I Guess the Super Ténéré is just a Warm Weather Bike

[scott123007]

Interesting...
I have never noticed the difference with temperature, but both speed and altitude have a huge effect.

 

[528Hz]

less mpg in cold temps is common. colder temps means more fuel to keep up required engine temps in place. also, different gas blend where cold climate or winter. check tire pressure too more frequently in cold temps. when you idle at say 32F it will turn into 15F-20F or something like that at speed. bikes and cars alike do it. having said that, who cares about mpg. sounds like another religion forming like iphones ::021::

 

[Don in Lodi]

I'd need to see the actual math vs what the comp is saying. The data it puts together has never been known for it's great accuracy, has it? I don't think the ecu adds fuel for engine temp, that's the thermostat's job. I guess the injector's longer pulse width on a cold first start could be considered an engine temp thing, but it's doing other things too, and only for a short time. Cold air is denser air, you need more fuel added to get the O2 sensors to like what they're seeing, but that also means less throttle opening to get the same bang for the buck. Apples to apples, no jumper fuses causing open loop, perfect throttle control all day, mpg should be a wash cold to hot, by the math.
::003::

 

[JimmyP]

Just after break in of my XTZ, I rode to AL and then New Orleans with 35F mornings and 55F highs in November / December... The XTZ has averaged 45MPG regardless of temp.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/jimmyp/super-tenere-1200-z

My oil changes are adjusted to the expected temps, that can make a difference in MPG. 10W40 in winter and 20W50 once we start into the 90s.

 

[rem]

I always ride in cold weather, so I don't really notice a difference. Well, relatively cold weather. The last few mornings when I've left the house, it's been 0 °C (think 32). Don't cars and trucks and otherwise normal four wheeled crafts all burn more gas in cold weather? I would think this is normal. But then, sometimes I doth think too much. R

 

[Didg]

I normally get around 40 mpg commuting to work and back in temps of 5 - 15 centigrade.

However, I've just been on a 3 day ride around the highlands of scotland with a mate who was leading on a Deauville, I was in Touring mode. I averaged 59.35 mpg (63 mpg according to the bike). I was amazed. ???

 

[Dallara]

~


Doesn't seem to matter what the weather is my Super Tenere gets the same mileage... For the most part in the mid- to high-30's. Spirited riding or some of our faster Texas highways nets even lower. Temps don't seem to matter, either the bike's temp or the ambient.

Just FYI...

Dallara



~

 

[Nimbus]

Re: I Guess the Super Ténéré is just a Warm Weather Bike - cold OAT mileage

I am resurrecting this thread from 2011 because now after 36,000 miles on my bike I know it pretty well. The bike gets lower MPG when it is cold than warm. Not a winter/summer thing, not a fuel formulation thing, just cold morning hot afternoon difference of up to 10 mpg. I can leave the house early at 45 to 50 degrees, get on the freeway with a fresh tank, and reset average MPG and watch it read out after a few miles at 34 - 36 mpg. Hundreds of miles down the road and several tanks and hours later at 80 degrees OAT it is getting 45 MPG.

I instinctively believe this is a fuel mapping change based on OAT.

Two questions:
1) Does anybody else see this same response under similar conditions
2) Is there a way to fool the fuel maps at colder temperatures

I realize on a long trip speed and wind makes a big difference but I see this high/low mileage condition all the time

Why is it an issue..... well because it makes a difference of 50 miles in range and I hate stopping for gas

I still think I have a faulty thermostat that makes itself known in the winter (though, it does appear only to "flow" in the correct engine temperature range when I opened the cap and watched the bike warm up). When it's below about 35 degrees, the bike doesn't like to make it up past 150. It will warm to 140 quickly but then doesn't like to get hot. I suspect this could hurt the mileage. My CBR used to be at normal operating temp within a mile at 25degrees.

 

[tomatocity]

toompine,

I agree 100% with you. During the last two years I have made more than one reference to this condition. The only positive to this condition is how much better the Tenere runs.

Solution to correct this condition???

 

[Kelvininin]

Idel time = less mpg. I ride year round and punch and go. Just keep the right hand in check until the bike is warm. Average same mpg all year round.

