Well, she sure burns gas

SHUMBA

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Dec 29, 2018
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1,242
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ONTARIO, CANADA
I did a trip yesterday and rode a mix of country and expressway roads. A total of 420 km, or 420 x .625 = 262 miles, then she began to sputter, well shit oh dear I says to meself. I could see a petrol (gas) station ahead, but didn't quite make it.
Prior to total loss of power, the bike would loose power on a slight upgrade and resume power on a slight downgrade.
If and when this happens, and hopefully not, just relax and begin looking for a safe place to pull over well clear of the roadway.
My friend John came to my rescue with a bucket of gas. I poured about a five litres ( one gallon) of petrol (gas) into her and turned the key on and off three times, as each time causes the fuel pump to activate. It started immediately with no issues...I'll never do this again.
Here's why...higher speeds = higher drag = much higher fuel burn as the power required to sustain the higher speeds increases exponentially. Estimated burn at 100 kph, (60 mph) about 4.7 litres per 100 km, or greater than one gallon per 60 miles....at 130 kph (80 mph), about 6.5 litres per 100 km or 4 mpg, just wish you British and American people would go metric.
I like to ride somewhat faster than the traffic, hence my speeds were rather up there....a buck thirty or so. 130 kph = 80 mph. There's no free lunch.
SHUMBA

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moto.monk

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Aug 19, 2019
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los angeles
I myself have manage to get 49 mpg even after Anthony's reflash which loses 2 mph. I found I ride slower now and in my "younger" days I would try to see how much faster I could go. Well like yourself I have run out of gas twice on my fz09 and never on my st. But beyond that it can also clog your fuel filter if your constantly running your bike low because the crap sinks to bottom in the tank, also cranking the bike with no fuel can cause damage to your fuel pump. I've found the best to stick with the posted mph unless it's crazy windy or raining hard.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
She's just not built/made for those kind of speeds. Yes, she can do it. . . . but, that doesn't mean she likes doing it. I've found that mpg is an immediate indicator of how happy a motor is. She has the aerodynamics of a brick. The other day, while out photo-tagging, my max speed was 65-70mph. I was getting over 52mpg. My usual routes average 46-ish. But, the top speed is usually 75-80mph, and 50% head winds. I'm sure Mak can attest to how much air those side boxes effect speed & mileage. Just look at where the bugs are splatting on the boxes.

SHUMBA is right "no free lunches". Speed. . . . or mileage. . . . you can't have both. . . . on a Tenere at least.
 

Mak10

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Aug 20, 2018
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2,567
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SE Idaho
I find that I get my best mileage cruising at 70 mph. I also get better mpg when I’m following someone. I must be more aggressive when not following and don’t even realize it. Adding my panniers costs 4 mpg at 65-70. Neutral headwind.

Riding behind a KTM 690 going 90 mph on a freeway made me appreciate the S Tenere. I could hear his exhaust over the noise of my bike and wind. My bike will comfortably cruise at that speed all day long. The 690 would do it, but he was fatigued much quicker, and when we stopped for lunch he was worn out.
 
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Eville Rich

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Sep 15, 2016
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464
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Wisconsin, USA
262 miles seems pretty good. With six gallons in the tank, you got about 43 mpg (US gallons). That's typical for me with panniers and riding about half at 70 to 75 mph, with the other half at 55 or so. The panniers cost me about 3mpg. I think I am noticing a slight improvement in mpg as the bike gets worn in. And I've experienced no decrease in fuel economy w/ the Anthony reflash, other than by my own behavioural choices.

Eville Rich
2016 S10
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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3,846
Location
buda texas
metric system is Napoleons revenge ....... as far as mpg go , my 2019 does better than my 2012 did , averaged around 41 on the 12 , 43 0n the 19 ...... my average is around 43mpg riding central Texas and staying at speed limits . have not done a highway trip of any length to see what a steady cruise would do . 2 years ago did a west Texas trip , we were running 80 plus down I-10 into a tremendous head wind of 30 to 40 mph , my 2012 was down to 36 mpg but had plenty of power left to blast past the 18 wheelers , my buddy riding a vstom 650 was getting a low of 25mpg and at times he could not pass the 18 wheelers . he was amazed at how well the big T did .... after the trip he traded the Strom for a 1200 triumph , no lack of power there... and on my Utah trip i was amazed at the mpg's at high elevations I was getting (around 60 mpg's , could not believe it ) it is a torque monster and I like to live there .
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
. . . . my 2012 was down to 36 mpg but had plenty of power left to blast past the 18 wheelers , my buddy riding a vstom 650 was getting a low of 25mpg and at times he could not pass the 18 wheelers . . . . and on my Utah trip i was amazed at the mpg's at high elevations I was getting (around 60 mpg's , could not believe it ) it is a torque monster and I like to live there .
The original Top Gear crew had a BMW 5 series chase a Prius around their track. The Prius went as fast as it could, the Beemer was not allowed to pass. IIRC, the Prius was down to 18mpg, but the Beemer got 25mpg; "right tool for the job". The bad thing about the computer adjusting the fuel to air ratio at altitude? The power goes away, but yeah, the mileage is great.
 

