I seem to get around 125 miles prior to the low fuel warning light comming on. When I fill the tank it takes about 4 gallons making the fuel economy around 25-30 miles/gallon. In my older bike, an r850r, i regularly got 50+ mpg. Is 25-30mpg for the new bike reasonable ordoes it hint at something wrong (the bike has 3,000 miles on the clock)
r
Expected Gas Mileage for 2005 R1150R
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yjleesvrr
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riisor - how many miles do you have on your bike? And is this low mileage on the highway? Or city commuting?
Most of us get somewhere in the high 30s/low 40s around the city/town, and high 40s and even low 50s on the highway depending on how fast we ride.
Most of us get somewhere in the high 30s/low 40s around the city/town, and high 40s and even low 50s on the highway depending on how fast we ride.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
Thanks both for the super quick reply. The bike has just over 3000 miles on it and frankly Ive never liked the way its run. Its noisier and rougher than I expected especially in hot weather. Most of my driving is around NYC so lots of start and stop and light on 6th gear cruising (except the FDR drive of course!). I guess I'll ahve to have it looked at.
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ProductUser
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yjleesvrr
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riisor - yeah, NYC will definitely bring your mileage down. I've been stuck waiting to get into the Holland Tunnel many a times and it's mostly sitting and idling. It's especially annoying when you're on a motorcycle.
Do have your bike checked though by a mechanic. It shouldn't be running rough no matter what the traffic is like.
Do have your bike checked though by a mechanic. It shouldn't be running rough no matter what the traffic is like.
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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NHighCotton
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dwayne
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Re: Expected Gas Mileage for 2005 R1150R
I put about 17 liters in and for that I will get ABOUT 330 Km's per tank. Sorry, I don't do imperial measure.riisor wrote:I seem to get around 125 miles prior to the low fuel warning light comming on. When I fill the tank it takes about 4 gallons making the fuel economy around 25-30 miles/gallon. In my older bike, an r850r, i regularly got 50+ mpg. Is 25-30mpg for the new bike reasonable ordoes it hint at something wrong (the bike has 3,000 miles on the clock)
r
'05 R 1150 R Dark Ferro, with blacked out motor Member # 507
YMMV - Literally
Things that I've found affect mileage:
- City vs highway traffic
- Whether you have a good windscreen or ride totally naked (watch it now!
You know what I mean 
)
- Proper tire inflation
- Proper maintenance
- Engine speed
I've found that I typically get between 32 and 37 mpg. Once I got 41 mpg. This was mostly because I was running on the highway with few gear changes, right around 4,000 rpm for 2 hours straight.
Once you have to go in low gears at 5,000+ rpm and have a lot of stop/slow and go, your mileage drops quite a bit.
Oh, and the gremlins that mess with your oil levels also get into your gas tank and mess with the gas levels too
- City vs highway traffic
- Whether you have a good windscreen or ride totally naked (watch it now!
You know what I mean 
)- Proper tire inflation
- Proper maintenance
- Engine speed
I've found that I typically get between 32 and 37 mpg. Once I got 41 mpg. This was mostly because I was running on the highway with few gear changes, right around 4,000 rpm for 2 hours straight.
Once you have to go in low gears at 5,000+ rpm and have a lot of stop/slow and go, your mileage drops quite a bit.
Oh, and the gremlins that mess with your oil levels also get into your gas tank and mess with the gas levels too
Erik (a.k.a. Norseman9)
Lexington, MA
2002 R1150R (black, the only color)
Yankee Beemers
Lexington, MA
2002 R1150R (black, the only color)
Yankee Beemers
Re: Expected Gas Mileage for 2005 R1150R
Similar (32 mpg) riding here in LA, naked!riisor wrote:I seem to get around 125 miles prior to the low fuel warning light comming on.
With careful valve adjust went up to 35mpg.
A speedster windshield took it up to 37 mpg.
