127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG
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Haven't broken 40 yet, but still an improvement over the previous tank. I ran about 5 ounces of Chevron Techron fuel additive with the last tank, and sometimes I have found that decreases gas mileage.
I went 186 miles on 4.9 gallons of gas, which is almost exactly 38 MPG.
We'll see how this tank does - I'm hoping this time to break 40 MPG.. Filled up again with Shell V-Power - it is the only fuel I use in both the bike and my car. It uses a better additive package than Chevron Techron, so I highly recommend it.
- Anthony
I went 186 miles on 4.9 gallons of gas, which is almost exactly 38 MPG.
We'll see how this tank does - I'm hoping this time to break 40 MPG.. Filled up again with Shell V-Power - it is the only fuel I use in both the bike and my car. It uses a better additive package than Chevron Techron, so I highly recommend it.
- Anthony
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REDSTAN
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Re: 127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG
adg44 wrote:Isn't that pretty bad? Or is this average? I wasn't even pushing the bike much.
I was expecting closer to 45 MPG.
I'm running premium as recommended.
- Anthony
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
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boxermania
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Challey wrote:
A) Were happy......
B) Were ridding side saddle
c) Were ridding backwards like Patrick used to do......
C) Under the influence of some mind altering drug......
D) Pushing the bike
or
E) Are marketing size.....like me......
Maybe you meant to say " I get my next to best mileage with the system cases on"
The above is to be taken with tongue in cheek......

Hmmm....lets see, they add weight=mass, they extend out into the air flow=resistance and last but not least, have you taken a top speed run with and without the cases......that will prove that at the time of the evaluation, you:In my experience, the system cases don't noticably effect fuel mileage. In fact, I've gotten my best mileage with them on.
A) Were happy......
B) Were ridding side saddle
c) Were ridding backwards like Patrick used to do......
C) Under the influence of some mind altering drug......
D) Pushing the bike
or
E) Are marketing size.....like me......
Maybe you meant to say " I get my next to best mileage with the system cases on"
The above is to be taken with tongue in cheek......
Member #312
06 Suzuki Burgman 650 "state of flux"
79 CBX
06 Suzuki Burgman 650 "state of flux"
79 CBX
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itimna bundok
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All this surprises me.
I have an '04 K1200GT that gets around 40 MPG on average, and as high as 46 once. I am thinking about downsizing to a lighter, more basic bike, so I've been lurking here for some time. I thought for sure the R would get better mileage than my 660 pound, four cylinder K-bomb.
I still want to down-size, but maybe I shouldn't expect much better gas mileage!
I still want to down-size, but maybe I shouldn't expect much better gas mileage!
'01 R1200C
'04 R1150R
'05 F650GS
ATGATT: All The Gear (I feel like wearing) At The Time
'04 R1150R
'05 F650GS
ATGATT: All The Gear (I feel like wearing) At The Time
Well, didn't go up this time as I thought it would.
142 miles on 3.9 gallons of gas = 36.4 MPG.
For what it is worth, I do 80% city riding, so in retrospect, I guess that isn't too bad. Beats the 11 MPG my car gets in the city!
I'll run another 6 ounces of Techron with my next fillup and then see how it goes. With the weather being cooler, the efficiency should be better. I just want to break 40 MPG once and then I'll be happy.
142 miles on 3.9 gallons of gas = 36.4 MPG.
For what it is worth, I do 80% city riding, so in retrospect, I guess that isn't too bad. Beats the 11 MPG my car gets in the city!
I'll run another 6 ounces of Techron with my next fillup and then see how it goes. With the weather being cooler, the efficiency should be better. I just want to break 40 MPG once and then I'll be happy.
- yjleesvrr
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Anthony - holy cow, this is Northern VA we're talking about. It is personally the worst area for congestion I've experienced and I've been to a lot of metro areas in this country. The only place worse for traffic I've ever been to was Chennai, India! Well, I've been to LA as well, but I drove through it at night after rush hour so I can't speak for that area.
Around the DC area I get low mileage like you. On open highways, I get 48 - 50 mpg riding between 70 - 75 mph (75 - 80 mph indicated). On rural highways where the speed is maintained between 60 - 70 mph, I get up to 55 mpg.
