Unbelievable fuel economy from a ST13!!!.....

[Diesel]

So I set out for Inverell from my place, and boasted to a few Members that I would do the trip WITHOUT REFUELLING!

I had a 2 litre jerry as emergency backup - as the trip is 500km!!!!

Here is the route....

http://goo.gl/maps/OaXND

Well, I rode with the group at the speed limit for most of the way, with a few overtakes that didn't exactly CONSERVE fuel - and ended up at Caltex Inverell with this on the clock....




The top number is the 'distance to empty' calc - so you can see that I could have covered  a theoretical 570kms ON ONE TANK!

Not bad for a (dry) 300kg V4 motorcycle! I had it loaded for a weekend away too.       

According to my end fuel docket, I put 24.86litres in her. This equates to 58mpg average over 511kms! (20.5 kms/litre)!

There was talk of if I had done the test 'scientifically' - 600kms may have been realised!

Cheers, Diesel

[Bikebear]

Thats pretty good    You've gotta be happy with that!
 
My 1100 will average 20km/l or better if I ride at the speed limit consistently however how boring is that, especially when riding roads that beg to be ridden hard  .
I'm pretty happy with the 18.5km/l I got over the week while I was away, considering that it's carbies and I punted along pretty hard. It was also good watching the Harleys looking for fuel when I had half a tank left  .

[Biggles]

It's not just the HDs mate.  The ride I was on yesterday saw the Trumpies and sports bikes hanging out for fuel approaching 200 kays.

Glad you proved your point Diesel.  Disappointed you carried all the "lack of faith" fuel   

I'm sure you would have made 600 if you rode at 80 kph all the way.  I know that's not feasible, but that's what they're capable of, and if you're ever flogging a drying tank, that's the speed to travel at.  And coast down the hills in Angel Overdrive.  The downside of doing 80 is you're watching that count-down for much longer.

With 4.14 left in the tank, at 20.5 kpl you'd expect another 85 kays, but you won't get it, because there is between 0.5 and 1.0 litres unusable.

[Skip]

Pretty impressive Diesel. Are you still test PM800 fuel additive?
Sounds like you boys had a great weekend.
Hope to catch you all on our next RTE. I'm due one. 

Skip

[SToz]

I can confirm Diesel, I had the exact same fuel consumption figures for the first SS1600K that I did.

But, isn't the 58mpg based on the UK gallon?

It's about 48mpg based on the US gallon.

I may be wrong, but isn't the US gallon the one we compare it to or do we follow the UK over here???

48...58...potato...potarto....

Either way, it's impressive for a big bike.

Cheers!

Rick.

[Shiney]

Bloody impressive effort Diesel
It is amazing what can be achieved with the mighty ST

[STeveo]

SToz, we follow the poms with a 'proper' gallon and real miles. Don't care what the yanks do so long as they don't annoy us. We did go metric in 1975, but mpg is still easier to understand than             L/100km. Diesels consumption is still impressive, even with the right fuel.

 

[Diesel]

Yeah - the calc I used was good ol 4.54 litres to the gallon - whichever that may be.

I can tell you though - it's A LOT MORE FUN getting 20 mpg!                          

[saaz]

The 13 can get great distance out of a tank. Funny enough some get worse than they used to on an 11, some about the same, and some better. Should be more consistent, so perhaps each bike is different?

And it is not that Diesel travels light, both in luggage and other ways 

[West Aussie Glen]

The 13 can get great distance out of a tank. Funny enough some get worse than they used to on an 11, some about the same, and some better. Should be more consistent, so perhaps each bike is different?

And it is not that Diesel travels light, both in luggage and other ways 

I don't think the bikes are very differrent but weather (head/tail winds) and how they are ridden are the big things. Also screen up or down.

[Diesel]

And it is not that Diesel travels light, both in luggage and other ways 

I hope you mean my BIG HEART young man!                    

I don't think the bikes are very differrent but weather (head/tail winds) and how they are ridden are the big things. Also screen up or down.

