R1100S Fuel Economy

[mosearch]

OK, I'm not especially concerned about Fuel Economy for it's own sake...
But I am only getting about 150 miles on a tank (about 32 MPG) which is less than I would have expected. I have a mixed urban-suburban route, so maybe that's part of it.
But are you all getting much better miles? Do I need a major tune up? I'm burning a little oil; but understand that's normal for bikes with low miles (I'm now at 8,000 miles on the clock).
What kind of range or MPG are R1100S owners getting?

[sgoodwin]

I start looking for gas at the 120 mark (about when the light comes on) so I don't get stuck pushing it. By 140 I'm getting desperate.

[1100s nut]

I have not checked my 1100s in a while, but it seems like I would get around 45mpg mixed....but not hammering it. My GS seems to get 48 whether I hammer or not? Maybe it could use new plugs and a new airfilter if they are old, those are two things that will impact mileage.

[brentw1]

32 unless you have it open all of the time is not good, probably running to rich,
I get in the mid 40's and if careful can get close to 50

[WandererR11S]

My range is much better, maybe as most riding is under 4k rpm, filled to bottom of tank cap spout,
Im getting 240/250 kilometers to low fuel light, and still running at 320... The reserve is a good 4 liters, my per liter is 17.5 kilometers... :-)

[kroberts]

My light comes on at about 140 miles. My mileage is always about 39-41.

I heading out into west Texas on Thursday and plan on checking my mileage. Speed limits out there range from 70 to 80. I really need a bigger tank. I think I'm going to buy a GS. I want an '05 1150, I love the big, exposed tank.

I will post my stats when I get back.

[LeftCoast Peter]

Do you have any fuel management ad on's? Like a techlusion? Is it in tune?

Fuel consumption chart

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by mosearch

OK, I'm not especially concerned about Fuel Economy for it's own sake...
But I am only getting about 150 miles on a tank (about 32 MPG) which is less than I would have expected. I have a mixed urban-suburban route, so maybe that's part of it.
But are you all getting much better miles? Do I need a major tune up? I'm burning a little oil; but understand that's normal for bikes with low miles (I'm now at 8,000 miles on the clock).
What kind of range or MPG are R1100S owners getting?

150 miles sounds about right to me in the days when I had a stock tank the light would come on at 115 and then I'd be looking for fuel knowing that I had 30 miles or so and don't forget the fuel pump can't lift the last litre that's were all the scht is the pick up is well off the bottom of the tank..

[SergioK]

My '01 had this level of fuel consumption when the CCP was missing. Do you know if the bike still has the cat code plug?

[JonyRR]

back in the day when I owned one of these I spent a lot of time getting it dialled in.

the best state of tune I reached was accomplished with lots of mods, backed by lots of empirical tuning using a PCIIIUSB a wide-band 02 sensor with datalogger to monitor the A/F ratio under load and real-world, over-the-road conditions. I averaged in the mid to high 40's with much better power and driveability over stock. Took work, time, effort and careful analysis of tuning parameters, tho.

as Lazuras Long says, 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'.

out of the box, these things come 'R&R', as in 'rich and retarded'. It doesn't help to have the only fuel available a sorry excuse for real gasoline. If it has ethanol in it, it's gonna get worse mileage to make the same amount of power, since alcohol has less BTU's than 'pure' gasoline given the same fuelling density.

[bradzdotcom]

if i'm super slabbing along, it's about 45-ish.
goes up even farther if i'm bored.
if i'm trying to straighten out the twisty roads, it drops down to about 40-ish.
goes even lower if there's someone fun to play with.

i don't think about it much, since fuel and tires cost about ten cents a mile each.

[Nitro]

35 on good days. Better than my RC51 that gets 25!

To me rich is 12.5 and lean is 13.7; my R1100S runs @ 13.0, it seems just fine that way.

[VetteRacer]

I get 40 on both of mine for my commute. Which works out great as its 40 miles to work.. I fill up with around 4 gallons at 160 miles. Freeway I get more, twisties I get less.. Out of Cali in twisties I get more (non ethanol), got 230 out of a tank being spirited in Colorado...
Matt

Sent from my Xoom Wifi using Tapatalk

[jmmccauley]

I'm with Kroberts... light on at 140+ I was at 28 mpg when I bought it and replaced the missing O2 sensor and found I had two flakey coils. Plugs where ugly it was running so rich...Also pulled a Rhinewest chip out and everything is good now. Just dropped in some rockets sprockets... nice mod... and plan on putting the chip back in now that I've had the bike a while and ride it everyday so I know when something isn't right.
But the coils were the real fix for me... 40 mpg 150 miles a week mostly slab

[wiggledbits]

As low as 30 MPG in stop and go riding light can come on at 90 miles. As high as 48MPG on the open road twisties or slabing going 50 - 100 MPH. Ya think it's running rich down low? Lennies, no cat and a Techlusion tweaked on a dyno.

[tim22]

I have an '03 R1100S BCR - stock. I calculated the fuel mileage a long time ago, but I don't remember what it was. I do though remember being a little surprised and disappointed about how low the figure was. Somewhere in the 35 mpg range I believe (mostly city, some highway).

Tim

[kroberts]

Did 865 miles in two days (that seat just sucks) and averaged a fraction over 40mpg. Spent most of the trip at 80 mph.

God that seat REALLY sucks. Bike ran like a top though, 4200rpm for hours and hours. Thank god for the throttle lock.

[sgoodwin]

Originally Posted by kroberts

Did 865 miles in two days (that seat just sucks) and averaged a fraction over 40mpg. Spent most of the trip at 80 mph.

God that seat REALLY sucks. Bike ran like a top though, 4200rpm for hours and hours. Thank god for the throttle lock.

Send it to Sargents, they'll make it comfy and can change the ball crushing angle if you ask. Super-cell foam is your friend. They recovered & super-cell foamed mine for around $200.

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by kroberts

Did 865 miles in two days (that seat just sucks) and averaged a fraction over 40mpg. Spent most of the trip at 80 mph.

God that seat REALLY sucks. Bike ran like a top though, 4200rpm for hours and hours. Thank god for the throttle lock.

Where was that photo taken?

[kroberts]

That's called the Pecos High Bridge. It crosses the Pecos river on highway 90 west of Del Rio, Texas. Beautiful country out there.

I was actually parked at a rest area/overlook on the east side of the canyon.