MPG - please advise - new owner

[justBlue]

MPG - please advise - new owner

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I know the Forum has talked about this before -i'm new and still dont understand why my 2013 FZ6R is only getting 30 +/- mpg. 1,500 miles. It's broke in! Do I really need to ride in higher RPM (heard people say) to get better MPG. just don't make sense.... Seems like the esier you are on the rpm's the better Mpg'S - not working as hard. Simple. no? They have a new Honda 500 getting 91 MPG with the same RPM'S at 65 MPH (visit site).

Thanks you all - I know old subject - I love the bike

Mike - Houston Texas
10x40 syn oil

 

[jfont]

I don't know much myself but reading elsewhere on the forum some said their fuel usage(using a piece of equipment) was optimized at 6500 rpm. I get 49 mpg usually. I haven't taken any mechanical/combustion classes nor spent the time to research why(which wouldn't take long on google) but what makes sense to me is that the manufactures engineer the bike to perform well at different points. So obviously they engineered the FZ6R to perform best(efficient) at 6500 rpm. The way I think of it is static friction which is harder to overcome then kinetic friction. So once the engine has enough momentum in it's parts(pistons and such) it becomes the most efficient point in overcoming in the kinetic friction area. Where as it's hard to overcome the static friciton part when starting an engine. Why your car has a starter motor. Finding the balance between wasting gas(high rpm) and friction/lugging(low rpm). Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[JT]

MPG - please advise - new owner

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I know the Forum has talked about this before -i'm new and still dont understand why my 2013 FZ6R is only getting 30 +/- mpg. 1,500 miles. It's broke in! Do I really need to ride in higher RPM (heard people say) to get better MPG. just don't make sense.... Seems like the esier you are on the rpm's the better Mpg'S - not working as hard. Simple. no? They have a new Honda 500 getting 91 MPG with the same RPM'S at 65 MPH (visit site).

Thanks you all - I know old subject - I love the bike

Mike - Houston Texas
10x40 syn oil

Sounds like you want a Honda. lol

 

[MistahT]

I don't know much myself but reading elsewhere on the forum some said their fuel usage(using a piece of equipment) was optimized at 6500 rpm. I get 49 mpg usually. I haven't taken any mechanical/combustion classes nor spent the time to research why(which wouldn't take long on google) but what makes sense to me is that the manufactures engineer the bike to perform well at different points. So obviously they engineered the FZ6R to perform best(efficient) at 6500 rpm. The way I think of it is static friction which is harder to overcome then kinetic friction. So once the engine has enough momentum in it's parts(pistons and such) it becomes the most efficient point in overcoming in the kinetic friction area. Where as it's hard to overcome the static friciton part when starting an engine. Why your car has a starter motor. Finding the balance between wasting gas(high rpm) and friction/lugging(low rpm). Correct me if I'm wrong.

^^
THIS

I'm pretty sure this is why, although I can't see why your mileage is 30. Even driving the snot out of my bike with Marthy Maps and accel pump the lowest I've seen is about 35mpg. But by raising my city cruising rpm from 4-5k to 6k I've gained 10mpg at the pump.

Seems incredibly low though. Maybe go to your dealer and have them search for something under warranty?

 

[DevlDog]

Wow, I'll have to start cruising at 6k or so then. I've been cruising at around 4-5k or so because I just haven't gotten used to the noise of the higher RPMs yet. If I can get more mpg especially. Gas is expensive

 

[MistahT]

Wow, I'll have to start cruising at 6k or so then. I've been cruising at around 4-5k or so because I just haven't gotten used to the noise of the higher RPMs yet. If I can get more mpg especially. Gas is expensive

A few of us have had this discussion. Riding at the higher rpms, especially with an exhaust, can feel and sound uncomfortable, but it seems to be more efficient. Also, I was thinking that maybe even at 4,000rpms the engine could be bogging just because of how these engines are designed. I prefer low rpms in the first two gears taking city corners, but after that I've been keeping the revs up.

 

[MaximumHP]

I've been wanting to try this higher RPM thing, but I just feel like "joe racer" running around at 6k.

For the OP, I'd think something is not right, I have no regard for fuel mileage and with an exhaust and JBpro I still get mid 40's.

 

[nismos14]

Lowest I ever got on the R was 43. Might want to consider trying a tank with higher revs and see how it goes. Also how are you calculating your MPG?

 

[Scott_Thomas]

Lowest I ever got on the R was 43. Might want to consider trying a tank with higher revs and see how it goes. Also how are you calculating your MPG?

