Mpg during break in period

7063 Views 19 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Alien, Aug 7, 2016

Acvdc

Discussion Starter · Mar 13, 2016

Hey guys I've put around 450 miles on my new R3 so far and have filled up about every 70 to 100 miles, I haven't been riding hard, I've kept it in the 7k rpms at cruising speeds as manual suggested for break in, but my MPG just sucks it feels like, is this normal for the break in period ? Im getting around only 30 mpg since I'm spending as much as I do going the same distance in my little 4 cylinder car, any suggestions ? Thanks guys

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FangShui

· #2 · Mar 13, 2016 (Edited)

Acvdc said:
Hey guys I've put around 450 miles on my new R3 so far and have filled up about every 70 to 100 miles, I haven't been riding hard, I've kept it in the 7k rpms at cruising speeds as manual suggested for break in, but my MPG just sucks it feels like, is this normal for the break in period ? Im getting around only 30 mpg since I'm spending as much as I do going the same distance in my little 4 cylinder car, any suggestions ? Thanks guys

Might depend on how those miles are ridden. Stop-and-go through lots of traffic lights or stop signs will bring the mpg way down.

I did my break-in mostly on roads with no lights or stops and got 64-67 mpg for the first 600 miles (haven't measured it since then), and that was on mountain roads between 6,200 and 9,500 feet elevation.

I didn't just keep the rpms at 7,000 or lower, either, but took it up to 8,000 or 9,000 for short distances periodically.

Endopotential

· #3 · Mar 13, 2016

I got 60-70mpg during that time period; 155lb rider on some rolling seashore hills.

Any chance you're going up and down steep hills? rider weight? does your instantaneous mpg also read that low, or do you get good spells when it's above 55mpg? does the instantaneous mpg match the average mpg (I think there are two separate displays)?

Could it be something silly like the brakes dragging? at least put the back up on a rear stand and see that you can spin the wheel around? front wheel would be trickier to do without a front stand.

Good luck!

Bird

· #4 · Mar 13, 2016 (Edited)

Cross winds in the AV? Any kind of wind drag brings down the MPG. Also like was mentioned stop and go traffic. I know there is much more gas in the tank than the gauge will lead you to believe. I think someone mentioned it will go around 60 miles after it starts flashing empty.

Weather looks a bit crap but I am going to give it a shot today. No real rain on the radar to worry about. Just mid 60's and a bit of wind.

I too got in the 60-70 range early.

Low tire pressures can certainly drag you down as well.

Kojiiro

· #5 · Mar 13, 2016

How are you measuring the MPG? The bike guestimates it, so a suggestion would be to see what your ODO says when you fill up, then at your next fill, subtract current odometer by the last reading and divide that number by how many gallons (be exact) you actually put in.

I would think if you follow the manual and keep RPMS low, the fuel efficiency would be pretty good. I shift at higher RPMS, near/at when the shift light pops and I always get bad fuel economy. Its a sports bike so I dont care too much for fuel economy. I have averaged about low-mid 40s.

If you want to get good fuel economy, short shift the bike and keep the RPMS low.

Acvdc

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 13, 2016

Usually I'll go from palmdale to San Fernando and back and each time I have had to fill up once back in Palmdale , it's about 50 miles each way I believe ? I am a noob and probably doing something wrong to go through tank like I am so I shall try your guys suggestions thanks! Also ill disregard the fuel gauge this tank and see how far I can go just keeping track of what I see inside the tank and record the miles My self, I have not let the gauge blink on me yet I just fill up again once it hits the last bar or goes between the first bar and second bar. I had no idea people were getting that far and the blinking bar. My avg mpg it says is 50 so I'm hoping it's right n it's around that, also how far have you guys taken a full tank?

Kojiiro

· #7 · Mar 13, 2016

Acvdc said:
Usually I'll go from palmdale to San Fernando and back and each time I have had to fill up once back in Palmdale , it's about 50 miles each way I believe ? I am a noob and probably doing something wrong to go through tank like I am so I shall try your guys suggestions thanks! Also ill disregard the fuel gauge this tank and see how far I can go just keeping track of what I see inside the tank and record the miles My self, I have not let the gauge blink on me yet I just fill up again once it hits the last bar or goes between the first bar and second bar. I had no idea people were getting that far and the blinking bar. My avg mpg it says is 50 so I'm hoping it's right n it's around that, also how far have you guys taken a full tank?

Bike fuel gauges are usually off. The 650 was pretty bad with its gauge. Just wait till you have a full tank, record the mileage then, and when you fill up again, record new mileage and how much gas on that fill up (to full tank obviously), and do the math with miles ridden divided by gallons refilled.

