Is this mileage possible?

[bigdelta]

The past 2 tanks got 43+ and 49+ mpg.Granted,1 up,no gear,170 lb rider and 90% highway.Stock windshield w/Laminar Lip.Doing between 60-65 mph.
'95GS w/33k.Just today,the low fuel light came on at 247 miles as I pulled in to storage.Bike has synthetics in back and dino in motor.Is my trip meter faulty and also my odometer?Can I not use a calculator correctly?I just completed my first 1k since purchasing it.
I can't remember getting that kind of mileage from R100,R1200 or R1150 GSs.:clap

[jingdog]

Sounds normal to me. My 96 GS sometimes gets ~ 33 mpg in winter at 30 degrees and on winter blend of fuel. But not unusual to see 50 mpg in summer if you dont exceed 75 mph on a trip...

[PGlaves]

Sounds normal to me. My 96 GS sometimes gets ~ 33 mpg in winter at 30 degrees and on winter blend of fuel. But not unusual to see 50 mpg in summer if you dont exceed 75 mph on a trip...

I agree. GS's are about as aerodynamic as a brick, so speed and drag cause the mileage to vary a lot. Drag increases at the square of the speed, or the 4th power or somesuch.

[kgadley01]

Very normal, I've hit 50 mpg a couple of times on the backroads.

[dhgeyer]

I've gotten everywhere from 39 to 50 mpg on my 96 R850R, depending on all the usual conditions. Best mileage is in warm weather, on good 2 lane U.S. type routes, where I can keep it around 55 in 5th most of the time with some slower going through towns, and minimal starting and stopping. Under those conditions it's always at or close to 50 mpg. Worst mileage is a result of a lot of short trips in town to run errands and such, with many cold starts per tankful.

[nrpetersen]

K1200LT two up for 3100 miles averaged middle 50s mileage. Definitely less on the freeway slabs, but quite a bit more in the NC twisties. Aerodynamic drag is a very significant component of motorcycle mileage.

[PETDOC]

With my '04 1150 GS I've gotten anywhere from 36 to 52 mpg, but average 42-45mpg. The 36 was understandable based on how I was driving at the time. The two times I got in the low 50's are a little strange-both occurred when I was riding through the mountains in SW Colorado during late May. I figured high altitudes, cold air and probably 100% gasoline all somehow combined to give the excellent fuel mileage.

[PGlaves]

With my '04 1150 GS I've gotten anywhere from 36 to 52 mpg, but average 42-45mpg. The 36 was understandable based on how I was driving at the time. The two times I got in the low 50's are a little strange-both occurred when I was riding through the mountains in SW Colorado during late May. I figured high altitudes, cold air and probably 100% gasoline all somehow combined to give the excellent fuel mileage.

It is just a hunch, but perchance the "through the mountains in SW Colorado" was at slightly lower than western slab speeds.

[41107]

It's amazing how the oxygen sensor workes at higher altitudes.The thinner the air the less gas keeping that 14.7 to 1 ratio right on the money.Thats where fuel injection puts a carb. to shame.

[OfficerImpersonator]

33 MPG on my last tank of gas.

Of course, I'm pushing a huge Aeroflow screen, crash bars and four PIAA lights through the air. I'm carting around two batteries and my fat ass during peak commute times here in Seattle. So I guess my mileage isn't horrible considering the variables, but I still think 33 MPG for a motorcycle is a bit embarrassing.

[PETDOC]

It is just a hunch, but perchance the "through the mountains in SW Colorado" was at slightly lower than western slab speeds.

Paul,
Maybe; however, when riding solo I tend to push it, so other factors may have contributed to the increased mileage. Additionally I live 20 minutes from the Great Smoky Mt. Natl. Park and similar terrain (lower elevations and warmer temps) in Western NC, and Northern GA, and never get that kind of mileage.

[PETDOC]

33 MPG on my last tank of gas.

Of course, I'm pushing a huge Aeroflow screen, crash bars and four PIAA lights through the air. I'm carting around two batteries and my fat ass during peak commute times here in Seattle. So I guess my mileage isn't horrible considering the variables, but I still think 33 MPG for a motorcycle is a bit embarrassing.

I had an Aeroflow screen. It dropped my mileage 10%. I sold it for reasons other than decreased gas mileage.

