gas mileage on my new 2014 FJR ES?

[ShawnKing2]

I was "worried" (not really - mostly curious) about the gas mileage on my new 2014 FJR ES. I was only getting 13.5 km/l (31.75 mpg). On my two previous FJRs, I was getting, on average, about 18 km/l (42 mpg).

So, I reset the mileage and rode for two full tanks of gas, trying to get better mileage. Coasting more, up shifting sooner, no jumpstarts…basically, babying the throttle.

Got the average up to 15.2 km/l (35.75 mpg).

And it was boring as heck!

I know the FJR isn't a gas sipper and I'm OK with that but with the exact same riding style as my two previous bikes, I'm surprised at how much less fuel mileage I'm getting. Could it be a weather thing (been riding for two months in slightly above 0 C, 32 F temps)? Anyone have any other ideas or tips?

Some on FB claim that, because the speedometer (not the odometer) is so far out of whack on the Canadian FJRs, it may cause the discrepancy. Others say it might be E85 but I don't think we use that here in Canada/BC/Vancouver.

Bike is broken in with 3700+ km in first two months of ownership.

Does the speedometer issue make sense to you guys? I'm going to try a few more tanks but calculate km/l, mpg by hand to see if that makes any difference.

 

[RossKean]

Do the calculation by hand. Cooler temperatures and winter-mix gasoline play havoc with mileage. Short(er) rides also will kick mileage in the ass. All that said, 13.5 km/L is pretty low unless you are riding at 140 km/hr with a headwind. I think I would wait until fairer weather before I worried about it. E85 is 85% ethanol and your FJR will not run on it. Almost everywhere, you will get 10% ethanol which does yield poorer mileage - but that hasn't changed in recent times.

 

[Old Guy]

By dividing the current odometer by the total gallons used to date in 26000 miles, I've averaged 46 mpg since I bought my '13. I'm not usually a very aggressive rider, though I do have my moments. They've been all over the board though. I've seen over 50 touring and low 30s when running with my sport riding buddies ---- low 30s was more fun

If you've just gotten the bike, I'd agree with Ross that the winter formulation could be an issue. Winter riding hasn't hurt mine, but I've never ridden it in the northern climates during the winter.

 

[Allen_C]

That is really low. I have been able to get 42-48 mpg from virtually every tankful. The lowest was 40 and the highest was 52. I do not ride slowly and actually saw 46-48 at all the group rides I've done in WI, SE OH, and NC, which were all curvy roads with no interstate.

 

[fjRaven]

For sake of entertainment I've been using fuelly.com to track my mileage. A little under 45mpg (38 to 50mpg) after 30 fillups and about 4000 miles. They have an app you can plug in your fillup at the gas station and it syncs up to the site. I've tried to add my fuelly badge it to my signature here but forum isn't cooperating for some technical reason.

 

[1maxman]

With my '13 I have averaged 49 mpg for 6000 miles, I reset it when I parked it for the winter.

 

[RossKean]

With my '13 I have averaged 49 mpg for 6000 miles, I reset it when I parked it for the winter.

I'm pretty sure the average mpg indicator is not providing an average from the last time it was reset; certainly not a season's worth of riding. My experience (Gen II) would lead me to believe its more like a tank, two at the most. Average gets updated with most recent data and older points are eliminated.

 

[G Squared]

There has been a drop in stated mileage on the gen. III models. At least the 2014 model. Yamaha's stated combined mileage on my 2010 was 39 and is 36 on my 2014. I do see the drop myself where I used to average low to mid 40's quite easily verses now I average low 40's . Seems like I get the same now one up as I used to get 2 up.

 

[Allen_C]

There has been a drop in stated mileage on the gen. III models. At least the 2014 model. Yamaha's stated combined mileage on my 2010 was 39 and is 36 on my 2014. I do see the drop myself where I used to average low to mid 40's quite easily verses now I average low 40's . Seems like I get the same now one up as I used to get 2 up.

This has NOT been my experience. Half of my riding is 2up and I've still averaged 42-48, as I stated above.

 

[Mudslide Miller]

Mine has been a steady 43-45 avg and I don't baby mine either.

 

[Top_Speed1]

In riding with all 3 bike/gens to date, on several gas stops with equal riding, the G3 is definitely the better of the 3 mileage wise. 'Taint no doubt.

Sorry you die-hard Gen1 guys, your antique needs to get youthanized

...if you wanna keep up with these young whipper-snappers.

 

[flyfisher]

My mileage went all to hell when the cold weather blend was put into play around here....was getting around 45 and it went to 38. Same roads and riding conditions.

 

[Old Guy]

My mileage went all to hell when the cold weather blend was put into play around here....was getting around 45 and it went to 38. Same roads and riding conditions.

Maybe it'll get better. I'll sometimes get lousy mileage with a sudden cold-weather snap. I was told by a local fuel distributor years ago that the formulation change may not exactly coincide with the change in weather resulting in poor performance for one tank or so.