Fuel computer accuracy

[Rocky_imp]

As always ferret, you come up with some very interesting stuff

[Cormanus]

In a car, the instant fuel economy number is likely to be the amount of fuel you are using in real time. It goes up and down alarmingly depending on what you're doing. Accelerating, it is high. Slowing it reads zero and cruising, it's the sort of reasonable number you want to see.

But I've no idea if it's the same on the bike and I can't find a 2014 owner's manual on line anywhere.

[mininsx_imp]

They must have improved them because on my '08 Concours 14 and my 2010 VW GTI they're both never correct.

[Hittheroad_imp]

I just did 368 miles yesterday and the computer says 8.7 gallons used, 41.7 MPG. But my calculator says 42.3. This is the worst mileage I've ever had on my 14. But I was also going 75-80 MPH most of the time. The laws of Induced drag coefficient was my enemy!

[the Ferret]

Yea 80 mph really sucks the gas, but in the right circumstance can be totally worth it lol

[Hittheroad_imp]

I did find out a few things though.. I need a wind screen!

[Xyzzy_imp]

So far with six tanks my mileage computer has been within a few MPG. The other day, however, I purposely tried to get the best mileage I could on a ride. There was no wind and I stayed at 50-55MPH, just puttering around the farms near my house. The mileage computer reported 58MPG but my actual was 67.9MPG!

I am very careful with calculating mileage. I use the same pump and I park the bike so the sidestand rests on a little metal circle next to the pump. I fill the tank to where the gas just touches the lower lip of the filler neck. I never get the full six bars showing on the fuel gauge. It is always five.

I know all of that sounds tedious but I play it like a game. There are times I like to rip around like a whirling dervish and there are times I like to meander around and get lost. Fortunately where I live there is very rarely any traffic so I can ride at my own speed.

I run no-ethanol 87 octane gas. At 50-55MPH the bike is turning 2,250-2,500RPM. Even with hills and stuff the bike is very smooth and never lugs. I shift right before 3,000RPM and I try to keep the bike above 2,000RPM at all times. I was told once that 2,000RPM was the minimum speed for good oil circulation in the upper end of the engine. I don't know if that is true but it works for me.

My fuel stats: http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/honda/c...zzy/363319

[url=http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/honda/cb1100/2014/xyzzy/363319]

[Stichill]

It's not the computer, the import thing is, that the sensors, e.g. to measure current volume of fuel, current speed and covered distance have become much more accurate. The computer then just adds numbers.

+1

[Xyzzy_imp]

I accidentally had to push the range on my CB today. The reserve counter counted down to zero and then it displayed a dash, and I still pushed on. In the end, I went 205.4 miles and used 3.35 gallons of gas for an average of 61.3 miles per gallon. The bike computer told me that I had used 3.4 gallons so that seems very accurate. The service manual tells me the 2014 "standard" fuel tank is 3.86 gallons. I don't think I could have pushed it much further because I think the fuel pump is submerged in the tank and needs fuel to cool it. (I might be wrong on that.)

My ride today was a mix of stop-and-go traffic, 70MPH slabbing and 50-60MPH back roads. I am very satisfied with the fuel economy that I am getting. I notice that the bike needs 10-15 minutes to warm up before it starts getting really good economy as displayed by the instant fuel economy readout. I typically get 65MPG at 50MPH, 60MPG at 55MPH, 55MPG at 60MPH, 50MPG at 65MPH and 45MPG at 70MPH. (At 105MPH I get a steady 22MPG.)

[the Ferret]

Sounds about right..only I have NO idea about mileage at 105 mph lol

At the rally on the Cheohala and BRP I was running 45-50 mph and averaging about 63 mpg.