| Author | Message | ||
     Cavi |
okay, my bike has like 700 miles on it, and today was the first time I pushed the milage on a tank over the 100 mile mark. I had expected to get at least 120 miles before seeing the reserve light come on ( I have the xb9 primary ratio) Anyway the light came on at around 110 miles, I drove another 15 miles on reserve, then filled, it clicked off at 3 gallons and I managed to still add .3 gallons (which I didn't do last fill up). Anyway, does this sound normal, I thought the tank held 4.4 gallons, so I expected to put another 3/4 gallons or so. | ||
| Lorazepam |
I dont think the fuel gauges are overly accurate. that said, you must really flog that thing to only get 110 miles prior to the light coming on. Mine will take 3.6 gallons right after the light comes on, giving me a 1.2 gallon reserve, if the tank is 4.8 gallons. I do the same thing I always have done. Reset the trip odometer when I fill up, and check the mileage. | ||
| Teeps |
I put 3.5 gal in mine yesterday; had 15 miles showing on F/trip, 155 mi on trip. I only got 44 mpg out of that tank, an all time low for this bike. | ||
| Maximum |
At nearly 6000 miles, I am consistently getting around 50 mpg (without driving very conservative at all). Yesterday my light came on at 180 miles and a few miles later I stopped and put 3.7 gallons in the tank. | ||
| Treadmarks |
toped off extra high today 3.5 gals at 170 miles. 8000 miles on the bike, as a daily driver in already hell hot Miami. | ||
| Cavi |
Well, as I said, last fill I stopped as soon as the pump clicked off, when it clicked off today, I had only put 3 gallons in, I put another .3 in after. At this point I was at 125 miles, which gives me around 42miles per gallon (based on the 3 gallons). I have the XB9 primary, which is probably 10 percent higher, so I should get around 10 percent worse milage, so I was expecting 45 miles per gallon, not too far off. I was just shocked that the light ame on soo early. The tank is 4.4 gallons, so I would expect it to come on when there is half a gallon or so left, not 1.5 gallons. Now, the other obvious question, does this bike get the speedo reading from the tranny, or from the front wheel, I am guessing that it is from the front wheel, that would also goof up my milage readings a bit. | ||
| Smokescreen |
Your speedo sensor is not on the front wheel. Take a look. Smokescreen | ||
| Diablobrian |
speedo sensor is located just above your front belt pulley cover. Plugs right into the tranny case. | ||
| Crusty |
With a stock Uly with all three bags, I average 45 - 50 MPG. That's commuting in Rush Hour traffic, with a lot of heavy throttle/no throttle activity. When I'm riding laid back secondary roads, that figure goes up 10 MPG. My reserve light comes on at 3.6 gallons which leaves me .8 gal. for reserve. The bike holds 4.4 gallons. I don't know how much changing the primary drive ratio will effect mileage, but since your engine is spinning faster at a given speed, it probably won't help your fuel consumption. | ||
| Etennuly |
As long as I'm not going to be sitting for a while I fill mine up onto that bottom ring of the filler hole. It will puke some out on a warming day if you fill it and park it. I usually get to 170 miles before my light comes on and it takes 3.6 gal. The furthest I made it was right at 200 miles for the light, the worst was 143. miles. I did find out that if I fill my tank to the top, lock my helmet on that helmet lock, go eat breakfast with fellow Uly riders, I come back to the bike and have to drain the gas that overflowed from the vent out of my helmet. Not Good. | ||
| Dgunther |
I've been getting terrible mileage (38-41 mpg) on mine lately. Low fuel light is coming on at 140-145 miles whether I'm commuting or having a bit of fun. When the light comes on, I need to add 3.6-3.7 gallons to get to the top of the frame. I don't know if I'm losing a lot due to evaporation (I do park out in the sun at work), or sitting idling in traffic, or aerodynamic drag from my fat butt and saddlebags is the problem. | ||
| Sgtspook |
