Just trying to get a feel for the average fuel consumption that I should be expecting on my pride & joy. The best I've ever got is about 42mpg on a long fast run funnily enough(!) and it drops to about 36mpg on my daily commute of about 12 miles each way (mostly country A roads and a bit of town traffic at the end). The fuel warning light comes on at about 106-110 miles from brim full usually. I know it's running a little bit rich from the plug colour, which I intend to sort when the weather stops being so nice and I can stop riding it! However, other than that, it's running fine and pulling like a train, I've fully serviced it, new belts, valve clearances adjusted to be all spot on, new fuel and air filters etc. My previous ST4 would do a consistent average of about 43 mpg commuting similar roads (and up to an amazing 60mpg on a long stead 70mph motorway run once!) so I've got a feeling it's drinking a bit too much. I do appreciate it's a large air-cooled carby twin and at 34k the engine and carbs aren't going to be tip-top, I'd just like to know for my own interest really. Thanks guys.
Just done the maths based on what I recall from my last trip out and I reckon I got 51mpg on my 900. That's a mix of sensible riding and pushing on a bit , mostly on open roads with almost no town riding.
I never had my Monster with standard carbs but with the Keihins I get around 36mpg average but this varies hugely on how it's ridden, it will get into the high 20's with lots of acceleration (pesky accelerator pumps*) but can manage low 40's if ridden like a little Girl. * Accelerator pumps do give it a kick though - the power delivery is as subtle as a punch in the face...
Hi Guys, thanks for the replies. Looks like I'm going to have to strip the carbs and refurbish them come the autumn, as mid 40 - 50mpg seems to be what I should be expecting. Thanks for your help.
flatslides and hi compression pistons, going by this mornings fill, 134 miles from 13 litres, making it a nice round 55 mpg
Sev, how do you work out 55 mpg from 134 miles and 13 litres? I work it out to be 47 mpg, chips wee'd on, sorry.
"Tell me more about flatsides and hi comp pistons." Or just buy a big Kawasaki and save all the aggro......
Suzuki, I agree. Filled up today and was surprised- 158 miles for 11.8 litres of fuel. That was on optimax. Quite relieved in a funny kind of way as when the trip tipped the 150 mark I thought my fuel light wasn't working anymore.