 

[nycwalt]

Re: I Guess the Super Ténéré is just a Warm Weather Bike - cold OAT mileage



I still think I have a faulty thermostat that makes itself known in the winter (though, it does appear only to "flow" in the correct engine temperature range when I opened the cap and watched the bike warm up). When it's below about 35 degrees, the bike doesn't like to make it up past 150. It will warm to 140 quickly but then doesn't like to get hot. I suspect this could hurt the mileage. My CBR used to be at normal operating temp within a mile at 25degrees.

Reading through old threads.

my mpg definitely drops once weather's below 40 degrees.

re. cold weather, I have a 8 mile ow/16 mi round trip commute and find the bike is warm/display shows 150 degrees even below 25 degrees within 3-4 minutes. Below 35 or so I have to hit the starter button with wide open throttle to get it running. I have 5-6 minutes at slow speed before I get on the highway, try to take it easy, it's probably hard on the bike to make such a short trip in cold weather.

I keep everything soaked in ACF-50 and rinse every couple week with salt-away... 1/4" prediction of snow accumulation in NYC and the 2" of salt gets dumped everywhere and stays on the road for weeks.

any other cold weather wisdom out there I am all ears.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Holy Zombie Thread Resurrection!

Seriously and as a commuter into DC for decades, I've ridden both of my Super Teneres (2012 & 2014) into single digit temps many times and the bike did just fine. It actually seems to feel better the further it gets away from the raw wet cold near the freezing mark, but maybe that was just me. I was super vigilant about road ice, especially on Canal Road which gets run-off. Car drivers seemed a bit more tolerant of the guy on the motorcycle and it was fun to see co-workers faces as I walked in looking like an astronaut.

Note that the owners manual provides a range of oil viscosities which get thinner for cold temps. It makes a difference in how quick the engine will turn over to start.

Of course the AGM batteries are less capable in the cold and these bikes really need good voltage (minimal voltage drop) to the ECU when the starter is turning, so make sure the battery is in good shape. It's also the first thing to suspect if starting is a problem. I'm not big on recommending lithium batteries, and this is especially true for sub-freezing temps.

As for gas mileage, yes there is the mixture issue mentioned previously, but the bigger factor is that Winter gas as refineries change the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) which controls the rate of evaporation. Evaporation is closely related to atomization of the fuel droplets so the engine loses a bit of performance and mileage suffers.

What is the difference between summer blend and winter blend gasoline and how they can impact cost? - Guttman Energy

As temperatures increase into the summer months, government regulations dictate the type of gasoline we use in our vehicles. Summer Blend During the summertime, gasoline has a greater chance of evaporating from a vehicles fuel system. This can produce smog and increase emissions. Refiners...

www.guttmanenergy.com

 

[PineLaneRider]

I have a 40 min commute. Ride down to 10f. I don't idle for warm up unless its below 20f. My mpg is fairly steady arounf 42mpg except when I idle to warm up, then I'm around 38.

 

[nycwalt]

Holy Zombie Thread Resurrection!

Seriously and as a commuter into DC for decades, I've ridden both of my Super Teneres (2012 & 2014) into single digit temps many times and the bike did just fine. It actually seems to feel better the further it gets away from the raw wet cold near the freezing mark, but maybe that was just me. I was super vigilant about road ice, especially on Canal Road which gets run-off. Car drivers seemed a bit more tolerant of the guy on the motorcycle and it was fun to see co-workers faces as I walked in looking like an astronaut.

Note that the owners manual provides a range of oil viscosities which get thinner for cold temps. It makes a difference in how quick the engine will turn over to start.

Of course the AGM batteries are less capable in the cold and these bikes really need good voltage (minimal voltage drop) to the ECU when the starter is turning, so make sure the battery is in good shape. It's also the first thing to suspect if starting is a problem. I'm not big on recommending lithium batteries, and this is especially true for sub-freezing temps.

As for gas mileage, yes there is the mixture issue mentioned previously, but the bigger factor is that Winter gas as refineries change the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) which controls the rate of evaporation. Evaporation is closely related to atomization of the fuel droplets so the engine loses a bit of performance and mileage suffers.

What is the difference between summer blend and winter blend gasoline and how they can impact cost? - Guttman Energy

As temperatures increase into the summer months, government regulations dictate the type of gasoline we use in our vehicles. Summer Blend During the summertime, gasoline has a greater chance of evaporating from a vehicles fuel system. This can produce smog and increase emissions. Refiners...

www.guttmanenergy.com

thread title is so dumb I had to bump it.

