Expected Gas Mileage for 2005 R1150R

Post by **boxermania** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:22 pm

I would expect 75 mpg from a fine piece of German engineering at a premium initial investment, however in reality I get between 40 to 42 mpg at the type riding I do. With two up.......

BoiseBeemer · Post by **BoiseBeemer** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:32 pm

priapismic wrote: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.

Hmm. All of the documentation for the bike, including the web description, claims a 5.4 U.S. gallon capacity, and I've frequently added more than five gallons after a long Interstate run. I'm not arguing with you, but I am curious about why your information source reports such a low capacity. Is there some unofficial "official" information we don't know about that contradicts BMW's published specifications?

priapismic · Post by **priapismic** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:00 pm

BoiseBeemer wrote:
priapismic wrote: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.
Hmm. All of the documentation for the bike, including the web description, claims a 5.4 U.S. gallon capacity, and I've frequently added more than five gallons after a long Interstate run. I'm not arguing with you, but I am curious about why your information source reports such a low capacity. Is there some unofficial "official" information we don't know about that contradicts BMW's published specifications?

That 5.4 gallon quote might be workable if you removed the tank's filler mechanism, which some have done. My "good authority" is a friend and fellow R owner who ran his tank dry; when he coasted to a gas station and filled his tank, it took *only* 4.8 gallons to fill. No way could he get even another drop in there.

That would be consistent with BMW's claim that once the low fuel light goes on, about 1.1 gallons remain in the tank. If I fill my tank as soon as the light comes on, I get 3.6 or 3.7 gallons in there. Add 1.1 "reserve" capacity, and you get the 4.8 gallons. I use this as my guide. YMMV.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:32 pm

pointless debate gonna start i can feel it.

i have put over 5 gallons in mine at a filling, and it was not empty when arrived at the gas station. Nearly 20 bucks for hi-octane when gas was at it's highest price.

back to the question of mileage? To me, I never really cared, this thing is for fun! Practicality never been an issue. It's gets better mileage than a car, but more important, is that it is a whole lot more fun.

Tripton · Post by **Tripton** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:19 pm

Mine was running the one time when i put 5.25 gallons in it, though if you accelerated or cornered or braked too fast, it would sputter out and die. Luckily I was REAL close to a gas station.

NCPadgett · Post by **NCPadgett** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:39 pm

2004R, 23000+ miles, System bags, daily commuting on half highway/half city roads, shifting between 3-4000 rpms. My light comes on like clockwork at 178 miles and I can put 4. a little, everytime, putting my mileage around 42-45. as for how much my tank will hold, I hope I never find out

Post by **NoRRmad** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:47 pm

In Canada once, according to the gas receipt, I put 19.54 liters in my tank (after 223 miles.) The fuel-low light had been on for about 20 miles, but I wasn't sputtering or anything. According to an on-line converter: 19.54 liter = 5.161 921 881 gallons [US, liquid] (Works out to 43.2 MPG.)