SuzukiSavage.com - 25 MPG?!?! WTF?

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #30 - 09/05/12 at 10:53:56

ralfyguy wrote on 09/03/12 at 17:54:18:

Some few years ago whenever it started to sputter and I switched to reserve and then filled it up, it only took 1.8 gallons anymore. And it has been like that ever since.Has my tank shrunk?

I suspect there's a clear tube stuffed with drug money in your tank...

Didn't you watch Easy Rider?... Huh

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Dave

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #31 - 09/05/12 at 12:22:43

ralfyguy wrote on 09/05/12 at 10:43:42:

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/04/12 at 21:19:40:

When ya first got it, did you ride real careful & exit corners gently?

IOW, has your riding style changed? Do you twist the grip more now?

It definitely has changed, but my point is that whenever I DO switch to reserve, it will only fill 1.8 gallons in there instead 2 gallons when I got it. This isn't really related to the mileage. In the beginning at the point I switched to reserve and fueled up it counted 2 gallons. Now it counts only 1.8 doing the same. Where did I loose .0.2 gallons of capacity?

My question about a taller tire or taller shocks - is that the fuel level will shift forward a bit if the back of the bike is raised.....and that will allow for less fuel before the level hits the metal collar at the fuel neck. Not sure how much of a shift it takes to equal 0.2 gallons.

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ralfyguy

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #32 - 09/05/12 at 12:50:59

Serowbot wrote on 09/05/12 at 10:53:56:

ralfyguy wrote on 09/03/12 at 17:54:18:

Some few years ago whenever it started to sputter and I switched to reserve and then filled it up, it only took 1.8 gallons anymore. And it has been like that ever since.Has my tank shrunk?

I suspect there's a clear tube stuffed with drug money in your tank...

Didn't you watch Easy Rider?... Huh

...

Yeah watched it, but I didn't do that. Cheesy

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ralfyguy

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #33 - 09/05/12 at 12:52:19

Dave wrote on 09/05/12 at 12:22:43:

ralfyguy wrote on 09/05/12 at 10:43:42:

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/04/12 at 21:19:40:

When ya first got it, did you ride real careful & exit corners gently?

IOW, has your riding style changed? Do you twist the grip more now?

It definitely has changed, but my point is that whenever I DO switch to reserve, it will only fill 1.8 gallons in there instead 2 gallons when I got it. This isn't really related to the mileage. In the beginning at the point I switched to reserve and fueled up it counted 2 gallons. Now it counts only 1.8 doing the same. Where did I loose .0.2 gallons of capacity?

My question about a taller tire or taller shocks - is that the fuel level will shift forward a bit if the back of the bike is raised.....and that will allow for less fuel before the level hits the metal collar at the fuel neck. Not sure how much of a shift it takes to equal 0.2 gallons.

Makes sense, but I dunno either how much it matters.

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ralfyguy

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #34 - 09/05/12 at 12:53:29

rfw2003 wrote on 09/03/12 at 15:46:23:

I never measured it to find out what the capacities were after the change. I just pull into the fuel stop approx every 100 miles just like I did before the change. I've only gone maybe 110miles before fueling up so I haven't hit the reserve yet on mine. Most I've put in my bike for fuel up is 2.2 gallons

R.F.

Do you run the Raptor or stock petcock?

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rfw2003

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #35 - 09/05/12 at 12:56:18

ralfyguy wrote on 09/05/12 at 12:53:29:

rfw2003 wrote on 09/03/12 at 15:46:23:

I never measured it to find out what the capacities were after the change. I just pull into the fuel stop approx every 100 miles just like I did before the change. I've only gone maybe 110miles before fueling up so I haven't hit the reserve yet on mine. Most I've put in my bike for fuel up is 2.2 gallons

R.F.

Do you run the Raptor or stock petcock?

