R1200RT Gas Mileage?

[BenRussoUSA]

I have a 06 R1200RT with about 14,000 miles on it. I bought it with 3,000 miles earlier this year, so I have been busy.

 

I went on a long trip about a month ago and measured gas mileage.

On the whole trip I was pretty consistent around 38 MPG (80-85 MPH on highways, and hot doggin' it around side roads).

 

When I got back I took it to the shop for a 12,000 mile service.

Wow, what a difference left the shop and thought I had a whole new bike, is that normal?

 

I had dropped off the bike at the shop with only an eighth of a tank of gas, so when I picked it up I stopped at a gas station and topped it off and reset the BC. Drove about an hour to get home at around 70MPH and saw that according to the BC I had gotten an astounding 50 MPG.

 

The dealer had updated the engine mapping, and done throttle body sync, valves and some other stuff.

 

However after a few hundred miles and getting back to commuting my mileage has now dropped to about 36MPG. What's up? Is it the cold weather? Does riding side streets and rocket starts from stoplight to stop light really make that much difference?

 

I wonder if the dealer put in some fuel additive or something? When I picked up the bike from the shop I felt like it was a brand new bike. I was giddy with the smoothness of the engine and it's easy power smooth roll on. But after a few hundred miles it seems like the same bike I remembered.

 

Maybe it is just me?

 

[T__]

Went on a long trip about a month ago and measured gas mileage.

On the whole trip I was pretty consistent around 38 MPG (80-85 MPH on highways, and hot doggin' it around side roads)…… Probably not too far off.. My 1200 RT gets in the 38-42mpg range at mid 80mph cruising.. A little higher without panniers & a little lower with full camping gear on it..

 

When I got back I took it to the shop for a 12,000 mile service.

Wow, what a difference left the shop and thought I had a whole new bike, is that normal?….. Sounds pretty normal,, some perceived & some actual.. If they did a mapping update entirely possible..

 

I had dropped off the bike at the shop with only an eighth of a tank of gas, so when I picked it up I stopped at a gas station and topped it off and reset the BC. Drove about an hour to get home at around 70MPH and saw that according to the BC I had gotten an astounding 50 MPG…… You really can’t rely on the Body Computer or one thankful.. Need to do an actual fuel used vs miles traveled over a few tankfulls to get useful data.. 50mpg at much lower speeds & easy throttle is again about right..

 

The dealer had updated the engine mapping, and done throttle body sync, valves and some other stuff… That can make a difference on both smoothness & runability..

 

However after a few hundred miles and getting back to commuting my mileage has now dropped to about 36MPG. What's up? Is it the cold weather? Does riding side streets and rocket starts from stoplight to stop light really make that much difference?…..Cold weather,, winter gasoline,, thicker engine oil,, as you say rocket starts all can effect fuel mileage.. Those rocket starts take lots of power,, it takes lots of fuel to make lots of power.. In cold weather the engine management system also stays in cold enrichment longer..

 

I wonder if the dealer put in some fuel additive or something? When I picked up the bike from the shop I felt like it was a brand new bike. I was giddy with the smoothness of the engine and it's easy power smooth roll on. But after a few hundred miles it seems like the same bike I remembered…… No fuel additive I ever heard of will increase fuel mileage like that.. Poor quality fuel can lower mileage somewhat as it can force knock sensor spark retard.. Winter gasoline as well as some emission friendly gasoline’s can lower mileage slightly but not enough to stand out as a big deal..

 

Twisty

 

 

 

 

[John844]

Just a possibility, but not sure if it would cause that much of a drop on milage. If they did not hold the cables to keep them from turning when they did the TBS sync, they might have twisted back to their normal orientation after riding a few hundred miles. That would make the bike have more vibration, worse milage, and could explain why it is starting to feel like the old bike again.

 

If it were my bike, I would make the cheap home made manometer with tubing and ATF fluid to double check the TBS Sync. If it is off, I would then double check the valves and do the re-sync.

[60av8tor]

Mine seems to have gotten better since the first service. I have been averaging around 47 on my new 08. Recently had the 600 mile service and have been riding it pretty hard since then to break in the motor. It is hard to tell, but seems slightly rougher at idle (didn't notice mirrors vibrating before service), but smoother above 3k. I recently went on a 2-day 800 mile round trip - little interstate - mostly 65/55 two-lane. Got about 52 and am averaging 53 on my commute - 1/2 60ish, 1/2 40ish. I hope I keep this kind of mileage - I think it's astounding for a 1200. Between the mileage of the RT and gas prices lower now than the past few years, I'm saving tons of $$ each month on my commute If only I could say the same thing for my portfolio

[BenRussoUSA]

Thanks everyone. I guess that the number of variables involved are so large that it is hard to use gas mileage as a metric of engine tune state unless you could have a stable test environment, like let's say the same temp and same gas with same bike and rider at the same speed on the same road for a few hundred miles. Oh well...

[T__]

Thanks everyone. I guess that the number of variables involved are so large that it is hard to use gas mileage as a metric of engine tune state unless you could have a stable test environment, like let's say the same temp and same gas with same bike and rider at the same speed on the same road for a few hundred miles. Oh well...

 

 

Ben, that is why the auto companies use special controlled vapor pressure test gasoline,, with the vehicles inside temperature/humidity controlled buildings,, on special road load simulator dynos,, using computer generated acceleration/deceleration programs to measure the city/hiway/combined fuel economy numbers per government requirements..

 

Just too many variables out on the road to keep all the data consistent between all auto companies & vehicle lines.. Is it real world testing? No.. Is it consistent enough to use for comparison? Yes..

 

Twisty

 

[motoguy128]

I had some similar reults as the OP. I think cold weather drops mileage quickly because beign a air colled engine, the cold air overcools the motor and some energy is lost heating the cylinder wall and heads... same as during a cold start-up. The ECU may also run a richer mixture in cold temps to avoid pinging since the air is so dense.

 

Sometimes the conditions that are optimal for maximum power are not the best for fuel economy. For example, most all vehciles get better mileage at higher altitudes despite driving up and down hills because in part by having less power available, they consume less fuel. In a sense, it reduces the engine displacement. While cold dense air increases it.