| Author | Message | ||
     Medicbpm |
Does anyone know of ways to increase fuel mileage. W/o major modification. I own an XB9SX which for me has plenty of get up and go so losing a little will not stress me. Thanx in advance | ||
| Ara |
Make sure it breathes freely. One way to look at an internal combustion engine is as a gas pump: it sucks intake air and pumps out exhause gases. The more restrictive your intake and exhaust tracts are, the more energy it takes to pump the gases though them, and that has a negative effect on performance as well as fuel economy. Get a free-flowing air filter like a K&N or a PowerFlow, clean up the air box, and consider a less restrictive silencer. | ||
| Fullpower |
you could try the primary gearing from a 12. my stock xb12 gets a consistent 56 miles per gallon on highway. when riding in groups i use less fuel than other bikes, including 883 sportsters, ducati M620, and various BMW's. | ||
| Flick |
Throttle control! Whack on it...fill up more often... Go easy...fill up less often... | ||
| Tpoppa |
XB's are already one of the most fuel efficient motorcycles around. Take it easy on the throttle & make sure your tires are inflated to the specs. | ||
| Medicbpm |
Thanx, Yeah I'm still playin first bike with this much get up and gone  Lovin it but my highway mpg at 70-80 SUX. 42mpg last tank. My highway speeds here are 70mph | ||
| Kowpow225 |
42's not tooooo shabby.... Tpoppa has got it right about being one of the most fuel efficient. That's very cool!  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I also get 42, my wife gets 52. I'm about 100 heavier though...  Better mileage = ediets.com lol  | ||
| Medicbpm |
 Bullseye Got to admit I'm on the teddybear side myself so good that makes me feel better. Was worried that my bike was just way off. Thanx everyone. Might try that primary gearing idea though definetly change the air filter. How can you tell if you are running lean? | ||
| Joele |
My Prius gets 46 MPG average - Honda 919 gets about 65. | ||
| Starter |
56mpg was the best I got doing HWay miles. 44-49mpg usually around town and spirited riding. | ||
| Lovematt |
My bike got noticably better mileage once I put the Drummer on it...was getting about 40-42 MPG and now I am guaranteed 45 no matter what I do. This is with the stock ECM and I will be putting the Race ECM on it to make sure it doesn't run lean. I am sure that may lower the mileage but I guess I will see. | ||
| Fl_billy |
Hey guys, my 12R with D&D, race ecu and k&n gets between 45-48. That's FANTASTIC compared to my old 97 TLS (30-32) and even my 03 SVS (35-38). The Buells are definitely very fuel efficient for a liter twin. | ||
| Tpoppa |
I get between 48-54mpg (city & backroads) on my 9S. My only mods are the 12 airbox and K&N filter. | ||
| Kaese |
I've had the same results as Lovematt, prior 42-46MPH after the Drummer install, 51-53MPH on XB9. Know someone else that has a XB12 and rides pretty hard and he doesn't even get 30MPH. Go figure. It may be a guy thing, but I always seem to push the limit as to refueling. Since it is fuel injected, how does one get the best mileage when scrimping to make it to the next fuel depot? Just barely open the throttle? I have ran out so many times, I have lost count. Nailed it going around a right and turn about 90MPH and it died due to lack of fuel. Also noticed that going down a slight incline also starves it. Thanks | ||
| Brucelee |
I get 53-55 MPG consistently on my XB9S. Then again, I don't hammer the bike all the time. PS- you should use Synthetic oil for max MPG. If temps permit, switch to 5W-40 synthetic oil. Also syn in trans, 75W-90. Both will help MPG. | ||
| Blackxb9 |
Where can I find this oil? Regular auto stores stock this stuff? | ||
| Brucelee |
Wal Mart stocks the Shell Rotella T full syn 5W-40. They also stock Mobil 1 15W-50. Best prices for both oils there at Wally World. Good luck. PS-they may not have the Mobil 1 75W-90. I get that at Pep Boys. | ||
| Blackxb9 |
Thanks Brucelee...I need to take care of that before I get too busy this spring. I've heard nothing but good things about the Mobil 1 syn so that is where I will go. Appreciate the info bro. | ||
| Fullpower |
i did not see a recommendation for that 5w-40 viscosity in the owners manual. maybe for severe cold weather trans-siberia trips it would be suitable. | ||
| Geoffg |
Take a look a this: http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/ Please note--I'm not advocating this, just passing along a link I found interesting. Still, anyone know anything about it? Anyone willing to try? | ||
| Gaz |
Just try a squirt of your girlfriends nail polish remover. It's basically acetone. Cheap alternative. I'm sure she'll never know. | ||
| Brucelee |
"did not see a recommendation for that 5w-40 viscosity in the owners manual. maybe for severe cold weather trans-siberia trips it would be suitable." They don't, you are correct. However, they do rec dino 20-50 oil. Unless it is wicked hot, a 40W syn will certainly be more than adequate at high temps vs a 50 dino oil. At least according to the Motor Oil Bible). I plan on running the 5W-40 in our CA winters and then flip to 20W-50 in summer (Red Line). Certainly, the 5W-40 in winter will get him better fuel mileage and easier start ups and warm ups. | ||
| Ara |
I get between 57 and 63 mpg on my S3, depending on the ride. I'll never in a million years believe that a Honda 919 is in the same ballpark. | ||
| Joele |
I get between 57 and 63 mpg on my S3, depending on the ride. I'll never in a million years believe that a Honda 919 is in the same ballpark. Why's that? | ||
| Ara |
Because a 919 has four way, way oversquare (71.0mm x 58.0mm) cylinders, turning at much higher rpms to make the same amount of power, sucking gas through four big throttle bodies instead of one. Japanese fours typically get around 45 mpg (50 mpg, perhaps, when ridden conservatively) and they always have. I suspect bad math, lower profile tires than what the odometer is calibrated for, or simply an erroneous odometer. | ||
| Bbstacker |
With my 9R I'm typically getting low 50's for strictly highway riding. and high 40's for spirited and all-around riding. I'm running the race exhaust with the race ECM and a K&N air filter with a stock unmodified XB9 airbox. | ||
| 12bolt |
I know someone on here suggested that your mileage should go up by removing the snorkle and opening up the air box but I could swear that my mileage went down when I did that. Any thoughts? | ||
| Bbstacker |
I desnorkeled when I installed the race ECM. Didn't make much difference economy-wise, but it did give more low end power with my setup. | ||
| Norrisperformance |
Max tire pressure add a tooth to the front pulley Good air filter Good plugs Good oil Check the timing. Remove any extra parts not needed. |
