Gas Light comes on at 80 miles!??
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
From: Potomac, MD
Gas Light comes on at 80 miles!??
Hey Guys,
My RLOD is coming on at about 80 miles. I don't beleive I ride the bike particularly hard (sort of a n00b anyway) and I'm usually about 4-5K rpms. My average rides are about 50 miles with not a ton of twisties.
What are some potential reasons for such bad mileage?
Thanks!
John
My RLOD is coming on at about 80 miles. I don't beleive I ride the bike particularly hard (sort of a n00b anyway) and I'm usually about 4-5K rpms. My average rides are about 50 miles with not a ton of twisties.
What are some potential reasons for such bad mileage?
Thanks!
John
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
From: Potomac, MD
I figured that it may be carb related, but the bike seems to run fine... Then again, I don't have a lot to compare it to...
When I got the bike last fall, I had the APE cct's installed and during that process, it was discovered that the forward cylinder valves were screwy so it has fresh valves from a reputable shop. No idea if that has any impact, but I thought I'd mention it...
When I got the bike last fall, I had the APE cct's installed and during that process, it was discovered that the forward cylinder valves were screwy so it has fresh valves from a reputable shop. No idea if that has any impact, but I thought I'd mention it...
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
80 miles is not bad if you are in the city. The diff between city and hiway riding in huge on this bike. Mine comes on at 70 something (all city) and 90+ hiway. I dont baby it though. (not that I hammer it either).
Jack of all Master of non
Superstock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
From: Jacksonville,fl
man i get 100-130 doing half highway and half city. i thought i was doing bad, i guess i am doing alright then.. i am going to change my drive gears from stock 16f and 41r to a 520 conversion at 15f to 43r . that should give me more drive out of my gears and help with the fuel economy. it puts the gear ratio around 2.83 which is at the top of the power to fuel curve.
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
You might want to do a search on that topic because you couldn't be more wrong.......
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
So what facts do you have to support your opinion or are you just parroting something you read somewhere.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Oh boy, lets talk gearing.
Go ahead and try that gearing but I will bet you dont like it. Its too short & you will be reving the heck out of it and shifting twice as often. I would recomend dropping one tooth up front & work up slowly from there unless you plan on stunting. (which I would also advise against)
Go ahead and try that gearing but I will bet you dont like it. Its too short & you will be reving the heck out of it and shifting twice as often. I would recomend dropping one tooth up front & work up slowly from there unless you plan on stunting. (which I would also advise against)
Jack of all Master of non
Superstock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
From: Jacksonville,fl
stock gear ratio is 2.56 with a 16-41
with a 15-43 the gear ratio will be 2.87
that makes it a lower gear ratio and works just opposite what you guys are talking about. 1st gear will be better used as we as the rest of the gears.
with a 15-43 the gear ratio will be 2.87
that makes it a lower gear ratio and works just opposite what you guys are talking about. 1st gear will be better used as we as the rest of the gears.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
From: Delmar NY
Hmmm... sounds like 3AMTA3 should work for sumofallparts on Ebay - they seem to think 15-43 even corrects speedometer error!
I run 16-43 and cannot open the throttle fully in 1st without lofting the front wheel. That's not to say there aren't a number of members here that like it, but regardless it is NOT going to improve mileage
I run 16-43 and cannot open the throttle fully in 1st without lofting the front wheel. That's not to say there aren't a number of members here that like it, but regardless it is NOT going to improve mileage
Jack of all Master of non
Superstock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
From: Jacksonville,fl
ok well obviously i have been going the wrong way with my reseach. what would give me better gas milege because that is all i wish to do. i am not a track rider at all, so a 2.5 to a 2.8 will not help me in this respect?
stevebis1:
what sort of gas milege do you get with a 16/43?
stevebis1:
what sort of gas milege do you get with a 16/43?
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Crankenfine, THAT is a funny response; I didnt know about that thing. Hey 3amta, it makes it way shorter=more revs=worse mileage.
To avoid the usual fireworks on this subject I am stating my findings on this bike. I ride almost only city riding, have been racing 11 years and ridden over 240k miles on the street year round.
15-43 is really low especially on a torque monster like the VTR. Even in NYC you have to shift every 2.3 nanoseconds to the point where you cant get decent drives. On an atv a stump-puller first gear may be useful, but unless you want to tow trailers around your yard its useless on a sport bike.
I have the advantage of have 2 hawks so I get to ride different gearing back to back & the only one I found useful was 15-41 (one tooth down in front). More pull but useable.
YMMV.
To avoid the usual fireworks on this subject I am stating my findings on this bike. I ride almost only city riding, have been racing 11 years and ridden over 240k miles on the street year round.
15-43 is really low especially on a torque monster like the VTR. Even in NYC you have to shift every 2.3 nanoseconds to the point where you cant get decent drives. On an atv a stump-puller first gear may be useful, but unless you want to tow trailers around your yard its useless on a sport bike.
I have the advantage of have 2 hawks so I get to ride different gearing back to back & the only one I found useful was 15-41 (one tooth down in front). More pull but useable.
YMMV.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Hey B1m, how could you have not bought SEVERAL of these https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...le-tool-24466/
I bought 2 and they really help. I wont leave home without one.
I bought 2 and they really help. I wont leave home without one.
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 521
From: Tampa Florida
ruh oh did someone say gearing change? lol
I have on occasion gotten 80 miles to Orange light. It is mostly when I do some city riding or am riding in a spirited group orrr if I leave my choke on.
