Poor mpg

Dave 1949 · Oct 2, 2014

Hi I recently got my self a low mileage st1300 2008 with only 36500 miles
on the clock the problem is mpg when I first got it I couldsee AV 55 to the gallon
now after 3 weeks of use it only showing 9 to 11 to the gallonI am thinking thermostat as I only get two to three bars on tem gage .if I amstanding in traffic
the tem goes to 4 bars and the mpg improves until the radcools down .other than
that it runs sweet

Dave

T_C · Oct 2, 2014

Dave,
You are on the right track.
3 bars the temp gauge should be.
3 bars, and only 3 bars you will see.

The ST13's are dead steady at being able to maintain 3 bars as normal operating temeprature. I did briefly see 4 bars a few weeks ago out west in the US desert while going slow in town, but it just as quickly disappeared.

An afternoon, a new thermostat, an O-ring and gallon of silicate free anti-freeze. You'll be set and riding happy with much better mileage.

Enjoy and welcome to the ST1300.

st1300r · Oct 2, 2014

I don't think anybody has seen 4 bars on a normally function bike or 2 bars after it's warmed up.
It should warm up to 3 and stay there.

I'm not sure what the gauge does if say the overflow line has a crack and dumps radiator fluid into the overflow then sucks air back when the bike cools down emptying the cooling system?

flyfisher · Oct 2, 2014

I'm thinking the 9 to 11 readings are because you've set the gauges to metric....in other words liters..........there's a sequence in your owner's manual to change back and forth.......good luck..............ff

970mike · Oct 2, 2014

Sure sounds like you have a sticking thermostat to me.

Dave 1949 · Oct 5, 2014

Thanks for the feed back guys I have a thermostat and gasketon order

Dave

Al Gully · Oct 5, 2014

Dave,
Other than the 4 bar issue, check the brake disc's for abnormal issues. The rear and front brake rotors should be near the same temperatures.
I you find the rear rotor hotter constantly, you may have a SMC problem.

st1300marc · Oct 6, 2014

Sorry for a thread hijack but I'm also possibly experiencing poor mpg

I am achieving 28mpg UK, I ride 8 miles to work across town (30-40mph roads)

Temperature seems to get to 3 bars fairly quickly and stays there

Is this about right for a pan?

T_C · Oct 6, 2014

Unless you are accelerating heavily between stoplights, you should be getting low-mid 40mpg, well if imperial gallons even more.

Andrew Shadow · Oct 6, 2014

st1300marc said:
Is this about right for a pan?

To give you an idea my 2009 has averaged 56.3 miles per UK gallon for the last 35, 500 KM (46.8 MPG U.S.).
2007 ST1300 does almost exactly the same.

st1300marc · Oct 7, 2014

Andrew Shadow said:
To give you an idea my 2009 has averaged 56.3 miles per UK gallon for the last 35, 500 KM (46.8 MPG U.S.).
2007 ST1300 does almost exactly the same.

Is there anywhere I need to be looking to try and see what's wrong?

On 60mph UK A roads I'm getting 44mpg

Gear wise 30-35mph is 2nd, 35-55mph is 3rd 55-65mph is 4th and on motorways at 75mph I use 5th

Could my gear habits be a cause? I don't like lugging the engine

Superzuki · Oct 7, 2014

In a word, Yes. This machine has plenty of torque, in town or at 25 to 30 - 4th gear, at 35 to 40 I use 5th gear. If I need to accelerate swiftly I shift down, but for just going a bit faster just turn the throttle.

T_C · Oct 7, 2014

I'll run 40 mph in 5th gear... as long as I'm not going up a hill or trying to accelerate.

Use the highest gear you can. I can cruise steady open road at 2,000 rpm. Don't want to do more then barely try to accelerate from there. But for just maintaining your speed, as they say, just do it! If you hear the engine grumble and bark at you, downshift one, two or maybe three gears. But once you get stable speed and flat, shift as high as you can.

Andrew Shadow · Oct 7, 2014

I normally shift between 3500 & 4000 RPM for normal riding. I usually keep the RPM between the 2500 & 3500 range when not accelerating but this engine is happy anywhere above 2000 if you are not accelerating hard or going up hill.
Check your tire pressures and have a look at your SMC to make sure that your rear brake is not dragging.

Dave 1949 · Oct 8, 2014

Update fitted new thermostat etc and now the mpg has gone upto 12 t0 17 mpg but I
must admit that was only on a 8 mile run around windingroads .my intentions are to
take it for a long run tomorrow in the hope i will seebetter mpg .
there is no drag on the brakes and a inspection of the plugsshows the right colour
for clean combustion I will update tomorrow

Dave

Blrfl · Oct 8, 2014

This may seem obvious, but it should probably be covered: Are you reading your numbers straight off the dash, converting them or calculating it from miles driven and fuel consumed?

I ask because if you're reading the dash, the E (UK/Ireland) version of the bike reads fuel economy in miles per liter or kilometers per liter. The only version that shows MPG is the one sold in North America.

--Mark

Dave 1949 · Oct 8, 2014

Thanks for your reply mark i am definitely reading mpg

Dave 1949 · Oct 8, 2014

Hi again mark i have read you post again and I will gothrough the dash setting
Ones moor.
Thanks

Dave 1949 · Oct 9, 2014

Up date the motorcycle dealers I bought the Pan of has agreedto
Rectify the problem F O C

Poor mpg

Dave 1949

T_C

st1300r

flyfisher

970mike

Mike Brown

Dave 1949

Al Gully

st1300marc

T_C

Andrew Shadow

st1300marc

Superzuki

T_C

Andrew Shadow

Dave 1949

Blrfl

Natural Rider Enhancement

Dave 1949

Dave 1949

Dave 1949