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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Weird... /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1115874816 Message started by WD on 05/11/05 at 22:13:36 |
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Title: Weird... Post by WD on 05/11/05 at 22:13:36 My bike has ALWAYS gotten 70 to 80+ miles per gallon. I commuted on it last week, and at the 94 mile mark, took on 1.8 gallons and still had empty space. I changed the oil and filter. Rode for a week. Didn't notice any leaks or abnormal smoking. I dumped in about 2 ounces of 2 stroke oil. Rode to the gas station, took on .482 gallons. It had been ridden about 4 miles since the 1.8 gallons went in. Got home, checked the oil level. Took 5 ounces to top it off. The front tire took on 30 POUNDS of air, it maxes out at 41 pounds, which is what I fill to. The rear took on at least 30 pounds, the thing maxes at 40 pounds. >:( Now I know why the oil and fuel consumption were in the toilet... Funny thing is, the bike rode AND handled fine... ??? What do you think, 8 years sufficient on the front tube/tire, 6 years on the rear tube? ;) Front wheel hasn't been off since I bought the bike in February 1998. Got a new rear tire in 2000, rear tube in 99 (I think, I ran over a broken beer bottle in Mobile Alabama). Not bad for a front tire that according to the weather checking was garbage in June 98. -WD |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by PerrydaSavage on 05/12/05 at 00:42:18 Wow WD ... you're runnin' some high tire pressures compaired to my LS (which still has OEM rubber BTW) ... my MOM and the sticker on the belt guard recommend 29psi front & 33psi rear for solo riding ... why such high pressures WD? i'm curious ... and I'm kinda surprised that ya didn't feel a dramatic change in handling with 'em down so much? |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Michael on 05/12/05 at 05:35:47 I am 200 pounds and I run 29 psi /front and 34 psi/back. I would think that having them both in the 40 psi range would be like driving a streetcar. Sounds like a rough ride to me. cheers Michael |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by klx650sm2002 on 05/12/05 at 07:15:27 I'm 200lbs also and I run 28 front and 30 rear but my front is bigger at 110, rear is 140. Clive W :D |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by WD on 05/12/05 at 07:17:05 I always fill to the highest recomended pressure on the sidewall. Regardless of brand. The tires and tubes last a lot longer, there is less heat build up in a full tire. Mine usually weather check to the point os scrap long before the tread wears out. My front tire is 8 years old, has 50% tread. The rear is at least 5 years old, has about 85-90% tread. It actually rides better with them full. At least to me, seeing as I have always ridden rigid Big Twins before I bought the Savage. With them as low as they were, it seemed to ride and handle fine. Remember, I've been out of the saddle for over 3 years until last week. -WD |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Ed_L. on 05/12/05 at 16:53:19 I would think the bike would be harder to handle at the higher pressures. I run 32 front and 36 rear but weigh in at 260 lbs. Tried 28 front and 30 for the rear, didn't like it, the bike felt like it wanted to drift all over the road and was scary in the turns. |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by bentwheel on 05/12/05 at 17:00:44 With those high pressures you will lessen your contact patch and incur premature centerline wear. |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by bentwheel on 05/12/05 at 17:24:16 WD wrote:
WHAT IS MY CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE? Note: The pressure on the tire wall is the maximum allowable air pressure, not the recommended pressure. Make sure to check your tire pressure once a month. At the same time inspect your tires for uneven or unusual wear. “Tire pressure will change with the seasons, so in winter months make sure they are not over-inflated.” - |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by bobo383 on 05/12/05 at 17:48:21 I worry about it when I see it going flat, or when the bike performance just sucks and I think it may be the problem. Other than that, I just ride the dang thing. Kind of like WD did at the opening of this thread. Way to go, WD! Too many cars, trucks, and bikes at my house to stress over the exact pressure. |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by WD on 05/13/05 at 07:27:40 After 3 plus years of being forced off the bike, I'd have ridden it on bare rims. ;D -WD |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Greg_650 on 05/13/05 at 10:23:50 WD wrote:
Huh? I don't get it, and I don't mean to be argumentative, but... You must have the only Savage to ever get 70-80 mpg. How you think you do that I have no idea. At this time, 1.8 gallons at 94 miles and you added almost 1/2 gallon after 96 miles. That is about 42 mpg and if you ride a Savage hard, it can be that low. What the heck is the idea of running your bike like a 2 stroke with an oil mix? Does this allow you to have "normal smoking"? Maybe this is why you have to change plugs so often. Do you also put oil in your lawn mower and auto gas? And Why? Why are you inflating your tires to level printed on the tires? That is the tire manufacturer's maximum and not the recommended pressure by Suzuki. That tire may be used on many different bikes with different weights, and therefore the pressures are different for each bike. You should be using the pressures printed on your steering head label. What do I think? Your front tire is old. If it isn't bald, then it's cracked and rotten. I've changed both of mine once already in 5 years, and they will be due again this fall if not sooner. As I said, I don't get it. Everyone understands the reason for using a manual and manufacturer's specs. We are constantly encouraging newbie riders to get a manual and follow the book. Sorry, but the wierdest part about this topic are the maintenance practices I'm reading. |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Paladin on 05/13/05 at 10:24:18 bentwheel wrote:
Car, truck, bike, whatever -- the answer to that is the same: depends. The big factor is the weight that the tire is carrying. The tire manufacture should be able to provide you with a chart of what pressure should be in the tire for what weight it is carrying. This is why the recomended tire pressure increases if you will be riding double. Smaller factors are what you are riding on and at what speed -- for sand you deflate a bit for traction, for speed you inflate a bit for reduced flex/heat. In the'70's in our PacBell splicer van we ran 5psi more pressure in the right rear versus the left rear to compensate for the weight of the 6.5KW Onan that sat over it. With the tires mis-matched inflation to match the mis-matched weight the handling improved to the point where my mate would chase sports cars on Mulhullen Drive. |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Greg_650 on 05/13/05 at 10:25:34 Paladin wrote:
EXACTLY!!! |
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Title: Re: Weird... Post by Paladin on 05/13/05 at 10:35:27 WD wrote:
higher tire inflation increases gas mileage, lower reduces, considerably if very low. Years ago, a regular rider, you likely commuted steady and smooth which increases gas mileage. Start/stop traffic decreases mileage, sometimes drastically. I'm riding mostly 0-45mph (and mostly with just a couple of seconds to cruise); a lot of start/stop city traffic. I'm putting in about 2.2 gallons every 100 miles; about 45 mpg. Sure beats 6-8 mpg in the Camaro. |
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