Stupid fuel consumption

[Spike]

On my last leg of my round europe trip and been getting some wierd and wonderfull fuel consumptions.

These figures are fully loaded up with mrs on the back.

On the way down to Italy I was getting around 44mpg at a steady 80 ish

when down there I was getting around the same if not better.

now heres the weird bit over the last week and half if I keep it at between 70-75 I can get 47-49mpg but take it up to 80 and I get a dismal 38-40mpg BUT and here the stupid thing take it up to 90 and i get 46-48mpg.
These figures are actual fuel consumptions not just off the computer on the bike.

seems strange to me but has anyone else noticed this???

spike

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

No ........ I get an average 54.3mpg under various riding conditions however non are ever two up

 

[tee bee]

when you talk about miles per gallon, where do you buy gallons ?

 

[Spike]

when you talk about miles per gallon, where do you buy gallons ?

At every petrol station I stop at except i have to get my calculator out to do the math

spike

 

[Engineer]

I get anywhere between 45mpg and 50mpg (10-11 miles per litre) - 2010 R1200GS

I always ride with the panniers fully extended and occasionally 2-up, 50% of my riding is dual carriage way and fast A road.

On my previous R1200GS (2005) I used to ride often without the panniers or not fully extended and rarely 2-up and the fuel consumption was typically 50-55mpg.

Intersting

 

[illustratedman]

Whenever i fill up in germany i seem to get drastically better fuel consumption, i think a lot of it is down to fuel quality.

 

[beatmeier]

when you talk about miles per gallon, where do you buy gallons ?

+ 1

Some things will never change

 

[Sgt Bilco]

My money is on the fuel quality. On the Alaska trips this year, the bikes fuel consumption varied dramatically depending on fuel quality. Out in the sticks (and California) where the fuel quality is shite, it can vary by 5-10mpg.

They also stick 10/15% of ethanol in it which gets the knock sensors working overtime

 

[Sooty09]

On one of Phillip of Spains tours back in 1588 they covered 35000 miles using 50 Galleons, averaging over 70 miles per Galleon.
Drake of England joined the tour for several miles and used no Galleons at all.
Sorry just reminded me of an old school joke.

 

[TLSgazza]

funny you should bring this up. When me and the missus where touri.g on our GSA's Back in the summer after fuelling up in Austria then going over the stelvio to st moritz then down to lake como, then back up over st gothard, furka etc and up to interlaken then back up to the black forest.
We covered 330 miles and decided we'd better refuel we both only got 22 litres in.
The next tankfull was on a fair bit of motorway up to the nurburgring and 320 miles, fuel light on and 32 litres put in both bikes. Hell of a difference depending upon how you are riding.
BTW. Hers is a 2010 twin cam and mine is a 2006 but both were within a half a litre of each other at every stop.

 

[Spike]

My money is on the fuel quality. On the Alaska trips this year, the bikes fuel consumption varied dramatically depending on fuel quality. Out in the sticks (and California) where the fuel quality is shite, it can vary by 5-10mpg.

They also stick 10/15% of ethanol in it which gets the knock sensors working overtime

funny you should bring this up. When me and the missus where touri.g on our GSA's Back in the summer after fuelling up in Austria then going over the stelvio to st moritz then down to lake como, then back up over st gothard, furka etc and up to interlaken then back up to the black forest.
We covered 330 miles and decided we'd better refuel we both only got 22 litres in.
The next tankfull was on a fair bit of motorway up to the nurburgring and 320 miles, fuel light on and 32 litres put in both bikes. Hell of a difference depending upon how you are riding.
BTW. Hers is a 2010 twin cam and mine is a 2006 but both were within a half a litre of each other at every stop.

There is definitely a pattern with petrol quality, but like said up to 10mpg is a hell of a lot, specially if you are mile munching on motorway sections.
on my trip then Italys fuel is good, so is the swiss but the germans and the french is shite.
and the price difference, I have paid anything from 1.57 to 1.99 euros

spike

 

[Yellow Peril]

My money is on the fuel quality. On the Alaska trips this year, the bikes fuel consumption varied dramatically depending on fuel quality. Out in the sticks (and California) where the fuel quality is shite, it can vary by 5-10mpg.

They also stick 10/15% of ethanol in it which gets the knock sensors working overtime

Hell you even see that in this country buy supermarket fuel consumption goes up, to the point it isn't worth saving the odd penny at supermarkets as it is lost in mpg.

 

[mcinlb]

I have also noticed varied fuel consumption on my 2010 GS, but I generally thought it was down to ambient temperature. i.e. when hot, my range seems to increase and conversely when colder the range visibly reduces...

 

[Spike]

I have also noticed varied fuel consumption on my 2010 GS, but I generally thought it was down to ambient temperature. i.e. when hot, my range seems to increase and conversely when colder the range visibly reduces...

I did think about this too but I always thought it worked the opposite, I.e better performance when cold, as why do turboed cars spray water on the cooler???
Ah what the hell it has cost me around £700 in fuel for my trip away, but it was all budgeted for anyways so no real loss.

spike

 

[Big Red]

Whenever i fill up in germany i seem to get drastically better fuel consumption, i think a lot of it is down to fuel quality.

They have strict emission laws but their fuel quality is one of the best in Europe, probably why so many of us have to visit Hilltop!

 

[Rasher]

I always find consumption is just dependant on riding conditions, a days riding slowly over mountain passes with average speeds in the 30-40 mph region would give @50mpg (two-up, even with luggage)

An indicated 90 on the motorway had it down around 41-42mpg.

I have bought fuel in France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany on one trip and not noticed anything different - unless you conclude Swizz fuel gives 10mpg more than French fuel by ignoring the fact the avaerage speed on Swiss roads was half that of the French ones.