MPG

[Cobbster]

Hello all,

Since getting my 1100S in December, I've been restricted to kicking around the doors and short journeys due to the foul weather here in deepest darkest Northumbria. During this time my bike was been returning about 108 miles till the light ( about 36 mpg ) is this about right?
If not whats the problem, I've seen forum bikes return about 45ish.

Cheers, Cobbster.

[tripe]

I ride in London everyday and light comes on at 95-100 and I have run out of juice at 124
A heavy wrist and a few modifications tend to be the cause!

[jivebiker]

This sounds ridiculous but...

Try Shell Optimax standard unleaded. I get a consistent 15 miles per tank more than on other makes, I dont know why and I dont care, but I do!

[horse27]

Yep, my light comes on from 100-120 miles depending on riding "technique" ...

[Lars1974]

hi,

mine is the same...36.6mpg over the last tank.
so i would not worry...i am sure its the short trips and cold weather.

in the summer i got constantly between 40-44mpg....
thx
Lars

[flanders]

I'm getting just about 30mpg now but I'm positive it's riding style since I seem to have some getting used to it to do and my rides have been pretty short.

[BlueBoxer]

I must be limp wristed I'm using the bike Monday-Friday, 28 mile round trip and getting 10-11 miles per litre. Filled Yesterday morning 16L @170 miles.

Is this because it's on a cat/standard exhaust? Can I expect lower mpg is I 'upgrade'

Steve

[Boxered]

sounds about right steve, I think the average is 10 miles per litre, can't say I tried shell optimax though, don't think there are any shell stations left around here are ther?

Steve

[Lars1974]

hi again,

mine is between 36-44mpg...and the bike has an open Laser exhaust.
so i reckon that is normal, but the light comes on between 100 and 125mls.
thx Lars

[BlueBoxer]

I think the Shell garage on the East Lancs/M6 junction has Optimax in. It's 10p a litre or so more expensive, so I've never used it.... Snake Oil came to mind.

[Boxered]

Oh Yeah, Haydock island
I know what you mean about snake oil, although I've heard nothing but good reports from users in cars as well as bikes.
cheers

Steve

[Cobbster]

Hi again,

Forgot to mention that my bike is an untinkered model ie, standard everything.
The Optimax thing, my mates 62 year old life long biker dad swears by the stuff. Not only is it good for mpg but its kinder to the engine. He used to lecture in motor mechanics so knows a thing or two. Super market fuel is governed by market price not quality, god knows whats in the stuff.

Cobbster.

[jivebiker]

Many years ago (20+ when I was at Uni) a friend studying chemistry, and sponsored by BP, compared calorific value and burn speed and efficiency for different brands of petrol, and found quite a large difference. ICI came out top, Shell / Texaco / BP / Esso / Elf were all similar, and Jet and Murco(I think - it was another more buget style brand) were way behind.

He did the test in mid winter, and concluded that possibly the cheaper brands had only one blend all year, whereas he knew BP and others had a winter blend which was more volatile than the summer blend.

I cant say I'd ever noticed any performance / mileage gain between fuels myself until I had the R1100S. The only difference I had ever noticed was better starting on winter blends (in winter!)

[JoeC]

Shell Optimax is no more ... long live V-Power !

[BockingBandit]

Always use Shell Optimax if i can, .. on my Bandit (RIP) and CBF600 it would give me about +30 miles per tank, .. so it costs 10% more, .. but paid for itself in mpg returns. (Spent almost £8k on fuel for the bike last year,.. so it adds up). Sadly,.. I dont notice the same difference on the 'S'. The only thing that seems to effect the 'S' mpg is 'town' v 'open-road' riding.
Geoff