New mileage record on a single tank of gas

[Rev Ed]

I usually have to fill up around 200 miles but I do quite a bit of what would be considered city driving. (Even though I live 7 miles out of town among orchards, the drive usually consists of 1 to 3 mile stretches, slow, 90 degree bends, and repeat. Not great for miledge but fun!

 

[C&C]

Do California models get worse mileage?

I believe the only difference is that the Cali bikes have carbon cannisters to catch any gasoline fumes, so your mileage should be the same as any.

 

[Rogue]

Do California models get worse mileage?

I believe the only difference is that the Cali bikes have carbon cannisters to catch any gasoline fumes, so your mileage should be the same as any.

BUT, the crap they sell as fuel here gives you less MPG.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Do California models get worse mileage?

I believe the only difference is that the Cali bikes have carbon cannisters to catch any gasoline fumes, so your mileage should be the same as any.

BUT, the crap they sell as fuel here gives you less MPG.

Almost every rider I have ridden with or talked to from Ca. will all agree that they get better mileage when gassing up out of Ca. I get an increase of 3-5 mpg.

 

[20valves]

Reduced mileage could be a function of ethanol content. Any time you fill up with a high ethanol content product your mileage will go down.

 

[Wingman]

Looks like Jeff is currently "cruisin Ashe" Enjoy!!

That must be why there hasn't been a mileage update on the ME 880 he put on a while back. I figured it would have been toast by now. He must be trying to make it look good for his next tire post.

David

 

[Rogue]

Reduced mileage could be a function of ethanol content. Any time you fill up with a high ethanol content product your mileage will go down.

Its not ethanol, Kali uses a Kali only formula, We get 10% less mileage and pay $0.50 to $1.00 more a gallon! :angry2:

 

[Auburn]

Currently 260 miles on the tank, 2 miles into reserve averaging 75 mph two up.

 

[Big Sky]

I probably average 44-45 mpg in two-up mountain touring, less, of course, if we are running high revs in good twisties or high mph out on the straights. I have pushed mine to 280 miles on a tank, but last night is my closest pushing it to the edge. I was 51.8 miles into the blinking and put 6.527 gallons in. If this tank indeed holds 6.6 gallons, that means I had just a hair over one cup of fuel, or a little over a half pint. That's just plain stupid. I'm surprised the fuel pickup was able to, well, pick up any fuel.

 

[Judd]

On recent 6.7K mile trip, my FJR's mileage varied between a worst of about 36mpg using crappy gas with ethanol in it and a headwind to a high of 51mpg while on a secondary road travelling fairly slowly. I averaged 42.7mpg over 211.7 gallons and 34 fuel stops. Not to shabby for such a heavily laden vehicle that for alot of that trip was travelling well in excess of 90mph {up to around 125 on the secondary road next to the Salt Flats!}. I remember several tanks requiring in excess of 6 gallons to fill {one was over 6.55gals} but I almost always top it completely off even though it takes forever to do so. Wish I could figure what the heck is in tank that makes topping off such a painfully slow affair. I know why it's there, just don't care, makes getting accurate mileage figures a pain in the arse.

Before the trip, I ran the tank empty {with a 2 gallon gas can on board} just to see what my total range and the reserve's range would be. If I remember right, I got almost 280 miles out of it riding it hard in order to get a worst case scenario out of it. Reserve was worth something like 60 miles {once again, if I'm remembering right}. I forgot exactly how much fuel I put back in it. In any event, running it outa fuel didn't harm it any way and I ran it completely dry. Also, during the trip I passed up one too many fuel opportunities while going through N.Dakota/S. Dakota on I29. I almost ran out again, it was surging as I pulled into the station {wasn't even a real station, just had three pumps with credit card slots and a vending machine}, when I put it on the side stand it shut off. No real worries though, I had that same two gallon can as a back-up! Speaking of gas stations without attendants, one state {I think I was Oregon} didn't allow self serve stations. Each one had an attendant that filled your tank. I asked if I could fill my own since I had a special technique and he said as long as he supervised he thought it would be OK!!!! :yahoo: Strange ain't it? Some states don't trust you to pump your own gas and some states allow stations without even a cashier there.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Filled in Raton; didn't stop (or, slow down) till Socorro -- 305.8 mi. by Google maps. I-25 all the way; riding fast enough to be moderately aggressive in freeway traffic -- yet, not so much as to attract too much attention; low-fuel light blinking last 35 mi, or so; took 6+ gal. (IIRC, there might've been .2~.3 gal. remaining?).

