USING THE ECO MODE 1330 Engine

[SL Ken]

I have Eco mode on all the time. I use cruise control a lot commuting to work. (About 40 miles). I can go about 75 for most of those miles. I get about 32 mpg. Low was 28 and high was 42. The high was done on a club ride going about 40-45 mph. I am usually right at the 32 mpg. I would have thought it would be better. Mostly 1 up. Not loaded down with anything. It has 11,000 on it.

 

[Shiznit98204]

I agree!

I just fill it up and ride.When it gets low repeat the fill up.Tryed the Eco mode.Found it less responsive.Bought this toy to ride and enjoy:2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

I tried eco mode for city driving out of curiosity. But when getting on the freeway I was disappointed at how much it cut your power. Turned it off while still accelerating and held throttle at same position. The spyder took off like a rocket. Even the wife asked what I did. Lol. I'll just keep it normal and enjoy the power when I want it. Fill it up when it needs it and just enjoy the ride. Even 30 mpg is better than the 13 mpg I get with my truck so I'm always happy.

 

[gypsy_100]

I tried eco mode for city driving out of curiosity. But when getting on the freeway I was disappointed at how much it cut your power. Turned it off while still accelerating and held throttle at same position. The spyder took off like a rocket. Even the wife asked what I did. Lol. I'll just keep it normal and enjoy the power when I want it. Fill it up when it needs it and just enjoy the ride. Even 30 mpg is better than the 13 mpg I get with my truck so I'm always happy.

Technically it doesn't cut the power per se but cuts the throttle response to your handgrip as shown in the earlier graphs. Let's say you were in ECO mode and had the hand grip at 90% of it's possible rotation. That would have resulted in the throttle being open about 50%. When you turned off ECO mode and kept the hand grip at 90%, the true throttle opening shot up to around 80%. Hence you took off like a rocket.

I agree with you and others. I don't care for it at all. If I want to ride economically to squeeze out the most mileage, I can do that by controlling my throttle myself. I don't need the computer reducing my throttle response. And I refuse to shift at the very low rpm the arrow indicates. Just me -- others will feel differently.

 

[ricford]

Having spent two of the happiest years of my life in the 10th grade proved I'm slow. I have not learned how to turn the eco mode off. I am forced to push that button to 'read the safety warnings' and that seems to default to ON. What's the turn off procedure? I use Chevron 97 octane gas almost exclusively. After that, Shell premium. First I think the bike requires the higher octane fuel and second, Chevron and Shell incorporate injector cleaners in their premium fuel. Chevron makes the very best injector cleaner. Again, my opinion. And test results. But I still don't know how to turn that little green light off.

 

[noboot]

Hold your finger on the eco mode button for a second or two and it will be turned off.

 

[ricford]

Hold your finger on the eco mode button for a second or two and it will be turned off.

Thanks. As my 10th grade teacher (the second time around) said, "now, that wasn't so hard was it?"

Ric Crawford
Calhoun, LA

 

[jaherbst]

Technically it doesn't cut the power per se but cuts the throttle response to your handgrip as shown in the earlier graphs. Let's say you were in ECO mode and had the hand grip at 90% of it's possible rotation. That would have resulted in the throttle being open about 50%. When you turned off ECO mode and kept the hand grip at 90%, the true throttle opening shot up to around 80%. Hence you took off like a rocket.

I agree with you and others. I don't care for it at all. If I want to ride economically to squeeze out the most mileage, I can do that by controlling my throttle myself. I don't need the computer reducing my throttle response. And I refuse to shift at the very low rpm the arrow indicates. Just me -- others will feel differently.

Looks like better gas mileage and less rear tire wear would be the results of using ECCO mode. Right? Just food for thought.

Jack

 

[Robertsepolen]

My range is the same with or without it. I go for performance. I tried alternating tanks on and off of eco mode. Not enough difference to sacrifice performance.

 

[Xyzzy]

I only have a little more than 2,000 miles on my F3-S but I think I have figured out how the ECO mode works.

