ST1300 range

[Biggles]

I've searched for a while because I thought this challenge had been raised somewhere before.

Anyhoo- here's my story:

Riding back to Rocky from Eungella I had the low fuel light flash and then display 95 km to empty.  Since I still had 75 kays to go I kept a close eye on it, but the 20 km buffer stayed constant.  Then at 40 kays to go, it went to "You're nearly stuffed" mode.  I figured I still had 20 buffer, so soldiered on.
Overnighted at the motel and knew I'd have to stop at the first servo.  About 300 metres down the road, I found it, and the engine quit right at the pump!   

I put it on the centre stand (as I do, for consistency  :-*) and filled her up.  It only took 26.26 litres!!  So according to that, there was still 2.74 litres in the tank.  That doesn't make sense, does it?

But wait for it...  the distance from the last fill at Ilbilbie on the way up was 553 km!

My previous biggest fill was 28.69, the last time I ran it dry.  To me, that can only mean the petrol pump was under-reading.  It was only one of those one-pump general store setups, so anything is possible.

Whatever the case with the quantity added, the consumption was great!  I wasn't riding for economy (you have to sit on around 80 kph for that).  My spreadsheets says it achieved 59.5 mpg (in the old language) or 4.75 l/100 km in the back-to-front modern version (21.06 km/litre)

[Diesel]

I've searched for a while because I thought this challenge had been raised somewhere before.


But wait for it...  the distance from the last fill at Ilbilbie on the way up was 553 km!

Ha! And just a simple photo could have sealed victory for you...           

Whilst 553 clicks is very impressive - it still looks like (officially) Diesel gets the best fuel economy on a ST with 513.6kms.     



Just kiddin Bill - I KNOW how ANAL you are with your figures - but that's right up there - well done. I didn't realise until you pointed out that pumps can under / over calculate - much like the air pressure gauges at different servos I guess.

Great to see you out there.

Diesel

[IanB]

Same thing happened to me Biggles. Got the count down then at 40kms it disappeared. Conked out abt 60 metres from servo with 551.7 on the clock but I didn't take a note of how much went in. Going to pack the trailer this week and take it for a run and see how much extra is used to lug around 120kg.

[Diesel]

Looks like Diesel has upped the ante again....................



That's 569kms for a tank villains!!!       

Cheers, Diesel

[Biggles]

That's 569kms for a tank villains!!

I'd like to see you ride that final 58 km before I granted your claim.  Common experience indicates this is a theoretical figure.
Riding it down to zero would be more convincing.  Beatup and I found it to be misleading.
Go ride it out, big fella and come back and tell us how far you had to push ya bike!   

[atoyot]

525km and took 25.5l to top right up. Forgot to check KM to empty and take photo. Showed 5.5l/100k on fuel calc. Seems to be about the same every fill with over 500k on trip meter and 25+ litres to fill. Never had to put in more than 26.5L.

[Malcolm6112]

Well big boy Diesel. On the way back from Kalbarri via Walkaway, Moora and lots of other places. I ran out on the side of the road, I had put a can in a pannier before the trip to see what the beaST would do.
This was sitting at 110 to 115.

The country servo, funny that, said I put in 22.6litres. I had already put in 5 on the road side, so 27.6lt.
I don't get so worried now, I leave fuelling to around 500k's.

 

[Biggles]

The country servo, funny that, said I put in 22.6litres. I had already put in 5 on the road side, so 27.6lt.

Odd that you should say that, because when I refuelled in Rockhampton in the account that started this thread, the bike had quit at the bowser, yet the amount added according to the bowser was 26.26 litres.  Even assuming there is one litre unusable, I would have expected the reading to have been 28 litres.

Makes you wonder about these bowsers.  A BP bowser recently charged me for Premium when I definitely used the yellow hose.

Ask for a Tax Invoice and check your dockets, folks.  See if you come up with other anomalies.

BTW, I see the air temp was only 41^o.  Must be Winter still.

[saaz]

One thing to bear in mind in using all available petrol is that the EFI pump does not like running dry (or the one in the ST11 for that matter) as the petrol lubricates and cools the pump. Best not to run really low all the time.  But then again the record for the most traveled on a tank is still up for grabs. Perhaps a challenge at the SA meet?

[Diesel]

One thing to bear in mind in using all available petrol is that the EFI pump does not like running dry (or the one in the ST11 for that matter) as the petrol lubricates and cools the pump. Best not to run really low all the time.

I agree - but I believe the last litre or so in the 13 is unusable as it acts as a fuel pump cooling/lubing reservoir exactly for this purpose.

[Biggles]

I agree - but I believe the last litre or so in the 13 is unusable as it acts as a fuel pump cooling/lubing reservoir exactly for this purpose.

Is that a fact, Diesel?   If so, good call- that explains why we only get 28 litres at best.
Otherwise, stop making up stories and go pull your bike to bits to prove you're right!   

[Dick B "Yewie"]

Here's my latest claim to fame achieved today on a run up the Putty Road (braving the swarms of Sunday Road Warriors). Filled up at Colo Heights on the way back.

I claim 584.8Kms on the one tank with the refill being 25.12lts
I think that beats Diesel's 569k hands down and to top that off, most of it was done 2up
 
DickB 

[Diesel]

Damn! That's good Yewie!     

I was impressed that you got that on the Putty - let alone 2 up!!!!     

You'd have to be mad not to own one of these wouldn'tchya?       

Cheers, Diesel

PS - great photoshopping!       

Juz kiddin!    Well done mate.     

[saaz]

Dick, you were a week late with that ride 

[Dick B "Yewie"]

Yeh! Yeh! I know but I just didn't get back from up the coast (Including the Dorrigo RTE) in time to make the Grey Gum last week. Sorry!!!! 

