. I typically fill up with your basic 86 octane with not fuel additives. Would putting higher octane fuel in or additives help out, and is it really worth it?
Probably not, no. The GS500 is meant to run on regular gasoline, and I don't think a higher octane rating than the engine was designed to take would have any effect one way or the other. If anyone knows better, feel free to correct me on this.
I think being as smooth as possible with the controls, early upshifting (but never lugging the engine of course), and good-condition, well-inflated tires would be the best ways to increase fuel efficiency.
Do you know what gearing you have? Stock front sprocket? I know I have tried 15,16,17T sprockets, and am now going to an 18, purely for the mileage. I usually ride along keeping the RPMs low, right in my bikes sweet spot, 3500-4K. She's smooth there.
Quote from: Soloratov on May 31, 2013, 12:14:23 PM
Do you know what gearing you have? Stock front sprocket? I know I have tried 15,16,17T sprockets, and am now going to an 18, purely for the mileage. I usually ride along keeping the RPMs low, right in my bikes sweet spot, 3500-4K. She's smooth there.
How much effect does the sprocket have on mileage?
I have only a very vague understanding of motorcycle mechanics, I have to admit, but this interests me.
I average about 55 USmpg even when riding fairly high in the rev range (up to 6.5 regularly). This past weekend I did some highway riding for a few hours and even with a stint that was at a constant 90 mph for about 15 minutes, I got like 65 USmpg. It was awesome, and it's going to be a pain whenever I buy a liter bike.
Mileage on the GS 500 can be anywhere from about 15 up to the low 70's mpg...depending on a lot of factors........Mostly driving style.....the wider the throttle is open the worse the mileage.......
But don't go by just one sampling......take the average over many tank fulls...like 10 or 20 tank fulls......
Check out he "fuelly" website.........you'll see a wide range of MPG for the GS500..
Cookie
Quote from: popnlock on May 31, 2013, 10:44:55 AM
Not to derail this thread from its imperial and metric debate but i track my gas mileage and i get an average of 42 mpg (US gallons). My bike is 23 years old so that could have something to do with it but should i be seeing higher numbers. I typically fill up with your basic 86 octane with not fuel additives. Would putting higher octane fuel in or additives help out, and is it really worth it?
Quote from: ralph13 on May 31, 2013, 03:04:01 PM
How much effect does the sprocket have on mileage?
I have only a very vague understanding of motorcycle mechanics, I have to admit, but this interests me.
Between riding style and sprockets, I have seen a 20mpg range, anywhere from ~40-60. The more teeth on the sprocket, the lower the RPM (relatively), so the better mileage. More than that though, it's the way you ride. I usually have 3 ways I ride, Jerk, Normal, Gramma.
Jerk = Fast starts, high rev shifts, higher average speed
Normal = With traffic, shift around 4500, roll onto throttle
Gramma = Usually ride like this when I am on back roads just enjoying the view. 40-45mph, in 6th, rolling about 3K rpm...rolling stop signs.