Little Changes, Big Mileage

[buzzbomb]

I've been tracking my MPG on fuelly since I bought my beautiful girl. It amazes me what a difference some weight makes.

I'm just over 5'9" and about 140lbs. On the chart below, my mileage changes drastically. The low parts are when my 75lb son is riding with me. The high parts are just me, and all highway for long periods. Generally on my way to Rockingham, to run the twisties, and back.

The middle is my normal commuting mpg. I'm generally pretty easy on the throttle, preferring smooth shifting over top torque. I greatly reduce my acceleration when my son is on pillion, and I sometimes ride pretty hard when he's not.

It's about a 10mpg range, plus or minus. I just thought it was really interesting, and wanted to share it. Cheers.

 

[blkbrd]

I tend to use less fuel when my wife is on the back. I think we can all figure that one out!! Last weekend is the proof on my fuelly. Filled up on Fri. May 11, wife and I did quite a bit of riding on the weekend. Then filled up again on Mon. May 14. Got 47 MPG with passenger!!

 

[cloudfire]

I really don't know how both of you (or all the others on the forum) are getting such great gas mileage. Maybe its because my commute is only about 5 miles, but the best i've gotten so far is 37 mpg and I'm usually pretty soft on the throttle, shifting at 5-7k (its hard to do much more on an army post with red lights and MP's and still stay of the blotter). Is there something I should check on the bike to see why I'm getting such low mpg compared to others?

I've tried running 87 and 93 octane. (Before any of you jump on me for the 93, I know the facts and the fact of the matter is that our bikes have the compression ratio to make use of 93 whether the manual says to or not. Ok, off soap box). I've also dropped weight with a TBR and FE but I've also got Marthy's Maps in my PCV. I've got a switch to go back and forth between his touring map and sport map and quite honestly have not seen much of a difference mpg wise.

So, all that to say, where is my mpg???

 

[blkbrd]

If you are giving the bike a 5 min. warmup each way for this 5 mile commute, I'd say your fuel economy will suck. Other than that, I'm sure the bike is bound to use more fuel with an exhaust and fuel controller. Take it out and burn close to an entire tank in a day, and see what you get then. Also check tire pressure and make sure you don't have a dragging brake. If there's no black smoke, all of the fuel going into the motor is being burned.

 

[6R Blackout]

Ok so what are we supposed to be running, octane wise by the book! I use 93 no ethanol fuel. (lost my owners manual). Anyways I get 42-44 mpg if I am easy on her shifting as some 5-7rpm. Now if I ride her like I stole her I get about 32-36. Now these numbers are about average that's not pin point accurate, but I do see a big drop the harder I ride, I do have aftermarket exhaust and fuel controller. Another thing I never have a passenger so I can rule that out, cause the girlfriend rides her own scooter! But I would like to know if the high octane fuel is not needed cause I will drop that but I always put no ethanol fuel I am lucky there is a place not far from my house that still sells it! It is a bit higher but worth it to put in my bike so I don't have any future mechanical problems


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

 

[JSP]

Dang, I manage a little over 40 mpg on the R6...

 

[JSP]

Ok so what are we supposed to be running, octane wise by the book! I use 93 no ethanol fuel. (lost my owners manual). Anyways I get 42-44 mpg if I am easy on her shifting as some 5-7rpm. Now if I ride her like I stole her I get about 32-36. Now these numbers are about average that's not pin point accurate, but I do see a big drop the harder I ride, I do have aftermarket exhaust and fuel controller. Another thing I never have a passenger so I can rule that out, cause the girlfriend rides her own scooter! But I would like to know if the high octane fuel is not needed cause I will drop that but I always put no ethanol fuel I am lucky there is a place not far from my house that still sells it! It is a bit higher but worth it to put in my bike so I don't have any future mechanical problems


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

Its not needed.

86 octane. Higher octane only needed if pinging occurs.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/service/manuals/2009/LIT-11626-22-77_FZ6R_1661.pdf

But... You are using non-ethanol right now and going to ethanol will hurt your mpg a little. At least thats how the non-ethanol stations are here. Only premium is non-ethanol.

 

[Spunky99]

I'm 220 lb 5'11" and I get 34.5 around town driving like a squid and just under 40 on the freeway driving like a squid....Maybe if I drove very carefully I could get it up to 42 but that's no fun

 

[Gilbuddy]

I average about 3-4 mpg less when using 86 octane instead of 92. I'm not sure if the 92 is ethanol free, though.

 

[Spunky99]

I average about 3-4 mpg less when using 86 octane instead of 92. I'm not sure if the 92 is ethanol free, though.

