| Author | Message | ||
     Garry |
I can't seem to the Uly out of my mind since its release last summer. Once the weather breaks and I get a chance to demo one, I fear my Triumph Sprint RS and a chunk of my savings account are going to be gone. I enjoy long days in the twisties of WV and want to explore some of the dirt/gravel roads through the national forests too. This can be fairly remote country and you need to plan gas stops in advance. What kind of real-world mileage can I expect from a broken-in Uly when ridden in a spirited fashion in the twisties? Does the tank really offer 4.4 gallons or is the tank capacity a bit optimistic? What kind of range do you get when the low fuel light comes on and how much actual reserve is there to play with? Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer. I did do a search, but didn't find any Uly fuel economy threads... | ||
| Lowflyer |
38.7 is what Eor figured out for the fuel light range. My light comes on right at about 200 miles on a long trip. Commuting, I generally expect to see the light anywhere from 175 miles on up depending on how much I twist. | ||
| Smcnamara |
For heavy handed me, the light usually comes on 170-180 miles. I've never tested the reserve capacity, but Eor hasn't steered anybody wrong yet (except for maybe checking/adding oil.... and that headshake thing....  ) | ||
| Aeholton |
Wow, Lowflyer that's pretty awesome! I do a lot of stop and go commuting and the best I've ever done is 148 miles before the light (typically 135 miles). I usually fill up within the next 20 miles or so and it usually takes right around 3.1 to 3.4 gallons. Maybe my sensor is just positioned higher in the frame? | ||
| Rkc00 |
My last fill up was 148 miles and 3.8 gals. This is mostly local driving with a heavy throttle. Edit: I have 4300 miles on the bike now. Mike Long Island, NY 06 XB12X Black of course (Message edited by rkc00 on February 09, 2006) | ||
| Brotherbuell |
I don't think you should expect much more than 150 miles per tank until the bike is fully broken in. | ||
| Garry |
Thanks for the replies so far. It seems that I can expect 40 - 50 MPG in mixed riding then. I can get about 175 miles on my Triumph before the fuel light and my Kawi sportbike lights up around 140 or so, so the Uly should no problem. When I'm out for a day ride, there is very little traffic or stop/go stuff. Mostly riding as smoothly, yet briskly, as I can between 50 and 70 MPH, so I tend to get decent mileage. I'm more of a "pace" rider than one hammering the throttle down every straight. Thanks again. Now I just have to prep SWMBO for the looming bike purchase... | ||
| Lowflyer |
Ae, My commute is 1.5 miles of surface streets plus 8.5 miles of slab. I rarely get into the stop and go stuff. I bet that makes a big difference. Also, I wonder if the elevation has any effect at all. I am at 1500' MSL. It seems like thinner air would require less gas to go the same speed than at sea level. It would also require less power to cut through the thinner air than at sea level. Just a thought. | ||
| Aeholton |
Lowflyer - I think you are probably right. I would bet the 80-90% humidity here in central FL isn't helping my mileage either. | ||
| Eor |
For heavy handed me, the light usually comes on 170-180 miles. I've never tested the reserve capacity, but Eor hasn't steered anybody wrong yet (except for maybe checking/adding oil.... and that headshake thing.... )  On the day in question I went 198.3 miles before the engine died from fuel starvation and I literally coasted to the fuel pump. Obviously, there are several variables involved that could make that number a little higher or lower on any given day. I assume the practical[no worry]range of my bike, given where and how I ride, and keeping those variables in mind, to be about 180 miles. I wouldn't attempt to go any further than that unless I was in very familiar territory, close to home, or forced to for some reason. I would prefer not to coast into a gas station again...the chances of me being able to repeat that trick are....well.... pretty small, I'd think.  (Message edited by eor on February 09, 2006) | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Eor, How much fuel did it take from empty to full? I've heard 4.4gal is quite optimistic. | ||
| Dano_12s |
