Fuel economy is terrible!!

Willsmotorcycle said:
Are you using the computer, or do you do the long math at the pump after filling?

I reset my odometer at every fill up then calculate how many miles into the gallons. I see the computer read out, but don’t use it.

Air filter, K&N or OEM, exhaust, stock or bolt on?
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My computer fcd reads accurately.

Air filter is standard. Pipes are stock. Some people report massive mileage gains with aftermarket pipes sans cats. Do you have experience with aftermarket pipes?
 
Arellcat said:
This past weekend's jaunt saw 53.3mpg on the 220 mile run down the M6/M62, and that was screen up and top box on, and into a tricky side/head wind most of the time at about 70mph. An 80 mile blast east and west on the M62/M60 without the top box and calmer wind saw 56.4mpg, and the 265 mile ride home up the M6, including fiddly A/B roads for about 80 miles, returned 51.8mpg. The average fuel consumption meter reading improved over the course of the trip by about 15%.

In sub-10 mile urban/suburban commuting mode the bike doesn't even manage 40mpg.
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Interesting. I converted your British mpg to USmpg. I still don't get near what you're getting...
 
The Dark Shadow said:
My computer fcd reads accurately.

Air filter is standard. Pipes are stock. Some people report massive mileage gains with aftermarket pipes sans cats. Do you have experience with aftermarket pipes?
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A standard Honda air filter?
 
I read that the speedo healer makes the mph correction, but the odometer is accurate on a stock bike, so the speedo healer makes the odo off about 7 % low.
 
Nozomi gets about 17km/L in open road twist and turns riding which is 40 MPUSG and 48 real MPG. If I rev the engine out high it sucks fuel very quickly, and if I coast along on the motorway it will be over 18km/L. I have managed 540km on a single tank of fuel. The ST is a heavy old bus so any riding that involves braking and accelerating frequently will raise the fuel use compared to a steady cruise.
 
Oldbikefixr said:
Most of my 'chore' rides are three miles or under, My mileage is mid to high 20's as well, lots of traffic lights. Highway riding is around 46mph.
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Are you in British or US units...?
v8-7 said:
I read that the speedo healer makes the mph correction, but the odometer is accurate on a stock bike, so the speedo healer makes the odo off about 7 % low.
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Not true. My speedo and odo both read true.
 
TerryS said:
Nozomi gets about 17km/L in open road twist and turns riding which is 40 MPUSG and 48 real MPG. If I rev the engine out high it sucks fuel very quickly, and if I coast along on the motorway it will be over 18km/L. I have managed 540km on a single tank of fuel. The ST is a heavy old bus so any riding that involves braking and accelerating frequently will raise the fuel use compared to a steady cruise.
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Even with my steady cruise today, i got 15.5 km/l (36.5 US mpg) @ 110-115kph. Seems that my mileage sucks even driving super mellow.
 
Catmandu2 said:
True,,,, and the st1300 can gobble it's share of tire rubber and brake pads as well !! CAt'
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Too right. I use my ST in mainly Sport rather than Touring mode, and have got some truly disappointing mileage out of my tyres; having said that, the worst wear is never in the centre so at least I am having fun. I am now experimenting with running much higher air pressures after consultation with a good friend who is in the MC tyres business (and has direct access to the manufacturer's technical gurus). With a TPMS I can see exactly how high the pressure rises and that is pretty surprising. From 42 cold (and 20C ambient) the back tyre gets to 52 psi when having a swift (but not stupid) ride, i.e. 10psi rise. I understand that a target rise is more in the 4-5psi range and any more is an indicator that the tyre carcass is overheating. I am have been running 45F/46R cold and that is limiting the pressure rise at the back to 6psi, and my next iteration will be to raise the cold to 48R. I have not noticed any change in ride quality or traction which makes sense as the tyre is rising to a the same hot pressure, but the wear looks a lot better.
 
TerryS said:
Too right. I use my ST in mainly Sport rather than Touring mode, and have got some truly disappointing mileage out of my tyres; having said that, the worst wear is never in the centre so at least I am having fun. I am now experimenting with running much higher air pressures after consultation with a good friend who is in the MC tyres business (and has direct access to the manufacturer's technical gurus). With a TPMS I can see exactly how high the pressure rises and that is pretty surprising. From 42 cold (and 20C ambient) the back tyre gets to 52 psi when having a swift (but not stupid) ride, i.e. 10psi rise. I understand that a target rise is more in the 4-5psi range and any more is an indicator that the tyre carcass is overheating. I am have been running 45F/46R cold and that is limiting the pressure rise at the back to 6psi, and my next iteration will be to raise the cold to 48R. I have not noticed any change in ride quality or traction which makes sense as the tyre is rising to a the same hot pressure, but the wear looks a lot better.
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Thanks for this. Changing tires every few thousand clicks isn't pouring me in my happy place... lol
 
Catmandu2 said:
I have lots of experience with aftermarket pipes. But improved fuel economy is not something you should expect from installing a set. In my earlier post,,, I asked about your windscreen position,, and whether you keep the tail case mounted ?? CAt'
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Rode windscreen mostly down today. Trail case is mounted but I can't imagine there's significant drag because of wrong cocoon from fairing and windscreen.
 
Catmandu2 said:
The bikes mileage computer can not be used to accurately measure mileage. I use the trip-ometer,,, to only get a rough estimate of how many miles/kilometers are on each tankful between fills. An accurate measure of distance traveled has to come from my gps. The mileage computer can be used for rough comparative readings. ie: ride a couple of km's of straight flat road at posted,,, and note the consumption rate. Then ride the same km's of road (in same wind conditions and direction) at posted plus %50,,, and note that consumption rate. The two readings will give a reasonable comparison in percentage difference between the two runs,,, imho,,, CAt'
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I was surprised at the accuracy of the mileage computer on my bike. I have tested it twice versus the tripmeter and hand calculation, incredibly both times it was within 0.1 to 0.2 MPG. The most accurate for any vehicle that I have ever had.
 
Here are several steady state/ level ground readings I have taken on my 2015 ST for reference. Measurements taken with windscreen halfway up and no top box on bike.

55 mph = 53 mpg
62 mph = 50 mpg
65 mph = 47 mpg
70 mph = 44 mpg
80 mph = 40 mpg
Mixed rural/ city driving = avg. 39 mpg to 40 mpg.

I would definitely look into partially activated/dragging brakes for starters. Hope this information is useful to you and/or others.
 
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