Kev's weekend economy run to Adelaide and return.

[Kev Murphy]

Well, I'm home again, just got off the bike 20 mins ago.. will put up a ride report once I have had a bit of a rest.
Have to collate all the fuel receipts and mileage data, but it was one helluva economical weekend trip.

[STeveo]

 

[Kev Murphy]

ok... here we go. Maintained a steady 95 kph in Vic, to 105 kph in SA. No rapid acceleration, just gentle cruise. On downhill runs, pulled the clutch in, and idled along.

Had a minor milestone on the return trip, odometer clicked over to 170,000 km on the way home through the Adelaide hills.



Now, the logistics...



By google maps, point to point, 562 Km each way

By GPS, 558 Km each way

By odometer, 570 Km each way

Odometer end of trip reading 1,140.1 Km


Full tank leaving Portland at 8 am. First fuel stop at Greenacres in Adelaide, a few k short of destination at 2.15pm (SA time)



I did add 4 litres from my side pannier at Penola, then put in another 5.24 litres splash at Mt Gambier, to ensure enough to get home.



Filled tank at home, 19.36 litres



Total fuel used, 51.72 litres, for an odometer reading of 1140.1 Km ... 22.04 Km / litre... now that's economy!

[Wild Rose]

That's really good Kev you have to be happy with that
Think of the money you would save if we all rode like that all of the time 
And no speeding tickets 

[Kev Murphy]

OBOY!, guess who got sunburned in the face bigtime on the way home!

[Chops]

Sorry about the sunburn Kev maybe carry some sunscreen in the pie warmer
Very good economy rate but you are on the Gentlemans Express and they are good on fuel

[StinkyPete]

22.04 km/l   is   4.53 l/100km for those who speak a different language.

That's pretty impressive fuel consumption.   

[tj189]

great effort in minimising fuel 

[Kev Murphy]

It works out to a nice round figure of 617 Km per tank, full to empty on this trip, but I always carry a little extra fuel, just to be sure, to be sure 

That's a good cruising range for long distance riding.

[Kev Murphy]

While visiting my buddy in Adelaide, his son and his best friend dropped in. Now the best friend is just 19, and his one wish in life is to ride a Wing, and being as the ST is closely related, he was absolutely over the moon when I flipped my key to him.
He vanished for the best part of an hour, and when he returned, I swear that the grin on his face was almost as wide as the mirrors.
Also gave him a card, so if Zane happens to post in the forum, make him feel welcome. He is already looking online for something from an ST and upwards to a Wing, to replace his current lowrider.

[Biggles]

Excellent economy.  The downside is you do lose a lot of speed on the "clutch in" downhills, unless the hills are quite steep.
Even less fun if there's traffic behind you blowing their horns.     

[Kev Murphy]

Even with clutch in going downhill through the Adelaide Hills, is still a constant 90.. freeway is pretty steep approaching the city.
Trucks and buses are restricted to 60, sometimes 40, with 3 lanes available, so its ride the brakes to keep to the limit, anyway

[STeveo]

Well done.   

[STroppy]

OBOY!, guess who got sunburned in the face bigtime on the way home!

OMG . . . Pls put your helmet on before taking anymore selfies . . . Great economy . . But I would've had to twist the wrist a tad more and probably do a number of runs through the great Adelaide Hill . . . And made a detour to Horrocks, called in to have a beer with Alan and Heather , then roll downhill home . .

Great economy though!

[Gadget]

Excellent economy.  The downside is you do lose a lot of speed on the "clutch in" downhills, unless the hills are quite steep.
Even less fun if there's traffic behind you blowing their horns.     

My 1300 seemed to have low rolling resistance (or more momentum from the FB Rider) and would coast downhill really well. Especially if you tick in being the screen.

I never took the top box off, but I presume that would twice drag and increase efficiency.

[Diesel]

Well done Kev.
Nice to try these self-imposed challenges from time to time.
Thanks for sharing.

[Shiney]

Awesome work Kev

[cravenhaven]

On the weekend run up to the Nambucca heads RTE I had to limit my speed as my son is still on his speed limited P plates, as well as all the roadworks north of Port Macquarie. For the round trip from home (or at least the fuel stop) we did 538km according to the speedo (532 according to Google maps) and I used 24.16 litres. Thats 22.68km/l (4.49l/100km :)) and I would have got a total distance of 620km according to the trip meter.
I was quite surprised that the slightly lower speed made such a significant difference.
Interestingly the bike fuel usage rate display shows 20.2km/l although it had been gradually creeping up as we rode.

[Kev Murphy]

Fantastic how little fuel the ST uses, when treated just a bit gentler than usual.
Friend of mine with a crotch rocket (smaller tank of course) said that he only gets 220 Km between fills, but of course there are only two settings on his throttle.... Park and Go. Probably take him longer to travel the same long distance trip as me, because of multiple refill times lost at the servo.

[alans1100]

We rode down to Finniss for our RTE yesterday and not doing anything to save fuel etc. we managed a healthy 16.57 k/l over an indicated 333 km. Coming back from where we topped with E10 (cheaper than 91) up at Strathalbyn after filling up back home a few hours ago I managed 18.3 K/l for 347 km. Only difference between the two runs was not so many hills as we came back via Murray Bridge and a southerly wind.