Unless you are buying CFN brand fuel from Carson Oil Company at 4955 Sw Western Ave., you are using gasoline with ethanol. I won't get into the octane argument but you are lucky at least to have some options for non-ethanol fuel in OR.

Ethanol-free gas stations in OR

The closest non-ethanol gasoline I can buy is 551 miles away from me.

 

[JSP]

I'm required to use premium so its great to have a shell station with a non ethanol pump right by my house. Definite gain in mpg with non ethanol.

 

[6R Blackout]

Its not needed.

86 octane. Higher octane only needed if pinging occurs.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/service/manuals/2009/LIT-11626-22-77_FZ6R_1661.pdf

But... You are using non-ethanol right now and going to ethanol will hurt your mpg a little. At least thats how the non-ethanol stations are here. Only premium is non-ethanol.

Well I always go to the same station and it is no ethanol from 86-93 octane. I don't have any pinging but I have used high octane no ethanol fuel from day 1. If 93 is not required than I will start going to 86 octane no ethanol! I am a little gun shy to go from high octane to low octane I hope that won't hurt anything switching octane levels.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

 

[JSP]

Well I always go to the same station and it is no ethanol from 86-93 octane. I don't have any pinging but I have used high octane no ethanol fuel from day 1. If 93 is not required than I will start going to 86 octane no ethanol! I am a little gun shy to go from high octane to low octane I hope that won't hurt anything switching octane levels.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

Wont hurt anything.

 

[cloudfire]

Wow, didn't mean to hijack the thread and make it about octane. I do get better mpg with 93 though. I know ethanol in the fuel definitely makes a difference but I don't have much choice around here. Is everyone that's getting in the 40's using non-ethanol fuel?

The 5 min warm-up is definitely sucking the fuel for a 5 mile ride. I have gone on a 3 hr ride and got about 37 mpg but I was riding it pretty hard.

I just want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the bike that would make the mpg so low. Is there anything mechanical I should check?

 

[cdsdave]

Last fill up was 1.77 gallons in 159 miles.

 

[nismos14]

Last fill up was 1.77 gallons in 159 miles.

Almost 90 mpg?? Are you accellerating at all?



With a TBR and JB, wouldn't it make sense to run a higher octane?

 

[MistahT]

I really don't know how both of you (or all the others on the forum) are getting such great gas mileage. Maybe its because my commute is only about 5 miles, but the best i've gotten so far is 37 mpg and I'm usually pretty soft on the throttle, shifting at 5-7k (its hard to do much more on an army post with red lights and MP's and still stay of the blotter). Is there something I should check on the bike to see why I'm getting such low mpg compared to others?

I've tried running 87 and 93 octane. (Before any of you jump on me for the 93, I know the facts and the fact of the matter is that our bikes have the compression ratio to make use of 93 whether the manual says to or not. Ok, off soap box). I've also dropped weight with a TBR and FE but I've also got Marthy's Maps in my PCV. I've got a switch to go back and forth between his touring map and sport map and quite honestly have not seen much of a difference mpg wise.

So, all that to say, where is my mpg???

My wife finally gave me the green light on getting my FZ-6R (been waiting a few years, long story, now is not the time) BUT my buddy and I both have Suzuki GS500s. My commute is about 5 miles and his is about 20. Last time we filled up I was getting about 35-40 miles per gallon and he was just under 60. It's not you, it's the commute.

On looooong rides I get just over 50mpg btw.

 

[cdsdave]

Almost 90 mpg?? Are you accellerating at all?

My bad, I meant to say 2.77 gallons in 159 miles so over 57 mpg. And that was in perfect conditions with no wind, very little stopping, tucking under the wind screen, and going the speed limit, a concept that the rook has no idea what that means.

 

[fltdriver]

5 min commute in town and 5 min commute on highway are two completely different ballparks when in comes to MPG.
my commute:
2.5 miles @40mph across town but only one or two stops
17 miles @73mph highway
4 miles @40mph across town with four or five stops

Average mpg 47

my days off
170 miles @70+ with one or two stops/starts

Averag mpg 54

I'm sure if most of my time was spent with stop and go riding that my mpg would be below 40

 

[CtrlAltDl]

I commute about 95% of the time on my 6R and I'm 215lbs @ 5'11". My commute is 12 miles in heavy traffic and about 2-5 miles, depending on the route, is in city traffic.

I've tracked all 11K+ miles on my FZ6R.

I'm averaging 42MPG:
My Commuter (Yamaha FZ6R) All Fuel-ups | Fuelly