I think that the aerodynamic drag is the key to the mileage puzzle. I also get that 38-41 mpg thing during the week commuting with full saddlebags. I usually get about 50 on the weekends, two-up with saddlebags. I have gone on a few long rides without the sidebags (I only have the two) and I get about 2 mpg better. The things I notice that seems to make the most difference is the aero drag, mostly on the rider. The bike doesnt seem to care that much how heavy it is as long as its not going really fast, even in the mountain twisties at 45 with the girl and luggage I can get ~47-49 mpg while on the freeway solo at 80 I only seem to get 40-42 mpg. I think that 60 is probably the speed for peak mileage--I usually get my best 45-60 and once I got 65.85 mpg holding 60 across the desert behind a little SUV. When my fuel light comes on it takes about 3.6 gal to the frame top. Does anyone have any info from Buell on mileage? (Message edited by sgtspook on May 16, 2007) | ||
| 05mxdiesel |
I only ride mine on weekends and don't commute on it since I have another bike for that. I have roughly 1400 miles on the bike in the three weeks that I've had it and since it was new, the lowest I have gotten was 42. This past weekend riding 2 up the bike maintained 50+ on a 400 mile ride. My average with the bike has been anywhere from 48-52 mpg. Buell lists urban mpg at 51 and highway at 64. http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/ulysses/xb12x/spe cs.asp | ||
| Jlnance |
I think that the aerodynamic drag is the key to the mileage puzzle. I've come to the same conclusion. You can take the bike in the twisties and flog the living piss out of it for a couple hours (rev limiter in 1st and 2nd) and get almost 50 mpg. I've also been running mine in 4th on the highway to see what kind of mileage change I will get if I go to the XB9 sprocket. I haven't been able to measure a decrease. The only way this makes sense is if the primary load on the bike is air resistance, and your speed through the air is the primary factor in the mileage. I've also noticed that I get better mileage with a passenger on the bike. I suspect they help with the aerodynamics. | ||
| 05mxdiesel |
I totally agree, open highway just cruising along at 70 mph and can't get 50 mpg, but back road riding passing cars and carving the twisties gets 50+ all day long. | ||
| Alchemy |
Interesting. I am about to hit 4K miles and my light is now coming on at 160 miles with a 3.55 gal fillup. It used to be 140 then 150 and now 160. I have the tall shield and tend to sit rather straight in the saddle. I would love to get 150 mgp but seems unlikely unless I change my route to avoid any stop and go traffic. | ||
| Erz |
This may have already been posted, if so sorry, but being a new owner, how many miles roughly can I go after the light comes on before I run out gas and am screwed. | ||
| Dgunther |
You should have around .6 gallons left. I'd be *really* sweating it if I pushed past 20 miles with the light on, but I've been getting crappy mileage. I think someone once posted 32 miles and rolled into the gas station on fumes, but I could be wrong. | ||
| Jlnance |
About 30. | ||
| Crusty |
Last week I had 34 miles on mine when I pulled into the gas station. it took 4.3 gallons. Considering that it holds 4.4, I'd say that I cut it pretty close. | ||
| Oldnotbold |
Someone, I think it was eor over on ADVriders went 38 miles, but coasted down hill into a fuel stop. | ||
| Madduck |
In situation like the ULY, not at all aerodynamic, you also have to figure in tire slippage on the road surface. This will be somewhere between 3-5 % depending on surface, tire and weight. When running on dirt/gravel I can easily see a 10% drop in mileage. Ulys seem to get better mileage with passengers, which I have trouple figuring out, going with improved "road hugging" weight for now. | ||
| Jlnance |
Ulys seem to get better mileage with passengers, which I have trouple figuring out You noticed that as well huh? I think it's aerodynamics. Long shapes (like 2 people would approximate) have less drag than short ones. | ||
| Court |
>>>I think it's aerodynamics. Long shapes (like 2 people would approximate) have less drag than short ones. Interesting. I could see that. Hey . . . If I rode two up with Paul, we'd have to stop every 42 miles and let the surplus fuel out of the tank! | ||
| Jlnance |
Well court, you need to be long and thin.  | ||
| Cavi |
well, I guess I am not too far off, but my light does still come on real early, it comes on and I can ony fit 3 gallons if I fill up right then, so I have 1.4 gallons reserve. |
