How to improve MPG. Best mpg on st1300. Commuting

schlep1967 said:
Maybe I don't commute far enough, but I just cant see how driving the truck would break even with riding the bike for cost. Over the winter I drove the Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel to work at the cost of $260 a month for fuel. With nicer weather and riding the Goldwing it costs me about $50 a month for fuel. How are you people wasing $210 a month on bike maintenance? Now if I didn't already have a bike and wanted to add one to the garage just for mileage savings, then I would have to account for the extra insurance, added maintenance and the cost of the bike. But if I am already paying all those costs on the bike and the truck, the bike wins easily in money savings.
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There are numerous factors to throw in that you aren't seeing, but we aren't saying you won't save money riding a bike vs driving a gas eating cage. You just won't be seeing all that savings that you think you are getting.

I go through a set of tires in 4 months. That's $400 (when you add mounting and balancing) , so about $100 month in tires.

My gear lasts two, maybe three seasons (ride every day, use mesh in the warmer months and solid when cooler) Helmet, gloves, jackets, riding pants, electrics, etc. When you add all of that up, I probably spend $600 a year on gear ($50 a month)

Now, I haven't even thrown in maintence on the bike vs cage yet. I change oil in my bike every 5K, in my truck 10K(Mobil 1) Coolant, brakes, etc...

$210 a month for all the other stuff.... yeah, it could happen, especially if you don't do your own work on your bike!

And BTW, I spend about $300 a month on gas with the bike and would spend about $500 driving.
 
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When my dash display on the ST says 44-45 mpg. I'm really getting 48-50. My worst tank was 38 mpg and my best was 56 both calculated. I usually get about 48 actual with the display saying 42-45.

Mark
 
On a straight up operating cost, an ST is going to beat a full size (+) pickup/SUV. And it will get beaten by a small compact car. However, few, if any, of us choose our vehicles based solely on straight up operating cost. It costs me less to ride my ST to work and back than it does to drive my truck. However, I will not ride when ice/snow have made the road conditions dodgy. So, I must have an alternative, i.e., truck in my case. When looking at the costs, shouldn't one consider the cost of backup/alternatives when the M/C is unavailable/unsuitable? yes. Tire costs? Well, it cost me over $900 to put new tires on my truck. While they will individually last longer than the tires on STeed, there ARE more of them.

IF one is already going to have a motorcycle, with all the associated costs, AND one is already going to have a car, with the associated costs, then a straight up simple operating cost comparison may make some sense. Ditto IF one is ONLY going to have a car OR a m/c. Otherwise, the cost curve will be bent to accommodate one's wishes. If you want to ride, riding becomes cheap. If someone doesn't want you to ride, then all the other expenses start to rear their heads.

As for improving MPG, not much I can add to what's been said. Smooth, mellow throttle useage, keep the speed down, keep the shield down.
 
One other factor that will impact, thus far not mentioned, is the depreciation values between car/truck and ST. E.g I do 20k commute miles per year, and in so doing, depreciation losses on my car (truck) after 3 years (60K miles) will be far greater on the car than it will be on the ST due to a significantly higher purchase price.

Cheers
 
Mulski said:
One other factor that will impact, thus far not mentioned, is the depreciation values between car/truck and ST. E.g I do 20k commute miles per year, and in so doing, depreciation losses on my car (truck) after 3 years (60K miles) will be far greater on the car than it will be on the ST due to a significantly higher purchase price.

Cheers
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But, again, that depends on how many miles you get from your ST VS a cage. 200K on any vehicle makes it worth little...but try to sell a bike with let's say 150K on it! I was lucky, My son knew the history of my 174K '05. Not many are willing to buy one with that many miles.
 
Take off the trunk, take off the side bags - maybe a small bag on back seat. Other than that, just ride very carefully without abrupt braking or accelerating - in other words, buy a prius.. LOL
 
When I was commuting in a cage (Jeep Cherokee) it was actually cheaper than my bike until I went darkside. Putting a pair of tires on the bike every 5k miles (rough back roads up north eat tires) at $300-$400 a set was costly. I could get 20k+ miles out of a $440 set of tires on the Jeep. Jeep got 10k oil changes with dino oil (6 qts), bike gets 10k with Rotella full synthetic. Jeep got little other maintenance, now has 280k miles on it and finally got a little maintenance this past winter.

The big offset is that with the Jeep I took the direct route each way- 75 mile round trip. With the bike I often took the long way home- 100-200 miles wasn't uncommon after work. That pretty much eliminated any savings but saved me from needing a therapist after a bad day of work. :)

Now that I'm running double darkside I went from a set of tires every 5k miles to one rear tire a season, and almost as long from a front. Not for everyone...and I'm not encouraging it...but it is a big cost savings, and that is what you are asking about.
 
Lol I take the bike to simply save initial fuel costs and because I enjoy the ride. I have a very stressful job ( DEPUTY CORONOR ) and riding to and from work is a great way to enjoy a little part of work. It also helps me to forget anything that I shouldn't be taking home from work that I might have dealt with that night.

I'm not concidering cost of insurance, vehicle payments, gear replacent, or the extra money for hair care products due to wearing a helmet more often.

