What can I do to maximize fuel mileage, even if I ride conservatively, I still cant seem to brake the 40mpg barrier, usually I average around 36-38mpg.
My goal is to have a consistent 45mpg.
Can you guys offer any suggestions on maximizing MPG?
matt_c, Mar 20 2007, 08:03 AMWhat can I do to maximize fuel mileage, even if I ride conservatively, I still cant seem to brake the 40mpg barrier, usually I average around 36-38mpg.
My goal is to have a consistent 45mpg.
Can you guys offer any suggestions on maximizing MPG?
Add a throttle stop at a quarter turn and don't drive faster than 55 (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
FotoMoto, Mar 20 2007, 10:10 AMGet a 4th gen. They consistently get the best mileage in our informal polls.
Probably not the answer you were looking for. I'll be quiet now.......
I was surprised to hear this I usually get about 35 MPG on my 4th Gen. I have broken 40 MPG a few times on the interstate, but what fun is that. I'm thinking I get 35 MPG because I ride the piss out of my bike. I'm not worried about it though, I mean...I'm getting 35 MPG AND having all that fun!
cozye, Mar 20 2007, 08:11 AMtake your pc3 off and put your o2 elims back in (if you have that stuff)
When my bike was stock I could get 45-50 mpg if I rode conservative and kept it at 65 mph or below.
Same thing happened with mine when I added the pipes and PC3, funny thing though, when I did the valve adjustment, pair valves and dropped a tooth on the front sprocket it went back up....don't know which of the three was the real reason but back over 40 mpg again.
I've gotten mine to go back up with my custom pc3 map, but its still not where it was originally. I also ride a lot harder now than then and do a lot less steady speed cruising, so honestly it could be pretty close to the original if I rode it on the interstate at 65.
Lube the chain, inflate tires to maximum pressure or more, run narrower tires, duck behind the windscreen at all time, keep the speed steady (means not quick acceleration nor deceleration), and maybe stop doing them triple digit runs on the highway.
cat0020, Mar 20 2007, 08:03 AMLube the chain, inflate tires to maximum pressure or more, run narrower tires, duck behind the windscreen at all time, keep the speed steady (means not quick acceleration nor deceleration), and maybe stop doing them triple digit runs on the highway.
...hug the tank with your legs, close the vents on your helmet, quit eating pastries, get the tightest leathers possible, polish your shoes, and wax the bike often. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
On my 6th Gen, I get close to 50 mpg on the freeway keeping it under 80. And around 40 mpg in the twisties.
I like to WD-40 my brake pads to reduce the drag. That was probably good for 5 mpg on my bike. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
Good, consistant gas mileage was never a strong point on my VFR.....up and down a lot................. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif)
Make sure you air filter is clean. I was consistently getting 38 to 39 mpg on my 5th gen. I changed the air filter (Honda Stock Filter) when I did the valve clearance check and immediately the mpg went to 42-45 mpg depending on the aggressiveness of the riding.
I second the clean air filter and tyre pressures. With the bike loaded up and keeping a steady speed between 100 and 110kmh I got over 60mpg between Lima and Nazca over 460 kms with the tank filled to the brim (probably 22 litres). I put in another 21 or less litres at Nazca. I don't know the difference between gallons in the USA and Imperial gallons but that trip equated to about 21.9kms/litre. Wind will have an effect also of course. I'm 5' 10".
cozye, Mar 20 2007, 09:11 AMtake your pc3 off and put your o2 elims back in (if you have that stuff)
When my bike was stock I could get 45-50 mpg if I rode conservative and kept it at 65 mph or below.
better yet learn how to use it! PC3 is a programmable unit not some bolt on part that you cant change - you can actually program it to run leaner just dont go crazy you can even lean out the base map!
My suggestion is to get a BMC air filter it flows the best tons of air, get a free flowing pipe and remove the cat if yours is a y2k or later. Then program the pc to run leaner. Grease up your wheel bearing, adjust your brakes so they dont drag, change the chain if its sticking, or even convert to 520 for less rolling resistance. go with the lowest weight possible oil recommended in the manual and you should be well on your way to 45mpg!
My buddy Craig routinly gets 50 mpg out of his vtec, his is unique its got a single sided D&D with a K&N filter, and he never lubes the freaking chain!!
All good suggestions. With the exception of a few knumbskulls! j/k (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif) Anywho, I am going to start with a filter change, and inflating the tires to maximum psi and see where that gets me, then perform some of the other suggestions and see what happens. I will report back here with my findings.
I think that most likely you will find the answer in the fuel mapping. All the other stuff does add up, and should not be ignored but the big differences will prob be in the fuel maps.
cozye, Mar 20 2007, 11:43 AMI've gotten mine to go back up with my custom pc3 map, but its still not where it was originally. I also ride a lot harder now than then and do a lot less steady speed cruising, so honestly it could be pretty close to the original if I rode it on the interstate at 65.
Cozye, how many miles to a tank do you average? I've got a slightly richened low range version of your map and an averaging about 175 miles / tank, w/ about 4.8gal per fillup, so.. about 36.46mpg. Definately not stock, my bike without any mods at all was averaging about 47mpg @ 225 miles / tank. For us to have a 5.8 gallan tank, i've 'never ever ever' been able to fit more than 5.2 in the bike, even after riding w/ the e-light on for about 35 miles once, and putting it on the centerstand, filling it to the brim. I got ripped I want my other 0.6 gallons (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif)
matt_c, Mar 21 2007, 04:03 AMWhat can I do to maximize fuel mileage, even if I ride conservatively, I still cant seem to brake the 40mpg barrier, usually I average around 36-38mpg.
My goal is to have a consistent 45mpg.
Can you guys offer any suggestions on maximizing MPG?
Buy gas in another country. US gallons are only 3.78 litres, whereas proper imperial gallons are 4.5 litres. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
Seriously though (and without wishing to cause offense) - why is fuel mileage a big deal? Surely you know that a VFR is a SPORTS-Tourer, and as such is just an expensive toy? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif) If fuel economy is important, why not ride a scooter, or take a bus? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/tongue.gif)
cozye, Mar 20 2007, 11:43 AMI've gotten mine to go back up with my custom pc3 map, but its still not where it was originally. I also ride a lot harder now than then and do a lot less steady speed cruising, so honestly it could be pretty close to the original if I rode it on the interstate at 65.
Cozye, how many miles to a tank do you average? I've got a slightly richened low range version of your map and an averaging about 175 miles / tank, w/ about 4.8gal per fillup, so.. about 36.46mpg. Definately not stock, my bike without any mods at all was averaging about 47mpg @ 225 miles / tank. For us to have a 5.8 gallan tank, i've 'never ever ever' been able to fit more than 5.2 in the bike, even after riding w/ the e-light on for about 35 miles once, and putting it on the centerstand, filling it to the brim. I got ripped I want my other 0.6 gallons (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif)
I never put in more than 5.2 gallons either, even when on reserve for a long time.
I put on a new tank after my last crash, and when installing the fuel level sender thing, I got the float stuck on top of the fuel pump, so it would read from full down to ¼ tank and then stay at ¼ tank until the engine quit. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif) Some nice guy on a dual sport gave me 20 ounces of gas, and when I got to the gas station I put in 5.6x gallons.
enzed_viffer, Mar 20 2007, 01:32 PMBuy gas in another country. US gallons are only 3.78 litres, whereas proper imperial gallons are 4.5 litres. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
Seriously though (and without wishing to cause offense) - why is fuel mileage a big deal? Surely you know that a VFR is a SPORTS-Tourer, and as such is just an expensive toy? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif) If fuel economy is important, why not ride a scooter, or take a bus? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/tongue.gif)
Fuel consumption is frequently a good barometer of how well a vehicle is operating. Sure, babying it around will maximize it for somebody, but what's the fun in that? If my bike (or car) fuel consumption worsened or fell below the benchmark, I'd start to worry, too.
I did like that one about the WD-40. The brakes just slow you down anyways. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
Lots of good suggestions, but I remember back in the 70's , the famous Janet Guthrie(then the only woman to race in the Indy 500) did an article in Popular Mechanics on gas mileage. She taped an egg to the bottom of her shoe and drove the loop that all the other men had driven to come up with a comparison chart.
She got 4 more miles to the gallon that her nearest participant, exclaiming that the throttle is obviously the answer to great gas mileage.
I would swap in an 18 tooth front sprocket and a 38 tooth rear to go for the real high mileage run. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
I got 52 regularly on the freeway before I went through EVERYTHING on the bike over the winter. But who likes riding on the freeway? not me.
I know that the PCIII made a very negative impact before installing the O2 eliminators. Now, the bike lofts the front tire so (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif) easily when warmed up (and the odo is wrong due to gearing changes) that I don't know or care what my mileage is currently.
When I ride over to SC later this month, I will prolly change the PCIII program.
cat0020, Mar 20 2007, 08:03 AMLube the chain, inflate tires to maximum pressure or more, run narrower tires, duck behind the windscreen at all time, keep the speed steady (means not quick acceleration nor deceleration), and maybe stop doing them triple digit runs on the highway.
...hug the tank with your legs, close the vents on your helmet, quit eating pastries, get the tightest leathers possible, polish your shoes, and wax the bike often. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
On my 6th Gen, I get close to 50 mpg on the freeway keeping it under 80. And around 40 mpg in the twisties.
Ironic, isn't it, that a turtle has a drag coefficient of .03.
cozye, Mar 20 2007, 11:43 AMI've gotten mine to go back up with my custom pc3 map, but its still not where it was originally. I also ride a lot harder now than then and do a lot less steady speed cruising, so honestly it could be pretty close to the original if I rode it on the interstate at 65.
