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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Troubleshooting (Poor Starting/Running/Handling/Ride Issues) » Archive through June 03, 2008 » Fuel Consumption - New 2008 Buell XB9S » Archive through December 30, 2007

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Author Message   Eargbueller Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 02:24 pm:        Hello every one. I am new in this forum and with Buell motorcycles. I got me a brand new 2008 XB9XS (my third bike) and I love it. In 460 mi so far I am averaging 35-36 mi/gal. I was expecting about 50 according to the specifications for urban use. Is this normal or is it something I should point out at the 1K mi service?.   Aesquire Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 05:37 pm:        I would expect that to improve as you break in. If you do wheelies at each stop light, or accelerate hard all the time, expect less, but since you are still breaking in the engine, I doubt you are. I'd keep checking it, & get back to us on what happens.   Eargbueller Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 06:38 pm:        Never above the 4000-5000 rpm following the instruction in the owner's manual. Also I forgot to mention that sometimes while downshifting when I blip to match rpm's, I only get a "POP" sound so I have to blip again before releasing the clutch. I don't know if this a tunning problem also related to the fuel consumption issue. I am checking and I will post you guys.   Jlnance Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 10:25 pm:        Welcome to Badweb. Fuel consumptions seems to be somewhat variable. I'm not sure if its a difference between bikes or the environment they are ridden in. Your mileage is lower than average, but it isn't unheard of either. I'd mention it at the 1k service so they can check to see if anything is wrong. I'm not sure anything is out of order though. I'm not sure I understand the POP you are describing. That sounds like something you should mention to them.   Buell_bert Posted on Sunday, December 02, 2007 - 12:11 am:        My 2000 M2 normally gets 45-48 mpg but it has 6000 mi. on it. Just to let ya know. And I do not ride it hard.   Scottrt Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 04:19 am:        My 08 XB9XS also returned 37 mpg during break-in. It has 1000 miles now, and still get 37 mpg even though I am riding it much harder. BTW, I am 6'4" and weigh 350 lbs... lotsa drag... The idle is much smoother now, but the bike develop a big torque hole from 3900 to 4400 rpm, and partial throttle surging. The 'just completed' 1000 mile service seems to have smoothed it back out. I still think it has a flat spot in the mid-range response, but I guess thats pretty normal for a stock motor. Scot Thompson San Ramon, CA   Reepicheep Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 08:29 am:        Isn't there a 1000 mile TPS reset? Probably worth doing that. I've been down to 37 mpg, but very rarely. I think size of the rider has a huge effect on economy as well. I'm 6'2" and 235 lbs, and get about 42-45mpg like clockwork.   Buzzie Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 07:19 pm:        On the 08 models you do not need to perform the tps reset....different setup. only on the 07 back .   Al_lighton Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 08:03 am:        Not exactly. On the 08 models, you don't need external HW to perform a TPS reset. But the ECM still needs to know where the throttle plate is, and it does that by you performing a certain procedure at startup. Ignition on Full throttle one second Full idle one second repeat three times The TPS is then reset, or probably more correctly stated, the ECM and TPS have been re-calibrated to each other Al   Reepicheep Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 09:00 am:        Cool! I didn't know that! Can I reflash an 05 XB9SX ECM to inherit that behavior?   Sarodude Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 10:02 am:        I don't wanna sound like a jerk but I know of a couple of instances of new motorcycles getting abysmal fuel mileage. It always came down to the rider dragging the rear brake - eventually leading to a locked brake. Are you comfortable with how the rear brake is adjusted? -Saro   Al_lighton Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 07:51 am:        I seriously doubt that, Bill. The 08 ECM is very different than the earlier ones. And so is the throttle body. There is a built in "idle" stop in the throttle body that puts the butterfly in a known position, but it's more closed than the engine would idle at. The idle air control (IAC) modulator under ECM control controls the balance of the idle air. The IAC and the Crank (vs cam) position sensor are probably the biggest differences between the old and new, but DDFI3 probably has a host of other differences under the hood that we haven't learned about yet. The new ECM HW is completely different, the connectors are way bigger (and easier to disconnect!) Al   Reepicheep Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 08:35 am:        Thanks Al!   Blake Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:36 am:        Al, by "full idle" do you mean with idle adjuster screw fully backed out, or in normal/proper idle speed position? Thanks for the education!   Blake Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:58 am:        And to further clarify for dummies like me, in order to recalibrate (recal) the ECM for TPS (RECMTPS) on an '08 Buell one need do the following?: 1. Turn ignition to "On". 2. Allow ignition initialization process to finish. 