This weekend I learned many things about carbs and chokes. It is possible that a critical part of the choke system broken when a gust of wind blew on her. so you may want to check it out. Look for my carb thread that I started 2 days ago. there is nothing at all difficult about pulling them out and cleaning them. You only need a small assortment of hand tools and about 2 hours.
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...-stream-25991/
I have on occasion gotten 80 miles to Orange light. It is mostly when I do some city riding or am riding in a spirited group orrr if I leave my choke on.
This weekend I learned many things about carbs and chokes. It is possible that a critical part of the choke system broken when a gust of wind blew on her. so you may want to check it out. Look for my carb thread that I started 2 days ago. there is nothing at all difficult about pulling them out and cleaning them. You only need a small assortment of hand tools and about 2 hours.
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...-stream-25991/
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
From: Delmar NY
I'm not sure my results will directly compare with yours. There are a number of threads around where people have listed their gas mileage and I tend to be in the upper range. As others have pointed out carburator tune and type of riding are big impactors.
I can tell you that I when I switched from 16-41 to 16-43 the mileage drop was minor. My biggest impact occured when I went to an electric water pump. I did that along with a +4 advancer at the same time and saw a very consistent 5% bump.
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
But i must say hearing that 15\43 will improve fuel economy is one of the funniest things I have heard in quite a while.
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...eration-24786/
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...day-wow-25182/
So what were we talking about again......
Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 83
From: Fort Dix, NJ
Hey B1m, how could you have not bought SEVERAL of these https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...le-tool-24466/
I bought 2 and they really help. I wont leave home without one.
I bought 2 and they really help. I wont leave home without one.
I remember reading that thread awhile ago, Thanks I'll pick some up.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,871
From: Phoenix, AZ
I haven't seen 17/40... That may help at higher speed freeway, but you won't get any better mileage in town (if you're riding in 6th in town right now you're lugging it already which is hard on the motor and isn't as efficient)...
This is total guesswork on my part, but like others have said you may want to look into other fuel consumption tricks.
You running a stock air filter? Do you know how your carbs are tuned at all... including fuel adjustment screw settings and if they've been sync'd? How high is your idle set? Tire pressure been looked at? How many wheelies do you pull from stoplights?
Just ideas that I'm throwing out there. B/C you were in the valve heads recently and did some changes, there's a good chance that your carbs aren't sync'd as well as they could be.
This is total guesswork on my part, but like others have said you may want to look into other fuel consumption tricks.
You running a stock air filter? Do you know how your carbs are tuned at all... including fuel adjustment screw settings and if they've been sync'd? How high is your idle set? Tire pressure been looked at? How many wheelies do you pull from stoplights?
Just ideas that I'm throwing out there. B/C you were in the valve heads recently and did some changes, there's a good chance that your carbs aren't sync'd as well as they could be.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 161
fuel economy is a sensitive subject for me as well as it spoils all the fun with this bike,for me.
i've recently done some tests. Filled her up twice,only city traffic.
First time light came out after 129 km (80 miles), second time at 128 km (80 miles and so).
Fuel tank is 16L and reserve is 2.65 L if I'm not mistaking. So basically I've used 16-2.65=13.35 L for 129/128 (80 miles) of city traffic. That would be a 10.4L per 100km in-town. Which is f**ed up.
I've only tested it once,and not to accurate outside city, going 100-170-180 km/h and i got 6.8 L/100km I think.
Next test after I heal my hand up will be out of city consumption at various constant speeds. I'll test to see how much it takes at 120-130 km/h and how much at 140-160 km/h, to find which is the most fuel efficient cruise speed.
I also mention that I didn't hammer it in town to get 10.4L ....
I will also change the spark plugs and sync & clean the carbs,a sat this point my bike is dead between 4.800 RPM and 5500 RPM and I m going mad not knowing WHY.
I am really thinking of getting a SV 1000 N. I think that should get 5.5-6 at cruise speed (130 km ~ so) and 7-8 tops in town,decent abuse..
i've recently done some tests. Filled her up twice,only city traffic.
First time light came out after 129 km (80 miles), second time at 128 km (80 miles and so).
Fuel tank is 16L and reserve is 2.65 L if I'm not mistaking. So basically I've used 16-2.65=13.35 L for 129/128 (80 miles) of city traffic. That would be a 10.4L per 100km in-town. Which is f**ed up.
I've only tested it once,and not to accurate outside city, going 100-170-180 km/h and i got 6.8 L/100km I think.
Next test after I heal my hand up will be out of city consumption at various constant speeds. I'll test to see how much it takes at 120-130 km/h and how much at 140-160 km/h, to find which is the most fuel efficient cruise speed.
I also mention that I didn't hammer it in town to get 10.4L ....
I will also change the spark plugs and sync & clean the carbs,a sat this point my bike is dead between 4.800 RPM and 5500 RPM and I m going mad not knowing WHY.
I am really thinking of getting a SV 1000 N. I think that should get 5.5-6 at cruise speed (130 km ~ so) and 7-8 tops in town,decent abuse..
Retired- but not tired!
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,481
From: Pittsburgh
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
I don't want to sound like a jerk here, but I keep reading about the gas mileage you guys get and I'm shocked. I'm not hard on the throttle by any means on average(i usually shift at 3500), but I do give it **** every now and then. And I regularly get anywhere from 120-140 miles per tank
