extreme range: maximum range and poorest range

[dave]

I have kept an accurate record of my fuel mileage and miles between fill-ups since new on my 2014 Dlx. After 8,900 miles:
Ave mpg = 46.53
Ave distance between fill-ups = 159
Highest mpg = 53.33
Lowest mpg = 40.79

I ride this bike easy, and the majority of miles are back road cruising, with some interstate thrown in, usually with the wife on the back.
I wont go in circles here. It is just that when I am doing 70mph, I will use the top gear - whatever it is. On a CB with 5 gears, the rpm is 4000. The 6 gear TX turns 3300 rpm at 70mph.

What is "TX"?

[Cormanus]

My theoretical max on the Mitta Mitta trip was about 300 km (187 miles)on a tank, I did not run it dry bit of a distance between servos here, but crunched the number when I got home.

I usually start looking for a refill at 250 km on the trip meter or when the need for tea needs to be satisfied, also range limited by a decaying body.

Regards

Blimey! I reckon 250 kms is the absolute limit on my 2011 bike. I've never gone past the mid 230s.

[Riko_imp]

I have kept an accurate record of my fuel mileage and miles between fill-ups since new on my 2014 Dlx. After 8,900 miles:
Ave mpg = 46.53
Ave distance between fill-ups = 159
Highest mpg = 53.33
Lowest mpg = 40.79

I ride this bike easy, and the majority of miles are back road cruising, with some interstate thrown in, usually with the wife on the back.
I wont go in circles here. It is just that when I am doing 70mph, I will use the top gear - whatever it is. On a CB with 5 gears, the rpm is 4000. The 6 gear TX turns 3300 rpm at 70mph.

What is "TX"?

hmm those are impressive figures!

[CB4ME_imp]

My worst is 37.5 mpg and best is 42mpg. My relatively poor mileage is not entirely due to a heavy throttle but also includes a lot of time on dirt and gravel roads in 2nd and 3rd gear. I rarely do 20 miles straight of high gear cruising.

[Tim_in_AZ_imp]

Guessing TX is transmission

[rboe]

On my Death Valley trip I had a low of 39.08mpg, a high of 61.22, but an average of only 47.83.

The low was due to really bad wind. The high, just puttering around Death Valley and about 20 miles of coasting. Serious. Down from Dante's View. It's a thing they do - I sucked at it.

She has about 4400 miles, I'm expecting the mileage to improve. Hoping too.

[noroomtomove]

Blimey here are the figures.

From my trip to Mitta Mitta.

"For those that like the fuel stat's I filled up to the bottom of the filler neck from a jerry can at home and set the trip meter to zero. Purchase the fuel below after 302 km journey to Mitta Mitta refueling to the same datum on the centre stand.

Bairnsdale 3.73l @ $1.34 per liter cost $5.00 (07:49 local)
Omeo 5.40l @ $1.39 per liter cost $7.50 (09:52 local)
Mitta Mitta 4.84l @ $1.55 per liter cost $7.50 (12:23 local)
Total 13.97l for a cost of $20.00"

As those of you that have read my posts know I don't go for the keeping of records usually but as one of you brought up the whole maximum distance - range some time ago I kept the fuel receipt on this Mitta Mitta trip and crunched the numbers when I got home.

302 km used 13.97 l. even kept the receipts IBA style.

Yesterday rode to the Mornington Peninsula.

On Thursday if the planets align hope to ride from home to Orbost - Delegate - Bombala - Cann River - Orbost and back home. That will be me done till after Christmas, might just sneak in one more Licola run.

All the Best and regards.

[Riko_imp]

I'd be glad if I could ride 302 km on a full tank!
I used to refill my 16 liter capacity burgman at around 220 km...

[Riko_imp]

Okay I managed to ride for 187 miles or so on a full tank, (including the loss of fuel after the fuel line incident), so all in all I am happy with that range.
I bet without the incident it would be more or less around 200miles, before I would be thinking about a refill.

However, my question is, is it normal the bikes starts to judder (like its searching for fuel, it didn't react well on the gas input) when the display shows a remaining fuel capacity of 3.1 litres? thats about 0.8 gallons.

What kinda bothered me was the indicated remaining distance, it displayed 59 km (thats 36 miles) depending on the riding style of the moment of course.
But if that is the case, why did the bike already start to judder on me?

I assume that remaining distance is not accurate and is dependant on the riding style of the moment, so that can vary.
But surely the remaining amount of fuel is correct?
The manual says, that if that is displayed, thats actually the reserve amount of fuel...dunno what that means, but surely when you got still 3.1 litres left (0.8 gallons), the bike shouldn't be juddering, or should it?

This is my first time I rode the bike till the fueltank was almost empty, so I have no idea what the limits are.
On my Burgman I did a similar test and had a small 3 litre pack with me, wich allowed me to ride the bike till I was literally out of fuel

But judder respons with 3.1 litres left, is this normal and did I refuel a bit too early or did I refuel at the right moment I wonder
I actually wanted to ride till I reached 320 km (200 miles)


Thx!

[the Ferret]

No the bike should not react differently at all no matter how much or how little fuel it has in it until it runs out completely.

As far as refilling too early or too late, again I suggest you use one of your trip meters to see how far you go until you really need to refuel. Use A or B and zero it when you fill up. Go 150 miles and fill up and see how much fuel you used. If less than 3.9 gals, you can go further. Zero trip meter again. Go 175 miles this time and fill up. Still not use the 3.9 gals? You can go further. Zero meter. Repeat. When you get down to filling up and it takes 3.4 gals (leaving 1/2 gallon left... approx. 20 miles or so) that is as far as I would push it unless it's an emergency. Then you will KNOW if it's too early or too late to get gas.

BTW IMO there is no too early, but there is a too late. Pushing is not fun.

there is no definitive answer on longest range and shortest range because all that depends on the rider, how aggressive he is, where he is riding what rpm range he uses, how he uses the gearbox etc. I have seen average fuel consumptions on this board from high 30's to low 60's and given that there is no simple or definitive answer to your question