Fuel Consumption

[golfingirl]

Just trying to get an idea of what the average mpg I can expect for my 2006 T100. I think it's running pretty rich. Could be me taking a lot of time warming up my bike with the choke on etc. Right now I think I'm getting about 30 mpg... ugh!

 

[Rocky]

Just trying to get an idea of what the average mpg I can expect for my 2006 T100. I think it's running pretty rich. Could be me taking a lot of time warming up my bike with the choke on etc. Right now I think I'm getting about 30 mpg... ugh!

It should be getting better mileage than that.
These bikes come from the factory set very lean to meet US emission standards, so unless the former owner rejetted the carbs, it shouldn't be running rich.
The fact that you have to leave the choke on seems to tell me that the bike is still set lean.
As for mpg, I'll have to let the US members chime in on that since we're metric up here.
I've never bothered to calculate mileage with my bike. I just fill it up and ride so I can't even give you a ballpark guess.
I'm sure Carl and others can answer this better.

 

[CarlS]

Depending on how I ride - and I sometimes have a right wrist problem - I get about 46-48 mpg on the road. I have gotten as much as 52 mpg - before ethanol fuel. Around town, I get 39-42 mpg. On a trip with saddles bags, two duffles strapped on, and riding at 75-80 mph, I get 43-44 mpg. I get about the same two up. My mileage dropped 3 mpg with the advent of ethanol.

Fill your bike right to metal insert in the fuel neck. Set your trip meter to zero. Ride at least 75 miles or more before you refuel. Refuel filling it to the same level as before and compute your mpg. Then zero the trip meter.

Just for information, the speedometers are 5% to 10% optimistic (deliberately calibrated that way); but the odometer is spot on. My T100 speedometer is 9% optimistic. The speedometer on my T100 with the sidecar is about 8% optimistic.

 

[BludyL]

I tend to get in the low 40's. However, now that it's a bit cooler up here near the frozen tundra the last tank only yielded 38 mpg. I attribute that to longer idling during warm up.

What's your handicap? I used to play to as low as 6 but it more like 12 now.

 

[devo]

Mines an america,but is still the 860 carbed motor.
I do not ride like a nana,yet my mpg figures usually fall between 46 to 52 mpg.
Make sure you run a good quality fuel, I run 95 RON and if you can avoid ethanol blends, then do so, as these will also lower your mpg to a degree.
Remember though,if all your riding is around town, you will never get figures like Carl and I.

 

[golfingirl]

I tend to get in the low 40's. However, now that it's a bit cooler up here near the frozen tundra the last tank only yielded 38 mpg. I attribute that to longer idling during warm up.

What's your handicap? I used to play to as low as 6 but it more like 12 now.

I'll try to figure out excatly what my mpg's are before I worry too much. Nice to know most people get around 40. I was getting 90 mpg with my scooter... and I really miss parking on the sidewalks. Alas, I love my T100! Super fun.

BludyL, my handicap is around a 15 now. I haven't played consistently the last few years. I was a 10 when I was playing three times a week. It certainly is a treat, though, to live somewhere in the world where you can golf 12 months a year if you don't mind it a bit cold during the winter.

 

[BludyL]

I've put the sticks away for the winter already. I play once a week in the summer if I'm lucky. I used to play 3 or 4 times a week. Maybe I will again when I retire. I play enough to keep a valid handicap.
Next spring I'm planning a trip to Scotland with my son, nephew and a friend. You need a valid handicap to access many courses over there. We have a request in for a tee time on the Old Course at St Andrews. We should find out in the next week or two if we've been successful.

 

[donroger1]

Mine Bonnie was a 2001, 790cc carb model with the TOR silencers and jet kit done by the original owner.

I generally expected to go on reserve anytime after 100 miles. (usually between 115 and 130) Most of the time it was in the low 40s.

 

[golfingirl]

I've put the sticks away for the winter already. I play once a week in the summer if I'm lucky. I used to play 3 or 4 times a week. Maybe I will again when I retire. I play enough to keep a valid handicap.
Next spring I'm planning a trip to Scotland with my son, nephew and a friend. You need a valid handicap to access many courses over there. We have a request in for a tee time on the Old Course at St Andrews. We should find out in the next week or two if we've been successful.

Good luck getting onto the old course. What a wonderful experience that would be. No need to keep a valid handicap here. I was playing twice a week here from March thru October. If the weather cooperates, throughout the winter too. I'm a member of a private club in Calgary, Canada. I used to play three times a week there. That was easy. I miss it a lot.

I attended the Masters this year which was quite a memorable event.

 

[golfingirl]

Depending on how I ride - and I sometimes have a right wrist problem - I get about 46-48 mpg on the road. I have gotten as much as 52 mpg - before ethanol fuel. Around town, I get 39-42 mpg. On a trip with saddles bags, two duffles strapped on, and riding at 75-80 mph, I get 43-44 mpg. I get about the same two up. My mileage dropped 3 mpg with the advent of ethanol.

Fill your bike right to metal insert in the fuel neck. Set your trip meter to zero. Ride at least 75 miles or more before you refuel. Refuel filling it to the same level as before and compute your mpg. Then zero the trip meter.

Just for information, the speedometers are 5% to 10% optimistic (deliberately calibrated that way); but the odometer is spot on. My T100 speedometer is 9% optimistic. The speedometer on my T100 with the sidecar is about 8% optimistic.

Thanks Carl,

I figured out my mileage and I am getting about 35 mpg. I was using mid grade (89) fuel which is recommended in my manual. I am now using premium (95). I'll see if that improves efficiency. I've also added Seafoam to the last couple of tanks.

