V-Tom: wow! Thanks for sharing that graph - it really tells the story.

I guess I get such crappy mileage in the car I never even noticed a 10% drop. On the bike, it's 10% of such a bigger number that I notice it- well, that, and there's that readout staring at me.

If the countries on the western side of the Atlantic paid the same prices as on the eastern side, then you'd be VERY aware of what your car / bike etc fuel consumption is. We pay about £1.30 a litre of fuel in the UK, places in mainland Europe pay even more, recently at YVR airport it was CAD 1.28 a litre (and I saw it at about CAD 1.20 out of town). And of course the happy thought is that just about all of our extra price is down to taxes

Bingo. I have an aftermarket OBDII connected to my cage that lets me monitor just about anything. Cold weather will drop the mileage as the computer adjusts the FI.

It has nothing to do with thick grease, thicker air, etc.

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- Voltar

Build your own V-Strom GPI and save, save, save!

Sorry but that's not true. Cold air is denser so of course the FI system puts more fuel in the mix but more fuel and air provide more power. All other things being equal, that would mean smaller throttle openings would be required. Longer warm up times, denser air to punch through, winter gas formulas and thicker grease all contribute to lower mileage.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

One other factor may be the pumps compensating for colder temperature. From what I understand the filling station's fuel pumps will pump less fuel in colder temperature than in warmer temperature. So if the station's pump says you put in 5 gallons you might have actually only recieved 4.7 gallons (I don't know that real amount so I am guessing at an actual number here.) In my nerdy graphs I have also noticed that the trip computer on my 2012 DL650 is more accurate in colder temperatures. In hotter weather it seems to be around the 93% accuracy (as in if I got 50mpg it would say 46.5 mpg) vs my real mileage, but as temperatures hover around freezing it seems to be closer to 97% of the real fuel mileage based on what is pumped. (And yeah I have a graph that shows the trip computer milelage vs the calculated mileage.)

Could that difference reflect the different amounts the gas Station compensates for Temperature?

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
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I read a sign on a Costco gas pump that states that the pump is metered by volume - 231 cu in


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Glad i caught this thread... Thought i was going nuts that i just magically lost 5-10mpg over night and a poorly running Wee. Guess its designed to run so lean that it really doesnt like cold temps. Never really had an issue (or noticed this) with any of my other bikes...

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'07 Yamaha Vstar 650 (sold)
'09 Honda CBR600RR (sold)
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Poor running should not be involved. The engine should still run well unless something else is involved besides cold.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

I was in Labrador City, Newfoundland and my rented Hyundai Santa Fe was using a tank full of gas per week when the temps dropped to -40.

My "commute" was about 5 miles each way. That was an expensive couple of months...for my client. Rental rate was $900 per week. Incredibly expensive place to live.

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'10 Vee Adv
Multiple Farkles :
Stebel Horn with Screaming Banshee,Gorilla Alarm, Madstadt Bracket, RichlandRick's fork brace, accessory shelf and mirror extenders, PCV (Get one from b.layton@svracingparts.com) You'll wish you had sooner!, Twin 12v outlets, Twisted Throttle and PC8 Fuse Blocks, Admore Light Bar, GPS and Contour Camera Ram Mount, Bark Busters, 8k HIDS & an Omni-Cruise Throttle Lock.

I used to go to the UK on business years back. I remember there being some minor buzz about the price approaching 99p because some of the older pumps didn't have enough decimal places to accomodate another digit.

If the people on the eastern side of the Atlantic had a chance to switch with us, I bet a lot of them wouldn't to save gas $.