Try doing a long ride on a freeway, you should see it go to 40+ mpg, otherwise get it checked.
The noises: ear-plugs.
BTW: when I started doing my own valve adjustment, the bike started running smoother. It's a lengthy task, and I doubt my dealer would have taken all the necessary time to get it as good as it can be. Just my opinion.
Nobody is sure perfect, but she practiced tirelessly !
I'm getting 44-47, with mostly freeway use, on 89-octane. I think my mileage dropped severely when I bolted on a 'barn-door' from Parabellum. 
Then, it came back up when I rode naked for a few tanks, and now it's back up once again with a bikini(like a Givi) sport screen in place. Plus, I'm no longer forced to hold-on at the extra-limit speeds. 
I'd like to piggy-back a question if I may. Has anyone checked their mileage WITH System cases in place, vs. no luggage at all?
Then, it came back up when I rode naked for a few tanks, and now it's back up once again with a bikini(like a Givi) sport screen in place. Plus, I'm no longer forced to hold-on at the extra-limit speeds. I'd like to piggy-back a question if I may. Has anyone checked their mileage WITH System cases in place, vs. no luggage at all?
(First post was lost, I guess) I have a 2005 and in normal urban riding I'm getting from 47-49. On controlled access roads I get 49 to a high of 57. My bike has under 5,400 miles and is a smooth as can be and quieter than I wish it was.
I put system bags on it about three months ago and have noticed no change in mileage which was a bit of a surprise; not because of the weight but what I thought would be the aerodynamic drag.
Your machine is still under warranty; I would go back to the dealer and ask them to check it. Your experience just doesn't seem in line.
I put system bags on it about three months ago and have noticed no change in mileage which was a bit of a surprise; not because of the weight but what I thought would be the aerodynamic drag.
Your machine is still under warranty; I would go back to the dealer and ask them to check it. Your experience just doesn't seem in line.
Riisor,
I had the same issues when I picked up my 'new to me' 02 R1150R. I was back at the dealer asking those questions all the time. I have noticed with my bike that city mileage is in the 25-35mpg range while highway cruising jumps up to 50+ with bags on. I didn't think that the traffic I was in would have affected my mileage as much as it did, but these numbers are consistent. Try a 100 mile highway jaunt and see what it does for your mileage, If its still in the 35mpg-ish range, I'd be hitting a gas station and then heading over to the dealer. Hope this helps.
I had the same issues when I picked up my 'new to me' 02 R1150R. I was back at the dealer asking those questions all the time. I have noticed with my bike that city mileage is in the 25-35mpg range while highway cruising jumps up to 50+ with bags on. I didn't think that the traffic I was in would have affected my mileage as much as it did, but these numbers are consistent. Try a 100 mile highway jaunt and see what it does for your mileage, If its still in the 35mpg-ish range, I'd be hitting a gas station and then heading over to the dealer. Hope this helps.
sounds right
I thought the same thing when I first got mine. I had just moved to SF and was getting high 20's city riding on an r1150r. I imagine NY is a lot of stop and go like SF. Now that I'm back in LA I'm doing more freeway (which is still occasionally stop and go) and I'm doing 40+. My SF mileage was better by the way with the r800r.
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BoiseBeemer
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Interesting on-going question, and I'm always surprised at the variations in riders' mileage, but I've always put it down to the large number of variables inherent in motorcycling.
For example, your riding style is a huge factor. Mine varies according to where I'm riding, and the mileage reflects it. On the road (even brisking through the twisties up in the mountains) I tend to ride a smooth pace and keep the revs between 3000 and 4000. My mileage here and cruising long distances on the Interstate averages high 40's to low 50's. In town, however, I keep the revs high and ride aggressively to keep myself in the best lane position to fend off city drivers. Combine that with the constant idling at stops, and the mileage often drops down into the mid 30's. As with any vehicle, high mileage favors a smooth, consistent throttle hand. Zooming from stoplight to stoplight, only to wait at idle for the next opportunity to zoom will kill your mileage.
