127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1150R.

Moderator: Moderators

adg44
Basic User
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:00 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Reston, VA

Post by adg44 »

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
REDSTAN
Basic User
Posts: 144
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:56 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: GARFORTH WEST,YORKSHIRE *ISLE OF ENGLAND*

Re: 127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG

Post by REDSTAN »

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
8) SEE MY POST YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR RIGHT HAND :smt039
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
boxermania
Quadruple Lifer
Posts: 3644
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:37 pm
Donating Member #: 312
Location: Baton Rouge, LA.....aproaching retirement

Post by boxermania »

Challey wrote:
In my experience, the system cases don't noticably effect fuel mileage. In fact, I've gotten my best mileage with them on.
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:

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...... :lol: :lol:
Member #312
06 Suzuki Burgman 650 "state of flux"
79 CBX
itimna bundok
Basic User
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:07 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Black Hills, SD

Post by itimna bundok »

As for me... Always 2up and in the Black Hills (twisties) 45 mpg is the norm and never run the expensive fuel.
What you fear the most will hunt you down.
wjjones
Basic User
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:41 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Minneapolis area

All this surprises me.

Post by wjjones »

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!
'01 R1200C
'04 R1150R
'05 F650GS

ATGATT: All The Gear (I feel like wearing) At The Time
adg44
Basic User
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:00 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Reston, VA

Post by adg44 »

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! :D

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. :)
Tripton
Basic User
Posts: 161
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:04 pm

Post by Tripton »

Last Saturday I put in over 4 gallons and had 105 miles on the tank.

It was a fun tank though. :wink:
User avatar
yjleesvrr
Member
Posts: 1803
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:23 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Blacksburg and Haymarket, VA/Basking Ridge, NJ

Post by yjleesvrr »

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.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
Sparky
Basic User
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 2:14 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Northern Virginia

Post by Sparky »

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.
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.
2004 R1150R Black
challey
Lifer
Posts: 834
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:05 pm
Donating Member #: 365
Location: Folsom, PA

Post by challey »

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
'03 R1150R
Life member 365
Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
REDSTAN
Basic User
Posts: 144
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:56 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: GARFORTH WEST,YORKSHIRE *ISLE OF ENGLAND*

Post by REDSTAN »

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
:?: read my post ( UK SMILES PER POUND) \:D/
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
User avatar
yjleesvrr
Member
Posts: 1803
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:23 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Blacksburg and Haymarket, VA/Basking Ridge, NJ

Post by yjleesvrr »

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.
Some Roadsters have a shorter top gear. What does your tach read at 80 mph indicated?
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
User avatar
Biff's R
Double Lifer
Posts: 2384
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 4:55 pm
Donating Member #: 289
Location: Newark, OH

Post by Biff's R »

I have had both top gears on my roadsters, and the highway milage difference is pretty small(0-2 mpg), and almost unnoticeable.
Jeff (lifer #289)
'17 F800GSA
'04 R1150R
There ain't no education in the second kick of a mule!
ProductUser
Lifer
Posts: 346
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:16 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Mesa, Arizona

Post by ProductUser »

I just filled my tank this morning; I ended up averaging 43 mpg. This tank saw a lot of mixed sustained speeds ranging from 60 to 110 mph. There was very little city riding involved. I typically average closer to 50 mph when I'm not zooming around Arizona :D

ProductUser
adg44
Basic User
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:00 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Reston, VA

Post by adg44 »

I'm at 140 miles and the low fuel light came on. I am guessing 38.2 MPG on this tank... let's see tomorrow if I'm right. ;)
User avatar
dcameron
Lifer
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:09 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Sonoma County

Post by dcameron »

my fuel light comes on @ 150. lots of 2 lane highway, with some good twisties, hardly any slab riding. i'm smiling the whole time 8)
Evil beware, we have waffles.
'03 r1150 - the beast
'11 r1200 - Hooligan
#564
adg44
Basic User
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:00 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Reston, VA

Post by adg44 »

OK, so it did 160 miles on 4.1 gallons of gas. That is just a hair over 39 MPG. So close to 40 MPG!

I refilled with 89 octane, so we'll see if there is any difference.

- Anthony
adg44
Basic User
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:00 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Reston, VA

Post by adg44 »

Now my bike is just being mean...

170.2 miles on 4.27 gallons = 39.86 MPG! :evil:

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
toner87
Member
Posts: 830
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:39 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: San Francisco
Contact:

Be glad you get 36 mpg...

Post by toner87 »

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.
duckdave
Double Lifer
Posts: 392
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:23 pm
Donating Member #: 580
Location: Little Rock, AR

Post by duckdave »

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.
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

'04 R1150R Silver
Little Rock 'n Roll
Double Lifer #580
Post Reply