MPG on an R65 and heated grips?

[benlawlor85]

Hi all,
Just wondering what kinda MPG do you guys get on you R65s?
I am currently on a little 125cc bike so it goes forever on nothing!
A full tank on my R80 £15-20 got me about 200miles i think!  cant really remember tho.
I am obviously wanting the R65 to replace the 125 completly then can hopefully convince the other half to have a go on the 125!
Also do any of you use heated grips? i used to have charging problems on the R80(maybe just the alternator on it) can these bikes easily power heated grips with headlights on full etc etc
Cheers
Ben

[Bob_Roller]

Ben

I think the average fuel consumption for the R65 is 220-225 miles to reserve, 44-45 mpg seems to be quite common.

But then it all depends on the conditions and the speed.

When speed limits on rural highways were 55 mph, I could get 250 miles to reserve,  on level roads.

Now with the speed limit at 75 mph, and averaging about 80 mph, it drops down to the mid 30's.

My R65 seems happy at 60 mph, it sounds very unhappy at speeds above 80 mph.

The charging system can put out 280 watts at highway speeds, if you are in town stop and go driving, it could be marginal , I'm not sure how much power the heated grips use.

If you can get  voltmeter leads attached to the battery, and then secure the multimeter so you can see it when you are riding, it will give you a good indication how you're charging system is doing.

I did this after I installed PIAA 40 driving lights on the R65, and I found out quickly, that under 45 mph non-stop riding the charging system couldn't handle the extra 110 watts the lights were using.

[Chris_in_BC]

The heated grips I have had on various bikes seem to consume 30-40 watts. I have toured (not stop and start) using both heated grips and a heated vest (both about same wattage) without overtaxing the charging system.

If you are riding in town all the time, stop and go, rarely above 4K revs, then the battery doesn't get fully charged. Buy a trickle charger  and put it on over night, especially in cold weather.


If you have to decide between an electric vest or heated grips, I would pick the vest first every time. I never go anywhere without mine in the last 30 years!

[Justin B.]

My wife gets 46 - 48 mpg (US gl) cruising the interstates between 65 and 70 BMW mph.    This is on level roads with no crappy head-wind.  On a related note, our host can get over 50 mpg on his '05 R1200ST if he rides it sedately, which was pretty much only during the break-in period!

I have the factory heated grips on my '95 R100RT, which has the same charging system as the R65, and have not had any issues during the kind of riding I do.  On the road my notoriously inaccurate BMW voltmeter normally reads about 13.2 VDC and switching on the grips to high drops the reading by about a volt.  I don't run them in town which probably would be a drain with frequent stop/start cycles coupled with overall low RPM operation.  IMHO, I think anybody that does mainly city riding should invest in a Battery Tender regardless of additional accessories.

[dewjantim]

My R65 usually gets between 60-65 mpg, combination back road and interstate. Don't have any heated grips. Although given the choice between the grips and an electric vest, the vest would win out. I have one and it is very toasty......Dew.

[benlawlor85]

Hi All,
Well i picked her up today! really nice bike. Better than looked on ebay and the tank leak is marginal! :-)
Used Loads of fuel on the way home tho probably due to me wanting to get home quick as i had things to do!
anyway she is now tucked up in teh garage attached to the Ctech charger!
As for grips vs vest, would have to be grips for me mainly because of my previous accident i have a matal right thumb, and last winter hands were cold and with the metal i think it would be un bareable! might look at bar- protectors instead tho!?
Thanks for the info guys! Will post pics soon as i fix my camera, was parked up near glastonbury tor and F**king camera not working! so not a happy bunny!
Also your all so right the 650 motor is sweet up to 65-70 over that not so sweet. perfect B-road bike!
Cheers
Ben

[Justin B.]

Grip heaters don't really do much but make your palms warm, the rest is still cold!  I would have really felt ripped off if I had paid BMW price for a grip heater kit...

[trolle]

Well, I installed heated grips last winter and they do more than heat the palms. Now I can ride for more than a half hour in temps below five degrees celcius (40 F). The first half hour my fingertips are freezing but as the handles get hot, my hands gets warm and with warm hands and warm feet, thanks to the genious German engineers, who have installed two great footwarmers on my bike, I can ride for hours at 80 mph.

At this speed a full tank lasts 210 miles.

I find that my engine runs very smoothly from 5000 and up. The BMW wobble only appears when running faster then 85 mph and then only when my rear box is mounted.

greetings from a cold and damp north

trolle

[Semper Gumby]

I have heated grips and gloves and vest (and Omega Alternator).  40-45 mpg unless above 70 mph then I dip into the 30's.  Usually about 210 to 180 miles per tank depending on speed.  Wobble above 75 due to massive overloading of the frame and suspension with R65LT options:  Luftmeister Fairing, two Givi E45 panniers and an E52 top box.  Compensate for this with Telefix fork brace and oversize front tire (110/90H18 Macadam).  Contemplating delta box monoshock frame and suspension with Olin front end  <SMACK>  oops sorry there ...just a bit of dreaming......

[benlawlor85]

Hi,
Well i have decided to order the bar protectors and they arrived today!
so put them on! with a few other bits! H4 headlight, LED rear light.
So will let u know how much warmer my fingers are!
they were frozen today after i gto to work!
Cheers
Ben

[benlawlor85]

Hi All,
Just an up-date,
First ride today with the protectors and they really help, no wind chill and on rain on gloves! :-)
The LED rear light is also nice and bright.
So i am once again a happy chappy with my boxer.
And as for my MPG i am getting about 120-150 miles to reserve with about 15litres in over reserve.
but that is with my leaking tank and leaking carb soon to be fixed tho!
cheers all
ben