 

[818Guy]

hmmmm I guess my mileage isn't too bad. I have the PCIII installed with the Wally Smoothness map for Gen II.

I get to about 200 miles and then the low fuel flashing starts. Usually add about 5.5 gallons at that point.

Before the PCIII I would get to about 225-230 miles before the low fuel indication.

Currently I have about 11,000 miles on my 2006 AE.

 

[slowdave]

Guys got a question y does the odo read foward when the fuel light starts flashing ,My brothers st1300 reads from high to low it lets u know how far u can go ..just wordering..oh i get bot 300 miles on a tank also love it

The count UP is MUCH better than the countdown because you can do math on it. The countdowns are always WAY conservative (my Mazda 6 has 40 miles left or about 1.3 gal left when it say "0 miles remaining"). Yes, I am a mileage dork. Don't worry, I also roadrace so I'm well rounded, but knowing my real mileage and range is important to me, ESPECIALLY for endurance racing! Not saying it needs to be to you.

 

[slowdave]

In my 14 years of FJR ownership (1x gen 1, 2x gen 2's), I have had 6 >300 mile tanks. Best was 319 miles. That one had 53.3 mpg and *only* a 5.99 gal fillup. (Max fill-up was 6.50 gal.) Also note that that 319 mile tank was through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NPs. Typically, my best mileage tanks are through very scenic areas like NPs where the roads/traffic are not conducive to sustained high speeds, which is pretty intuitive. What surprises me is that there seems to be a clear trend of better fuel economy at high elevations. I believe I understand the mechanism for that but wondering if other mileage nerds have observed the same.

And to the "you're gonna burn up your fuel pump if you run the tank low" argument, I've never replaced a fuel pump or had a fuel pump nor injector problem. I think this issue is WAY overstated. Last bike alone I had 10 fill ups that were >6.3 gal. Ran that 2008 to 56k miles before it got hit by a car and no issues with fuel system whatsoever.

 

[RossKean]

Without a doubt, I get better mileage at higher elevation; especially when you get over 5,000' or more.

Regarding the fuel pump thing - I have never heard of this happening to anyone I know although it tends to be spouted as fact.
Internet wisdumb, in my opinion..

 

[blufjr]

After some 220K on the 05s, I have hit 300 plus quite a few times, and I always stop at the next gas station. Most noted is 330, with fill up of 6.2 gals, but I have to admit it wasn't in fast mode and it was at high altitude, 3500 plus, and most likely going west from Colo. to Nevada, as that is all down hill. When I say it wasn't in fast mode, that would be like 72mph. It seams like the FJR gets really good mileage at that speed.

 

[SkooterG]

Holy Zombie Thread resurrection, Batman! 14 years between posts. That's impressive!

 

[Brodie]

Wait a minute…
Haulin Ashe?
Skyway?

It sucked me in; must have been 7 or 8 responses before I read the date – 2007.


It was fun seeing the posts and avatars of members long gone.

 

[mcatrophy]

Although I've never run a tank to 300+ miles, my anal logging of fuel consumption has shown a potential range of about 310 miles with my Gen 2 and Gen 3 bikes, this mostly at (a GPS) 70mph on motorways. My Gen 4 shows potentially 330 miles with the same conditions. This suggests the 6-speed gearbox is worth 6% or 7% on range when cruising.

Of course, most of my riding gives me significantly less range.

 

[slowdave]

Yeah. I think that at higher elevations, the engine makes less power at a given throttle setting, or stated another way, equivalent power requires a more open throttle. The more closed the throttle, the more work (PMEP) the engine has to do drawing air across the throttle "orifice". At high elevation, it is similar to downsizing the engine. You operate at a more open throttle for the same power, resulting in better efficiency.

Sorry, didn't realize it was an archaic thread; it popped up in some sort of list of threads and I replied. But an oldie can be a goodie, right??

 

[BIODSL]

Let me add to the ancient-ness of this thread. Look for me right back here in another 14 years.