You are so right Glen - out on the Hay Plains the week before - riding into a 50 knot head wind - I was starting to plan a fuel stop after 290 clicks!         

And for the record - on this 'fuel run to Inverell' - if I rode 'screen down' (my preferred style) - I got into the 19s and 22s (kms/litre) - with it up or semi-up - 16-17. So down it stayed.

Cheers, Diesel

[horizontal]

you must have  used that new bio diesel you know the one it smells like fish & chips

[IanB]

I second saaz's comment. the consumption is great considering the extras. 300kgs plus the filled panniers and seat.
What's your overall economy. the fuel computata shows the trundler has had an overall average of 17.9.

[SToz]

SToz, we follow the poms with a 'proper' gallon and real miles. Don't care what the yanks do so long as they don't annoy us. We did go metric in 1975, but mpg is still easier to understand than             L/100km. Diesels consumption is still impressive, even with the right fuel.

 

 

Thank-you!

[Sabie]

But to be scientific, theres not much drag on the front wheel, talk about minimum contact with the road.

[saaz]

I think this shows that in good conditions the range on a bike can be really great, but it is those times when conditions go against you that you have to plan for more frequent fuel stops unless you like pushing the bike.  On the Border Run this year I probably got the worst cruising speed fuel range ever due to winds and abrasive roads (and perhaps high average crusing speeds as when the McCruise is on the bike just mainrtains the speeds regardless).  I was on sub 350km filling range, and given being somewhere in the middle of nowhere 300kms was a safer bet.

And of course Diesel, your big oversize heart and brain do disadvantage you somewhat.     That bottle of bundy you seem to always have must not help (but keep bringing it  )

[StinkyPete]

I did some tests at different speeds on a long straight boring stretch, riding for several kilometers at the various speeds.  This is what I achieved with top box and panniers full, and some stuff strapped onto the back seat.

4.4    l/100 km   at   80 km/h
4.7    l/100 km   at   100 km/h
6.0    l/100 km   at   120 km/h
6.4    l/100 km   at   140 km/h

[Biggles]

I did some tests at different speeds on a long straight boring stretch, riding for several kilometers at the various speeds.  This is what I achieved with top box and panniers full, and some stuff strapped onto the back seat.

4.4    l/100 km   at   80 km/h
4.7    l/100 km   at   100 km/h
6.0    l/100 km   at   120 km/h
6.4    l/100 km   at   140 km/h

which proves my contention.  The 80 kph figure is an oldie that applies to most vehicles.  Might be different for the latest breed built in wind tunnels, but not much different I suspect.

The only other figures that would be illuminating would be 60 and 70 kph.  I'm guessing 70 would be very similar, but part of the logic is the speed has to be practical, and in a pinch, at least you're getting somewhere at an acceptable pace at 80, but 60 and 70 would be very tedious over a long distance.

[StinkyPete]

I wasn't ging to test at 60 and 70km/h, as I was riding the Barkly Highway, and did need to cover some serious miles that day.  The big jump in consumption from 100 to 120 was interesting.

[Biggles]

I wasn't ging to test at 60 and 70km/h, as I was riding the Barkly Highway, and did need to cover some serious miles that day.  The big jump in consumption from 100 to 120 was interesting.

The air resistance is related to the square of the speed, so a moderate increase in speed has a disproportionate effect on resistance.  It why F111s have pointy noses and swing wings.  The delta wing is a compromise between resistance (and hence lift) and deflecting resistance (and hence going faster with proportionally less drag).

[alans1100]

I wasn't ging to test at 60 and 70km/h, as I was riding the Barkly Highway, and did need to cover some serious miles that day.  The big jump in consumption from 100 to 120 was interesting.

The lay of the land and prevailing wind conditions can influence your numbers as well.

[IanB]

Er, can we go back to my comment for a group check.
If you push the fcd/h button on the dash it shows you the km/l but just as interesting is the averaging of your consumption since the bike was first started.
Mine was previously up in the high 18's but it seems the rear pads have been lighlty dragging on the caliper on one side and it's reduced the average..