I am riding in the city only so expect my efficiency isn't great. Other than pushing it around, any other hints to improve my mpg's?

Cheers,
Laura

 

[golfingirl]

BTW, how much gas does the reserve tank hold?

 

[Rocky]

I think it's the city driving that's killing your mileage. Moving up to a higher grade of gas won't improve mileage, but the Seafoam product might help clean up the carbs resulting in better efficiency - but that's only a might.
I have an '06 and use middle grade too. Yesterday, I rode 110 miles on 7 liters of gas and that's well up into the high 50 mpg US gallon range.
Unless something is wrong, I think that once you get out on the road and stay in top gear for longer periods things may improve.
My bike has factory sprockets and if yours does too then we should be very similar in gas consumption.

 

[golfingirl]

I think it's the city driving that's killing your mileage. Moving up to a higher grade of gas won't improve mileage, but the Seafoam product might help clean up the carbs resulting in better efficiency - but that's only a might.
I have an '06 and use middle grade too. Yesterday, I rode 110 miles on 7 liters of gas and that's well up into the high 50 mpg US gallon range.
Unless something is wrong, I think that once you get out on the road and stay in top gear for longer periods things may improve.
My bike has factory sprockets and if yours does too then we should be very similar in gas consumption.

Thanks Rocky. I've been doing a lot of stop & go in traffic. Typical Atlanta. I'm not too worried about the consumption but trying to make her as efficient as possible. I'll likely just stick to mid grade. I'll keep up the Seafoam for a few more tanks to see if if it generaaly rns better with it in the system.

Can't wait to do some cruising out of the city. That'll be my goal next spring... after I take a couple more motorcyle courses to improve my skills and confidence.

Cheers.

 

[Rocky]

The carb'd Bonneville gas tank holds 16.6 litres, just barely less than one litre over four US gallons.
Reserve is 3.5 litres - about 7/8 of one US gallon.

 

[Rocky]

Thanks Rocky. I've been doing a lot of stop & go in traffic. Typical Atlanta. I'm not too worried about the consumption but trying to make her as efficient as possible. I'll likely just stick to mid grade. I'll keep up the Seafoam for a few more tanks to see if if it generaaly rns better with it in the system.

Can't wait to do some cruising out of the city. That'll be my goal next spring... after I take a couple more motorcyle courses to improve my skills and confidence.

Cheers.

City driving in Atlanta is going to teach you a lot about survival and what to watch out for; slippery manhole covers; slippery painted street lines; what's going on around and behind you. By spring you'll be a veteran

 

[CarlS]

Laura, if you can ride in the city, you can easily ride on country roads. To me rural riding is much more relaxing.

 

[CarlS]

Thanks Carl,

I figured out my mileage and I am getting about 35 mpg. I was using mid grade (89) fuel which is recommended in my manual. I am now using premium (95). I'll see if that improves efficiency. I've also added Seafoam to the last couple of tanks.

I am riding in the city only so expect my efficiency isn't great. Other than pushing it around, any other hints to improve my mpg's?

Cheers,
Laura

You are very welcome. City driving is lousy for mileage be it a scooter, motorcycle, cage, or semi. The only thing I know to help mileage in urban driving is to be gentle on the throttle.

 

[Rocky]

You are very welcome. City driving is lousy for mileage be it a scooter, motorcycle, cage, or semi. The only thing I know to help mileage in urban driving is to be gentle on the throttle.

That's one of the problems with city driving. When the light changes everyone floors it and you have to too or get run over.
But as Carl advised, be as gentle as you can with the throttle, but still stay out of trouble.
Once you get out on a country road you can relax and become one with the bike. That's the thrill of motorcycle riding; flowing through the curves and sweepers. It's like flying in an open cockpit, but on the ground

 

[golfingirl]

That's one of the problems with city driving. When the light changes everyone floors it and you have to too or get run over.
But as Carl advised, be as gentle as you can with the throttle, but still stay out of trouble.
Once you get out on a country road you can relax and become one with the bike. That's the thrill of motorcycle riding; flowing through the curves and sweepers. It's like flying in an open cockpit, but on the ground

I'll try to take it easier on the throttle. It is hard sometimes though. I'm enjoying my bike.

I'm totally pumped to get on some quiet, sweeping roads. I'm not comforatble with higher speeds yet and to get away from Atlanta you have to take some horrendous highways. Very intimidating. I really am looking forward to that though. Can't wait to ride around the Blue Ridge Mtns.

 

[Rocky]

I'll try to take it easier on the throttle. It is hard sometimes though. I'm enjoying my bike.

I'm totally pumped to get on some quiet, sweeping roads. I'm not comforatble with higher speeds yet and to get away from Atlanta you have to take some horrendous highways. Very intimidating. I really am looking forward to that though. Can't wait to ride around the Blue Ridge Mtns.

Enjoyment is sometimes like speed, it costs money. I think we all like to crack the throttle, but there is a cost in fuel comsumption so I guess you can't have everything
As you said, when you live in a huge metropolitan area like Atlanta it takes forever to escape the place. When I visit relatives in Toronto it's the same thing. It makes me glad that I live in a fairly small city, but since I came back to riding 20 years ago I can see how the city is spreading and that it's taking longer to escape to the country.
As time passes you may be surprised at how easily you can cope and become used to the higher speeds.
In the meantime listen to your inner fears, but don't let them hold you back. Be comfortable, but push it just a little bit from time to time and soon you will be up to speed.