[j-budimlya]

Make sure that you correct for your odometer error....almost all have some error on the generous side....more miles recorded than traveled which has a tendency to inflate the MPG......kind of like government ratings on the cars :brow

[OUTBACKUFO]

at 6000-10000ft in elevation in colorado i average 48-49 mpg in normal driving on my 02 1150gs... this includes some traffic and highway style driving. the best i ever got was 58.5 mpg riding from Carbondale, CO to Montrose one day on CO Hwy 82. The worst i ever got was 39 mpg was with a full load in the Yukon on 85 oct since it was all i could get... i normally get around 45-43 at lower elevations.

[11319]

I posted this in the Oilhead section, but I am getting 37 mpg on a 2002 R1150R w/ 30K miles on it. My light comes on at 138 miles, and at 166 miles I put in 4.5 gallons. I'm still shocked.

[jingdog]

One thing I have noticed on my 96 GS: there is no thermostat in the oil cooler. In temps above ~ 60 degrees F I get five bars on the temp gauge. Anything like 35 degrees and theres three and even two bars. So the engine is running a little cold. Thats when the 33 mpgs hit. Also I think winter blend gas has an effect. Rts have the thermostat which I think could be fitted...

[bigdelta]

Make sure that you correct for your odometer error....almost all have some error on the generous side....more miles recorded than traveled which has a tendency to inflate the MPG......kind of like government ratings on the cars :brow
So my bike has fewer miles than it shows.....:bow!

[OfficerImpersonator]

Make sure that you correct for your odometer error....almost all have some error on the generous side....more miles recorded than traveled which has a tendency to inflate the MPG......kind of like government ratings on the cars :brow

Too bad I have a certified speedometer. No such error correction for me. :bluduh

[sriverag]

It's amazing how the oxygen sensor workes at higher altitudes.The thinner the air the less gas keeping that 14.7 to 1 ratio right on the money.Thats where fuel injection puts a carb. to shame.

Yes, I agree but then the fuel injection gets in shame vs a carb engine regarding to surging problems! I ride in both worlds and my carb bike runs smoother by much than my R1150RT!
:thumb

[41107]

Yes, I agree but then the fuel injection gets in shame vs a carb engine regarding to surging problems! I ride in both worlds and my carb bike runs smoother by much than my R1150RT!
:thumb

Yes thats true.If bmw runs these bikes any leaner they might just not run at all any more.But that can be fixed.I am just saying that with a carburetor there is no input from a O2 or barometric pressure sensor to control ratio.

[RedSledRider]

Well at 200 miles my light comes on, on my 95 R1100RS then I push the button on my dash and 5 more gallons get pumped into the tank from my extra tanks in the saddle bags. Putting gas stops about 440 miles apart when riding alone. Good for IBA rides.

[kgadley01]

Well at 200 miles my light comes on, on my 95 R1100RS then I push the button on my dash and 5 more gallons get pumped into the tank from my extra tanks in the saddle bags. Putting gas stops about 440 miles apart when riding alone. Good for IBA rides.

Thats not playing fair...I protest.:D

[bigdelta]

I took the bike to low fuel light for the 1st time as mentioned earlier at 247 and rode until 253.7.Put in 5.163 gals for 49.138 mpg,amazingly .02 diff from last tank.:clap
I miss the RID that was on my 1150 though.

[E_Page]

2002 RT. I can get 48 to 50 if I drive very gently and am traveling a significant distance without stop and go driving or driving in traffic.

Under normal commuter conditions, lots of traffic, lots of stop and go, I get 39 to 43.

[LCBIKEMAN]

2000 R 1100RT - I refuel at no more than 240 miles ... avg 44mpg at varying speeds up to 75 and less. fairly consistent on 60-90 degree days. No winter mileage test as yet.
Question: any experience with fuel additive to offset the 10% ethanol or winter blend gas?

[heybiker]

I've gotten everywhere from 39 to 50 mpg on my 96 R850R, depending on all the usual conditions. Best mileage is in warm weather, on good 2 lane U.S. type routes, where I can keep it around 55 in 5th most of the time with some slower going through towns, and minimal starting and stopping. Under those conditions it's always at or close to 50 mpg. Worst mileage is a result of a lot of short trips in town to run errands and such, with many cold starts per tankful.

So I should expect 38 to 42 city/hwy per tank in good 70 degree or higher weather, riding conservative? Long warm-ups, romping, and above 60 seems to wear that down to 34 or so...

[bikerfish1100]

Long warm-ups, ...

why bother at all?

start, zip the tank bag closed, visor down, go.
that is ALL the warm up that is necessary. if you need more than that (especially in GA), something is wrong with your bike.