Fuel consumption in Europe

[Nutty]

In the UK, I generally get around 200 miles to a tank. The most I've had was around 220, but the bike was running on fumes by the time I got to the petrol station.

On my recent trip to Europe, I noticed the same fuel consumption if we had a few hours on the motorway, however, when "spiritedly" riding a mixture of roads in Italy, and Switzerland, I had 291 miles on one tankful, and 297 on another. When filling up, there was still over a litre in the tank, even though the computer flatlined.

Back in the UK, I've filled the bike up a few times, and tried to get similar mileages per tank, but can't get anywhere near.

Has anyone else experienced similar fuel consumption in Europe? I know that their roads are better there, but if anyone on here can explain the dramatic figures, I'd be interested to know how this is possible. And no, I wasn't coasting down the hills!

 

[Mr K]

I find in Europe places are further apart and there are fewer junctions making you slow down and speed up....?

 

[Micky]

Noticed it many many times over the years Nutty

I always think 'their' petrol smells a little different to ours, maybe a different colour too ... but the main reason I think is that you nearly always have free uninterrupted roads across there You can razz virtually all day, for hundreds of miles, without being baulked, while over here in Blighty you've always got feckin' lorries and caravans and busses to deal with ... grrrrrrrrrr

 

[JayGee]

Also if you are wizzing round the Alps the altitude tends to improve the mpg a bit. I'm sure there's a technical explanation but I'll leave that to those cleverer than me! However 290 to a tankful is the stuff of dreams, 190 is nearer what I get either in the UK or Europe, and I dont notice any difference.

 

[IJGser]

I would think Traffic conditions and temperature are the main factors.

 

[mcinlb]

Temperatures ............ higher temps. lower fuel consumption. Also noticed this when abroad.

 

[Micky]

Temperatures ............ higher temps. lower fuel consumption. Also noticed this when abroad.

I don't thinks so

I've ridden lots of miles abroad, in the winter ... Elephantentreffen, Black Forest, the Eifel's. Fuel consumption still better than over here ...

Quite simply I think it's the distinct lack of holds up, traffic, slower moving vehicles in front, clear and better designed roads and the ability to ride smoother because of these factors

 

[Nutty]

Quite simply I think it's the distinct lack of holds up, traffic, slower moving vehicles in front, clear and better designed roads and the ability to ride smoother because of these factors

I'm thinking along the same lines, along with better quality petrol.

 

[GSMartin]

On our trip I tried E10 petrol for three fill ups, and still got good mpg. I think the engine needs much less enrichment in the mornings as it is not so cold and warms up more quickly. During the day the bikes did not cool down as much as they would in the UK.

 

[Blackal]

High ambient temperatures and rarified atmosphere both contribute to lower performance of the engine - fuel consumption also reduces as a consequence.

Hadn't thought about style of riding due to differing roads, but makes sense.

Al

 

[paintman]

In the UK, I generally get around 200 miles to a tank. The most I've had was around 220, but the bike was running on fumes by the time I got to the petrol station.

On my recent trip to Europe, I noticed the same fuel consumption if we had a few hours on the motorway, however, when "spiritedly" riding a mixture of roads in Italy, and Switzerland, I had 291 miles on one tankful, and 297 on another. When filling up, there was still over a litre in the tank, even though the computer flatlined.

Back in the UK, I've filled the bike up a few times, and tried to get similar mileages per tank, but can't get anywhere near.

Has anyone else experienced similar fuel consumption in Europe? I know that their roads are better there, but if anyone on here can explain the dramatic figures, I'd be interested to know how this is possible. And no, I wasn't coasting down the hills!

I experienced exactly the same last weekend on a day of brisk French rural riding with lots of rapid acceleration out of corners trying to keep up with more of those flying LC's my fuel warning didn't come on until around 200 miles and even then was offering a further 45 miles. I was amazed, a couple of days later lots of motorway work in the rain and 200 miles was out of reach.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I found the opposite. On my ZZR600 fully loaded, in the UK I would get 120 miles to reserve. In France, I would only get 95 miles.


Probably because I could sit at 95mph constantly for an hour on the Peages. Can't do that in the UK

 

[Beemerman59]

You forgot to change the new Channel recognition software from auto to manual in software setting 2b on the Nav 5, so the bike automatically re-tuned into Kilometers as it entered Europe - did you miss that one in the manual? Bet you thought your riding had got faster too....

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Super unleaded is a higher octane in places, some are 100 plus. Seen 250 today in germany from a full tank with half an hour ragging it on the autobahn, the rest of the time sticking to limits. Theres much less congestion and hold ups than in the uk....and some very long, straight, flat roads.

The best i ever got from my 1200adv was 330, so 290 miles from an lc is impressive.

 

[Montydoesdallas]

In Czech Republic i filled up on 105 RON...more power and more mpg !

 

[shortywilliam]

I have just returned from a European trip of 4000 miles and my average was 45MPG according to the on board computer. All I was getting was about 250Miles before the reserve light was coming on and if traveling at speed about 210 miles and that on my new WC sack of shit GSA

 

[JPR]

Always been the same.
30 yrs ago,tazzing round Europe on my R100RS I always managed 30 miles more per tank full than in UK

 

[Nutty]

I have just returned from a European trip of 4000 miles and my average was 45MPG according to the on board computer. All I was getting was about 250Miles before the reserve light was coming on and if traveling at speed about 210 miles and that on my new WC sack of shit GSA

Sounds like there's something wrong with yours. Get it booked in at your dealer.

 

[er-minio]

Everywhere you drive in the UK is a crawl...
Probably that counts.

Over the years I noticed one weird thing though: fuel consumption, measured "by eye" and with the dashboard info, on the first stretch of highway that goes from Calais towards Cambrai is usually way higher. Noticed this on two cars and two bikes.
First time I assumed it was the rain. But it wasn't raining the other 4/5 times I drove there. Maybe it's the really gentle and looong uphill/downhill bits...

And, btw, sorry I misread and though this was the Beakchat and Bollox, not the LC subforum.

 

[Schtum]

Everywhere you drive in the UK is a crawl...

Oh no it isn't..... There's much more to the UK that the Sarf East of Englandshire.