Bane_619

· #8 · Mar 13, 2016

I was curious on what my average MPG was after my first ride yesterday. It is showing 57.9 average MPG. I'll keep an eye on it once I get more miles on it and update again later.

rito

· #9 · Mar 14, 2016

Owners manual says the tank is 3.7 gallons. @50-60 mpg that would be 185 to 222 miles per full tank. I get nervous when the meter is down to one notch and stop to fill up as soon as possible. Trip meter is in the 120 to 130 mile range (reset everytime after filling) and I have never been close to putting in 3 gallons. Average fuel consumption display reads +/-56 mpg so I figure it's pretty accurate. Manual doesn't state what's left in the tank when it starts flashing, but appears to be at a conservative setting.

samurai165

· #10 · Mar 21, 2016

I only have around 80 miles on my bike so I'm still breaking it in (dealer told me to shift around 7K), I haven't checked the mpg yet but I think it has 3 bars left on the fuel gauge.

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coaster

· #11 · Mar 21, 2016

rito said:
Average fuel consumption display reads +/-56 mpg so I figure it's pretty accurate. Manual doesn't state what's left in the tank when it starts flashing, but appears to be at a conservative setting.

Reserve is .79 gal so at 56 mpg range should be about 44 miles.

Hory_Mory

· #12 · Mar 21, 2016

57mpg break in 300 miles so far. Shifting at 5k rpm, staying below 8k rpm but have gone to 9k a few times to pass cars. I'll take it to 9k rpm at 400 miles, 10k rpm at 500 miles, then 11k rpm after the first oil change at 600 miles. No redline until 1000 miles. 87 octane. Various roads like streets, fwys (70mph max) and canyons.

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Mikestib1

· #13 · Apr 22, 2016

The multi meter resets the mpg number every fill up. Just scroll with the buttons. I get 53 to 56 mpg and do a lot of stop and go riding and not much highway use up to now. It's a small motor the sees a lot of rpm and throttle opening. Didn't buy it for fuel economy but for fun. Buy a Honda Pcx 150 if you want 80 or more mpg but they are slow

R3monster

· #14 · Apr 23, 2016

I read the MOM from front to back twice and didn't see anything about a break in period

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mlin32

· #15 · Apr 23, 2016 (Edited)

Getting some pretty good consumption figures so far......signature link is clickable. For US users this is approx 67 US mpg.

A little commuting but even that is not so much stop-and-go, rather a sedate 70km/h on backroads with just some stop lights. The rest has been weekend fun riding.

xorbe

· #16 · Apr 24, 2016

Flogged the bike yesterday Central Valley to San Jose to Alice's to Mountain View back to CV, 55 mpg. A lot of 4th and 5th on the freeway, was not just cruising in 6th like last time, lots of high rpm. This bike really likes to get moving on the freeway. My blinking OIL light finally came on during this last trip.

Raptor2002

· #17 · May 3, 2016

Over 50 - 56 mpg and over 200 lbs with gear seems to be avg.. Depends on how I ride..

I could try streaking and see if i can get a couple extra mpg lol

jupingjupiter

· #18 · May 12, 2016

Acvdc said:
Hey guys I've put around 450 miles on my new R3 so far and have filled up about every 70 to 100 miles, I haven't been riding hard, I've kept it in the 7k rpms at cruising speeds as manual suggested for break in, but my MPG just sucks it feels like, is this normal for the break in period ? Im getting around only 30 mpg since I'm spending as much as I do going the same distance in my little 4 cylinder car, any suggestions ? Thanks guys

30Mpg.. Something is way off. Perhaps your fuel economy gauge is faulty. If you have manually calculated your mpg (miles travel on odo/gal refilled) and you are still coming up with 30Mpg I would check to see if your wheels are free spinning. Also keeping your foot as far from the rear brake as possible.

I subscribe to Motoman's hard break in method of "Full throttle/Compression brake" (although I try to keep it under 9k rpm most of the time). Even riding like that during the breakin I was getting 21.5km/l (50Mpg).

Changing out my break in oil tomorrow so I cruised with lower rpm after resetting my MPG average. for 100km and was getting 27.3Km/l (64mpg).

AesonVirus

· #19 · May 13, 2016

I only have 120 miles on mine right now so I'm still early in my break-in period.
I took a nice 90 mile ride today, all back roads and averaged 56.6 mpg.

I keep it below the suggested 7k and if I need to go above that to pass, I don't stay above that mark for long at all.
I found that if I want to keep it under 7k rpms, I'm limited to a top end 65mph.

Alien

· #20 · Aug 7, 2016

Keeping the RPMS low is no fun... from day 1 (after allowing bike to warm up) I ride it like I stole it. Bike is doing just fine, and I now have a permanent grin on my face like the Joker.

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