If you ride at a constant speed (cruise control) you will not see much of a difference between normal mode and ECO mode. This makes sense because ECO mode does two things that do not apply to steady-state riding. ECO mode encourages you to short-shift and the throttle "curve" is non-linear. (Both throttle curves are non-linear, but the ECO curve is much more "restrictive".)

I have run some tests to determine what causes my Spyder to use more fuel at times. The two biggest causes are accelerating briskly and travelling at higher speeds.

Most of my riding is with the cruise control on. (I use the cruise control even at speeds around 30-35 MPH.) I have had tanks at 45 MPG and tanks at 35 MPG. The difference is the speed I travel at.

This week I did two 210 mile trips. The trips were mostly steady-state cruising, anywhere from 45 MPH to 70 MPH. Both trips were the exact same loop route, same temperature, same humidity and same time of day. I use 93 octane ethanol-free fuel. On trip one I used sixth gear for cruising any time I was at 45 MPH or more. On trip two I used fifth gear any time I was at 45 MPH or more. I got 39.4 MPG on the first trip and 36.6 MPG on the second trip. So just lowering the engine RPM at cruise speeds is worth 3 MPG.

I live where it is flat with some occasional rolling hills, so I can usually cruise in sixth easily at 45 MPH or higher, which is the gear that ECO mode usually suggests. In rolling hills I use fifth until 55 MPH. The engine is nowhere close to lugging when cruising in sixth at 45 MPH at 2600 RPM, as long as the road is level and I am riding solo. When I am out in the middle of nowhere I take my time so I can enjoy the ride. Sometimes I will not see another vehicle for many miles.

At first I thought the ECO mode was just some programmed shift points but I now believe that it uses engine load to help determine when to shift. I get different suggestions when I have a passenger or I am on a hill or if the engine is not warmed up.

Most of the time ECO mode does not make my riding less fun. My usage pattern is long steady-state rides on long rural roads. I rarely ride for less than an hour.

I have owned 24 new bikes and thus far the F3-S has the best fuelling that I have ever experienced.

Mentally I play a game where I try to get the best mileage possible. Simple things like rolling to a stop or accelerating a bit slower or timing a red light to prevent having to use the brakes yields huge mileage improvements.

There are times I want to go much quicker and this is reflected in much lower mileage figures. I feel less of a need to ride quickly on my Spyder because is it significantly slower (acceleration and top speed) than most of the motorcycles I have had. For me the Spyder is a leisurely cruising/touring machine.

I log all of my mileage here:



I have submitted the technical (gearing) data for the F3 to gearingcommander.com so that you can compare engine speeds in different gears and stuff like that.

I am really impressed with the ACE 1330 engine so far. It is very smooth, has plenty of torque and has decent fuel economy.

YMMV

 

[Robertsepolen]

233 miles at 55-60mph. 5.77 gals at fill-up. Gas light came on at 217 miles. All back road riding. Terrain included Chinook pass in WA State. No Eco mode.


2015 RT-S

 

[Lew L]

Just shut off the Eco

I currently own a Yamaha V-Max and have owned a Kawasaki ZX-11 ( both modded). Do I want the crappy throttle response of of the little green button???? Do you need to take your eyes off the road to look ath the little( LITTLE !!! ) green arrow???

Just shut it off and enjoy the ride.

My 2014 RT-S get better milage than my Valkyrie and the Hemi so I'm pleased with that.

Looking for theshift arrow can cause:::

Kaos

 

[jaherbst]

I shift by "ear".

Been doing this for 50 years - lol

Did not like needing to look down at a little green arrow

I get 33 MPG combined, but there's only 2000 on my 2014 RT-S.

AJ

That must be pretty hard on your EAR not to mention leaning all the way down. Be careful. Please don't try this at home!

Jack

 

[Bob Denman]

Didn't he tell you :shocked:: He's one of the famous "Flying Wallendas"... :joke:

 

[ARtraveler]

233 miles at 55-60mph. 5.77 gals at fill-up. Gas light came on at 217 miles. All back road riding. Terrain included Chinook pass in WA State. No Eco mode.


