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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> GAS GAS GAS /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1305980385 Message started by webhead on 05/21/11 at 05:19:44 |
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Title: GAS GAS GAS Post by webhead on 05/21/11 at 05:19:44 Ok so we are all hurting from our favorite 3 letter word. Does anyone have anyway of squeezing more MPG besides using our impressive driving habits? I know the bike is "supposed" to get 63 mpg, one of the reasons why I got it, but is there any mechanical or additives we can add to squeeze more our of this bike? Thanks |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by thumperclone on 05/21/11 at 05:31:02 change final ratio w/chain conversion |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by WD on 05/21/11 at 06:02:27 Start removing weight. Get skinnier tires. Reduce co-efficiency of drag. Don't ask me, mine is down into the mid-30s to low-40s mpg range. F'n high handlebars. With stock buckhorns I consistently got 75+ mpg commuting. Low to mid 80s mpg on the freeway. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Boofer on 05/21/11 at 06:57:31 web, Additives to increase mileage would cost more than the gas. I wasn't going to post this, but last week I rode in a group of 50 bikes. Police escort, staggered, mostly below 60mph, 118 mile loop. About halfway I had to gas up for peace of mind. At 63 miles by my odometer, it held 1.08 gallons. I had it pegged at 53-55 mpg for my usual style of riding. Is this possible? I don't believe this, and I don't expect you to. ;D |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Routy on 05/21/11 at 07:12:57 The bike will get 63 under certain conditions,..... running correctly 50 mph flat hiway no headwind max safe air pressure no hard throttling whatsoever Running correctly, all the bikes get the same mpg,.....its strictly gross weight, tire pressure, terrian, humidity and driving habits. My bike will never see over 50 ! |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by prechermike on 05/21/11 at 11:23:38 I have been making a 35 mile one way run for the past two weeks. Back roads, a little four lane, just barely into town. I am very pleasantly surprised that I got 60 mpg on one tank and about 55 mpg on another. Those just happened to be tanks that I knew what the mileage was when I filled up. I am a big boy and have alot of drag and alot to drag. I was very happy. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Boofer on 05/21/11 at 17:51:40 Just for the record...BTW, is there a record? Somebody needs to be keeping up with all this. Anyway, I weigh 202 today-192 two months ago. 6' tall. The LS suits me just fine. ;) |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Gyrobob on 05/22/11 at 15:42:34 The primary factors for mileage are drag, engine tune, and driving style. Additives and Ron Popeil gizmos don't do squat. In fact, they are more likely to hurt mileage than help it. For drag, make yourself as aerodynamic as possible, and keep the tires pumped up. With a Savage-style bike, we have the drag coefficient of a barn, so all you can do here is NOT do things like high bars, huge windshields, bags, foxtails, fat passengers, etc. If you want to look cool and lessen your aero-drag, build a RYCA CS-1 and put a mini-fairing on it. ;) Once you get above about 40 mph, aerodynamics is HUGE. A Savage is very draggy. For engine tune: -- Run it a little lean, but richer than the factory setup. -- Use clean paper air filters. K&N/oiled foam/little cones/etc., are fine for folks who want to spend money for partially filtered and choked up air, but the hot set up is to use a quality paper filter and change it often. -- If you really want to get anal about this, take the head off and have the passages tidied up with a three-angle valve job, etc. Look up “extrude hone” for the utmost in intake and exhaust clean-up. This gets more horespower AND better mileage. -- Use an exhaust system freer flowing than stock (but not TOO noisy), and don't forget to rejet the carb for the lowered back pressure. -- Use a name-brand spark plug, check it every few thousand miles just to make sure it is staying light brown and fairly clean. Keep the spark plug lead in good shape. -- Install a paper fuel filter. Any gorp in the carb is very likely to degrade mileage AND power. Often, today's gas is lousy with muck, alcohol, water, wrong octane, etc. If you use a filter that has a clear housing, you can see if the sediment level is starting to get harmful. -- Don't use midgrade gas. It is always the most stale of any of the grades, and the most likely to have muck in it. These bikes only need regular, anyway. Mid-grade and premium do NOT have any more power, in fact, they have less energy available per gallon than regular grade gas because they have more additives for detonation control. If any regular-gas vehicle you have starts in with detonation (pinging), something is wrong -- get it fixed, don't use premium. For driving style, just use a little common sense. Accelerate moderately, keep to the speed limits (when it is safe to do so). Try to keep a steady throttle hand. Simple stuff, but a pretty large factor. So, what would I recommend for the average Joe (stock LS650) who doesn’t want to mod his bike too much but who needs to stretch his gas dollar? Keep it tuned up, use regular gas, use the stock low bars (or even lower non-stock bars), no bags(use a backpack or tankbag), maybe install a small windshield tilted back (or small bullet fairing), keep the tires at recommended pressure, and ride it gently. Boring, eh?,.. but I’ll bet I could get 60-70 mpg this way on my commute from Newnan to the ATL airport. 