Raptor

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ralfyguy

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #36 - 09/05/12 at 15:25:40

rfw2003 wrote on 09/05/12 at 12:56:18:

ralfyguy wrote on 09/05/12 at 12:53:29:

rfw2003 wrote on 09/03/12 at 15:46:23:

I never measured it to find out what the capacities were after the change. I just pull into the fuel stop approx every 100 miles just like I did before the change. I've only gone maybe 110miles before fueling up so I haven't hit the reserve yet on mine. Most I've put in my bike for fuel up is 2.2 gallons

R.F.

Do you run the Raptor or stock petcock?

Raptor

The Raptor is known to let you run longer than the stock petcock before you have to switch to reserve and consequently making the reserve smaller.

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rfw2003

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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #37 - 09/05/12 at 15:32:23

ralfyguy wrote on 09/05/12 at 15:25:40:

The Raptor is known to let you run longer than the stock petcock before you have to switch to reserve and consequently making the reserve smaller.

Yes I'm aware of that and let him know back in post #17. He had asked me if I knew what the new levels were with it, and I was just posting my results so far since I haven't hit the reserve yet. I figure at 2.36 gallons I'm pretty close to where the reserve/main line is with the raptor petcock, or at least I'm hoping so, as with my current fuel consumption of 46mpg I'll only get about 18 miles further down the road if I have to hit my reserve, which is pushing it, if it's after hours for the local fuel stop and I have to ride into the next town.

I've been thinking about doing some custom built saddle bags for my savage, might try to figure out a way to build in a small aux fuel tank on each one and use a small electric pump to transfer fuel to the main tank. Dunno if I'll actually do it though since there isn't a fuel gauge on the savage's tank.

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Bobber Fett Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 64 Chapel Hill, NC Gender:	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #38 - 09/05/12 at 18:05:39 Yeah RF. The lack of a fuel gauge is pretty annoying. Has anyone ever looked into a way of adding one? Veering way off of my original topic here, but since the convo has gone in that direction, I might as well ask.
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Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF?
Reply #39 - 09/05/12 at 18:11:07

Quote:

I suspect there's a clear tube stuffed with drug money in your tank...

Didn't you watch Easy Rider?... Huh...

I should look for that too. Maybe if my bike is on the way out, I can use it to buy a new one Grin

.

I will definitely check the rear brake, and if I remember correctly, the belt is easy (it's a 90 degree rotation test, right?).

I can also add another symptom that may or may not be relevant. Today I noticed that my clutch is slipping. I went in and messed with the clutch about 6 months ago by reducing the size of that bar that lifts the clutch plates and found that it made it impossible to shift correctly, so I put the original length bar back in. Could the spring be worn out in my clutch? Would that cause drastically dropped MPG?

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« Last Edit: 09/06/12 at 05:21:16 by Bobber Fett »

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #40 - 09/05/12 at 20:51:12 A slipping clutch = engine turning & wheel not = gas burned goin nowhere.. Gotta decrease MPG, but cut it in Half? YOu shoulda been aware of a Lot of slipping,, How much slack in the clutch cable? \ What oil?
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Bobber Fett Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 64 Chapel Hill, NC Gender:	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #41 - 09/06/12 at 05:06:08 I'll check the slack today when I drive in. As far as the oil goes, I'm using The white rotella (I think it's 15-40W).
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #42 - 09/06/12 at 05:21:10 Clutch want slip with motorcycle oil.That probability your problem.
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Charon Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 1811 Harvard, NE Gender:	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #43 - 09/06/12 at 06:38:56 bill67 wrote on 09/06/12 at 05:21:10: Clutch want slip with motorcycle oil.That probability your problem. So you are saying Shell Rotella, with a JASO MA rating, is NOT motorcycle oil?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: 25 MPG?!?! WTF? Reply #44 - 09/06/12 at 07:23:15 Bobber Fett wrote on 09/06/12 at 05:06:08: I'll check the slack today when I drive in. As far as the oil goes, I'm using The white rotella (I think it's 15-40W). MMMkay, youre good on oil, make sure there is some slack in the cable, the lever should move a bit, free wobble,,
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