Around the DC area I get low mileage like you. On open highways, I get 48 - 50 mpg riding between 70 - 75 mph (75 - 80 mph indicated). On rural highways where the speed is maintained between 60 - 70 mph, I get up to 55 mpg.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
I'm always jealous when I read about highway mileage like this -- if I've ever gotten 45mpg, I can't remember. I'm pretty steady right around 40 mpg.yjleesvrr wrote:Anthony - holy cow, this is Northern VA we're talking about. It is personally the worst area for congestion I've experienced and I've been to a lot of metro areas in this country. The only place worse for traffic I've ever been to was Chennai, India! Well, I've been to LA as well, but I drove through it at night after rush hour so I can't speak for that area.
Around the DC area I get low mileage like you. On open highways, I get 48 - 50 mpg riding between 70 - 75 mph (75 - 80 mph indicated). On rural highways where the speed is maintained between 60 - 70 mph, I get up to 55 mpg.
2004 R1150R Black
As I posted eariler, of late (and with system cases in place on happy trips), I am clocking 50+ mpg on the highway, often at a fairly brisk pace. My around town mileage is pretty close to your 36 mpg.
My conclusion is that this is "normal"- and that being happy affects the mileage positvely (as Boxermania posits).
Charlie
My conclusion is that this is "normal"- and that being happy affects the mileage positvely (as Boxermania posits).
Charlie
'03 R1150R
Life member 365
Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
Life member 365
Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
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REDSTAN
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chally wrote:As I posted earlier, of late (and with system cases in place on happy trips), I am clocking 50+ mpg on the highway, often at a fairly brisk pace. My around town mileage is pretty close to your 36 mpg.
My conclusion is that this is "normal"- and that being happy affects the mileage positively (as Boxer mania posits).
Charlie
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
- yjleesvrr
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Some Roadsters have a shorter top gear. What does your tach read at 80 mph indicated?Sparky wrote:I'm always jealous when I read about highway mileage like this -- if I've ever gotten 45mpg, I can't remember. I'm pretty steady right around 40 mpg.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
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ProductUser
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Now my bike is just being mean...
170.2 miles on 4.27 gallons = 39.86 MPG!
That was 100 miles of highway driving out to summit point and back. Granted I was going about 80 MPH (OK, maybe a little faster at one point!) and the RPMs were at 4500.
Wish I had the overdrive 6th gear....
Considering this tank was mostly highway and I didn't do much better than last time, I don't think the lower octane helped at all. I refilled with 93 octane again and we'll see how it does this time.
- Anthony
170.2 miles on 4.27 gallons = 39.86 MPG!
That was 100 miles of highway driving out to summit point and back. Granted I was going about 80 MPH (OK, maybe a little faster at one point!) and the RPMs were at 4500.
Wish I had the overdrive 6th gear....
Considering this tank was mostly highway and I didn't do much better than last time, I don't think the lower octane helped at all. I refilled with 93 octane again and we'll see how it does this time.
- Anthony
Be glad you get 36 mpg...
Pretty much all my riding is city riding and I'd be happy to get 36mpg. In reality, pushing a heavy bike, a 255 lb heavy human and all the starting from a standstill, plus a perverse joy in twisting the throttle and downshifting, I get a pathetic 25mpg. I get closer to 40 on the highway. I know, I could ride in a more fuel efficient manner, but that would take all the fun out of it! Right?
T.
T.
OK, duckdave here reporting back with an update. Yes, doing all the 12K tune up things did improve my milage a bit---the numbers seem to be coming in 4-5 mpg better than before. On my last 5 tanks I got a low of 38 mpg and a high of 43 mpg (with a full load including tent, tarp, sleeping bag+pad, chair and tailbag; 75 MPH on freeway whole way). The biggest change with the tuneup was quiet and smoothness, tho the improved milage is not unwanted. Later...duckdave wrote:I've been getting about 35 mpg around town, 45 highway. With my Aeroflow w/s I was getting 47 hwy (its off now, for summer).
My impression is the around-town milage suffers b/c of the short trips, time spent parked, idling, and stop-and-go driving.
Picked up my RR with 9600 miles on it; no idea of prior maintenance, no records. Haven't done anything, but change the oil/filter, top up the FD, and check everything else.
Coming up on my 12K tuneup w/in 3 more tanks. One of those tanks will be with Seafoam, the rest will include new sparks, valve adjust and TB synch (if I can figure those last two out). I'd like to be averaging regularly in the 40s and above, as others have posted. Fingers crossed.
-duckdave
'04 R1150R Silver
Little Rock 'n Roll
Double Lifer #580
'04 R1150R Silver
Little Rock 'n Roll
Double Lifer #580