R1150GSA Poor MPG

[Andybro]

My '03 R1150GSA is only getting around 33 mpg. I am mainly commuting 22 miles round-trip. I have a large tank and only get 200 miles before the light comes on. Filling up I usually put in 27 to 28 litres. I bought the bike with 10k on the clock and it is only on 17K now.

The bike previously had a standard exhaust system with cat. I now have a y-piece with the standard exhaust. The alteration caused no change in mpg. It is possible that the previous owner chipped the bike but what effect it had I have no idea.

Anyone know any simple checks/adjustments I can try to see if I can gain an improvement. I should surely be expecting over 40mpg even commuting.

 

[ian6760]

Andy.
Better answer will probably come flooding in, but have you tried Steptoe's cat code plug jumper wire fix. I run a Y pipe and a Remus can, after doing the correct jumper wire; it gave me an extra 10 MPG (Now at around 50MPG). Plus the bike runs a lot smoother at low revs.

Good luck
Ian.

 

[MikeP]

The bike previously had a standard exhaust system with cat. I now have a y-piece with the standard exhaust. The alteration caused no change in mpg. It is possible that the previous owner chipped the bike but what effect it had I have no idea.

Are you saying that you have fitted the Y-Piece since the bad consumption started and it's not become worse or that it's had the Y-Piece fitted sometime before the consumption increased?

How hard do you rev it?

Do you have panniers on?

Are there any leaks (under pressure when the engine is running) from the fuel hoses (the OE clips are renowned for being weak)?

When were the valves and TB's last checked/adjusted?

What tyres are fitted (TKC's will increase consumption slightly)?

Ridden hard, my 04 GSA on TKC's and with panniers fitted doesn't get vastly better consumption; maybe high 30's. Slippery buggers they ain't!

 

[Andybro]

Thanks guys,

Mike P - the bad fuel consuption existed when the cat was on and continues now I have replaced it with a y-piece. I ride it pretty conservatively so hard revving is rare. No leaks noticed and as I keep it in a small garage I would expect a hint of petrol smell in the morning if there was a leak. Tyres are Metzler Tourance so pretty standard really. No panniers either. Bike was serviced a month ago (annual + 6000mile) but what are TB's?

Ian6760 - I am now dying to find out what Steptoe's cat code plug jumper wire fix is. Are you sure you didn't just pick some words at random and put them in a sentence?

My experience of problems says that 80% of the poor fuel economy will be down to a small number of causes (if not just one). Any more ideas would be welcomed.

 

[Possu]

Try replacing the fuel filter.

 

[Rushy]

Ian6760 - I am now dying to find out what Steptoe's cat code plug jumper wire fix is. Are you sure you didn't just pick some words at random and put them in a sentence?

Andy , take a look here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28293&highlight=code+plug

Aren't Ian's helpful ?