10 miles city roads/20 miles I-85. The conundrum here is that you can either have good mileage or fun. A driving style that maximizes mileage means you ride your bike like your grandmother would drive her Camry. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by webhead on 05/22/11 at 17:23:30 .......wow |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/22/11 at 23:39:06 Either put a taller rear tire on or a shorter front, or do both. Goin downhill everywhere has to do something.. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Gyrobob on 05/23/11 at 05:15:15 yeah!,.. justin,.. also: lean forward with chin on tank, riding one-handed with the left arm tucked behind the back, feet on the swingarm footpegs, wearing a bicycle (streamlined) helmet probably a determined expression would help too, while holding your tongue out for concentration :P |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by bill67 on 05/23/11 at 05:21:28 I've had one fill up below 60mpg that was 58mpg average 63mpg.Left stockspacer in, 2 up on high speed jet and one on low speed.Interior of stock muffler drilled with 1/2 inch hole.Drive mostly back road up to 60mph.Hit the gas a lot in high gear but don't much in the lower gears. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by WD on 05/23/11 at 20:24:48 Plus 2 on both jets. Plus one plug heat range. Tires always at sidewall max, the ride still sucks with the Suzuki recommendations anyway. Open exhaust, with gutted glasspack and a "stick stopper" baffle. Air box door removed. Usually run a 90/90-19 front and 130/90 or 130/80-15 rear tire. 18 miles a day x 5 days = 90 miles. Bike usually took 1.2 gallons. On a run into central MS, in the summer, it was getting 105 miles or better for the same amount of fuel. Had stock buckhorns and rear fender back then and no front fender or saddlebags... |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by drums1 on 05/23/11 at 23:43:48 I run mine pretty much stock. Buckhorns being replaced with different buckhorns. Same height, wider grips. 3" risers installeed. Carb is getting fixed. Bad idle circuit, mixture screw froze at 1 1/2 turns out. Head gasket being replaced. New tires replacing bald ones. Forward controls going on asap. HD muffler--1/2" hole down the center. OE air filter. No other mods. I was averaging 53.5 mpg. I will update that after I get it back and install forward controls, and ride a few tanks worth. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by webhead on 05/24/11 at 03:56:14 Sounds good. Looks like you are giving her a much needed overhaul. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by Gyrobob on 05/24/11 at 04:43:46 6576320 wrote:
Run whatever pressure you want, but keep in mind the pressure shown on the sidewall has nothing to do with the pressure that works best or is the safest. That number on the sidewall is put there because the nanny-state feds order the tiremakers to do it. All it represents is whatever load the tire can carry at an arbitrary pressure. It is not: -- the max pressure you can use -- any kind of recommended pressure -- the best for that motorcycle -- the best mileage pressure -- the best safety pressure -- the best ride comfort pressure -- the pressure for the real max load -- the pressure for best handling It doesn't mean squat. All it means is that a certain load is safe to carry at some arbitrary pressure. I usually use as a starting point, a few psi more than the recommendations on the swingarm sticker,.. then go from there for the best average of wear and performance. Generally, the number ends up being nowhere near the pressure on the sidewall. I will admit, though, if you can accept a rock hard ride, and you don't mind the tires wearing out in a narrow strip right down the middle of the tire, and you don't scrape the footpegs much, the sidewall pressure will generate less rolling resistance, and, therefore, better mileage. |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by WD on 05/24/11 at 05:57:04 The stock shocks always gave it a lousy ride. Upgraded to Intruder shocks last year, 1000 fold improvement in ride. And much better ground clearance for the full rear fender. I've got a Dunlop for the rear now, just haven't installed it. Exact same tire came stock on Lisa's 800 Intruder, kept it at sidewall max and the tire wear was pretty even. Dunlop Qualifier, cruiser type, not the Qualifier sport type. Her Intruder sports the rear shocks from my Savage, battery box bottoms out on some speed bumps, but she loves the improved handling and lower stance. Fuel economy is a bit better with the lowering,but with 10" rise bars and a wimpshield... |
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Title: Re: GAS GAS GAS Post by webhead on 05/24/11 at 09:55:00 Wow! Everyone is like mad scientists with this stuff. It's Awesome to get so many different views. |
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