Fuel consumption ST1300

I'm quite new to this forum and my 2002 ST1300, 28,000miles. I think my bike is a bit thirsty and looking for some pointers please.

Air filter is new and temp stays on 3 bars all the time.
Fan seems to come on and off as expected.
Plugs look good, brakes run free, tyre pressures 42.
I've been riding fairly gently and best I've achieved is 218 miles from full to near empty. (25 litres to fill)
i ride in Ireland North and South and use 95 octane, the lowest we have as far as I know. I don't think it has much ethanol if any.

sorry if I've missed or not found earlier posts on this, but hoping for some more problem areas if known. I'm thinking something to do with engine tune possibly?

alfazer said:

I've been riding fairly gently and best I've achieved is 218 miles from full to near empty. (25 litres to fill)

Click to expand...

I just did a day ride of 600 miles. I filled up twice. Was running 60 MPH for the most part. 2 lane highways and many towns. I got 48 on one tank and 49 on the second one, going 320 miles before fueling and taking 6.4 gallons. There really is nothing to tune up. You mentioned air filter and plugs. Free turning wheels. One could try to add fuel additive like we have over here called Seafoam.

Speed travelling has a huge impact on your MPG. Nothing magic, just easy on the throttle.

218 miles is on the low end unless you're pushing it.
On the motorway 280 or more is typical depending on speed. Say 120kph.
Stop and go and twisties put a dent in mileage.

For me on my ST1300 250 is on the low side when pushing the bike hard and 350 when cruising at mellow speeds.

So how much running in gears other than 5th do you do? Lots of traffic, stop start? What's your average speed....over here it's easy to go 60 mph for a few hundred miles without shifting or stopping....pretty easy to get good mileage that way....so how do you drive? ff

I just got 46 mpg and filled up at 275 miles and it took 6 gallons. And I cruise around at 75-85 mph routinely. You said 95 octane? Our hi-test is only 91-93 here in the states. Maybe try running some gas additive like Seafoam, Gumout or equivalent through it? Are the plugs gapped right?

you say 3 bars on the temp gauge; but didn't I read in earlier threads that a bad thermostat , ie. temp gauge less than 3 bars (when bike is at full operating temp) , gives classic bad fuel mileage?
(about 7.5gal tank with range 218miles, = 29mpg?) give or take. I think something is going on; if you're sure is not riding style/environment.

Windscreen up, or down? Running with it up will impact your mileage.
Weight? Your weight will impact mileage, are you running two up?
Headwinds or tailwinds?

The octane rating is based on the Euro standard, it is the equivalent of our 91 Octane.

Nevada said:

Windscreen up, or down? Running with it up will impact your mileage..

Click to expand...

+1 - I have an oversize ClearView windscreen and running it up high adds a ton of drag at highway speeds.

I use the screen mostly about 1/2 way up where it's borderline below my eye level so I'm not actually looking through it. I'm 6'2", 90kg and a had wife and top box with me for about 60 miles of that tankful, but riding very, very smooth when she's on board because she is a nervous traveller. Most of my riding is journeys of maybe 15-60 miles, mostly 4th and 5th gear and rarely over 70mph. So certainly not like hours of freeway, but still lower than i had expected.
I mentioned the 3 bar temp display because I seem to remember reading here somewhere that steady 3 bars was a good guide to a working thermostat? Not sure.
With other bikes there's been things to test and play around with; throttle balance, TPS, that sort of thing. Maybe not so with the ST1300?

Thanks for your replies guys. Your journey and mileage comparisons are useful to know.

alfazer said:

3 bars was a good guide to a working thermostat? Not sure.

Click to expand...

Yes that is a good indicator that it is working, unless the air temperatures are above 50 or so. I did not know I had a bad t-stat until it got cold and then it would do the dance between 2 - 3 bars. My fuel mileage did not suffer until it started doing the dance.