MPG in terms of rpms

[MrArn]

Near the end of the summer last year I started keeping my MPG using an app on my phone. My 97 standard got an average of 32 MPG over the last 9 months.

Because I don't have a gas gage and gas stations can be further away than my reserve can carry me. It's important for me to understand how much gas my bike is burning. For me it works like this.

3000 to 3500 rpm means I'll be getting 32-42 MPG
3500 to 4000 rpm means I'll be getting 27-31 MPG
Running over 4000 rpm drops it under 26 MPG

The wind can be a factor moving those numbers up or down as much as 10 MPG.
Hills don't seem to matter, guess because whatever you use going up you save coming back down.

I'm guessing if you run 2500 to 3000 rpm you could really push those numbers up, I've just never been able to hold that pace for an entire day of riding. The last couple of months I've been working on staying in the 3000 to 3500 range.

On my US 191 trip if I can manage myself and stay in the 3000-3500 rpm range, I'm guessing it will save me around 20% of my gas bill, around $100 dollars. When you think about why I take these trips, I take them to ride my bike. That $100 could get me another 1000 miles down the road if I keep it under 3500 rpms.

[pocobubba]

Great info ,thanks

[Pete]

Keeping it at 2500 to 2700 is good for 35 to 38 on my Valk Standard.
Just FYI.

[Fudd]

Keeping it at 2500 to 2700 is good for 35 to 38 on my Valk Standard.
Just FYI.

Yeah, but how can you do that.....limit your riding to funeral escorts?

 

[9Ball]

Don't forget that headwinds and high temperatures can have an impact on mileage.  This becomes a real factor riding through Kansas, Wyoming, etc.  I've gotten as little as 18 mpg through Kansas...100+ degrees and strong winds (mostly fighting cross winds), oh yeah and 90 to 100 mph!!.

[Mildew]

Keeping it at 2500 to 2700 is good for 35 to 38 on my Valk Standard.
Just FYI.

Yeah, but how can you do that.....limit your riding to funeral escorts?

 

lol. Riding like that ain't no fun but you'll save enough money to buy a sammich at the end of the day. I get my best gas millage off the freeway with my bike. My 323 BMW gets 4 mpg better gas millage than the valk running 85 mph on the big road. It feels like it's the cars comfort zone. It runs about the same RPMs as the valk. Basically the same design. I think the fuel infection is the difference.

[MP]

The RPM's are not the key, it is the MPH you are doing at those rpms.  Wind resistance is a HUGE factor in mpg, and that is why using Marios gears to lower rpms did not work.  You need more power to go faster, no matter what rpm you are doing it at.

[Mildew]

  my bike gets better mpg with the fairing than it did with the big windshield

[Trynt]

4000 rpm on the interstate = 28 mpg.

[PhredValk]

On trips when I keep her to 70MPH indicated, the tach is pinned right on 3000 and I get 36-38MPG (calculating 4L to be a US gallon (close enough) and my IS's US speedo). When I'm having more fun, I average 32MPG. Once, running 80MPH into a severe headwind I got around 25-26MPG.
3000-3300 RPM seems to be the sweet spot.
Fred.

[Daddie O]

I've heard that 3000 rpm is the delineation.  Keep it under 3000 and you get great mileage, go over it and it sucks the gas.  Has to do with the carburation.  Attic Rat could explain the hows and whys. 

[gordonv]

How about this gas app? Name, and what does it do? I have a new to me 88' GW, and with only a fuel guage and no reserve, I'm still trying to figure out my miles per tank. What is safe to ride to and all that.

[Blackduck]

Daddie O is close, it is the design of the air inlet system. Somewhere around 3000 rpm the inlet starts to choke and this draws more fuel into the ingoing charge.
Add that to wind resistance and ambient conditions and fuel use increases.

[MrArn]

How about this gas app? Name, and what does it do? I have a new to me 88' GW, and with only a fuel guage and no reserve, I'm still trying to figure out my miles per tank. What is safe to ride to and all that.

It's called Mileage and it tracks my fuel usage. I also been tracking general maintenance with it. 

[Seus2909]

A friend of my who also owns a Valk suggested I raise the front of my gas tank by a 1/4 inch using a rubber washer. That will allow move air into the intake, less choking and better milage, any thoughts before I do this.

Thanks
Seus

[Momz]

A friend of my who also owns a Valk suggested I raise the front of my gas tank by a 1/4 inch using a rubber washer. That will allow move air into the intake, less choking and better milage, any thoughts before I do this.

Thanks
Seus

It also puts more fuel closer to the petcock. More fuel means more mileage before hitting reserve.
I consistently get 40+ MPG and I don't ride conservatly.

[Marinakorp]

Keeping it at 2500 to 2700 is good for 35 to 38 on my Valk Standard.
Just FYI.

Yeah, but how can you do that.....limit your riding to funeral escorts?

 

lol. Riding like that ain't no fun but you'll save enough money to buy a sammich at the end of the day. I get my best gas millage off the freeway with my bike. My 323 BMW gets 4 mpg better gas millage than the valk running 85 mph on the big road. It feels like it's the cars comfort zone. It runs about the same RPMs as the valk. Basically the same design. I think the fuel infection is the difference.

BMW is an inline 6 vs the Flat 6

Anywho...

I agree. The RPM/gas is pretty close to what I got riding to wingding last weekend from PA.


A little less when in the headwinds, and certainly when towing the trailer!