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.

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


There you go  

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....

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.

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.

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:

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.

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


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.

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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.

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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".

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I wasn't attempting to determine any bad habit

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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.