I ran mostly around 7-8k on my last tank and averaged 51mpg running Marthy's adv gear Rev b/pcv viper. I like keeping the revs up there regardless of gear now, better passing and maneuvering power.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4

 

[latony007]

commuter

not being a commuter I never really pay much attention to what kind of mpg im getting but im going to now, I cruise probably around 5500-6k sounds like I need to go up a bit. However doesn't the Honda get better mileage cause its smaller and about as fast as a ninja 300?

 

[Scott_Thomas]

not being a commuter I never really pay much attention to what kind of mpg im getting but im going to now, I cruise probably around 5500-6k sounds like I need to go up a bit. However doesn't the Honda get better mileage cause its smaller and about as fast as a ninja 300?

I don't usually use 6th gear unless I'm on a really long stretch of highway. Going to work there's heavy traffic on the highway and everyone goes about 20 over post speed limit so always have to be ready to go. Bike has some gitty up at the 7-8k rpm range.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4

 

[BKP]

Lowest I ever got on the R was 43. Might want to consider trying a tank with higher revs and see how it goes. Also how are you calculating your MPG?

I second this... how are you evaluating your mileage? If you're eyeballing, you're not going to get an accurate measure. Download a fuel app. I use "Fuel Log" (android). Very accurate, and consistent.

4-5k is a bit low to cruise... I cruise between 5-6k, and typically shift around 6k. I'm getting typically 49-52mpg. On the long mountain rides, even better...

There's lots of debate about this, but try varying your gas rm as well (octane rating). In other words, try whatever variables you can. If none of this brings you above the 30's, I'd have the valves/cylinders/emc checked.

 

[JT]

I don't keep track of my bike fuel costs its negligible but since Im always approx. at 7K id imagine Im getting upper end of 40's

 

[MNGreg]

I agree w/ Nismos.
Try 1 tank and keep the RPMS between 5-6.5k. With stock gearing like this I was getting about 46 mpg with 87 regular, then I went to NonOx 91 and started getting 48-53 MPG. (OOPS another gas thread now! )

Now with my new gearing I seem to be about 48-50, but I have also been pushing above 6k more than I used to - closer to the 6.5 and 7 here and there.

 

[daddyrack]

i honestly get better mpg cruising under 5k than over 6k.

 

[justBlue]

awesome info -

You know so much! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know the Forum has talked about this before -i'm new and still dont understand why my 2013 FZ6R is only getting 30 +/- mpg. 1,500 miles. It's broke in! Do I really need to ride in higher RPM (heard people say) to get better MPG. just don't make sense.... Seems like the esier you are on the rpm's the better Mpg'S - not working as hard. Simple. no? They have a new Honda 500 getting 91 MPG with the same RPM'S at 65 MPH (visit site).

Thanks you all - I know old subject - I love the bike

Mike - Houston Texas
10x40 syn oil[/QUOTE]

 

[justBlue]

I second this... how are you evaluating your mileage? If you're eyeballing, you're not going to get an accurate measure. Download a fuel app. I use "Fuel Log" (android). Very accurate, and consistent.

4-5k is a bit low to cruise... I cruise between 5-6k, and typically shift around 6k. I'm getting typically 49-52mpg. On the long mountain rides, even better...

There's lots of debate about this, but try varying your gas rm as well (octane rating). In other words, try whatever variables you can. If none of this brings you above the 30's, I'd have the valves/cylinders/emc checked.

I just divide gallons by mileage

 

[indian9990]

I'm trying this out now. Just filled up and gonna drive between 5-6.5k RPMs seems a but high but whatever. Worth a shot!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4

 

[zcypher]

30 is pretty bad to be honest. I was probably around that or maybe worse during break-in, but I expected it. After break-in I did 260km with 11L of gas, which is really pretty damn good I think. I've been consistently getting pretty good mileage out of it since that time, even though I didn't do my first tune up until quite a bit after the recommended 1000km mark.

Even the time I did 260km on 11L, I wasn't babying it at all. So it's not 90MPG, but at least it's pretty respectable if you ask me.

 

[Fizzi6ergal]

I use Fuelly.com to track my bike mileage. I haven't posted the last 3-4 fillups. But this whole summer, I've been tracking my mileage and it's been a steady 53-55MPG. But then again, I also commute 60 miles a day and my RPM's average 7k. I have stock gearing in my bike as well. I travel (as my speedometer says) about 75-80 MPH. (Don't tell the law enforcement lol).