rpm range for best mileage

[JT Pedersen]

Howdy,

Glad to see a 'cuurrent' topic on mileage. Saves me from being the lamb on the altar.

I specifically did a search for mileage because I've been unimpressed with mine. I bought a new '10 late in the season. She (it?, haven't decided) has about 3,500 on her now.

From about the second tank on, I've been consistently getting 39 mpg. That's a far cry from the mid-40s and 50 I saw so many references to when doing Pre-buy research.

I will say up front, I didn't buy the bike for its mileage. For 15 years my ST1100 got 42.5 like a rock. I'd hoped for something close with the FJR.

Residing in Michigan, we don't have quite the level of exotic gas mixtures as do California, Colorado, and certain other areas.

Any thoughts as to why my 'best' is 20% below peak? I'd expect the engine to close enough to broken-in to remove that consideration.

Thoughts?

JT

 

[roger dodger]

Any thoughts as to why my 'best' is 20% below peak? I'd expect the engine to close enough to broken-in to remove that consideration.

JT, Many new bikes need a little mileage to 'break-in' and loosen up some of the tolerances. Also, I would check the tire pressure (40/42)and spin the wheels to be sure you're not draggin a brake.

Assuming the same quality gas, and oil, I guess the main difference is your right wrist. The FJR just runs when you tell it to....the ST11 sort of tries to get up and move around (more slowly).

IIRC my FJR gets a consistent 44 mpg in 'average' riding conditions (50-90 mph)

 

[FJRay]

I can't believe this mess started on a friday and is still alive and not in NEPRT.

May it's admin's day off :blink:

 

[wheatonFJR]

I love this thread. :lol:

 

[HotRodZilla]

Any thoughts as to why my 'best' is 20% below peak?

Thoughts?

JT

Yes. Lot of those making those claims are baltently full of crap. Kind of like ny grandpa claiming he gets 30mpg from his 2008 Lincoln TownCar.

My FJR has seen 55mpg, but that was following a slow group of friends around, right after resetting the MPG screen. Most longer trips, with my throttle hand, its around 40-42. If I'm commuting around town, its a solid 34mpg. In high winds on the way to TN, it was getting 29. It depends on how your riding and lots of other factors. I'm betting your bike is totally normal. Don't let the bullshitters bullshit you!

 

[FJRMGM]

What cruising rpm yields the best mileage? I know on a sv650 its 6k. So you get better mpg in fifth at 6k then 5k bin 6th.

I didn't on my '04 SV-650s - always got in the mid to upper 50's on it...

 

[madmike2]

Any thoughts as to why my 'best' is 20% below peak?

Thoughts?

JT

Yes. Lot of those making those claims are baltently full of crap. Kind of like ny grandpa claiming he gets 30mpg from his 2008 Lincoln TownCar.

My FJR has seen 55mpg, but that was following a slow group of friends around, right after resetting the MPG screen. Most longer trips, with my throttle hand, its around 40-42. If I'm commuting around town, its a solid 34mpg. In high winds on the way to TN, it was getting 29. It depends on how your riding and lots of other factors. I'm betting your bike is totally normal. Don't let the bullshitters bullshit you!

+1.....Yup! Gunny!

If your mileage is in the upper 30s-low 40s....just ride it.

There's nothing wrong.

If you're getting consistent mid 20s....it might be time to check your riding style.

 

[Bungie]

If your that worried about MPG, sell Keep it and buy a scooter.

FIFY

 

[Bungie]

Okay, real world time. A mix of everything:

Fuelly for my FJR

Fuelly for my CBR250R

Fuelly for Mazda6GT (V6)

Now all that being said, I bought a mpGuino for the CBR, I'll get it mounted up in the spring.

 

[RadioHowie]

Well I tend to keep the RPMs down, shifting near the points recommended in the manual. A lot of people claim that's stupid but then I seem to get better fuel economy (46-48 measured) than what you typically see posted around here. I also stick close to the posted limits and rarely get above 60 mph.

