S10 Fuel Consumption Thread

[markjenn]

I bet wind and average speed have a lot more to do with it than the state you're in. A 5-mph avg headwind vs a 5-mph average tailwind is something most riders wouldn't pay much attention to, but everything else being equal, would change mileage by 5+ mpg.

- Mark

 

[RMac]

Seasonaly dominant wind direction? Most people drive both ways, not just one way. On average, that is. Hanger talk

 

[jajpko]

I bet wind and average speed have a lot more to do with it than the state you're in. A 5-mph avg headwind vs a 5-mph average tailwind is something most riders wouldn't pay much attention to, but everything else being equal, would change mileage by 5+ mpg.

- Mark

Some times wind is a factor, but riding in the mountains from Ar east, the wind in not much of a factor. Most of the time you are in an area of trees which stop strong winds.
I have had it both ways in the west, but you can catch more bad wind there, imho..

 

[Buffel]

I ride and enjoy my bike = Fuel consumption is not high on my priority list..... just ride your ST 10 !!!

 

[dcstrom]

Coming back to DC from Wheeling WV on Monday on the interstate, I missed the exit for gas, just before I ran onto reserve. No worries I thought, there'll be another chance in 20 miles. I get there and the gas stations are closed. "Next gas 45 miles". Crap. I'd figured from previous fillups that after reaching reserve I'd have around 60 miles to empty. I already was 13 miles into reserve. So next gas, I'll have 58 miles up.

Did my best to conserve - the instant mileage readout is great for this, and with careful throttle adjustments was able to keep it between 50-60mpg most of the time, and sometimes more, at 60-70mph. I rolled into the gas station, 58 miles into reserve, 2 miles short of my predicted range - and took 5.625 gallons. Pretty good I thought - 0.375 gal left. Made it easily. However, according to markjenn and rema (on advrider) actual capacity is not 6 gallons, but more like 5.75. So at the time I got off the interstate, I only had 0.1 gal remaining. Don't really want to be doing that too often...

Trevor

 

[elizilla]

I haven't had my Super10 out west yet, but my experience on other bikes is that FI bikes do get stellar mileage at the high altitudes of Colorado. Carbed bikes just start to smell rich. And the winter gas gives worse mileage than summer gas - I frequently take long trips in the spring, right around the time of the cutover, and it's very noticeable when the cutover to summer fuel happens; the range increases dramatically. Except in California, where they have winter fuel year round, and the fuel mileage is always terrible regardless of type of riding or time of year.

 

[Twisties]

Coming back to DC from Wheeling WV on Monday on the interstate, I missed the exit for gas, just before I ran onto reserve. No worries I thought, there'll be another chance in 20 miles. I get there and the gas stations are closed. "Next gas 45 miles". Crap. I'd figured from previous fillups that after reaching reserve I'd have around 60 miles to empty. I already was 13 miles into reserve. So next gas, I'll have 58 miles up.

Did my best to conserve - the instant mileage readout is great for this, and with careful throttle adjustments was able to keep it between 50-60mpg most of the time, and sometimes more, at 60-70mph. I rolled into the gas station, 58 miles into reserve, 2 miles short of my predicted range - and took 5.6 gallons. Pretty good I thought - 0.4 gal left. Made it easily. However, according to markjenn and rema (on advrider) actual capacity is not 6 gallons, but more like 5.75. So at the time I got off the interstate, I only had 0.15 gal remaining. Don't really want to be doing that too often...

Trevor

I'd say counting on 5.75g is playing it a bit loose. I got 5.6 g. See reply #44 in this thread. Some others may have gotten closer to 5.7 (still, a bit less than), but I sure wouldn't be counting on 5.75 unless you are really working to fill the tank as much as possible... over the bottom of the filler neck insert. I have found this somewhat hard to do and didn't get much extra fuel into the tank.

 

[dcstrom]

I'd say counting on 5.75g is playing it a bit loose. I got 5.6 g. See reply #44 in this thread. Some others may have gotten closer to 5.7 (still, a bit less than), but I sure wouldn't be counting on 5.75 unless you are really working to fill the tank as much as possible... over the bottom of the filler neck insert. I have found this somewhat hard to do and didn't get much extra fuel into the tank.

Phew - sounds like I was very lucky - I just checked my records and that fillup was actually 5.625 gal (updated my post) - so a squidge more than you. (I have no idea what .025 gal looks like - if it was ml I'd be fine...). You were dry at 5.6.

 

[Twisties]

Phew - sounds like I was very lucky - I just checked my records and that fillup was actually 5.625 gal (updated my post) - so a squidge more than you. (I have no idea what .025 gal looks like - if it was ml I'd be fine...). You were dry at 5.6.

95 ml, or 3 oz., or 1-2 miles worth.

 

[Kevhunts]

I'm on my second tank of gas with fuel stabilizer added and according to the bike's computer, my mpg has increased 3.5 mpg. (now 45.5 mpg avg.)

 

[tomatocity]

With the arrival of colder weather my gas mileage recently dropped to 40 MPG. Previously as high as 50 MPG with a usual 47-48 MPG. How about others?

 

[jmoore]

Mine has dropped averaging 42 back and forth to work, temp going 20-40 degrees F coming home 11pm 10- 30. its only 17 miles one way, longer distances [50 miles or more] its still getting 48 or better. Very comparable to what the FJR did over the 7 years I had it. jim

 

[wayne]

212.5 miles i had to push it over a mile to an exit ramp and my avg mpg was showing me about 42. 600 miles on bike!

 

[jmoore]

Forgot to mention that is actual mpg not Yamaha's wish meter reading. jim

 

[tc9988]

With the arrival of colder weather my gas mileage recently dropped to 40 MPG. Previously as high as 50 MPG with a usual 47-48 MPG. How about others?

is that calculated mileage or using the computer on the bike

 

[tomatocity]

is that calculated mileage or using the computer on the bike

This is calculated. I find the onboard AVE MPG to be at least 3 MPG high. Can't tell if the Current MPG is correct or not though it does generally let you know where you are at.

 

[tc9988]

This is calculated. I find the onboard AVE MPG to be at least 3 MPG high. Can't tell if the Current MPG is correct or not though it does generally let you know where you are at.

the reason I ask is the way I understand the owners manual, the computer calculations are based on Imperial gallons which would make the computer mpg approx 15% high

 

[stgreg]

I think the temps have them running a little rich

 

[X5]

My last tankful was 40.6 MPG manually calculated with my dash computer saying 42.1 avg at fill up time.

Remember that "winter formulations" for gas bring lower MPG as does the ethanol content if not already mentioned.

 

[markjenn]

the reason I ask is the way I understand the owners manual, the computer calculations are based on Imperial gallons which would make the computer mpg approx 15% high

I kept careful track for 5200 miles of gas-pump/odometer mileage vs. computer mileage and noted the computer averaging 2 mpg high.

The imperial gallon reference in the OM is definitely a head scratcher. My theory is something got lost in the translation from the UK manual to the US one and that Yamaha intends for the computer to be based on US gals and that the error we're seeing is normal optimistic "fudge factor" that seems to be common on mileage computers, car or bike. For a US bike, it makes more sense to me that the computer is reading 5% high on US gallons rather than 10% low on a measurement system that is not in use in the US.

- Mark