[youngSTer]

Here are some photos of my fuel gauge while returning from Tasmania.
I fuelled up in Dubbo and when I was 45k outside Boggabilla when the 50k left warning came on and these are the pics from the Shell servo @ Boggabilla.
The distance from Dubbo to Boggabilla is 493 kilometres.

[TheMechwarrior]

Since this is the only "ST range" thread on the go I hope you don't mind me jumping in.

After following this thread for a little bit I decided to see what the range was on the ST1100.

I thought I was just testing the range  ...little did I realise I was actually testing my stress levels!

The bowser light flicked on around 380km into my test, 31km short of work...
Some sweaty palms and increased pulse as I contemplated what might be.

At one point I reached over to lock the throttle and I accidentally hit the kill switch 
A quick glance at everything and I soon realised my mistake 
Haven't done that before...did you know that if you hit the kill switch while riding simply placing the kill switch into the run position gets the engine running again...Hmm I never thought of push starting an ST before, now I know it's doable.

I filled her up after work to find I still had plenty of juice in the tank 5.5L left in the tank.

This gives me the following results:
                   Range                                                          Range
                   Actual   Litres   Litres   Litres     Economy      Theoretical
                   km    Capacity   Used      Left      L/100km    km
ST1100       411.3   28         22.5        5.5        5.5           512

I was previously filling up as soon as the bowser light came on and depending the quality of the fuel this could be as low as 330km! >:(
I think I'll be filling up at 400km from now on, stress free...I hope.

[saaz]

Its always good to test such things before you have to find out the hard way.  Normally I would count on a 450km range at least, with the possibility of going further if needs be and the conditions were right. Going to the Border Run this year there were strong head winds that reduced the comfort zone to not much more than 330kms, which is right up there in fuel usage to a brisk day ride through the Snowy Mountains.  My fuel light does not work, but I have my benchmarks to keep an eye on to see how the fuel usage is going.  When the needle moves off the full mark to just inside the top white mark that is 6 to 7 litres, half way just happens to be 14 litres used on mine, and on the last white mark is a touch over 20 litres.  Every ST11 varies it seems.  If the needle hits the red zone there is 4 litres left, but I have to be sure I noticed when it happened  or else 

[Brock]

Furthest that I have gone is 431Ks, and took 25.22 Litres. Most fuel I used was 27.2 Litres for 408 Ks. Now thats cutting it close

[alans1100]

My best ever recorded result for my 1100 towing my previous trailer was 27.44 litres for a distance of 470kms (17.12 kms/L). From Ceduna to Port Augusta on the way back home from Port Hedland. I had 10 litres of spare fuel but never needed it.

Now with my partner and a larger trailer which we use at least fortnightly for shopping trips my average for this year is 15.80kms/L or a safe 380kms per 24 litres.

[Diesel]

Furthest that I have gone is 431Ks, and took 25.22 Litres. Most fuel I used was 27.2 Litres for 408 Ks. Now thats cutting it close

I honestly don't mean this as a sledge - but can you see how the computer (EMS - tune as you ride) and fuel injection has made a world of difference?

Brock's ST11 is the last of the line, latest model, (latest development) and still gets 150kms less for the tank that Yewie on his 13 did (I acknowledge the extra litre fuel capacity for the 13) - but looks like there is a general trend here - as that last litre seems to have been worth 150kms!

Biggles was meticulous at keeping consumption records for both his 11 and 2x 13s. Have you got a pertinent comment here mate?

On a 1000km FarRide with Streak (me = 13, Streak = 11) he consistently put less fuel in for EXACTLY the same route - so this upsets the theory in a one-off, (but things evened out when I stopped showing off and put my front wheel back down on the road... )     

Seriously though - could it be the old carby Vs EMS F.I. argument that manufacturers boasted about?

Thoughts/comments appreciated.

Cheers, Diesel

EDIT: Don't forget the 200cc extra capacity too - does this equal better revs at same speed because of extra hp/torque?  At 100kms (107 indicated) - ST13 with Michelin PR2/3 = 3,400-3,500 rpm

[saaz]

 Over the years I have seen comments both ways. Some say the ST11 went further per litre, some say the opposite, some say not much difference.  I would have thought that EFI in the long run should be better as it stays in tune better, without the wear I have experienced in various parts of the carbs on my bike.

I think that FarRide does not count as there was some problem 

[Brock]

Over the Xmas break, I will put a fuel can or two on the bike, and go for a long constant speed run to see how far to empty and how much it takes to fillup again, Most of my riding involves commuting to work.

[Diesel]

I think that FarRide does not count as there was some problem

Ironically - THAT FarRide was the one where I was testing out the fuel additive which gained notoriety on this forum. Since that run I have shown to get 569kms for a single tank with no additive, and just running Caltex Vortex Premuim 95 RON!        hmmm....

@Brock - fair call. Hwy cycle has got to be worth a few extra kms/l.

[TheMechwarrior]

Seriously though - could it be the old carby Vs EMS F.I. argument that manufacturers boasted about?

Thoughts/comments appreciated.

Cheers, Diesel

EDIT: Don't forget the 200cc extra capacity too - does this equal better revs at same speed because of extra hp/torque?  At 100kms (107 indicated) - ST13 with Michelin PR2/3 = 3,400-3,500 rpm

Exactly why I posted, seeing the economy the ST13 was getting compared to the ST11 just didn't add up for me given the ST13 only has an extra 1L of fuel tank.

As for the speed/rpm I'm doing 100km/h @ ~3400rpm on my 2003 ST1100PY.

I do love fuel economy, another tick for the ST13.