looking at my gas slips 50MPG avg.Worst was 45 MPG best was 54.5MPG Haven't done any highway tank full yet. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Steve, I have routinely filled mine to just over 4 gallons (read 4.1-4.2) with a few miles on the fueldometer. I think 4.4 is right on; at least with mine. Then again, mine has not had any of the issues either. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I had to drain the fuel when I put on an auxiliary fuel tank. I put a little fuel in the aux tank and checked for leaks. No leaks, so then on to the nearest gas station. I filled up with 4.236 gallons. With the fuel I had to put in to get to the gas station, I'd say that the 4.4 gal capacity is spot on. Very accurate. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
What type of Aux tank did you use? Thanks | ||
| Chadhargis |
I agree...4.4 gallons is close. Most I've ever squeezed in my Ulysses was 3.7 gallons. That was running maybe 15 or 20 hard miles on the back roads with the low fuel light on. I shook the bike side to side, and heard a bit of fuel still sloshing around before I filled it. Word to the wise.... DO NOT fill the "tank" up past the top of the frame. When the fuel expands due to heat, it comes gushing out a tiny hose that is hidden behind the left passenger peg. It looks like the bike is peeing. It's not a drip...it really does look like a stream of urine coming out of the bike. If you're not careful, you'll end up with gas on your rear tire. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Chad, if you're #'s are correct, and they mimic what MCN reported, there was .7 gallons left in that tank? You would have been comfortable going another 20-30mi? Most of what I've heard is ~30mi when the light comes on. | ||
| Chadhargis |
My numbers are not scientific fact. Just recalling the last time I fueled the bike (about 2 weeks ago). I have noticed that the low fuel light will come on, flip the LDC display to the "F" setting, then the low fuel light will go back out once I get back on level ground. I would think this accounts for my getting 15-20 miles "on the light" and still having lots of fuel left. | ||
| Cataract2 |
I can tell you on my City X that reserve will go to about 30 miles. Then your pushing. I rolled into the gas station. Totally empty. I checked the specs on the Uly and they say .8 reserve. My City X has the Race ECM so the gas millage for a stock Uly and my City X is probably the same. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I put a tour tank (www.tourtank.com) on mine. I fits nicely into the Buell tour pack.  I added an overflow vent tube as shown. I plan on doing an entire IronButt setup thread as soon as I get some more pictures ready. Bob | ||
| Jim_sb |
That is pretty sweet. I've seen a rectangular shaped red plastic fuel tank/cell that would mount on top of the pax seat on top of the triple tail. You can't lock it in place as you can with yours but you'd free up some lockable storage space for luggage. This looks pretty professional. Jim | ||
| Pbransonii |
Bob, You just solved my final problem. Right now I'm kicking myself in the butt saying "Why didn't I think of that?" Is that the 2 or 3.5 gallon job? Where and how does the tank feed into the fuel system? When it's full, does it make the bike feel like a topheavy pig? This is so cool. For long trips into the wilds you could mount this up and then for short trips around town and where you know there are plenty of gas stations you can take it off. Farging brilliant!!!! Paul | ||
| Eor |
The day I ran the Uly completely dry, I took 4.3 gallons of fuel to fill it. The reserve tank in the topcase is a cool installation. However, anyone considering doing that should also consider that one gallon of gasoline weights about 6 pounds. Two gallons of gas is more than the max weight of 11 pounds recommended in the top case. I'm sorry...I used to be Safety Director at a manufacturing plant...I can't help myself!  (Message edited by eor on February 09, 2006) | ||
| Lowflyer |
Are there baffles in the tank to keep the weight from shifting as the gas sloshes, or can you even feel it? | ||
| Lornce |
Thanks for this info, gents, I'm finding it useful in my ongoing debate re. my "need" for a Uly. Anyone realizing the advertised 65mpg with their Uly? | ||
| Rkc00 |
What should I be checking since I have never have gotten over 39-40 MPG around town. If the static timing is not correct will that cause this bad MPG? I got stuck in some traffic in NYC a few weeks ago and when the traffic opened up and I hit the throttle the pinging I got was bad. The outside temps were in the 40-45 range. I always use 93 octane in the bike. Once I got 48 MPG on the highway at 75 MPH average. I will never know what I would get on the highway at 55-60 MPH, if I did that here on LI I would get run over. Mike Long island, NY 06 XB12X Black of course |
