Fuel consumption prooblem?

Mike Chajkin · Sep 3, 2003

Fuel consumption
I keep reading posts where members say they get around 250 miles from a tank of petrol.

I use Shell Optimax, fill up on the sidestand (not the centre stand), each fill up costs around £15.50 and I consistently get only 190 miles before the yellow warning light comes on and I'm down to one bar or no bars on the gauge.

I have a Y-piece and standard can. I have noticed no difference in consumption since I binned the cat.

Is something wrong?

Sergeant Pluck · Sep 3, 2003

you fill up on the side stand? why so sir? i'd have thought this would reduce the amount of fuel you can actually get in the tank....

pr0ne

Mike Chajkin · Sep 3, 2003

You're right prOne - but I wanted to get a handle on the sort of mileages people are getting generally. Does anyone fill up on the side stand and get better consumtion figures than I am getting?

Wreford Miles · Sep 3, 2003

If I get 10 miles per liter I'm happy. If I get less I'm even happier cause I've either been thrashing the nuts off her (can you do that nuts off girls?) or I've been sitting on the M way at high spped going somewhere nice.

Bottom line it's the thing I check when I fill up miles since last brim and liters in

(RIP) maverick · Sep 3, 2003

I always fill it up on the centre stand, ride it till the last bar dissapears and the light comes on. Do between 200-230 miles and fill up with 19-21 liters every time.

Best is 5 liter container, ride it till it dies and then you know

Cheers

Cheesy Mike · Sep 3, 2003

10 speedo-indicated miles per litre is 46.5 mpg. As the GS speedo is inaccurate this does of course work out slightly less (43mpg??)

That's also what I reckon I get per tank if I ride "normally" and I'm pretty happy if I do. When I ride aggressively on a long motorway run then it can easily drop by 10%.

Mike

Madmountainman · Sep 3, 2003

mikebelch said:
10 speedo-indicated miles per litre is 46.5 mpg. As the GS speedo is inaccurate this does of course work out slightly less (43mpg??)

That's also what I reckon I get per tank if I ride "normally" and I'm pretty happy if I do. When I ride aggressively on a long motorway run then it can easily drop by 10%.

Mike

It's not just Mikes fuel consumption that's in the low forties...
Happy Birthday Mike!!!! :hpbirthda

Also, got 260 to a dry tank on my old 1150 using the 5L can trick!

The Mechanic · Sep 4, 2003

So many variables.

I get about the same as you 190+ and then the light trys to come on but efs about for about 25 miles before staying on.

I've filled up both ways, bike on side stand and on the centre stand. True you do get a smidgen of extra fuel in but not that much. " Covers head as barrage of comments fly".

These air/oil engines are very susceptible to differing temperatures, depending on ambient air temp. traffic conditions, load and cooling air flow around the engine. Heavily congested roads and slow moving traffic create poor air draught for cooling purposes. In this modern day world, water cooled engines give a more consistent fuel performance than the things that we are currently riding around on.

So for the above reasons, 12 riders on the same type of machine would all probably produce vastly differing fuel consumption figures. Then of course there is the question of fuel qaulity from different petrol stations, aid resistance - big screen, lower screen, tyre compound/makes and tyre pressure varibles, differing levels of engine vibration affecting power and fuel useage- (Christ this is like a University Degree) and then there is the BIG question, how fat ...oops..large is the actual rider and does he/she tail gate or hang back thus avoiding excess air pressure.

I think I've developed excess air pressure so I'm going now. :mooney

Dave Hall · Sep 4, 2003

I roll up to the pump and fill whilst seated thereby ensuring I get the maximum amount in...I suppose if the bike caught fire you`d have to be a bit nippy getting off and running away but fire brings nippyness out in me.

The Mechanic · Sep 4, 2003

Running away.

Running away from yer beloved while she's burning around yer bollocks, then the fuel pump would go up followed by the whole station. Some insurance claim that would be, think I'll use the centre stand or side stand depending on my mood.

If you sit on the bike while filling up you will be breathing in all those nasty fumes, including benzene! :p1zzed: