*2012 V-Strom 650 - 91 MPG

1508 Views 33 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Wee van Cleef, 1 d ago

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · 8 d ago (Edited)

Today I went out for a little joy ride seeing how good of gas mileage I can get on my 60 mile loop and I was pleasantly surprised with 76.1 mpg.

First and foremost this was not very a "scientific" test and I didn't check it with a calculator I simply reset the computer and went on my way, I intentionally rode slow (about 45 mph) to conserve fuel. I didn't do anything special to prepare for my ride, if I was trying to squeeze out another mpg or two I could have taken off the luggage, aired up the tires and maybe lubed the chain...

I'm not sure how precise the onboard calculation but on a recent trip I found it to be "about" 3-5 mpg conservative, perhaps I did a little better than 76.1? Lastly to put this in perspective I generally get about 60 mpg with no effort and 65 when I'm intentional but still at or a little above the speed limit.

Any input, comments or questions on my little experiment?

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

rodentface

· #2 · 8 d ago

Wow, that's amazing!

I get 35-42 with routine, non-aggressive riding - an even mix of highway and suburban roads with few stops.

I hear about higher average mileage from these bikes - yours may be tops - and I always wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Near anecdote, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my moto g stylus 5G (2022) using Tapatalk

Reactions: 1

Spec

· #3 · 8 d ago

Super trooper said:
Today I went out for a little joy ride seeing how good of gas mileage I can get on my 60 mile loop and I was pleasantly surprised with 76.1 mpg.
...

That's Imperial right?
What's your ambient temp read?

The display can be switched between American and Imperial.

😁

Reactions: 4

bajakirch

· #4 · 8 d ago

I get 35-42 with routine, non-aggressive riding - an even mix of highway and suburban roads with few stops.

Ditto.

Cal

· #5 · 8 d ago

My last fill was 72miles per Imperial gallon or 3.9l/100km Better to use metric on an international site.

locoblanco

· #6 · 8 d ago

I'm assuming 6th gear. If so, speeds under 60mph, especially with luggage or other load, is lugging the engine. It "breathes" better at higher revs, maybe 5k+.

Agree the readout is about 3mpg lower than reality. Maybe a built in safety margin, like the speedo.

Reactions: 1

Gert

· #7 · 8 d ago

Is this with stock 15T front / 47T rear sprockets? A 16T front sprocket size may give a more accutate speedo reading but not for the trip meter. speedometer vs gps accuracy

JRex650

· #8 · 7 d ago

I usually get +55mpg with normal riding, which in my case, is mainly around town, but also includes occasional curvies around Pine Mtn, GA.

Reactions: 2

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · #9 · 7 d ago

Spec said:
That's Imperial right?
What's your ambient temp read?

The display can be switched between American and Imperial.

😁

American

STCorndog

· #10 · 7 d ago

That’s nice. I like trying for the lowest miles per gallon I can achieve.

Reactions: 5

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · #11 · 7 d ago

rodentface said:
Wow, that's amazing!

I get 35-42 with routine, non-aggressive riding - an even mix of highway and suburban roads with few stops.

I hear about higher average mileage from these bikes - yours may be tops - and I always wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Near anecdote, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my moto g stylus 5G (2022) using Tapatalk

I might have to take off my bags, lube the chain, top off the air pressure and use the calculator just for fun to see if I can get any higher and verify my mileage.

Also I might be able to do slightly better by going on my ride a little earlier (cooler) and less traffic that was pushing me to go faster than I wanted to go.

Solarguy

· #12 · 7 d ago

If I ride medium hard/fast like I'm late for work, I get 48-49 mpg on a tank.
If I ride slow and relaxed I get 55 mpg per tank, US gallons. That's with huge square dewalt tool boxes for panniers.

One of my longer term goals is to replace the big boxy panniers with some custom made foam and fiberglass/epoxy bags that make the back end of the bike dramatically more aerodynamic. With hypermiling techniques and a smooth back end, 70 or better is very possible.

If you want to see some really cool streamliner conversion, run down some references from the Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Vetter_Fuel_Economy_Challenge

That probably deserves a separate post so I don't derail this thread.

Spec

· #13 · 7 d ago

Why would you want to hypermile a motorcycle?

Get a Pirus!

Reactions: 3

locoblanco

· #14 · 7 d ago

STCorndog said:
That’s nice. I like trying for the lowest miles per gallon I can achieve.

Riding with one of my friends, a former motor officer, I get as low as 32. He flies, swears he's not speeding, my speedo says 90-95.(For liability reasons I will not specify units.)

Reactions: 4

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · #15 · 7 d ago

Spec said:
Why would you want to hypermile a motorcycle?

Get a Pirus!

I was curious and I thought it would be an interesting test.

I can't, I'm not a democrat.

Reactions: 5

cpd419

· #16 · 7 d ago

I average about 50. Rural highways and curves. Probably average 55mph.

Reactions: 1

locoblanco

· #17 · 6 d ago

Super trooper said:
I can't, I'm not a democrat.

Yeah, I was shocked last time I bought a new car when the salesman asked to see my voter ID card.

Reactions: 2

D.T.

· #18 · 6 d ago

I can get that MPG. Down hill with the wind. For about a mile.

Then you have to back up a hill. Sooner or later. 50 mpg is fine for me. I like wheelies too.

Want better mileage? Get the V-strom 250. 🤷‍♂️

Reactions: 3

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · #19 · 6 d ago

locoblanco said:
Yeah, I was shocked last time I bought a new car when the salesman asked to see my voter ID card.

Democrats don't have voter id cards

Reactions: 1

Super trooper

Discussion Starter · #20 · 6 d ago

I went out again this morning...... the temps were a little cooler, my bags were left in the garage, my chain is lubed and my tire pressures are a couple pounds higher than recommended, I top off the tank.

I did the same loop, the computer readout read 82.5 mpg, I went back to the pump 57.5 miles and .632 gallons of gas = 91 mpg. Obviously less than exact (especially since it was less than 60 miles and a gallon of gas) but impressive none the less.

Reactions: 1

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