G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through February 19, 2014 » 4000 RPM for optimal MPG? « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Advoutlander
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

As mentioned before i'm getting low to mid 40 mpg with tkc80s. I normally ride between 2500-3000rpm. A few archived posts a sweet zone around 4000rpm that returned higher mpg than the 3000rpm mark. Does anyone find this?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Panhead_dan
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 04:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

3800 seems like the sweet spot to me but I've not spent much effort checking mpg's.
Froggy has!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Uly_man
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 04:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Try a 150/70 rear at about 80 psi. This low tire "foot print" should help with mpg.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Advoutlander
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 06:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Do you think a 150 will fit safely?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Froggy
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 06:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

3000 in 5th is the sweet spot in my experience.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kag
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2014 - 11:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I read a posting on another forum about Uly Mpg and it seems like maybe the mapping is leaner on the 06 & 07 bikes and they get more mpg. But i do not know this for a fact as I have an 08

There is a Mpg stat somewhere on this forum that tracks this stuff. But I would think running higher RPMs you would burn more fuel.

Best for me was running pure hwy about 3200 and then my mpg was only 47 i think

(Message edited by kag on January 04, 2014)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mark_weiss
Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2014 - 05:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

http://www.njdot.us/buell/ulydata.php

On my '08, I find mpg to be more more directly related to mph than to rpm. The Ulysses is basically a barn door being pushed through the air so increased speed requires a lot more power. I see a notable increase in fuel consumption on rides where the average speeds get much above 50 or 55.

Steady highway riding in fourth or fifth gear varies the mpg little for me.

Altitude clearly affects mpg. Anything that I've recorded above 55 mpg has been at 5k feet or higher.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ratbuell
Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2014 - 11:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you're getting 40s with TKC80s...smile and say thank you. It's a big knobby POS tire that has huge rolling resistance and is designed for loose-surface traction, NOT pavement. Personally I'd never put anything like that on a bike I rode on pavement. I'm sure I could get better MPG on my '06 if I got away from the D616 and put PR3's on it like my other Buells...but it's such a good all-around tire (drags footpegs on pavement and throws roostertails in dirt/gravel) I just roll with it.

And Froggy weighs less than my helmet. Don't gauge anything by his MPG numbers ; )
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buewulf
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2014 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That is the kind of mileage I get with sport touring tires, so be happy.

My experience with my '06 is that it burns more fuel at 4K than 3K 100% of the time. If there are efficiency gains for the engine at 4000 rpm, it isn't enough to overcome the disadvantage of increased drag.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Froggy
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2014 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yes the older bikes do get slightly higher fuel economy, but based on my experience (and I hypermile and monitor the shit out of it), the difference isn't huge. unfortunately I can't perform totally scientific testing as both my 06 and 08 have some significant differences, but from what I've seen my 06 will get about 5mpg more average in a given situation than my 08. I shouldn't say 5mpg is insignifigant, as that is about 10-15%, and an easy 20 more miles of cruising range. My personal best MPG on my 06 was 75MPG (US), enjoying the scenery on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As for my weight, my girlfriend fixed that, I am a plump 200lbs now, so getting my Blast into the triple digits (both MPH or MPG) is out of the question.

(Message edited by Froggy on January 06, 2014)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Uly_man
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2014 - 02:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What Ratbull said on the TKC80s. And?

MPG is about many things IE Gas type, rubber, all up weight and a hundred other things. Even about how much water is in the air at any one point.

If it is of any help I would get about 5 mpg more on the 06 bike over the 10 bike on the same roads, rubber, fuel, miles on bikes and ride style. All done with VERY accurate testing over six years of ownership.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Biffdotorg
Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 - 04:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When I bought my '08 XT off the showroom floor, the tag said it was rated for 55mpg highway. The best I have ever seen was 46mpg.

That's coming from a stock bike (full bags) and a 235lb 6'2" rider (anchor and sail)

42mpg is average city mileage (for me anyway) riding it like it should be rode. Making it's presence known.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Motorbike
Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 - 05:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Biffdotorg, my '08 XT does almost exactly the same as yours. I am even about the same weight but an inch or 2 shorter. I don't baby the throttle but I don't hammer on it either (most of the time).
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mnrider
Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 - 08:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The best I've ever gotten was 68 mpg riding from northern WS to southern MN,I was thinking the fuel light wasn't working.The good old 06 will get 45 to 60 normally.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2014 - 01:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The 06 bikes are better on mpg because, I think, they run a little leaner and maybe they get hot faster than the later bikes. My 06 bike did anyway.

On the 10 mile run to work (City riding) my 06 bike was about 45 mpg and the 10 bike is around 42. Saying that though I once tested the 10 bike, once the engine was hot, and it returned 57 mpg. That was still in town but at night with a lot less gear changes, braking, etc than normal.

The point is that a MPG is only an "average" over a single/specific ride NOT a max or min. On the whole I would say the numbers that I get on all year Ulys is about right. But that is UK fuel and the UK gallon size which is not the same in the US.

The main thing, if you want to save gas money, is to control the bike better. Use less front/rear brakes, less throttle, better gears and keep the bike moving.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Skifastbadly
Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2014 - 01:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Uly_man: "Try a 150/70 rear at about 80 psi. This low tire "foot print" should help with mpg.

80 PSI?????
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2014 - 02:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Of course NOT.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Brakes2late
Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2014 - 03:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My 06 has gotten 48-52 consistently over the past 86K miles. Mostly freeway at 3500ish.
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and custodians may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration