127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG

adg44 · Post by **adg44** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:10 pm

Isn't that pretty bad? Or is this average? I wasn't even pushing the bike much.

I was expecting closer to 45 MPG.

I'm running premium as recommended.

- Anthony

Hogan's Hero · Post by **Hogan's Hero** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Depends on way more information that you have given us. What kind of riding? I see a big difference around town v. higher speed roads. Tire pressure checked? When was your last tuneup? Temperature also affects mine more than I expected...both hot and cold.

It does sound a little low, but still in an acceptable range in my opinion.

adg44 · Post by **adg44** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:25 pm

Hogan's Hero wrote:Depends on way more information that you have given us. What kind of riding? I see a big difference around town v. higher speed roads. Tire pressure checked? When was your last tuneup? Temperature also affects mine more than I expected...both hot and cold.

It does sound a little low, but still in an acceptable range in my opinion.

True, it is all around town riding. Temps are around 80 degrees.

It had the 6,000 mile service done last year, and now it has 7,200 miles.

- Anthony

Hogan's Hero · Post by **Hogan's Hero** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:32 pm

There's your answer....you aren't riding enough

Seriously, it sounds like you need to take it on the road for a good long ride with another tank of fuel before you worry. 80 degrees, not so long after a tuneup shouldn't make that big of a difference. I think I need to go for a ride to test my own....

Post by **Biff's R** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:44 pm

A good quick ride outside of town should help, and it does not hurt to run some Seaform or Techron through the tank.

The 2 tanks I had over the weekend were both around 4.1 gal and 183 miles. So that would be around 44 or 45 mpg. Both were at a spirited pace on fun and twisty backroads.

adg44 · Post by **adg44** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:48 pm

I just put 60 miles on it today at highway speeds. We'll see how this tank does.

Thanks.

Post by **towerworker** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:09 pm

I have gotten as low as 35 and the high was 56. Avg around 48 to 50.

Wayne

Post by **Boxer** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:10 pm

Don't forget. If you fill up in a hurry and don't let your horse burp properly as you put in that last bit of gas, you won't get near as much down his goozle.

Check your mileage on 3 or 4 tanks full then take an average. Up in Virginia a few weeks ago, Beemeridian and I were running curves all day long and I stayed between 3K and 4K rpms all day. When I filled up I was amazed that I had gotten over 50mpg! Same thing the next day.
Down here in Georgia (lower elevation) I get around 46 or so consistently.
Lot of factors...

Airman · Post by **Airman** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:33 pm

That's not much worse then I get around town. It runs about 38 mpg usually. The route to the new job is almost all freeway now though, so I'll expect better mileage. (Well, if I can keep the speed down, nightime freeway drivers tend to average 75-80, and I have trouble not staying right with them.) I've tried to quit, but the RR runs really sweet at about 80 in 6th.

Post by **wncbmw** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:34 pm

I like the engine running around 4500 to 6000 on the twisties, so I won't be giving any pointers on how to get good mileage!

Highway miles on trips, I get between 45 and 50 though!

Samiam · Post by **Samiam** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:12 pm

Mine has been as high as 54 mpg the week I bought it to as low as 40 mpg running very hard (for me) in the Blue Ridge foothills. Lately, just going on local errands I seem to be averaging 47 mpg.

I have under 7,000 mi on mine so it's still breaking in. It seems to be getting better MPG and more power as the miles accumulate. Or, perhaps I'm becoming smoother and more confidant.

Post by **bransan** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:19 pm

towerworker wrote:I have gotten as low as 35 and the high was 56. Avg around 48 to 50.

Wayne

Ditto! I average 48, high as 57, low as 42.

Post by **duckdave** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:00 pm

I've been getting about 35 mpg around town, 45 highway. With my Aeroflow w/s I was getting 47 hwy (its off now, for summer).

My impression is the around-town milage suffers b/c of the short trips, time spent parked, idling, and stop-and-go driving.

Picked up my RR with 9600 miles on it; no idea of prior maintenance, no records. Haven't done anything, but change the oil/filter, top up the FD, and check everything else.

Coming up on my 12K tuneup w/in 3 more tanks. One of those tanks will be with Seafoam, the rest will include new sparks, valve adjust and TB synch (if I can figure those last two out). I'd like to be averaging regularly in the 40s and above, as others have posted. Fingers crossed.

fallingpines · Post by **fallingpines** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:50 pm

One thing to consider is what is your top gear ratio? My 04' R has the short 6th gear and I have to assume that it must get slightly less MPG cruising on the highway than R's with the tall 6th. I typically see 45 MPG in mixed freeway / city riding.

raybark · Post by **raybark** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:54 am

I just got my bike a few weeks ago - 2004 with 12,500 on the clock - and most of my riding (Philly suburbs) has been commuting. So far I've seen 45-49 mpg, which beats the crap out of my truck, and is a LOT more fun.

adg44 · Post by **adg44** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:50 am

fallingpines wrote:One thing to consider is what is your top gear ratio? My 04' R has the short 6th gear and I have to assume that it must get slightly less MPG cruising on the highway than R's with the tall 6th. I typically see 45 MPG in mixed freeway / city riding.

How would I check this? Doesn't the Rockster have shorter gears than the Roadster?

Post by **challey** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:48 am

Your mileage isn't out of line with what I get on my Roadster around town. On the highway though, things improve dramatically and I regularly get just over 50 mpg (US). I need to caveat this and say that this is recent and only happened when I got to around 20k on the clock. With only 12,500 miles on your bike, you still have a way to go before it's truly broken in.

Don't worry about the mileage, just keep filling it up and riding.

Charlie

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:10 pm

Out of curiosity, why would MPG improve with age? Less friction on the engine parts as the get more polished?

Unfortunately for me, my flaky fuel light means I can't take my mind off my mileage; when my odometer goes past 120, I can never tell if it's malfunctioning, or I'm just getting great fuel economy....

Post by **challey** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:54 pm

Out of curiosity, why would MPG improve with age? Less friction on the engine parts as the get more polished?

Yes, that's my understanding.

I should also point out that synthetic oil, which I didn't start to use until I hit about 15,000 miles, is also a contributor to 50+ mpg I'm now seeing on the highway. On the way home to PA from this year's MOA rally, I actually got to 196 miles on the odometer before the low fuel light came on. It was a good feeling to know that in a pinch, I could stretch things to 240 miles.

BTW Spookymonster, where in North Jersey are you? Neat Tony T / Tony L? I grew up in Sopranoland myself.

Charlie

Post by **boxermania** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:43 pm

The most I ever got was 48 mpg on 89 grade, that was when the bike was around 4K miles, without any mods and with me (marketing size) on board.

Once I moded the bike and at the latest iteration I was getting consistenly between 41 to 43 mpg irregardless if I would run it hard or leisurely (which I didn't do too often)

BTW, I always used 89, somtimes I tried 87 and she would ping slightly if I would lug the engine or get on the gas quickly.