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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> mileage - my experience /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1119893172 Message started by mornhm on 06/27/05 at 10:26:12 |
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Title: mileage - my experience Post by mornhm on 06/27/05 at 10:26:12 just a little more information - this is of particular interest to me, since one of the major reasons I began riding this cycle full time was to reduce my gasoline consumption. Over the past 1351 miles I averaged 49.4 mpg. I did not keep track of the gas consumption exactly before the 600 service but it was probably a little higher since I hadn't done much in town riding and no interstate riding at that time. The mileage was mixed, rural, highway, interstate and (small) city driving. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 06/27/05 at 10:50:05 Is that completely stock? |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Paladin on 06/27/05 at 11:14:54 My riding is mostly the mean streets of L.A. -- some 55mph cruising, mostly start and stop. I get 45mpg or little less. I gas up every 100 miles on the 100 mile mark -- usually soon after going on reserve. Sure beats the 6-8 mpg the Camaro gets. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by mornhm on 06/27/05 at 11:27:45 Completely stock - purple :D, 2004 with just under 2000 miles on the odometer. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by bobo383 on 06/27/05 at 19:27:24 My Savage, even with the big Amal carb and Screamin'Eagle pipe, was getting upper 40s when I sold it. Worst ever was 37mpg (gas or oil, take your pick). I rode wide open throttle red light to red light, nearly the whole tank. I was checking out the main jet on the 38mm Amal. I think I used as much oil as fuel. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by sluggo on 06/27/05 at 19:32:37 thumper is a 2004 purple, and in the early stages that was a milage figure i achieved. while still in stock condition i do get in the low 40's but i can be a little heavy on the throttle going up through the gears. i did a 37mpg trip on the first leg of the mountain run, i did that the day before mostly uphill against a heavy wind. so bottom line as the commercial says your actual milage will vary. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by short round on 06/29/05 at 15:51:05 I've been getting about 53 while on the road with few stops and speeds 60 - 65. It's a stock '04 with windshield and saddlebags. I can go 110 miles before hitting reserve. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by SavageDude on 06/29/05 at 18:05:17 50-55 on average with mixed driving 40,60, and 75 mph |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by shawn_b on 07/01/05 at 12:07:24 I get around 50 before i hit the reserve.almost all city driving maybe 5 min on the highway shawn |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by DavidV on 07/01/05 at 21:44:14 Got 62 mpg out of my last tank. No highway rides, but a lot of two-lane 50 mph roads. Don't have a tach, so I'm probably shifting early. Bike is hard to start, obviously needs a tuneup. Gonna pick a day and do all the wrenching at once. She's stone stock now, with 8K miles. No windshield, either. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 07/03/05 at 10:40:17 DavidV wrote:
If you haven't already, try half-choke to start and give it about 30-45 seconds at that before releasing the choke. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by DavidV on 07/03/05 at 10:51:32 I've tried half and full-choke. It needs to be cranked awhile (20 sec or so) before it starts. Seems to run okay. Hopefully it'll be better after a tuneup. I've only had it a month, and I assume that the previous owner didn't do much maintenance, so I'm gathering parts now. Thanks for the help. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 07/03/05 at 11:02:49 As cheap and easy as it is and for the general peace of mind, be sure to replace the vacuum and fuel lines when you do it. You may also want to pop an in-line fuel filter into the line... another cheap an easy addition to peace of mind. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by WD on 07/03/05 at 13:31:09 If it doesn't catch within 5 revolutions, change your spark plug. Savage eats sparkplugs like a fat toddler eats M&Ms. Since new, I've had to swap the plug out at roughly 3 months riding time, regardless of the mileage. Electrode tips seem to erode pretty quickly in a lean burn head design. I had a car that was the same way (Dodge with lean burn 318). My bike is getting hard to start and is smoking like a VW Rabbit with the choke on the first notch. Time for a new plug (again). Of course, mine went from too lean to a hair rich, the pipe is going from yellow/blue/purple back to chrome (guess the mix is okay now if it's running that cool). Mileage is in the low 50s now as well. -WD |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Bluejeanz on 07/03/05 at 17:13:59 Just got home from a 305 mile road-trip and the Savage averaged 58 mpg and the Intruder 49 mpg. This was no interstate and very little in town....mostly open highway at 50-60 mph. I was real pleased with the performance of both bikes. