SuzukiSavage.com - Fuel consumption and range

Jasbee

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Fuel consumption and range
03/05/16 at 20:59:14

I'm new to the forum, this is my first question. The S40 has a tiny tank, 10 litres claimed (though I reckon I can squeeze in 10.7), so although its fuel consumption is good, your touring range is limited. I get about 4.35 litres per 100 kms, ie 23 kms per litre (I think that translates into about 54 miles per US gallon). So my theoretical range, assuming the tank is really 10.7 litres, is just 246 kms (ie 153 miles).

So what fuel cons do others get, and do you find the range a limiting factor for touring?

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springman

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Re: Fuel consumption and range
Reply #1 - 03/05/16 at 21:34:05

If you overfill the gas will leak out of the gas cap as soon as you get on you bike and stand it up straight. I did that twice today. Yeah, not too bright.

54 mpg is a good general average. If you keep your cruising speed to between 80 and 90 kph you may well get over 60 mpg. Go on up to 110 kph or more and you may get under 50 mpg.

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06 S40 seat mod, airhawk, HD muffler, Shinko 712 140-90-15 rear tire, Shinko 230 front tire, versy cam chain tensioner, Rotella oil, Volar brake pads, EBC clutch & springs

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springman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2217 Spring, Texas Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #2 - 03/05/16 at 21:36:13 Forgot to mention rule of thumb. You will generally need to switch to reserve at around 100 miles and that is basically a good time to stop for gas.
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jcstokes Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com is very useful Posts: 2119 Mauku New Zealand Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #3 - 03/05/16 at 22:01:33 Jasbee, you might actually squeeze in eleven litres, I did once, but if you ride more than 120 miles or about 190 km without fuelling, start to pray. If you are talking litres, where are you?
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badwolf

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Re: Fuel consumption and range
Reply #4 - 03/05/16 at 22:15:07

100 miles or so is a good time to stretch your legs & butt, so fill up at the same time. My pc800 can go about 200 miles on a tank, has a gas gauge too, my butt doesn't like that, so I still stop every 120 - 150 or so. With a raptor petcock you get about 2.4 gallons before reserve, then about 20 miles till it's pushing time. I use a cheap Android phone with a gps speedo app. It has 3 trip meters.
Your mileage varies so much by riding style 45 - 65 mpg for me, depends how fast you ride and the wind. Road racers can get just 10 - 12 mpg. 190 to 20 and back can really drink gas, even on a bike. The stock speedo is off on almost ALL S40's so you just have to get a ''feel'' or habit with your style of riding.
First I heard of the combo lock trick, I like it!

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Jasbee

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Re: Fuel consumption and range
Reply #5 - 03/06/16 at 01:25:38

I'm in (metric) Australia. I fill it up to what I think is 10.7 litres and it doesn't overflow when I ride off (it might if I just parked in the sun). Reserve comes on at ~ 185 - 190 kms (115 - 118 mls). Petrol stations are probably further apart here than in the US, so to make touring more relaxing I've taken to carrying a 5 litre jerrycan with me. That way I have a theoretical range of ~ 360 kms (225 mls). This is what I'm used to with previous bikes I've owned, so problem solved

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Red 2015 S40, Boulevard screen, Ventura rack

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Blade Full Member Offline Posts: 135 Sydney Australia Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #6 - 03/06/16 at 02:29:15 Whereabouts Jasbee? I'm NSW
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chzeckmate Serious Thumper Offline Be the person your dog thinks you are Posts: 514 Houston, Texas Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #7 - 03/06/16 at 03:18:23 Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/8x12-CENTER-FILL-SPUN-ALUMINUM-GAS-TANK-2-50-GALLONS-...
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Dave

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Re: Fuel consumption and range
Reply #8 - 03/06/16 at 05:02:59

chzeckmate wrote on 03/06/16 at 03:18:23:

Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/8x12-CENTER-FILL-SPUN-ALUMINUM-GAS-TANK-2-50-GALLONS-...

I have seen some adventure bikes that use fuel tanks like that one....sometimes they travel to very remote places and need a lot of fuel. I saw a KTM once that had a huge plastic tank that extended down both sides of the bike.....and the darn thing carried about 15 gallons of fuel in that extra tank....in addition to what the tank in the frame carried! It is not uncommon for adventure touring and sport touring bikes to carry 7 - 8 gallons of fuel in the stock tanks.

The Savage is pretty limited on range - but it is not out of character with the range of other Cruisers. Some folks go to the trouble of mounting tanks from other motorcycles to increase the range.

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Someday I will be old......But not today!

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Jasbee YaBB Newbies Offline One pot does it Posts: 37 Canberra, Australia Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #9 - 03/06/16 at 15:13:33 Hi Blade I'm in Canberra
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gizzo Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiCabbage. It's Savage. Posts: 1318 Australia	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #10 - 03/07/16 at 01:40:14 South Australia! Good luck to you if you can sit on the Savage for further than the stock tank. I'm feeling punished and ready for a rest by the time it gets to reserve at 200km. :'(
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Paladin.

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Re: Fuel consumption and range
Reply #11 - 03/07/16 at 03:59:33

Jasbee wrote on 03/05/16 at 20:59:14:

.... 153 miles).

So what fuel cons do others get, and do you find the range a limiting factor for touring?

Did a tour in September 2007 on the Savage, from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City and back. First day was 570 miles at an average of 63 mpg. Did 510 miles the second day, made it to OKC near noon. Doing 65-70 mph the Savage gave me 60-65 mpg.

Going back home I went on the Super Slab to Amarillo to US-60 to Hope AZ, AZ-72 to Parker AZ, CA-62 to North Palm Springs CA. The leg on CA-62 I did about 55 mph and got over 70 mpg. You can do 500 miles a day on the Savage, no problem, but the Super Slabs have 50+ vehicles per mile. It is more relaxed to do 300-350 miles a day on the byways at 5-10 miles between vehicles.

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Blade Full Member Offline Posts: 135 Sydney Australia Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #12 - 03/07/16 at 04:01:24 Anyone feel an AUSavage rendezvous coming on?
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gizzo Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiCabbage. It's Savage. Posts: 1318 Australia	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #13 - 03/07/16 at 12:36:38 That could be fun...heading to Jindabyne on the weekend with the Netrider crew, not on the savage tho. I'm taking something comfortable
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Suzukisavvy Full Member Offline You're Droolin, While I'm Spoolin Posts: 101 Nebraska, USA Gender:	Re: Fuel consumption and range Reply #14 - 03/08/16 at 10:06:08 Try this. All you have to do for install is find a hose connector so two hoses can drain into one. heres an image
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