14kmtnman

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May 18, 2014
Messages
476
Location
Yakima, WA
On my flashed ST I have been as low as 36 mpg going thru Wyoming, loaded, during a major rain storm with high winds and as high as 60 several times here in Colorado on 300 to 400 mile trips. My panniers don't seem to make a difference. They are only 7 inches wide (Happy Trails) and they don't seem to collect bugs. Maybe that is the big difference. I get more bugs on my shins and the wings than the panniers do. Over all I average 50-55 pretty consistently. That is a mix of highway up to 80 mph ish and dirt roads and trails. Much above 80 mph and the milage really takes a dive down to around 40-45 mpg. As mentioned, aerodynamics are not the bikes best feature.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
The bad thing about the computer adjusting the fuel to air ratio at altitude? The power goes away, but yeah, the mileage is great.
It’s not the reduced fuel that cuts the power, it’s the reduced charge density due to lower ambient pressure. The computer is actually trying to keep the fuel / air ratio the same. A carbureted engine would loose power too, but also will run too rich (if it was jetted for lower altitudes). This can reduce power even more.




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JJTJ2

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Aug 14, 2018
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349
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Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
My fuel light usually starts flashing at about 200 miles into the tank. When I stop at the nearest gas station I can only squeeze in 4.1 - 4.2 gallons (47 mpg). The most I have pushed it was 235 miles and I could still only get 4.833 gallons in (48 mpg). I believe I can easily get 50 more miles before I really start to sweat it.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,819
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Joshua TX
It’s not the reduced fuel that cuts the power, it’s the reduced charge density due to lower ambient pressure. The computer is actually trying to keep the fuel / air ratio the same. A carbureted engine would loose power too, but also will run too rich (if it was jetted for lower altitudes). This can reduce power even more.
Yes, I didn't say it right. The ratio has to stay the same. The computer adjusts the fuel, not the ratio. I don't miss carbs at all. Back in '73, we moved from MI to AZ. When we pulled into Flagstaff, the car was buckin' and snortin'. We pulled into a gas station, back when they had mechanics, and the mechanic adjusted the carb enough to get us where we were going.
 

Stantdm

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Jan 23, 2020
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174
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Belle Fourche South Dakota
My 2012 with no bags will run at about 46 mpg if I stay around 70 mpg on pavement. I rode about 200 miles going 45 to 65 mph on gravel a couple of weeks ago and got 46 mph on that run. It was on heavily graveled logging roads and gravel county roads in SE Montana and western South Dakota. Some higher elevations but mostly around 3400 feet.

I like fuel injection but if you lose an injector you are stuck.
 

SHUMBA

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Dec 29, 2018
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1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
If you stand in front of an FJR and a Tenere, note the difference in aerodynamics. Probably have to visit a dealership to do this. Particularly at higher speeds, the FJR would burn less fuel per unit of distance. Some described the Tenere as a brick, ha ha, I think that has a whole lot to do with the fuel consumption, particularly at higher speeds. I have a tall Yammy windscreen on my Ten which adds to the problem of a higher fuel burn.
The display indicates your average fuel consumption (mine is set to litres/100 kilometers) tells lies, mine reads lower than actual. The other display tells you your actual consumption real time, so at 100 kph (60 mph) indicated burn is approximately 4.6 litres/100 km. At 140 kph, well, It's a totally different story, I've seen as high as 7 litres/100 km. If you are riding in hilly terrain, then, this will further increase your fuel burn. Oh, I just wish the world would go metric.
In a nutshell, if you're gonna be a bootin it, plan on shorter distances from each tank of petrol, er, gas.
I installed some panniers/tail box as I can't stand the look of the OEM shitty boxes.
I've posted these pictures elsewhere but in case you haven't seen them. Totally waterproof, tough plastic, simple open /close, Amazon total well under $300. Canadian or about $225. USD.
SHUMBA


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Tigerkf

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May 25, 2019
Messages
86
Location
USA
I always refill around 200 miles. I never got over 40 mpg on my S10. I'm not sure how people get such good mileage? Then again I just went by the computer and never calculated it by hand because I didn't really care.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
It's been my experience that the computer is overly optimistic by about 1mpg. My Jeep is the same way.
 
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