How much fuel does your bike use?

[steve_wicks]

"How much fuel does your bike use?"

Well, my initial response when I saw this was, 'all of it!' but it got me thinking so I checked.

My riding is a mix of highway and urban roads, often congested with traffic, but there was a trip to race meeting that was 130km on a clear highway where I stuck to the speed limit of 120km/h.

I filled up again today and it took 14.3 litres to the bottom of the filler neck and distance covered was 266 kilometres which gives around 18km per litre.

Oh yes, fuel is R7.24 per litre (1 US$ = R8.80)

 

[ambrose78]

Sounds like you guys have similar fuel prices to us. At the moment it is about A1.20 per litre. And $1US buys A$1.42

Fuel use continues to improve. Filled up after 220kms on a ride through the blue mountains @12l. Down to 5.5l/100. Very happy with that as it now will get close to 400km's on a tank.

 Hopefully if this trend continues next fill will be 5.1l/100.

[steve_wicks]

Hi Aussie Pete

I covered the Bathurst 1000 in 1999. Hired a camper and got a site at the bottom of the mountain. I had a ball and have still got a 375ml can of VB on my desk!!

1 AU$ = 6.1 ZAR

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I covered the Bathurst 1000 in 1999. Hired a camper and got a site at the bottom of the mountain. I had a ball and have still got a 375ml can of VB on my desk!!

Steve, by "VB" are you referring to that wonderous nectar Victoria Bitter?  That brew is fantastic but it just can't be found in the States.  It seems that our palates tend toward "training beer".

[Crossrodes]

I usually get around 60 mpg (Imperial gallon).  Of course that's when I don't have the bike torn apart for some reason.

[ambrose78]

Ahh VB!! Victoria bitter. Sometimes known as vitamin beer. All I know is for a hard earned thirst...

With a carton of VB costing around A$45 these days, it costs more to run me that than the bike will ever use in fuel!!

Did you end up driving the course in the camper?

[steve_wicks]

Didn't drive it .... I walked it!!

Couldn't believe they also raced m/cycles there. Discovered that by reading some of the memorial plaques.

I think we hijacked this thread so I'll suggest something about an Ausie R65 economy run from Parramatta, Eastern Creek and up the Blue Mountains to Bathurst.

[trolle]

The last 200 km was done with speeds up to 149 kph and on all kind of roads: 17.6 km per litre~5.68l/100km~387 km on a full tank~243 miles on a full tank.

Exchanging the choker control cable has done wonders for my economy, bettering my mileage with 10-15%. The engine runs like a dream now, idling away at 800 rpm and accelerating in fifth from 90 km/h to 130 km/h like never before. Wonderful!

Lesson learned: Always check your control cables before taking the whole engine apart.

greetings from a not very foggy or damp north (we have had easterly winds now for a month and temps above average)

[ambrose78]

Exchanging the choker control cable has done wonders for my economy, bettering my mileage with 10-15%. The engine runs like a dream now, idling away at 800 rpm and accelerating in fifth from 90 km/h to 130 km/h like never before. Wonderful!

Choker cables eh? I've never used my coke so haven't condidered that they could be affecting it.. definately worth looking at.

I think we hijacked this thread so I'll suggest something about an Ausie R65 economy run from Parramatta, Eastern Creek and up the Blue Mountains to Bathurst.

I'm up for a run. I had a great ride up through the blue mountains just a coupld of weeks ago. The weather in autum is awesome - not too hot, not cold and clear air.

Anyone else keen?

[steve_wicks]

I got 13.6l for a 279km trip = 20,5km per litre or 4.97 litre per 100km in my 600km of riding last week.

[TheAlchemist]

There must be something wrong with my carbs. My bike does not get more than 225km before reserve. This is about 8.5//100km. It is way too much

[Darwin_R65]

Alchemist, I get the same as you, about 220 before going to reserve.

I run premium unleaded which is about 95/96 Octane  and then stick in a squirt of upper cylinder lubricant.

Is it the bike age, I notice some bikes were rated different Kw. Around 81 I think it changed from 33Kw to 37KW, could this be the difference in mpg ??

[Barry]

Given correct jet sizes and needle position the usual culprits for excessive consumption are:-

        Enricher not fully off

        Worn needles and needle jets

        float levels too high

Correct idle settings are important too. Our bikes use only 1/8 - 1/4 throttle most of the time even at modest freeway speeds so the mixture screw settings are still having some effect.  If you think that doesn't sound right try using masking tape to mark out 1/4  1/2  3/4  and full throttle positions so you can see how much throttle you are using as you ride.  The results may surprise you.  I once improved my new 750 Bonneville from 45 MPG  to 55 MPG just by adjusting the idle air screw which had been set very rich at the factory for running in.

[Bob_Roller]

I'd have a good look at your carbs, if they haven't been gone through, it may be time to replace the needle jet, and all of the seals and gaskets and possibly the rubber diaphragms, check/adjust the float level, and condition of the floats, and the float needle rubber tip, and perform a thorough cleaning of the drilled passageways .

Check your 'choke' cables for proper adjustment, so the 'choke' isn't operating when you don't want it to .

Another remote possibility, how accurate is your odometer ?

When you refuel, do you fill it to the same level each time, like the bottom of the filler neck, with the bike on the center stand .

[Semper Gumby]

My over flow tube (1/4" fuel line) runs straight down infornt of the LH cylinder next to the crank case and onto the ground.  Simple.