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MPG Question???

17K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  JimmyD  
#1 ·
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????
 
#2 ·
Do you ever actually put 4.8 gallons in your tank?

I think the most I ever put in the tank was like 3.6. I've gotten almost 70mpg before. I average around 60mpg. Mostly highway miles typically riding around 70-80mph. When I go 55-65mph my mileage goes above 60mpg.

My bike is a 2006, bought it new last fall (so in a way it's like a 2008), in 7 months I put 14000 miles on it. It's rather well maintained.
 
#5 ·
Uh yes I fill it up!!!! And then I run it till I barely see any gas in the tank. So therefore If I fill it up then run it out then thats 4.8 gallons right!!! If what youre trying to say is that You only put 3.6 in then wheres the other gallon going??? It don't make sense to me.
 
G
#6 ·
What is your acceleration like? When do you shift?

Stock gearing?

Maintenance? When was your air filter cleaned? Oil change done often enough? Spark plugs old?

Carbs in good shape?

I average 50 mpg on stock gearing riding mixed highways/city, usually with saddle bags, and shifting around 7 or 8,000 rpm.
 
#7 ·
BigL said:
Uh yes I fill it up!!!! And then I run it till I barely see any gas in the tank. So therefore If I fill it up then run it out then thats 4.8 gallons right!!! If what youre trying to say is that You only put 3.6 in then wheres the other gallon going??? It don't make sense to me.
Forget about the tank capacity in trying to calculate your mileage because there are too many variables such as bike lean, final fill level variations, remaining fuel in tank when starting to fill etc. Instead, just get a receipt from the gas station that shows volume purchased. Write the mileage from the trip meter on it (remember, you reset this to 0 the last time you filled up), reset the trip meter, and you're on your way. The next time you have a calculator, pull out the receipt and calculate your exact mileage.

The only variable in this method is where you stop filling which you can try to control, however, it's best to average your mileage over a few tanks of gas which will then also eliminate that problem.
 
#8 ·
BigL said:
Uh yes I fill it up!!!! And then I run it till I barely see any gas in the tank. So therefore If I fill it up then run it out then thats 4.8 gallons right!!! If what youre trying to say is that You only put 3.6 in then wheres the other gallon going??? It don't make sense to me.
I highly doubt you ever actually used 4.8 gallons out of one tank. I run it either till I go over 150 miles or when I hit reserve, if I hit reserve usually I put like 3.5 gallons in on the next fillup and that fills it to the filler neck. I'm pretty consistent with where I fill it to every time, so my MPG estimations are pretty accurate. I've never put anywhere near 4.8 gallons in my tank and I've gone over 200 miles on a tank several times.
 
#9 ·
Heres what i have been doing...
Run till i need reserve. Immediately put in four gallons. Run till i need reserve, write down mileage since fillup.
Put in another four gallons.
run till reserve, write down mileage since fill up.

repeat.

I have 230, 213, 264
soooo
230/4=57.5
213/4=53.25
264/4=66

Average MPG over 3 tanks (of four gallons) = 58.9
 
#10 ·
Royson::
I'm completly stock on everything except for the K&N air filter. I just had the oil, plugs, and filters even an inline fuel filter changed about 2 months ago. I usually shift out at 4500 to 6000. You got me on the fact that I don't know how much I actually fill up to. Yall prolly right about not filling up with 4.8 so thats prolly my prob then.
 
#12 ·
just because you can't see any gas in the tank doesn't mean that there isn't any in there.

for instance, when i had my carb cleaning done, we poured out a good amount from the carbs. also, the shape of the tank is such that you won't see any gas but there will still be gas in the hoses, as well as the part of the tank that you can't see into (the part closer to the seat).

the other gallon is there i assure you (assuming you filled up fully lol)
 
G
#14 ·
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.
 
#20 ·
ratchet said:
I get 50mpg, and most of my driving is in the city. (stop and go)
Same here, I find these 60-70 MPG claims very hard to swallow. I weigh under 200 lbs, and I do not flog the bike hard, but I do not baby it either. I like to shift around 7500 RPM.The bike is an '07, completely stock for now, with 1850 miles on it. I usually ride upright, so wind resistance is a factor. I typically use mid grade gasoline (89 octane). either BP or Mobil.
 
#21 ·
Z71 said:
ratchet said:
I get 50mpg, and most of my driving is in the city. (stop and go)
Same here, I find these 60-70 MPG claims very hard to swallow.
well, this should go down a bit smoother...

i get about 60mpg normally. my best mileage was a tick over 64mpg on three separate occasions. i have an excel spreadsheet all done up with fuelings for almost a year, and it's very consistent. i lean my bike at the gas station on level ground the exact same way every time, and fill until it hits the collar thats about 1.5" below the filler hole. i use regular gas, and my bike is stock. completely and utterly stock (my gas mileage didn't change when i put the kerker slip-ons on it either).

i ride 10 miles to work, half of the trip at 55 or so, the rest is city at anywhere between 25 and 40. i also have ridden PLENTY of highway miles. 70 miles one way normally per trip, speeds ranging from 70-85. the results are always the same - no matter which type of riding. i tuck a little on the highway, but not all the way since i have a tank bag. basically i hunch over and rest my elbows on my knees, and that puts my helmet right in the airstream coming off the windscreen. that's just if i'm cruising. if i'm lane changing or doing any kind of maneuvering (or in heavier traffic) i'm sitting upright.

i should also say that i don't flog the bike mercilessly, but i dont put around trying for the best mileage either. i just have a stock bike with good plugs, filters, stock sprocket sizes, stock tire sizes (and an accurate odometer too, according to GPS), and an engine that runs like a 38,000 mile top.

i use sunoco almost exclusively (because it's cheapest, i like sunoco, and it's less than a mile from my place of employment, right on my way home), regular 87 octane because i don't have any pinging.

believe me or not, it's the FACTS, jack
 
#22 ·
Z71 said:
ratchet said:
I get 50mpg, and most of my driving is in the city. (stop and go)
Same here, I find these 60-70 MPG claims very hard to swallow. I weigh under 200 lbs, and I do not flog the bike hard, but I do not baby it either. I like to shift around 7500 RPM.The bike is an '07, completely stock for now, with 1850 miles on it. I usually ride upright, so wind resistance is a factor. I typically use mid grade gasoline (89 octane). either BP or Mobil.
I'm generally around 50ish, 45 if Im commuting, but my pilots are turned out pretty rich. If I fix that I imagine my mileage would go up somewhat.