I got 50mpg today

Message

ReggieGasket · #1 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:32 pm

Did my first big commute today (Preston to Coventry) on the Falco (280 miles in total). The bike managed 50mpg both ways. I was riding with economy in mind with speeds between 50 and 100mph; mostly on the M6; crusing speed was around 85mph. That's pretty good I reckon. I can understand why most people won't get that sort of figure as it's more fun to ride the bike with a heavy right hand, but I'm pleased to have that as a base line, as I do the trip every week. The bike has a PC3 and Scorpion race cans on standard gearing. I'm going to try a "fast" run at some point to see how it compares.

tommy · #2 Post by **tommy** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:22 pm

No idea about mpg
But with my usual riding (short quick journeys mostly) my petrol light comes on after 85-90 miles
Did essex air ambulance bike run sunday and i got 130 miles before the light come on

Dusty · #3 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:24 pm

That is excellent. I did a 300 mile round trip to Croft for the BSB and got 41mpg, admittedly with hard panniers fitted. It's not the cost that bugs me but the pathetic range before the fuel light comes on.

Chabby · #4 Post by **Chabby** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:45 pm

If you reckon on 10miles per litre you'll not be far off - unless you really cane it!

ReggieGasket · #5 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:50 pm

Yes; it seems to help if you fill it right to the top, which is difficult with that plastic thingy. It's so much fun to open the bike up that I reckon I could get the mpg down a lot if I was on a sunday run. But it just shows how flexible the engine is; some big bikes have poor mpg whatever you do (esp Hondas). I'm really pleased because it means I can use it for the commute; otherwise I'd have to use the CB500 all the time.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:43 pm

Pootling about low revs commuting is what canes the mpg a bit of revs and long runs improve things no end.

ReggieGasket · #7 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:40 am

Yes, this is a bike for the open road

I also think it will be excellent on the track - I'll try to get a track day in this year. Might need to raise the forks a little to help it turn, but the basic package seems very solid for a track day.

Dalemac · #8 Post by **Dalemac** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:29 am

ReggieGasket wrote:Yes, this is a bike for the open road

I also think it will be excellent on the track - I'll try to get a track day in this year. Might need to raise the forks a little to help it turn, but the basic package seems very solid for a track day.

To make it turn better, you would want to raise the rear (or lower the front)

Dale

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:56 am

Dalemac wrote:
ReggieGasket wrote:Yes, this is a bike for the open road

I also think it will be excellent on the track - I'll try to get a track day in this year. Might need to raise the forks a little to help it turn, but the basic package seems very solid for a track day.
To make it turn better, you would want to raise the rear (or lower the front)

Dale

...... which is exactly what Reggie has suggested ....
raising the forks through the yokes = dropping the yokes down the forks

sfoley1 · #10 Post by **sfoley1** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:14 pm

i do a cross London commute 30 miles each way and my fuel light comes on at about 130 miles. I check my mpg every time I fill up and the worst has been 36 mpg and the best 42

ReggieGasket · #11 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:44 pm

I must admit I'd use my CB500 for that commute - easier to ride at low speed and 55+mpg. Not that I'm obsessed with mpg

Having said that, rode my CB down to the dentist today after riding the Falco for a couple of weeks and "Oh My God", it felt like an old field bike. Amazing how quickly you get used to a different bike.

FalcoJock · #12 Post by **FalcoJock** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:54 pm

I usually manage 140 miles between fill-ups and never less than 120, and I don't wait until the light comes on. I recon on 10 miles to the litre, so if I do 140 miles, I get 14 litres in the tank. That's well under the stated tank capacity.

I'm not very heavy-handed but the recent trip to Dundee was done at sub-100 (but not very sub) on the motorway and "making progress" on the A7.

I have noticed that when filling up, I can get a lot more in after the fuel first bubles up to the neck of the filler. I just keep giving it a second to settle then topping up more, so maybe I get more in than most.

Viking · #13 Post by **Viking** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:15 am

Filling the Falco's tank is a pain. The sheer acreage of that flat top means you can cram about another litre or two in there after the level gets to that daft plastic thing. If you don't mind taking ages for the level to settle each time, you can get a surprising amount of fuel in there.

Aussie speed limits being what they are (bloody pathetic), I have managed to get almost 300km from a tank a couple of times.

Dusty · #14 Post by **Dusty** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:45 am

Good point, VIking. My average fill-up is 15.5 litres, so I'll try some patience and see if I can squeeze some more in next time.

hornetrider · #15 Post by **hornetrider** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:03 am

I don't know about anyone else but I've cut off the bottom of the plastic filler in the fuel tank (the vertical portion) to make getting those last few litres in a little easier.