Ken

I sure hope you're kidding. Why have a great bike and treat it like a Vespa. It's like having a race horse in a petting zoo. Mine has to haul my large butt around at well over the limit and getting 50mpg is common. Live a little and let your ride have some fun.

+1, Gunny; ride it like you stole it, or as if you were trying to chase Fairlaner! I am just so glad that I am not a big fat ass like FJRay!

Whahappened? All the mirrors in your house fall off the walls? :****: :lol:

 

[MartyA]

With Sally and me and a week of packed crap we are near max GVW. I get 38-40 MPG. Once a solo trip from PA to Suches and back with only a weekend of clothing I actually paid attention to my MPG, got 42, a lot of that was slab. I don't take my time much, anyone rides with me can verify.

I actually don't monitor my MPG very often, when I get to around 200 miles it is time for a stretch and I fill the tank, usually putting in 4.9 to 5.2 gallons. Good enough for me.

Ride more worry less...

 

[wfooshee]

Ride to worry.

Worry to ride.

 

[harpo]

I try to maintain a steady speed as much as possible on the road,to me that helps keep the MPG at 70 to 75 around forty five.

 

[RadioHowie]

I try to maintain a steady speed as much as possible on the road,to me that helps keep the MPG at 70 to 75 around forty five.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Funniest post so far in 2012!!!!

 

[HotRodZilla]

I try to maintain a steady speed as much as possible on the road,to me that helps keep the MPG at 70 to 75 around forty five.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Funniest post so far in 2012!!!!

No dork...He's saying that at a steady 70-75, he gets around 45mpg. I could see that. I get a little less running between 80/85.

 

[RadioHowie]

Bite me!

 

[bramfrank]

Technically, the best fuel economy for any loading condition is at the RPM that coincides with the torque-peak - that implies that for any speed, the 'best' RPM (if you're only concerned about fuel efficiency) is at about 6800.

However puttering around at 30 mph revving the heck out of the engine doesn't seem to me to be a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and is likely to garner a bunch of concerned stares from people passing you. Not to mention it can't possibly be good for the internals of the engine.

When cruising along I tend to have it in 5th (if I'm going any faster than about 40) - I like to cruise at between 2500 and 4000 rpm.

 

[ahchiu]

Toggle to your instant MPG info and go ride and see what it says, you should be able to figure what range you get the best MPG.

 

[Bounce]

From about the second tank on, I've been consistently getting 39 mpg. That's a far cry from the mid-40s and 50 I saw so many references to when doing Pre-buy research.

you didn't have enough data points. of all those reports how many ride exactly like you in exactly the same location, with the same conditions, and same fuel amalgam?

oxygenated fuel gets lower mpg than non. altitude and temp also impact mpg. UK (imperial) gallons are larger than US gallons so they report higher mpg than US riders but actual consumption might be closer than it first appears (again, given the same rider, in the same conditions, with the same fuel).

lots of variables. i often get 32mpg. i sometimes get 52 mpg. the difference is getting out of town, running tank-to-tank to get things working well, then running at a higher altitude without oxygenated gas, at a set speed of under 90 on a flat expanse. Cruising at 75 mph in NM typically nets me more mpg than cruising up I35 to OKC at 70. Even though i'm "cruising the slab to OKC, there's more traffic so my speed varies more and the gas is for shit in metro areas.

I learned some years back that it's like trying to compare tread life. you can't tell squat from a rider reporting that x tire gets y miles unless they also provide details on how, where, and conditions of when they got that mileage. the most you can hope for is that they got x with y tire and z with k tire so you can compare tire k if you also had it. there are simply too many variables for a straight up comparison without asking a lot of questions (which i find eventually frustrates those who report basic numbers and don't want to be bothered with all the minutia).

 

[wheatonFJR]

I try to maintain a steady speed as much as possible on the road,to me that helps keep the MPG at 70 to 75 around forty five.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Funniest post so far in 2012!!!!

No dork...He's saying that at a steady 70-75, he gets around 45mpg. I could see that. I get a little less running between 80/85.

I love it when Z puts the smackdown on Radio.