BigL said:
I've read on here that some of yall have been getting 60+ mpg on a 500!!!!!! HOW??????? I've been riding for a year and only average 50-??????? The tank is 4.8 gallons right? So 200/4.8=41+????? Then what am I doing wrong here. I do travel interstate alot usually around 75 mph. So therefore I don't think I even get 50mpg per full tank. So how do I get 60+ mpg????
Lots of things you can do. The main one is to ride slowly. Accelerate gently, shift at 4,500 RPM. Get into 6th gear and then lock the throttle at 45mph on the flat. Keep the throttle in this position and don't accelerate going up hills.
Other things that will help:
10w40 oil (thinker oil will lower MPG)
standard sized tyres at 32psi front, 36psi rear (oversized tyres or underinflated tyres will lower mpg)
standard exhaust, standard air filter (performance exhaust / filter will lower mpg)
scottoiler (oils the chain whilst riding, boosts mpg)
standard gearing (sprocket changes result in having to accelerate to get up hills to avoid laboring engine, lower mpg)
ride in a racing crouch all the time (hurts your back but lowers wind resistance, boosts mpg)
a lighter rider will mean the bike has less to pull
flip screen will deflect more wind
i also fitted a fuelcat (tin/lead pellets in a wire gauze dropped in the tank), a magnetic oil filter, a magnetic sump plug and a magnet on the fuel line. These probably don't make any difference but when you pay UK petrol prices you will try anything.
Best I ever got was 81.2 UK mpg / 67.6 US mpg sitting in a crouch at 45mph everywhere.
I usually get 75 UK mpg / 62 US mpg if I sit upright and ride at 60mph everywhere.