Just for me personally, such a short commute and so much better than any other transportation options that I don't care at all about gas mileage, just seemed like a fun / ridiculous subject to discuss.

I agree the engine feels to me smoother than ever in the cold.

I do avoid rides if there's a chance of ice.

Antigravity Lithium battery is working well for me going into 3rd winter, we'll see.

 

[Sierra1]

Cold air is denser than warm. Which means that more fuel is going to be needed. The opposite of being at a higher altitude. Warm or cold, my bike doesn't get to idle for more than a few seconds.

 

[Checkswrecks]

...
Antigravity Lithium battery is working well for me going into 3rd winter, we'll see.

From the Antigravity instructions:

"
OPERATING TEMPERATURE. This product is designed to work in ambient temperatures between -–10°C to 60°C (–4°F to 140°F). Do not operate outside of temperature ranges. Do not jump start a frozen battery. Do not charge a Frozen Battery. Only charge within the range of 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) Discontinue use of product immediately if the battery becomes excessively warm.
"

The battery will try to take every amp possible when the bike starts.

 

[kmasa58]

Cooler the ambient temperature the oil temperature doesn't rise as fast which affects fuel economy due to more viscous state of the engine oil. I used to have air/oil cooled Duc MTS1100 which had the same issue when riding in 'cold' weather. The shop mechanic told me to 'cover' the oil coolers partially or fully until the oil temperature rose to normal operating temperature. It works ... I covere the oil cooler 100% until the oil temperature came up to normal operating temperature then removed 50% of the obstruction to maintain oil temperature relatively near the normal operating range.

 

[cyclemike4]

I guess I need to cover part of the radiator on my bike at times. there have been a number of times over the years I have owned this bike that the coolant temperature never even showed at all till I slowed down or stopped at a red light. I can't even tell you how many times it showed the 104 to 109 temperatures for the whole ride to work or home. Even with the cold temperatures I have not had a huge fuel mileage drop. Yes it does drops in the winter but 2 to 3 miles per gallon. I usually stay between 44 and 47 on my commute to work daily. Mostly 47 to 48 in summer and 44 to 45 in winter. I really can't complain about that.

 

[WJBertrand]

I guess I need to cover part of the radiator on my bike at times. there have been a number of times over the years I have owned this bike that the coolant temperature never even showed at all till I slowed down or stopped at a red light. I can't even tell you how many times it showed the 104 to 109 temperatures for the whole ride to work or home. Even with the cold temperatures I have not had a huge fuel mileage drop. Yes it does drops in the winter but 2 to 3 miles per gallon. I usually stay between 44 and 47 on my commute to work daily. Mostly 47 to 48 in summer and 44 to 45 in winter. I really can't complain about that.

I've noticed reduced mileage in cool weather, this is normal as the air is denser and the ECU needs to add more fuel to maintain the correct mixture. Having said that the temperatures your seeing don't seem normal. Even in mid 30F degree weather my engine temp never drops out of the 160sF range, even on the highway at moderate speeds and light load. I didn't read all the way back but have you replaced the thermostat? If so sounds like it's stuck open.

 

[cyclemike4]

I've noticed reduced mileage in cool weather, this is normal as the air is denser and the ECU needs to add more fuel to maintain the correct mixture. Having said that the temperatures your seeing don't seem normal. Even in mid 30F degree weather my engine temp never drops out of the 160sF range, even on the highway at moderate speeds and light load. I didn't read all the way back but have you replaced the thermostat? If so sounds like it's stuck open.

It never really concerned me. this is not the only bike I have that has done that. My FJR 1300 would not register a temperature either in those conditions. If it is in the 20's or above and I am in traffic it will come on up. I have very little traffic to deal with getting to where I work. The temperatures I am talking about are at times below zero to single digit. In the teens It will come up to about the 125 or 130 mark going down the road. It has been in the low 20s the last few mornings and I have been seeing it get to the 140's when I hit town and slow down. In those conditions my old air cooled FJ1200 would build some heat but I could pretty much grab the head and after a couple minutes grab the head pipes when I got to work. I have about a 15 mile ride one way.