SuzukiSavage.com - Reserve tank question.....

Trump2Thump

YaBB Newbies

Offline

Gabba Gabba Hey!!!

Posts: 42
Space Coast of Florida
Gender: male

Reserve tank question.....
03/30/05 at 19:44:12

I've put 400 miles on my 88 Savage in my first week here in the Florida sunshine.... i don't miss the Boston traffic nightmares as my commute to work is now 20 minutes down country lanes lined with palm trees..... i need to do some routine maintenance, change oil and filters, tune-up, that kind of thing, but this bike is everything i had read it would be on this site and i absolutely love her..... yup, my butt goes numb after 45 minutes in the saddle and i get that one gunshot backfire when i turn her off but it just sounds so freakin' cool..... it only ever backfires other than that when the tank is low so those backfires combined with the loss of power lets me reach down to switch to reserve without even stopping...... i'm getting around 100 miles before switching to reserve and cruise to the first available gas station, but my question is does that mileage sound about right and roughly how many more miles should i expect on the reserve before i'd be pushing 350 pounds down the road?? even at these ridiculous gas prices we're filling the tank for 5 bucks...... Sweeeeet........ any other quirks or general tips on this beautiful machine would be greatly appreciated.......

Gabba Gabba Hey!!!!

Back to top

I'm livin' and dyin' in 3/4 time.....

IP Logged

Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #1 - 03/30/05 at 19:47:37 I get between 100 and 120 before switching to reserve and never think about it. It's a lot cheaper than the car. PS- I saw less than that one time after some serious mountain riding 8)
Back to top	IP Logged

sluggo

Serious Thumper
ModSquad

Offline

big singles lead,
twins follow the
pack

Posts: 4744
moses lake washington
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #2 - 03/30/05 at 21:24:51

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

I get between 100 and 120 before switching to reserve and never think about it. It's a lot cheaper than the car.

PS- I saw less than that one time after some serious mountain riding 8)

i've ran dry twice, once on purpose with a gallon can to see how far. and once just trying to push it the last 2 miles home. here's what i come up with,

my machine goes on reserve at about 90 miles. on the test at 55 on county roads i got 34 miles before dry
pushing my luck at 70mph slight wind 29miles. generally i'll plan on 25 at both conditions.

a cheap trip meter is a ulta small 3 digit luggage lock. set the miles each time you fill up. i put mine on the zipp tie that hold wire bundle to handle bar.

mines a 2004 the best way for you to know it strap a can and run here dry. just set to prime to restart.

Back to top

SINGLES RULE, HARLEYS DROOL

IP Logged

WD

Serious Thumper
2005 No Login

Offline

Professional
"scooter
trash".

Posts: 5207
Rosemark TN
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #3 - 03/30/05 at 21:37:28

Man, how can you guys get such crappy mileage? I've never gotten less than 70mpg, even when I was breaking in the engine! Mine must be a fluke... Makes me wonder though, am I doing something right (for a change), or are you guys just throttle happy? I do run the engine on the lean side though...open exhaust (glasspack is gutted), stock spacer, stock jets, stock (original) air filter (filthy), air screw out two turns over stock. Last time I rode it consistently, was knocking on 80 mpg commuting. Hmmm... ???
-WD

Back to top

On 2 wheels since 7/87

Black and Chrome 2003 1950s style custom

IP Logged

sluggo

Serious Thumper
ModSquad

Offline

big singles lead,
twins follow the
pack

Posts: 4744
moses lake washington
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #4 - 03/30/05 at 21:42:44

WD wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

Man, how can you guys get such crappy mileage? I've never gotten less than 70mpg, even when I was breaking in the engine! Mine must be a fluke... Makes me wonder though, am I doing something right (for a change), or are you guys just throttle happy? I do run the engine on the lean side though...open exhaust (glasspack is gutted), stock spacer, stock jets, stock (original) air filter (filthy), air screw out two turns over stock. Last time I rode it consistently, was knocking on 80 mpg commuting. Hmmm... ???
-WD

got me, i'm in a stock configuration. yes i am a little throttle happy. got a sporty machine got to ride it that way.

Back to top

SINGLES RULE, HARLEYS DROOL

IP Logged

Paladin.

Serious Thumper

Offline

Hamster

Posts: 4929
Sunny Southern California
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #5 - 03/30/05 at 22:51:20

sluggo wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

got me, i'm in a stock configuration. yes i am a little throttle happy. got a sporty machine got to ride it that way.