As others have said, the maintenance condition of your bike, including valve and throttle adjustments and correct tire pressure, makes a big difference. Since I'm more interested in handling and economy than Barcalounger comfort, I keep my tires inflated at relatively high levels. You'll notice a measurable difference, not only in gas mileage, but also in tire longevity. There's also a huge variation in the accuracy of the odometers of these bikes. Riding the same new tires on a trip last summer, my 2004 Roadster's odometer consistently reported 10% more mileage than my wife's 2004 Rockster clock. At fill-ups we needed roughly the same amount of gas, but obviously I got "better" gas mileage because according to the instruments I had traveled further. I don't know which one--if either--was accurate (but I like my bike's report better, so that's the one we used.)
The rider's physical make-up and riding gear also make a difference. A 6-foot tall, 200 pound rider won't get the mileage a shorter, lighter rider will get. Loose, floppy clothing will cost you some mileage, especially at speeds. There's a reason racers wear tight-fitting leathers.
If you ride without any kind of fairing or windshield, your mileage will go down at speed, but obviously the aerodynamic benefit of any fairing depends on its design. Since that's also a frequent topic here, you'll notice there's a HUGE span in this variable.
Luggage also makes a difference, and not always in ways you'd expect. Twenty-five years ago, Craig Vetter was reminding people that it's not enough to simply part the air smoothly in front; you also have to let it flow cleanly around you and exit smoothly out the back. Otherwise, the exiting air actually can create a vacuum. His Windjammer stuff was a complete system, with the fairing, panniers, and tail trunk all designed to work together. There's no way a naked bike with make-shift fairing and big, square luggage bags is going to return the kind of mileage that a more aerodynamically integrated package will get you (although I find that the BMW sidecases don't seem to negatively affect my mileage all that much--square or not, perhaps they're more aerodynamic than an open wheel). That big, floppy duffle bag riding high on the back, however, won't help.
Still, unless you're routinely idling at traffic stops more than you're actually riding, I think mileage in the 20's is an aberration for anybody, and if you can ride smoothly, avoiding jackrabbit starts and keeping your rpms in the 3-4K range, you should be able to expect consistent highway mileage at least in the 40's. On my bike, if I couldn't average low-40's overall, I'd be talking to the mechanic.
For example, your riding style is a huge factor. Mine varies according to where I'm riding, and the mileage reflects it. On the road (even brisking through the twisties up in the mountains) I tend to ride a smooth pace and keep the revs between 3000 and 4000. My mileage here and cruising long distances on the Interstate averages high 40's to low 50's. In town, however, I keep the revs high and ride aggressively to keep myself in the best lane position to fend off city drivers. Combine that with the constant idling at stops, and the mileage often drops down into the mid 30's. As with any vehicle, high mileage favors a smooth, consistent throttle hand. Zooming from stoplight to stoplight, only to wait at idle for the next opportunity to zoom will kill your mileage.
As others have said, the maintenance condition of your bike, including valve and throttle adjustments and correct tire pressure, makes a big difference. Since I'm more interested in handling and economy than Barcalounger comfort, I keep my tires inflated at relatively high levels. You'll notice a measurable difference, not only in gas mileage, but also in tire longevity. There's also a huge variation in the accuracy of the odometers of these bikes. Riding the same new tires on a trip last summer, my 2004 Roadster's odometer consistently reported 10% more mileage than my wife's 2004 Rockster clock. At fill-ups we needed roughly the same amount of gas, but obviously I got "better" gas mileage because according to the instruments I had traveled further. I don't know which one--if either--was accurate (but I like my bike's report better, so that's the one we used.)
The rider's physical make-up and riding gear also make a difference. A 6-foot tall, 200 pound rider won't get the mileage a shorter, lighter rider will get. Loose, floppy clothing will cost you some mileage, especially at speeds. There's a reason racers wear tight-fitting leathers.
