Brake warning light & fuel mileage

[ron prior]

Took my recently bought "04" Roadster for a 300mi ride this weekend. It has 26000,mi on it. It ran great, I really like the new Conti-Attack tires.

Anyway, on the return leg, I noticed about every-other time I'd start the motorcycle, the brake warning light would come on. Not the one that says break failure, but the one with emergency triangle in it....one on the left.

Brakes worked fine, nice solid pedal,& lever, I could still hear the servo working?...Just wondered if any others have experienced that , & or have any ideas.

Also. Fuel light came on at about 165 mi, & so far averaged about 41-42 MPG...sound about right?

IIRC..my R1100RS "99" got better mileage, in the upper 40s?

Thanks,Ron

[sweatmark]

Check your brake/tail lamp. The bulb is part of the iABS self-check process, which also includes the brake switch circuits, iABS servo unit's brake fluid reservoir levels, and battery voltage. Any of them could trigger an iABS fault.

Your bike's fuel efficiency sounds OK, comparable with my Rockster's.

[ron prior]

Sweatmark,...Ah-ha! as they say.

Friday I had my Givi trunk on, but forgot to remove the contact cover for the stop lights....no warning light.

Saturday I remembered & removed the cover, giving me stop lights in the trunk.....& the warning light?

Got home & took off the trunk put it in the closet, went for a short ride & dinner last night...no warning light!

I have two other accessory tail/stop lamps on the motorcycle. I guess all five stop lights changes the resistance enough to have an effect on the system??

About the mileage, I think the "RS" is a bit more aerodynamic than the Roadster...hence the the difference in mileage?

That & 5 years design difference, 50 CCs etc....

Thanks, Ron

[duegi]

Your mileage seems to agree with mine; MPG low to mid 40's (64K) on the super slab @ 75-85 or (120-135K) wind dependant. mid 40's-50 (72-80K) on two lanes @ 65-75 or (105-120K) wind dependant.

[ron prior]

Your mileage seems to agree with mine; MPG low to mid 40's (64K) on the super slab @ 75-85 or (120-135K) wind dependant. mid 40's-50 (72-80K) on two lanes @ 65-75 or (105-120K) wind dependant.

That's about where my "RS" was. This weekend I was on all two-lane, 45-55MPH, & the Roadster seems to get a bit less.

Not complaining, & who knows it may improve a-bit. The motorcycle sat for a couple of years before I aquired it.

and again my body size / shape isn't exactly aerodynamic.....

Ron

[bergj1986]

MPG sounds about the same as mine, fuel light will come on around and my last fill up at 177 had the tank nearly empty, filled up with 4.8 gallons.

Taking the bike to Biketoberfest this weekend, mostly highway riding, curious to see what the mileage figures will show.

[ron prior]

MPG sounds about the same as mine, fuel light will come on around and my last fill up at 177 had the tank nearly empty, filled up with 4.8 gallons.

Taking the bike to Biketoberfest this weekend, mostly highway riding, curious to see what the mileage figures will show.

My Light came on @ 166, miles took 4.0 gal...they hold what? 5.5 so 200 isn't out of the question. The only place I've sweated for gas was in remote areas out west.

Enjoy your trip. I thought about going, but last time I did [07]? I had cold rain most of the way home to Ohio.

[Jose]

Hi. Yeah my fuel light usually comes on between 160 and 170 miles. Over here (U.K.) we use real gallons as opposed to U.S. ones so a calculation to compare mpg is required, but what you're getting seems to be about right. Obviously, altering riding style, luggage, pillion or route all have the potential to influence, but my light never comes on before 160 and has always come on by 190 miles. Last July I rode 3000 miles through France and Spain including crossing the Pyrenees twice as well as a few days of riding super bendy minor roads in the Spanish Sierras and surprisingly my mpg didn't fluctuate much at all. I was fully loaded with camping gear and riding solo on the way down, and similarly loaded but with the addition of a passenger on the way back.
I did less spirited riding on the way back because of my passenger and probably a bit more motorway but I don't tend to ride above 80 on the motorway because despite having a BMW touring windscreen, I find the turbulence too problematic. It is the single thing I dislike about ownership. I am more than happy with the MPG.

All the best.