2015 RT-S

40.8 (41mpg) is good. :yes::yes:

 

[Wildrice]

Eco light almost invisable during sunlight driving

Maybe a dumb question but does the 1330 on the F3 have Eco mode? The button is so marked but pressing and holding that button to set eco mode does nothing. I never see an Eco icon on the gauge cluster. Doubt I would use it long term but just wanted to try out the bells on my new toy. Perhaps I am not reading the manual correctly but it says to just press the Eco button for 2 seconds to engage.

Check it out after the sun goes down---it's not easy to see during sunny daylight hours.

 

[Wildrice]

miles per gallon has lots of variables

I average 30-33 mph on my F3's. Relating to auto engines--I had an 2008 GMC Denali with 5.3 liter V8. Pulling a 2500lb loaded trailer to N.C. I would get approx. 13.5 mpg via W. Virginia mountains. I now have a 2012 Acadia Denali 3.6 liter V6 & I get approx. 12 mpg with trailer. Driving without trailer my 2008 5.3 liter V8 got 13.5-15 mpg. The GMC 3.6 liter Acadia Denali averages 15--17 mpg without trailer. Freeway trips the 2008 GMC V8 got19- 20 mpg and the 2012 Acadia V6 gets approx. 22 mpg.
I find it interesting that some micro cars on get in the 25-30 mph range & some larger vehicles get in the low 30's mpg. I'm assuming small engines require more throttle & as the load(via wind--hills) & the larger size cars require less throttle. I average 25-34 mpg on our 2014 BMW 328X while my lead foot wife gets approx. 23-26 mpg.
Lots of variables when monitoring gas mileage consumption. I believe most driving gets close to city mpg...

 

[bobgeorge]

Question....I only have around 1,200 miles and I am averaging around 32mpg on Ecco mode. I have a 15 RT. Here in the DC area I have to go around 75 mpg on the roads to keep pace.

At what avg speed does mpg go down?

Also, Does mpg improve after the break end of 3,000 miles?

Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Robertsepolen]

If find 60-65 to be optimum for fuel range. 32mpg is not bad. I am at 7500 miles and notice no difference. I don't use Eco mode at all. Highest mpg has been approx 42 on back roads 55-65. Found range was same with or without eco mode. Opted for better performance without it. Watch your throttle and shift points. Still you are not doing bad for your speed situation. In your traffic it is better to keep a reasonable pace.


2015 RT-S

 

[trikermutha]

I haven't found a good use for the ECO mode..tried both eco and normal and found I was getting the same MPG while driving the same. My avg is around 35 MPG

 

[Trevor G]

The faster you drive and the lower the gear the more fuel you use

I haven't found a good use for the ECO mode..tried both eco and normal and found I was getting the same MPG while driving the same. My avg is around 35 MPG

At constant speed both systems will return the same fuel consumption, as you found.

ECO mode is designed to get people to shift sooner and turn the throttle less to get there (up to speed) and thus save a little fuel.

Even the 990 will easily hold 35mph in top gear on the flat with no strain at all, one up or two up. That saves fuel.

The higher the gear and the lower the speed the less fuel you use, as someone else noted.

Even if you are "straining" the engine (the engine does not pick up speed with extra throttle) you won't use more fuel than if you were in a lower gear. However, it's smart not to "lug" the engine where it is shuddering or not responding smoothly to throttle input.

The fuel consumption readings people are giving are fairly meaningless without knowing what speeds or driving conditions they were under at the time. Giving a constant highway speed is about the only accurate and meaningful way to express fuel consumption, but even that is not accurate unless covered in both directions.

Loading (an extra passenger or luggage) will make a difference, as will wind and wind resistance. Even the size of the rider and his (or her) clothing will play a part, as will ambient temperatures. Spring and autumn give the best results, as extremes of cold and heat also increase fuel consumption.