3. Actuate throttle back and forth eight times between full/wide open throttle (WOT) and closed throttle (CLT - meaning idle position) pausing at each extreme for approximately one second. Specifically and in agonizing detail... 1. Turn ignition switch/key to "Run" position 2. Allow ignition system initialization to complete (a couple seconds or so?) 3. Actuate throttle as follows: WOT-hold for ~ 1 second CLT - hold for ~ 1 second WOT-hold for ~ 1 second CLT - hold for ~ 1 second WOT-hold for ~ 1 second CLT - hold for ~ 1 second WOT-hold for ~ 1 second CLT RECMTPS is then Complete.   Al_lighton Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:25 pm:        Yup. And if you're using a Digital tech or VDSTS, it will indicate between 3.7 and 4.2 degrees when closed. The IAC calibrates the rest. There IS no idle stop screw. Throttle baffle is fixed by a bump in the throttle body. It doesn't let enough air to idle on by, but that's what the IAC modulator is for. The idle air and therefore idle speed is under microprocessor control. Al   Blake Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 02:19 am:        What exactly does the IAC modulator consist of, small stepper motor/acuator?   Al_lighton Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 08:35 am:        Don't know, haven't opened one up and can't tell from the outside. There is an air path through the device around the throttle plate. The mechanism that controls the size of the air orifice doesn't need to slew very fast, but it probably does need to have fairly precise positioning. I think the last WOT in your reset algorithm above is unnecessary. Three WOT's is what is needed to reset the TPS. Al   Blake Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 05:47 pm:        "There is an air path through the device around the throttle plate." That is very interesting and much different from what I was imagining as some kind of very precise actuator for the throttle itself. Way to go Buell! I wonder what other techniques are used in the industry for the same situation.   Eargbueller Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 09:08 pm:        I am still getting about 36 mi/gal however, I noticed that when I got into the habit to wait for the initialization process, the idle and overall operation of the bike is much smoother. I am eager to try what Blake suggested on 12/12 and see what happens. Blake, my question now is(see I am a dummy, also) is this process for every time I starting the bike or is it a one-time process?.   Eargbueller Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 09:30 pm:        I read in the Owner's manual that different brands of gasoline may affect the fuel efficiency. For the heck of it, why don't set like an informal pool stating which fuel mileage we obtain with which brand of gas, if there is any preference, to see if there is some real statistical differences between brands?. I get 36 mi/g using exclusively Shell, 93 Octane.   Blake Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 11:09 pm:        Eugenio, I'm far from expert and only going on knowledge of the ECM/TPS recalibration requirements for the Buell Air-Cooled machines. That RECMTPS procedure described above for the air-cooled 2008 Buell motorcycles is something that should rarely need performed, maybe once after the first one thousand miles and then once every ten thousand miles, if that. If the bike ever starts to run eratically at idle or low speed cruise, a RECMTPS may be indicated. (Message edited by blake on December 14, 2007)   Al_lighton Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 02:50 am:        That's the procedure for the 08 XB series...I don't know that it is for the 1125R, I don't have the service manual for that yet. Probably similar.   Blake Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 04:16 am:        Oops. Fixed it. Thanks.   Buzzie Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 08:01 pm:        Guys ...your descriptions of the tps zero is...right on...however its stated ..It should not need to be done. unless needed at a service interval....or unless the intake assemble or ecm is replaced. It is not even a part of the initial set up from the factory.   Eargbueller Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 02:36 pm:        After the RECMTPS the fuel consumption on my 2008 XB9XS is still 36 mi/gal (no hard ridding). Tomorrow my 1K service is due and I will mention this to see what happens and to get my first experience with my dealership. Tomorrow will talk.   Ferocity02 Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 11:58 pm:        It depends GREATLY on your riding habits. My first tank I got 35mpg, then the 2nd I got 55mpg. I had many more highway miles on the 2nd tank and I drove it a little easier. I also changed the oil and plugs but I don't think that played much of a role.   Bombardier Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 07:20 am:        4 litres per 100 km for my 07 XB12R with race ecm, filter, all luggage and standard pipe.   Eargbueller Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 11:37 pm:        I mentioned the issue of the high gas consumption to the dealership and they told me the the advertised 50 mi/gal in city is an exaggeration (how bombadier makes 59 mi/gal?) and I should expect around 40 depending of the riding habits, of course (I do some stop and go traffic). My very next gas tank, after the 1K service, gave me exactly the same mileage. Other than this, the bike is sweet and I guess that is the way they are built so I have to live with it. If we don't talk in a couple of days, Happy New Year everyone.   Bombardier Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 06:56 am:        Most of my riding at 110km/hr in 5th gear non stop. 200 km to work for me.