Cozye, how many miles to a tank do you average? I've got a slightly richened low range version of your map and an averaging about 175 miles / tank, w/ about 4.8gal per fillup, so.. about 36.46mpg. Definately not stock, my bike without any mods at all was averaging about 47mpg @ 225 miles / tank. For us to have a 5.8 gallan tank, i've 'never ever ever' been able to fit more than 5.2 in the bike, even after riding w/ the e-light on for about 35 miles once, and putting it on the centerstand, filling it to the brim. I got ripped I want my other 0.6 gallons (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif)
I just filled up yesterday at 4.4 gal with 170 miles on the odo. That gas had been in there all winter and I had taken it out on several cold occassions for some quick 20 minute full throttle fun. I'm thinking I can get about 185 or 190 before I fill up usually. But like I said, I think it would go up more if I rode conservative, which I don't. I do a lot off full throttle take offs and playing around while riding around to keep it fun when not in the twisties. When I'm riding hard on curvy roads it goes down a little more. I really have not tried to just take it easy for a full tank at 65 mph in a long time. I think if I did I could get in the mid 40's though. When the bike was about 4 months old I rode down to souther TN with a friend of mine who was on an old sportster that was a POS. I had to take it easy and do 65 pretty much the the whole time. If he cracked 70, one of his valves would stick and it would start backfiring like crazy and blow the carb loose from the manifold. hahaha. Anyway, I remember that was the best MPG I ever got, 52 mpg (before pc3).
enzed_viffer, Mar 20 2007, 01:32 PMBuy gas in another country. US gallons are only 3.78 litres, whereas proper imperial gallons are 4.5 litres. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/491.gif)
Seriously though (and without wishing to cause offense) - why is fuel mileage a big deal? Surely you know that a VFR is a SPORTS-Tourer, and as such is just an expensive toy? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wheel.gif) If fuel economy is important, why not ride a scooter, or take a bus? (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/tongue.gif)
Fuel consumption is frequently a good barometer of how well a vehicle is operating. Sure, babying it around will maximize it for somebody, but what's the fun in that? If my bike (or car) fuel consumption worsened or fell below the benchmark, I'd start to worry, too.
I did like that one about the WD-40. The brakes just slow you down anyways. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
Because I commute an average of 80 miles a day, would you take a bus 80 miles a day, or ride a scooter on I-85 where 80mph will keep you alive, and 100mph keeps you at traffic speeds in the fast lane? LOL I didnt think so.
MPG is ALWAYS important, like Birdman is saying, MPG loss is a usually a sign that something is not working correctly. And I have never been able to get the MPG's that so many 5th genners have claimed. I am not one to put put around trying to save .63 cents, Im just annoyed that even if I do, I still cant break the 40mpg barrier, therefore something is not right with my bike.
I ordered a K&N filter, $55 from my local shop. The BMC was $85! (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/ohmy.gif)
Forgot to check my airpressures but Im sure they are low. Will do that this afternoon. Got gas this morning, 145 miles, 4.02 gallons = 36 MPG (but in all fairness I did do a 145+ mph run yesterday).
matt_c, Mar 21 2007, 11:31 AMForgot to check my airpressures but Im sure they are low. Will do that this afternoon. Got gas this morning, 145 miles, 4.02 gallons = 36 MPG (but in all fairness I did do a 145+ mph run yesterday).
keep doing those and it won't matter what your fuel mileage is (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/laugh.gif)
FotoMoto, Mar 20 2007, 10:10 AMGet a 4th gen. They consistently get the best mileage in our informal polls.
Probably not the answer you were looking for. I'll be quiet now.......
Not mine, 37/38 mpg. I have heard of other up to 50 mpg. Mine runs great, I don't get it.
Same here. My best might have been 38.
My worst was the day I spent above 9000 rpm's at the fall Dragon ride. I think I got something like 28 mpg. (IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/oldemoticons/blink.gif) I didn't care one bit. I had fun, dammit!
Holy cow. My '97 typically gets mid 30-ish MPG. Usually around town at least some of the tank. best I can recall is probably 38-39 mpg on the road.
So I pick up this Y2k in portland on friday & slab it back to Port Townsend Wa - 200 miles. 46.22 miles per gallon. Averaged over 75 MPH the first 110 miles. A little slower the scond half...traffic / rain.
The 97 has a K&N, unchecked Tire pressure, & a 2Bros. The Y2k has a K&N, tires @ 32F & 36R, 2 bros New LUBED (ahem) chain & recent valve check, new oil. lotsa wax. (the seller really took care of this bike)
this is like a ~30% mileage increase. I think the bike is happier, too.
I need to spend more time on maintenance.........
End of thread · 30 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 7 Jul 2007