| Author | Message | ||
     Aceldama |
I've got a new '08 XB12XT with about 2000 miles on it and I'm concerned about my mileage and also my fuel tank capacity and reserve light. I've had my fuel light coming on at about 110 +/- 10 miles on average. And when I fill up I only seem to be putting roughly 3.5 gallons of gas into the bike. This comes out to around 39MPG for the entire tank of gas which is pretty poor. I'm also wondering if I'm not filling the bike properly or maybe the fuel light is just coming on WAY early since this tank is supposed to be closer to 5 gallons capacity. I just put the bike over on the side stand and fill until the gas is about level with the 'inner ring' in the tank. Other useful information: -I commute about 40 miles a day which is mostly highway @ about 70mph. -I don't have the panniers on the bike, but I do have the top box on. -Windscreen is on. -93 octane fuel. -Conventional oil. -I generally keep the RPMS around 2500-3200. -I don't flog it, I actually ride pretty slowly. Any ideas/suggestions on why I'm getting not-so-great MPG? And also why am I only getting 3.5 gal of gas in the tank when the fuel light comes on? Thanks. (Message edited by aceldama on September 24, 2009) | ||
| Jimmy_in_nc |
Some of these bikes apparently don't get good mileage. Mine is right around 40-42 mpg no matter how I ride. Single, two up, no difference. If someone has divine wisdom I hope they speak up! | ||
| Carbonsteel |
You have to take into consideration that until the engine in properly broke-in, your gas mileage potential will not be at its best. My bike got around 37city/47hwy till I hit about 15,000 miles. After that I regularly get 55city/65hwy. Give it time, it'll improve. My best advice is to ride the piss out of it. | ||
| Aceldama |
I'm on board with riding the piss out of it. What about the fuel light thing? Am I just not filling the tank properly? It doesn't make sense to me that my fuel light is coming on at 110mi or roughly 3.5 gallons into the tank. Or I could shut up and not worry about it. I just have a habit of using MPG as a metric that can help point to other potential problems. Low tire air pressure, dragging brake, leaking fuel, running rich.. who knows. If it's common to get crappy mileage until the engine is broken in, I can accept that. I just want to be sure nothing is wrong with my bike. Thanks for the replies. | ||
| Froggy |
Fuel light should be coming on at about 3.6 gallons used, so 3.5 sounds fine. As for your fuel economy, I recommend you take it into the dealer and have them connect the computer to the bike. They can check for a newer ECM calibration that can resolve many driveability issues including stumbling and poor fuel economy. For what its worth, I typically get 60-65mpg, and my gas light doesn't come on till around 220 miles. | ||
| Beemer |
I agree with give it some time.I've found that with most bikes and I don't care what brand it takes 10 to 20,000 miles to break in good.Run it like your going to ride it, keep tabs on fluids and enjoy! My 08 XT has just over 3,000 miles always has all 3 bags on plus a tank bag.It gets 42- 47 MPG just depends how much fun we're having! Enjoy  | ||
| Judotrip |
I just ran into this with my 01 m2...Seemed to get terrible gas milage until the engine finally broke in...Mine did it at 6K....I am talkin like a 12-15 MPG difference... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Froggy, Are you a 65 lb. dwarf? | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
09X 45city and 55Hwy 65-70mph bike has 6500 miles nothing but Premium w/out that damn ethanol!! | ||
| Itileman |
The mpg on my 09 XT seemed to get better with every mile. Started out in the mid 30's and now, at 6.2k, I rarely get less than 45. It has been up to near 60 mpg riding at altitude - up and down hill. The fuel light comes on right at about 3.5 gallons. | ||
| Invisible_monster |
Mine ('08 XT) gets better mileage if I keep the tach in the 4000 - 5000 range. It also gets better mileage now with 10k miles on it than when it was new. | ||
| Tootal |
Altitude, Barometric pressure and fuel quality all makes a difference. If you can find non ethanol gas your lucky. I get 42-48 mpg with 10 percent ethanol and 700' above sea level. When I'm on the road I can tell when I get some REAL gas, mileage goes up over 50. In Colorado I got 60 so everything is relevant. +1 on letting it break in and riding the piss out of it! | ||
| Dcc46 |