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by PerrydaSavage on 07/07/05 at 05:31:15 Checked my mileage last evening and as near as I could determine, she returned approx. 64mpg (based on U.S. gallons). My LS is completely stock; new spark plug last April, original air filter, fuel lines, etc. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/08/05 at 11:45:01 I average 57 MPG all the time. Been as low as 40 once and occassionally 60, but I can easily expect about 120 before reserve. My spark plug is 2 years old too. No starting trouble, no smoke, and runs fine. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 07/08/05 at 11:54:10 I put an iridium plug in last November, I think and it's just peachy. I also average 57 with no smoke, no starting trouble and she runs fine. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/08/05 at 12:09:09 Savage_Rob wrote:
There you go ;D |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by sluggo on 07/08/05 at 13:03:07 43.6 on my last tank. but then again i do ride hard, alot of full throttle up through the gears. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/08/05 at 17:05:35 I am usually shifting at around 3.5 - 4K. Only if needing to work through traffic situations do I wind it tighter than that. Which just proves that higher RPMs will lower the MPG with a thumper.... |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by sluggo on 07/08/05 at 17:27:40 Greg_650 wrote:
that is true it does lower the mpg, but it does raise the excitment level. ;D |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/09/05 at 07:22:25 I just mention it, because everyone (especially new riders) wonders why their mileage is different. Sometimes they wonder if something is wrong with their bike because their mileage isn't as good as someone else's....and the bottom line is RPMs..... Some riders tend to ride in lower gears in traffic and around town....I heard of one rider that couldn't go around corners in higher than 1st gear, for example. So, my point is that we can compare our MPG figures all day, but they are useless if we don't compare riding habits too. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 07/09/05 at 14:35:07 Yup. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Paladin on 07/09/05 at 17:50:24 It is not just RPMs. I manage to get my 45 mpg without resorting to high RPMs. I ride local streets, much stop and GO with a three position throttle. Closed, wide open, steady cruising. Today's lake trip I got 57 mpg going south on highway 1 -- mostly 50 ish, not too many stoplights. The run home was inland, heavier traffic, more stop and go, dropping to 53 mpg. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/10/05 at 07:56:27 Paladin wrote:
I call "high RPMs" a higher relative RPM range that some riders tend to shift all gears (or if a rider prefers to run along in a lower gear around town). You state that it isn't just RPMs...so, what is it? You got 45, 53, and the best at 57 with a steady throttle at 50ish. 50ish is in the RPM range of 3500 to 4000, and you just proved my point on the same bike that I ride. The scale is kinda linear. Take 2 riders side by side, and if one rider uses higher RPMs to go the same distance, then his mileage will be lower. If one rider shifts at 3000 and the other shifts at 4000, the latter will have the lower MPG. It is just relative to rider habits. Think of it this way. Most of us also drive cars with automatic transmissions that all generally shift at the same RPM point all the time. That usually produces very consistent MPG figures, which the manufacturer usually lists as part of the vehicle specs. Any wonder why Suzuki doesn't list MPG specs for the Savage? It is because of rider shifting habits.... I also know that when the spouse and I ride together, she is almost always the first one to go on Reserve....about 10 miles before me. We always stop for gas and fill-up at the same time...and she always needs just a few 10ths of a gallon more gas then I do....rider habits is the reason. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Paladin on 07/10/05 at 08:58:17 Greg_650 wrote:
Right, and the best mileage was at the highest RPMs. But it was steady state cruising. As I said: "I manage to get my 45 mpg without resorting to high RPMs. I ride local streets, much stop and GO with a three position throttle. Closed, wide open, steady cruising." (empahsis addded) Around town I am usually into top gear by 35 mph -- WOT. 35 is also the max speed limit for most of my commute. We all have our bad habits. Acceleration to high RPM is not one of mine. Acceleration at wide open throttle is. I like the sound and feel of the THUMP THUMP THUMP, not to mention I refuse to block traffic. One of my peeves in the Camaro was when sitting first at a light some biker would split lanes and pull in front of me, only to dawdle away when the light changed. I even had a RUB on a Harley pull next to me in the parking lane, only to pace me when the light changed 'til he ran out of lane and pulled behind my '03 standard Beetle. High RPMs lowers gas mileage. Wide Open Throttle lowers gas mileage. To really bring it down you need to do both, which is not easy on city streets with the Savage. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Savage_Rob on 07/10/05 at 09:47:59 I think think the point is that there's a "sweet-spot" in each gear and one that is most efficient overall for the bike. Any time you deviate from those, you lose efficiency. Depending upon riding style and type of driving it will vary. Of course, this excludes other factors such as altitude, humidity, wind and condition of and mods to the bike. I agree that without taking all of this "stuff" into account, we're just twisting in the wind comparing mileages. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/10/05 at 10:12:29 Paladin wrote:
Your steady state cruising is not relatively high RPMs. Definitely not at 50 MPH. What I meant by high RPMs is when you are maintaining a higher engine speed to keep a higher torque level at the rear wheel. Some riders do that around town too....always shifting in the peak torque range. Sorta like doing 35 in 3rd rather than in 4th. More engine speed and less relative rear wheel speed. Quote:
And if you'll note...auto manufacturers state "city" and "highway" mileage figures....the variable that makes that difference is Idle Time. My guess is that you are shooting your MPG figures because you are sitting at traffic lights alot. Quote:
How do you do wide open to 35 MPH in 5th gear? A rather short thrill, isn't it? Besides, you have a "CV carb". Engine speed (and vacuum) determines the opening of the needle and main jet. You can WOT the throttle plate (butterfly) all you want, but it is RPMs (and vacuum) that delivers the gas...."constant velocity". Quote:
I wasn't attempting to determine any bad habit ::) Quote:
Again...What I was saying is "higher relative RPMs" for your shift points (emphasis added). Aside from that, we are discussing apples and oranges. Let's face it, most of us ride the same bike. In spite of some minor changes like pipes and jets (Lancer excluded), we all have the same combustion area, gear ratios, tires, and weight. If all of us had the same riding habits, then we'd all get the same mileage. The only real purpose of this topic is to discuss why we are different. BTW - I guess we need to hear from some of the guys with Amal carbs. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Greg_650 on 07/10/05 at 10:27:24 Savage_Rob wrote:
We must have been responding at the same time :) ....and BTW....even with my pipe, carb, and weight changes, my mileage is essentially the same as when I got her new. So, I feel fairly confident that while I richened the jetting, I also maintained my efficiency. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by PerrydaSavage on 07/12/05 at 12:03:35 :oGuys (n' gals) ... I don't believe it ... my latest milage figures ... no way they can be this good?? Total distance Rode on Saturday's (July 9th) group ride = 317km (198mi) @ 7.743 litres (2.045 US gallons) fuel consumed. Works out to an astonishing 96mpg!! No way ... my old Rebel couldn't get that ... Riding was mostly on a rural costal 2-lane at 50-60kph (30-40mph) with a brief stint during the return leg on a secondary highway at 80kph (50mph) ... easy throttle & braking, laid-back riding ... mostly 2nd, 3rd & 4th gear. Gotta say, this kinda gas milage seems unbelievable for a 650cc Bike?? |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by Paladin on 07/12/05 at 12:19:00 You don't look to block a lot of wind or add excess ballast, chuffing along at 30-40mph will produce remarkable mileage. My old GS450E produced 80mpg from S.F. to Seatle to L.A. running mostly 45-55 mph. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by sluggo on 07/12/05 at 12:37:11 as i've stated your milage may vary 8) and boy howdy does it. |
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Title: Re: mileage - my experience Post by diesel on 07/12/05 at 21:46:21 ioi mi. today, 1.6 gal. = 62 mpg. mostly short shifting and 35 to 55, back 2 lane roads. bike only has 2200 mi. on it. Bill aka diesel |
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