Why is the fuel mileage not better???
- Thread starter Kspalla
- Start date
What do you mean by crappy fuel mileage? You DO realize the amount of miles per gallon you get depends on the road conditions, weather, and how hard you ride your bike/car right?
If he's getting better gas milage than you with a liter bike, you're riding a lot harder than he is. Most people get about 45mpg in stock form and average riding. Commuting, I've been getting about 49 lately, almost all freeway and cruising at 65-70 in 6th gear. But today riding the canyons aggressively, going from 35 to 80, all in 2nd and 3rd gear (4th gear occasionally) and I only got about 35mpg.
I'm getting at least 35mpg but not much more if I'm doing all street driving but then I drive it like I stole it. That dude on the litre bike doesn't do that.
Yamaha claims this bike should get 43 mpg. I have never gotten mine that low, usually somewhere between 47 and 50. I did get 56 once (coming down out of the mountains). I don't know many liter bikes that get mileage that good, unless they are long stroke slow spinning twins. Being smooth with the throttle will help.
It is riddin style and you have to remind yourself I-4s are high performance engines. Unlike the torque gods of the v-twins that get better mileage due to large torque output at much lower rpm.
I won't complain, I can get the same mileage distance out of my truck but it'll cost me $80 as opposed to $8.
Hi Kspalla,
First off, people exaggerate. Or they quote their "best" figure, not their average. Huge difference.
Second, I've seen a lot of horrendous mileage figures for litre sport bikes, unless your friend's bike is not a sport bike. But even a lot of the bigger cruisers don't get very good mileage. I've seen a lot of figures in the 30's for litre sport bikes.
So unless you really trust this guy or see some actual numbers, I would take your friend's figures with a grain of salt.
From what I've gathered over years of riding different bikes is that there is a correlation between smaller, less cylinders, longer stroke, and less valves with higher mileage. But it's only a correlation, not causal. In reality, every engine and bike configuration will result in an almost unpredictable fuel mileage figure.
And as mentioned above, riding style has a huge amount to do with your mileage.
Having said all of this, I believe the FZ6R gets from good to very good mileage compared to all other street motorcycles. I would categorize most litre class sport bikes as achieving poor to decent mileage.
Try this with your friend... You both fill up your tanks then go for a ride together until one of you runs dry. I'm gonna bet good money that your bike is the last one still running.
P.S.: One thing which I find confusing and annoying is that some people will quote MPG using an Imperial gallon, which is larger than a U.S. gallon. Gotta compare apples to apples. I also find that car and motorcycle companies will use the Imperial gallon for quoting their estimated fuel economy, which gives a false impression of higher fuel economy.
First off, people exaggerate. Or they quote their "best" figure, not their average. Huge difference.
Second, I've seen a lot of horrendous mileage figures for litre sport bikes, unless your friend's bike is not a sport bike. But even a lot of the bigger cruisers don't get very good mileage. I've seen a lot of figures in the 30's for litre sport bikes.
So unless you really trust this guy or see some actual numbers, I would take your friend's figures with a grain of salt.
From what I've gathered over years of riding different bikes is that there is a correlation between smaller, less cylinders, longer stroke, and less valves with higher mileage. But it's only a correlation, not causal. In reality, every engine and bike configuration will result in an almost unpredictable fuel mileage figure.
And as mentioned above, riding style has a huge amount to do with your mileage.
Having said all of this, I believe the FZ6R gets from good to very good mileage compared to all other street motorcycles. I would categorize most litre class sport bikes as achieving poor to decent mileage.
Try this with your friend... You both fill up your tanks then go for a ride together until one of you runs dry. I'm gonna bet good money that your bike is the last one still running.
P.S.: One thing which I find confusing and annoying is that some people will quote MPG using an Imperial gallon, which is larger than a U.S. gallon. Gotta compare apples to apples. I also find that car and motorcycle companies will use the Imperial gallon for quoting their estimated fuel economy, which gives a false impression of higher fuel economy.
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A lot of things contribute to the fuel mileage equation: weight, aerodynamics, gearing, and riding conditions are the big ones. Engine displacement by itself is a pretty small factor.
Sure, a larger engine will suck more fuel under full load. But under comparable conditions, a larger engine may match or outdo the MPG of a small engine that's revving higher and producing more frictional losses.
For me, the fuel mileage issue boils down to this: I used to drive a VW turbo, which was a lot of fun, but once gas prices hit $3-4 a gallon, I just couldn't enjoy putting my foot into it. Having the bike means way better performance than an economical car and much better mileage than a performance car, so I'm not going to sweat a few MPG more or less.
I average 47 to 48 mpg on the FZ6R now after the break in period. I was averging 43 to 44 mpg on my Bandit 1250S litre bike. So it looks like the FZ6R is getting 4 mpg more than the Bandit 1250S both driven at the same speeds and roads.
My conclusion; it takes more throttle twist (higher RPM) on the FZ6R to go the same speeds as with the Bandit 1250S.
Now forget about speed and just compare engine rpm on both bikes across the range. I'll bet the FZ6R would get closer to 8 or 10 mpg more than the Bandit 1250S litre bike.
My conclusion; it takes more throttle twist (higher RPM) on the FZ6R to go the same speeds as with the Bandit 1250S.
Now forget about speed and just compare engine rpm on both bikes across the range. I'll bet the FZ6R would get closer to 8 or 10 mpg more than the Bandit 1250S litre bike.
Which bike does he have? Because a Honda CBR1000 gets about 35-37. And an Yamaha R1 gets about 33. I've never gotten less than 43 MPG. I usually average 48+ MPG on the freeway. So either your doing your math wrong or he's blowing smoke up your yaahoo.
no kidding, my last fill up on my truck was $103. my truck is lucky to get 17 mpg on interstate, usually about 15-16mpg. save alot of money by commuting on the 6r, eventhough i work only 10-15 minutes from home.
I don't think I ever thought about gas mileage when I bought this bike. If I had of been thinking that way I should have looked at scooters or smaller bikes. I only think about gas when it gets down to one bar or I'm at the gas station. I do have a 1600 cc that gets close to the same mileage, but that's not why I bought it. Cars and Trucks we need, bikes we want.
Stephenfz6r
New Member
I've had two Liter Bikes (Suzuki and Kawasaki) and they both drank gas, 25-35 MPG.:iconbeer:
Update on that liter bike it now gets 0 miles to the gallon as it was wrecked tonight on his way to work, too much bike for a guy that has little common sense, no one to care for and rides like an a$$
Fractured solorplex bruised ego among other things but he will be ok just needs some time off work now to heal
Fractured solorplex bruised ego among other things but he will be ok just needs some time off work now to heal
Bigevildoer
New Member
Agree with you on that.
When I rode my FZ6R hard, the worst economy I ever had was about 40 mpg. Compare that to my Buell 1125r (1125cc, V-Twin, Short stroke, large piston diameter), when riding it NICELY (and trying to stretch mileage) I'm at about 40-41 mpg on a lucky day. Ride it hard, and ouch... down to about 24-27 mpg.
Bigevildoer
New Member
Fractured sternum maybe, not solarplexus - that's soft tissue (i.e. the soft spot right under the spot where your ribs meet at the bottom of your chest).