If you ride without any kind of fairing or windshield, your mileage will go down at speed, but obviously the aerodynamic benefit of any fairing depends on its design. Since that's also a frequent topic here, you'll notice there's a HUGE span in this variable.
Luggage also makes a difference, and not always in ways you'd expect. Twenty-five years ago, Craig Vetter was reminding people that it's not enough to simply part the air smoothly in front; you also have to let it flow cleanly around you and exit smoothly out the back. Otherwise, the exiting air actually can create a vacuum. His Windjammer stuff was a complete system, with the fairing, panniers, and tail trunk all designed to work together. There's no way a naked bike with make-shift fairing and big, square luggage bags is going to return the kind of mileage that a more aerodynamically integrated package will get you (although I find that the BMW sidecases don't seem to negatively affect my mileage all that much--square or not, perhaps they're more aerodynamic than an open wheel). That big, floppy duffle bag riding high on the back, however, won't help.
Still, unless you're routinely idling at traffic stops more than you're actually riding, I think mileage in the 20's is an aberration for anybody, and if you can ride smoothly, avoiding jackrabbit starts and keeping your rpms in the 3-4K range, you should be able to expect consistent highway mileage at least in the 40's. On my bike, if I couldn't average low-40's overall, I'd be talking to the mechanic.
Last edited by BoiseBeemer on Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bruce Jones
2004 Silver Roadster
2004 Copper Rockster
1953 Platinum spouse
2004 Silver Roadster
2004 Copper Rockster
1953 Platinum spouse
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priapismic
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I'd get your bike checked out by a mechanic, that mileage seems low. When was the air filter last cleaned or changed? Spark plugs? Throttle bodies sync'ed? Fuel filter replaced? Some many variables to factor in. Do you ride in lower gears at high rpms? (Not recommended!)
If I get 40 mpg I consider that low; I routinely average 42-44 mpg, but then I live in a rural area, once I leave my community I can go miles between stop signs. I have to go about 12 miles in one direction to find a traffic light (18 to 22 miles in the other directions), so all my riding is done on rural 2-lane roads. I would expect to get a bit better mileage than someone in a city.
On trips my mileage goes up, even when running hard (80+ mph) at extended highway speeds. Not unusual to get 46-47 mpg then. While in Colorado last summer, I was getting well over 50 mpg in the mountains.
My low fuel light comes on anywhere from 140+ miles to 160+ miles into a full tank. If I refill right away, I will put 3.6 or 3.7 gallons in the tank at that point. I have it on good authority that if you run your tank dry, you will put about 4.8 gallons in the tank, so use that as a guide.
If I get 40 mpg I consider that low; I routinely average 42-44 mpg, but then I live in a rural area, once I leave my community I can go miles between stop signs. I have to go about 12 miles in one direction to find a traffic light (18 to 22 miles in the other directions), so all my riding is done on rural 2-lane roads. I would expect to get a bit better mileage than someone in a city.
On trips my mileage goes up, even when running hard (80+ mph) at extended highway speeds. Not unusual to get 46-47 mpg then. While in Colorado last summer, I was getting well over 50 mpg in the mountains.
My low fuel light comes on anywhere from 140+ miles to 160+ miles into a full tank. If I refill right away, I will put 3.6 or 3.7 gallons in the tank at that point. I have it on good authority that if you run your tank dry, you will put about 4.8 gallons in the tank, so use that as a guide.
Viagra Donor and well-known reprobate and provocateur ....
2005 model year mileage
You were inquiring about the 2005 model year R1150R. That is the year that I have and it gets 47 miles per US Gallon at sea level with a windshield, bags and a load of luggage on twisty roads with gear changes and moderate thrashing.
That's not NYC riding, but maybe you need a bit of a tuneup!
That's not NYC riding, but maybe you need a bit of a tuneup!