your rpm are to low the bike likes to run at 4200 or so.you should get at least 140 - 150 before you get the low fuel lighr (Message edited by dcc46 on September 24, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
My own limited research shows 2500rpm being the sweet spot for fuel economy. | ||
| Mad_doctor |
My 08 xt gets around 43/44 ALL the time. I usually keep the rpm around 3500/4500. I ride it like it's stolen, and love every minute of it. The clock has about 8 k. It gets better with age. | ||
| Aceldama |
For the record I'm basically AT sea level (Cape Cod, MA) and all the gas around here has 10% ethanol. Thanks for all the responses guys. I'll try to set up and appointment just to make sure I have the latest ECM flash for my bike. Otherwise I'll just keep riding. And I'll probably switch to synthetic oil with my next change. | ||
| Tootal |
Just to be safe I wouldn't change to synthetic until 5000 miles. From my personal experience mine used oil until I switched back to regular oil and then it finally quit using oil. After 5000 miles I switched to synthetic and everything is good. | ||
| Froggy |
Aceldama, have you introduced yourself to the NEBO guys yet? | ||
| Aceldama |
Not sure what a NEBO is. | ||
| Frito |
I just got my '08 XT, it had 700 miles on the it. On the way home I got 45 up to the point when the wife had to have gas for the car(about a gallon and a half for the bike and who knows how full the dealer had it). It was 160 miles, 3.4 gallons on that tank till the light came on got 47 (running 75 or so). I'm to 140 on the next tank and waiting for the light. With my svelte 275#, 6'4" form + the bags I'm happy cause I know it'll loosen up and get better yet. (Message edited by frito on September 24, 2009) | ||
| Thetable |
My XT is pretty steady around 42mpg. At elevation and with judicious use of the throttle, I have seen as much as 46mpg. Although my last few tanks have dropped back into the 40mpg range. (And FTR I think my bike is broken-in with 25k on the clock.) | ||
| Froggy |
Be sure to introduce yourself! http://www.badweatherbikers.com/NEBO | ||
| Cash |
my experience is that I get about 140-160 miles out of a tank and average 39-43mpg. Riding the bike will help but 110 miles seems like a pretty low number. good luck | ||
| Davidxt |
If im riding around the streets and back and forth to work ive had as low as 110 when the fuel light came on. If im out on a long ride without much slowing down or stopping ive had about 155 before the light comes on. Mines an 09XT too Cant wait to learn froggy's tips and get 220, ill be rich never needing to buy petrol again  | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Are you a 65 lb. dwarf?  I don't even think a 65 lb. dwarf could get 60-65 mpg on my Uly. I can get only about 200 miles on a tank of gas. I know because I ran out and had to push it one day! | ||
| Biffdotorg |
Froggy has gotten the best mileage of any Buell rider out there, so I like listening to his tips. But, that being said, anyone with an '08 or newer Uly cannot compare to an earlier model. I have yet to hear of anyone on an '08 or new Uly getting anything close to 55mpg let alone 60. My experience: '08 Uly XT, 9000 miles, 230lb rider, full bags all the time, Altitude 1400', 91-93 octane 10% ethanol. Worst mileage, 38 (when breaking in) Best mileage, 46 (on a 1750 mile trip loaded) Average mileage on that trip 44 mpg I have always filled my Buells upright, that seems to be the most direct way to fill it to the top of the inner lip. Good luck, | ||
| Froggy |
Biff, I borrowed a brand new 2009 X last winter, it had only about 200 miles on it. It had well over 1000 miles when I returned it about a week later. Anyway, in upstate NY, on winter oxygenated (winter gas gets lower mpg), ethanol blend, brand new tight motor, not trying to max out the fuel economy, I was getting just about 50mpg. My 06 in the same conditions, same routes, same gas, but 30k miles more, was getting 55ish. I am sure once the 09 broke in that it would be fine.  | ||
| Missin44 |
I've got 1300 miles on my '08, filled up today at 46 mpg. My very first fill up was 40. (Message edited by missin44 on September 28, 2009) | ||
| Edgydrifter |
I rode a few hundred miles of twisties over the weekend, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I got 50-55mpg for the whole trip. That's a solid 10mpg better than I get in my daily riding, and (I think) better than any other trip I've taken on the Uly. | ||
| Okc99 |
My fuel light stayed on for 120 miles so I think my mileage must be a record. 120/.8 = ? |