This was more of a personal challenge to see how good I can get the mpg on the bike. It's also fun to go to work and listen to people complain about their big truck getting 10 MPG (like mine) then say "yeah I got about 45 today lol

So now more of a challenge. Ride for fun first, to save the initial cost of fuel second. It's cheaper then theropy last ;-)
 
Nm767 said:
Took the top box off for a day and slower to 55ish in foothills and 65ish on freeway. Guage indicater rose to 46.2 MPG average over the tank. I'll get an accurate mpg next week when I refuel. About a half tank left and I believe 180ish miles driven so far.
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Come visit me...I can help smooth things out.
Igofar

Of course I will probably point out alot if stuff that can be repaired or improved on :rofl1:
 
Well, in that case, it don't matter... LOL

Heck, even if you just got 20 mpg.. Glad to see the old bike is still going strong and making someone happy.
 
If I take it very easy and run around 50 mph I can see upper 40s on the gauge, sometimes 50 mpg. That is fairly level ground and all accessories, including the top box, on the bike. That is averaged for at least 10 miles. Running higher speeds drops the mileage. 50-55 seems to be the sweet spot.
 
Mellow said:
Well, in that case, it don't matter... LOL

Heck, even if you just got 20 mpg.. Glad to see the old bike is still going strong and making someone happy.
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Very happy with this bike. One of the best buys I've made in a long time.

Right now I'm trying to decide on how to make it a little better for longer rides and my riding style. I get pulled over to much so I'd like a radar detector. Also a more comfortable seat maybe. Definitely upgrade the lighting as well.

I'd like to ride it back out through Texas and take my time this time. Slow down and see what I missed. Camp along the way. I made it back way to fast and missed way to much.
 
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I refilled the tank today. Guage indicated 46.0 MPG and at the pump using guage odometer and squeezing every drop possible in actual calculated MPG (according to my math) comes out to 48.8 MPG. Now that I'm very happy with. That's about $270 a month in fuel savings (approx) vs taking the truck to work.

Wanted to wait and get a better full tank average but my fianc? wanted to go for a ride today and I knew the 2 up riding would throw off the results.
 

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BakerBoy said:
Unless you've a major fuel system failure (such as an O2 sensor failure, injector failure, coolant temperature sensor failure, or ECU limp-home mode is enabled), the bike will get better economy at 55 than 60, better at 60 than 65, better at 65 than 70, etc.--more power is required at higher speeds (you can't trust the dash display on instant mpg).

A few things you can do ... use "grandma's right wrist" to accelerate more sedately, short shift (use lower RPM, but don't lug it), drive slower, keep windshield full down, remove anything that sticks out into the airstream (like extra driving lights or topbox), and slow down sooner (use your brakes less).

You can also move to higher elevations and mileage can easily average 50 mpg. :D
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The ST will run that slow? How do you meet policemen?
 
The best way I found to save money commuting on the ST was to sell the truck. No more truck insurance, tag, fuel, or upkeep to pay for. I've been without a truck for over two years now and rented one yesterday for the first time.$54.00 in truck costs over 2 years ain't too bad. I needed the truck to go pick up a dual sport bike I bought.
 
Re: (UPDATED WITH RESULTS) How to improve MPG. Best mpg on st1300. Commuting

I'd take the bike because it's more fun.
 
playinatwork said:
The best way I found to save money commuting on the ST was to sell the truck. No more truck insurance, tag, fuel, or upkeep to pay for. I've been without a truck for over two years now and rented one yesterday for the first time.$54.00 in truck costs over 2 years ain't too bad. I needed the truck to go pick up a dual sport bike I bought.
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Yes but I live in dirtbike area and regularly haul a boat as well as my XR650R around. My truck is 4 years old and has 85,000 miles already so it gets regular use. Heck I've taken it to Texas even. Only way the trucks going is to trade in for a new one. Mines a 2010 ram hemi quad cab 4x4 sport. The new model if same truck is over 50K after option. Lol I'm good with mine
 
Nm767 said:
Wanted to wait and get a better full tank average but my fianc? wanted to go for a ride today and I knew the 2 up riding would throw off the results.
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I get some of my best MPG results riding two up...I try to keep it real smooth with the wife on the back and we are usually just cruising along checkin out the scenery!
 
MSchroeder said:
I get some of my best MPG results riding two up...I try to keep it real smooth with the wife on the back and we are usually just cruising along checkin out the scenery!
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Lol mines a little crazy. She enjoys riding a little faster now and then. Guage indicated 35 MPG average after our ride last night. And she's now a big girl at all. Only about 115 lbs. I think her purse weighs half what she does lol
 
I witnessed the craziest output on my "dynamic MPG" readout on the way home today.

I exited the freeway, proceeded through a green light and am riding along the feeder road (access road for some folks) and come to a road (light was green) where I turn left under the freeway, then an immediate right onto another feeder road on the opposite side of the freeway. As I lean to make the left turn, and then straighten up (but before I make the right-turn), I look down at the dash and I see:

"96 MPG" !!! I've never seen a value such as that - I've seen 50+, sometimes 60+, but never anything higher.
 
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