In another thread there was something about the main jet kicking in at 3/4 throttle plus, so it doesn't get used much. I didn't understand 'cause most of my unobstructed starts are full throttle. I don't go fast, but I do go quick. I get about 100 miles per $5-6 fillup (regular is up to $2.399.)

Back to top

IP Logged

sluggo

Serious Thumper
ModSquad

Offline

big singles lead,
twins follow the
pack

Posts: 4744
moses lake washington
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #6 - 03/30/05 at 23:15:01

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

In another thread there was something about the main jet kicking in at 3/4 throttle plus, so it doesn't get used much. I didn't understand 'cause most of my unobstructed starts are full throttle. I don't go fast, but I do go quick. I get about 100 miles per $5-6 fillup (regular is up to $2.399.)

i believe that it's quick that eats up my fuel. Grin

Back to top

SINGLES RULE, HARLEYS DROOL

IP Logged

Diane Full Member 2004 No Login Offline No matter where you go, there you are. Posts: 102 Houston, TX Gender:	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #7 - 03/31/05 at 05:59:46 My Savage is all still stock set up and I get 50 mpg in the city (that's the big city of Houston with lots of traffic lights) but out on the country roads I get 70 mpg easy. I have no desire whatsoever to test the reserve (maybe it's a girl thing), it's easy to remember to just fill up about every 100 miles.
Back to top	Gas $3.39 a gallon, map $5.95, getting lost on a scenic country road.......... priceless! 2003 Teal Green Savage Houston, TX IP Logged

cphilip Ex Member	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #8 - 03/31/05 at 07:17:11 I normaly hit reserve at about 120 miles. I do what Diane does more times than not. I try and start thinking gassin up around 100 miles.
Back to top	IP Logged

gandalph40 Ex Member	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #9 - 03/31/05 at 07:37:49 120 miles is my normal reserve limit too. When I pull into the gas station it normally takes 2.2-2.3 gals to fill up, with a total of about 130-135 miles normally. It doesn't seem to matter how I ride. This seems to be true within just a few miles, regardless.
Back to top	IP Logged

PerrydaSavage Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Riding "The Rock"! Posts: 3522 Republic of Newfoundland Gender:	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #10 - 03/31/05 at 08:21:42 Interesting discussion ... quite the varying fuel consumption rates? ... the topic of the LS650's gas milage came up on the old BeginnerBikes.com (now defunct) Message Board last year ... I figured mine out at the time and wrote it down, but I can't remember ... when I get home this evening, I'll look it up and post ...
Back to top	Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by arseholes! IP Logged

Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #11 - 03/31/05 at 10:09:13 In regular daily riding which is mostly rush-hour freeway traffic and a little city/suburb, I average about 60 MPG. Since my round trip commute is almost exactly 49 miles a day, I gas up every 2 days.
Back to top	1998\|MAC muffler\|ceramic coated header\|K&N air filter\|Amal Mk2 carb\|Odyssey battery\|iridium plug\|NC windshield\|Dunlop 491s\|Superbrace\|EBC brake rotor\|12.5" Progressive shocks\|Kuryakyn ISO grips IP Logged

Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #12 - 04/01/05 at 06:45:40 sluggo wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03: i believe that it's quick that eats up my fuel. Yep...higher RPMs while in lower gears does drop the mileage quite a bit. But that is simply logical anyway.
Back to top	IP Logged

Red_Wine

Senior Member

Offline

Chain-drive, 400cc
Black Savage in
Chile

Posts: 478
Santiago, Chile
Gender: male

Re: Reserve tank question.....
Reply #13 - 04/03/05 at 08:52:23

Just as a comparison,
my 400cc, chain-drive Savage gets 200 kms per each 10-liter tank fill-up, i.e.,roughly 20 km per liter, in Santiago city traffic, I seldom get on the freeway in working days, though I do get some escapades on them on weekends. However, consider the smaller engines is pulling the same weight as you bigger 650 thumper, since both models are exacly the same chassis, wheels and accesories.

Just for you to know...

RW

Back to top

IP Logged

RG Ex Member	Re: Reserve tank question..... Reply #14 - 04/03/05 at 09:32:49 I don't really know what I get. I just run till I have to switch to reserve then fill up. When it only cost $5 to fill up, I don't really care what the mileage is . . .
Back to top	IP Logged