Saving Gas- Riding in 6th at 40 mph?

[Nelly]

Originally Posted by jfz6

I have read a lot of posts where people are getting 200 miles(320k) out of a tank of gas. Recently I decided to try and see how far I could go.

So I rode around in town mostly in 5th or 6th gear in the 30-40 mph(48-64kph) range. On the highway I tried to keep it under 80mph(128kph).

I ended up getting 175 miles out of my tank only going about 9 miles(14k) in F-Trip. The next week I tried the same thing and got 76 miles(122k). This week I have made it 90+ miles(144k) but only 3 bars are left and they seem to go quick. I have been using Shell Premium or Mid Grade gas and this week I decided to try Exxon- I think I will go back to Shell.

Now I am a big guy. I am about 6 ft.(182cm.) and 270 pounds or 19 stone and I have a pretty big chest(and gut) that blocks the wind. I only usually carry about 10 pounds (4.5kg) in a backpack.

I am pretty sure that my weight and chest wind resistance doesn't help me to get any closer to that 200 mile mark.

Is my cruising in 6th at slow speeds saving me gas? I don't mind it but I will say that today I had a car that almost ran me off the road....I can never find the damn horn button when I need it....and if I had been in a lower gear I could have shot ahead of them.

Instead I just got closer to them as my bike kinda shuttered and slowly tried to get speed. It was the closest I have come to actually getting hit. If I had braked I would have been hit from behind as I was on a two lane road with lots of traffic going about 40(64) and the person behind me was not biker friendly- just riding my tail even though there was no where to go.

It made me rethink my whole gas saving plan even if it is working.


I am wondering if any of you out there have any suggestions to help me save gas. Is my cruising in 6th at slow speeds saving me gas?

I honestly think that the difference in negligible. I used to short short shift to 6th and ride 30 - 40 mph. I now ride at these speeds in 3rd or 4th. There is really nothing in it.

Nelly

[VEGASRIDER]

Just to give you an idea, I weigh about 160 and the most I got out of tank was 228 miles riding around Vegas. I ran out of gas and end up walking my bike to the gas station. With your weight and not refueling late into reserve, I think you're right on par.

+ 1 on the tire pressure, you may want to put a bit more in what's recommended because of your weight,

[dankatz]

I don't want to state the obvious, but do you fill up on your side stand or center stand? there is a fair difference in how much you can put in the tank. Also, do you stop when the pump stops? I put a little extra if I know I am going on a long trip and I am not worried about the gas having enough time to heat up and expand. You are better off calculating your MPG or KPL. In any case, it is never a good idea to og down the engine. Our engines are detuned R6 engines, so I usually don't cruise lower than 40mph in 5th and 45mph in 6th.

[lonesoldier84]

on the flipside....don't change to first gear when ur going 180kph

[hunterfz6]

Are you so poor that you cant afford to pay 20 bucks to fill your bike? I would take the bus if that is the case. Its better to be in the proper power band like the others said in case you need to, get out of jail free card it out of danger. Also, if you are riding 40 mph in 6th your gonna wear something out. If i'm riding the speed limit, and in 6th gear, i'm normally in the 6k to 7k rpm range, Its a quick drop to 5th to chit and git. And its not gonna damage the engine. If you really want good fuel economy, get a scooter or a moped or something, i heard they get 60 to 100 mpg. Good luck.

[lonesoldier84]

Originally Posted by hunterfz6

Are you so poor that you cant afford to pay 20 bucks to fill your bike? I would take the bus if that is the case. Its better to be in the proper power band like the others said in case you need to, get out of jail free card it out of danger. Also, if you are riding 40 mph in 6th your gonna wear something out. If i'm riding the speed limit, and in 6th gear, i'm normally in the 6k to 7k rpm range, Its a quick drop to 5th to chit and git. And its not gonna damage the engine. If you really want good fuel economy, get a scooter or a moped or something, i heard they get 60 to 100 mpg. Good luck.

sometimes i am that poor.

but i always keep it in the powerband, and never use anything but premium gas. if i cant afford to put in gas i bum rides. no gear 6 @ 40 for me!!!

[bertmoog]

The mpg difference between 40 in 6th and 40 in 4th is not a significant value. RPM does not translate 1:1 into throttle (and therefore gas volume). You could be driving the same speed in either 4th or 6th and your throttle be in (relatively) the same place. You are likely only gaining about 1 MPG by being in 6th gear. If you calculate that, its equivilant to a 2% gain. Like i said, not significant.

[DefyInertia]

This guy says he got 300...

301.1 commuting miles on one tank of gas - Sportbikes.net

how about that!

[Avalon786]

Originally Posted by brad81987

Running premium when your motor doesn't require it can also lead to decreased mileage. The higher the octane rating, essentially the higher the resistance to pre-detonation. This also makes it harder to burn. Unless the motor was designed for it, you'll probably get better mileage on regular. Also consider that, especially these days, premium is going to sit in gas stations' storage tanks a lot longer than regular. Regular will probably be a lot fresher, which is also good for your motor. Engines like stale gas as much as people like sour milk. Also- if you can, find stations that don't mix in ethanol. It's becoming harder and harder to do so around here, but I don't know about other parts of the country. Ethanol has substantially less kick than octane (gasoline) so while mixing it in does cause it to burn cleaner, it reduces power and mileage.

I'm pretty sure our bikes are made to run on premium, with the high reving engine!...

[VEGASRIDER]

Originally Posted by Avalon786

I'm pretty sure our bikes are made to run on premium, with the high reving engine!...

As amazing as it may seem, our bikes are made to run on regular unleaded, you can read it in the owner's manual. But mid grade or premium will work too. This debate has been beaten to death, there are several threads about premium vs regular. I run on regular, and it runs fine. Why pay more for premium, you're just wasting your money. But if it makes you feel better, keep putting premium in. However, my roomate has an '07 R6 and his bike is suppose to take premium.