Fuel Economy - is anyone getting better?

[Bob Denman]

But who likes to ever just leave things perfectly alone?? We thrive on backyard engineering... :thumbup:

 

[boborgera]

Additional fuelcell=More fuel=more weight=LESS MILAGE??????why add the fuel cell! Just stop and fill er up and be happy with what ya got! :yes:

It only weights more until you start riding, Then approximately every 30 miles it weights 6 pounds less. :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked:

 

[Mr. White]

My problem has been solved by Mother Nature...I stop every 120-130 miles to empty bladder and then fill gas tank as needed... It is hell getting old.

:spyder2:

 

[Grandpa Spyder]

My problem has been solved by Mother Nature...I stop every 120-130 miles to empty bladder and then fill gas tank as needed... It is hell getting old.

:spyder2:

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I am with you on that one, sometimes I can't go that far.:banghead:

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[Nor-Cal Spyder]

My problem has been solved by Mother Nature...I stop every 120-130 miles to empty bladder and then fill gas tank as needed... It is hell getting old.

:spyder2:

Amen, brother...

 

[NancysToy]

My problem has been solved by Mother Nature...I stop every 120-130 miles to empty bladder and then fill gas tank as needed... It is hell getting old.

:spyder2:

It may not be hell...but it sure is inconvenient! :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

But you DO get to meet some pretty nice folks along the way at every newly found pitstop! :thumbup::roflblack:
Uh-oh..:shocked: gotta go again! pps:

 

[Tonga]

I to need a pit stop to empty fluid and refill fluid, so even if and when BRP puts a larger lower revving engine in our beloved Spyders, then I will still stop for fill ups more than my friends do.

 

[minerdoug]

Last summer the wife and I took a 3700 mile trip across highway 50 from Nevada through the mountains of Utah and Colorado, the plains of Kansas and back roads of Missouri, and back and averaged 25.4 mpg on our 2011 RT SE5 pulling an RT-622 trailer loaded at 128 pounds. Best I have ever gotten is 35.5 mpg riding by myself in the backroads of the Sierra's travelling casually and not pushing it too hard. I currently have over 6000 miles on it, and this seems to have peaked out on the fuel economy. I will know better this May after our return from Spyderfest. :yes:

 

[JerryKaren]

I have 8,000 miles on my 2010 rt and my wife rides with me 95% of the time and I have always average at least 34 mpg.

 

[Bootie]

I sometimes run 87 Octane in mine, but remember that these are high-compression engines and if the weather gets warm, they may begin to pre-ignite (knock or ping) with the low octane fuel. Carlo (of BRP) told me that if the ECM senses pre-ignition that it will retard the timing resulting in less power and lower fuel economy. So... I think 91 Octane would be best. :lecturef_smilie:. Remember Octane Rating is simply a measure of the amount of anti-knock compound added to the fuel. Unless the engine is designed and timed to run on higher octane (e.g. 104) fuel, all you are doing is giving your money to the oil companies :gaah: which already have too much! :sour:.

 

[SpyderMonkei]

I am not surprised about some riders preferring the extra fuel, I had an aux tank added to my 2002 GL1800 Trike, my 2009 Yamaha Trike, my 2004 ST1300s ... mostly so I could compete in Iron Butt rallys, etc, but also because sometimes I do just like to ride on. So the want for one is acceptable to be.

However, the price of 2500.00 is just well way to much money to spend on this option. The cost for the third party tanks I had added on my three bikes above barely exceeded that price all together.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hey Bootie, the octane remark was a total joke! I have forgotten more about octane and what it does and what it doesn't do than I care to explain - and if you want to believe your Spyder needs 91 octane, go right ahead. I'm not paying for it, and my :ani29: doesn't knock on 87 octane. Mike :shemademe_smilie: :thumbup:

 

[boborgera]

Hey Bootie, the octane remark was a total joke ....I have forgotten more about octane..... what it does and what it doesn't do than I care to explain ......and if you want to believe your spyder needs 91 octane go right ahead ....I'm not paying for it.......and my :ani29: doesn't knock on 87......Mike.......:shemademe_smilie::thumbup:

That's because way before you can detect Pre Ignition (knock) the EMC does, and then sets back (de-tunes) the timing to save holes being burnt in the pistons.

 

[Alberts46]

It seems very strange that some are averaging 25-26 and some up to 34-35 MPG. At the beginning of the thread some thought the right hand was to blame for poor economy. I was out yesterday for 255 mile run and was on the freeway for 1/2 doing 84mph and country roads the rest really on the throttle, still got 25 MPG as I mentioned in the starting thread. I started this post so to say I am confused puts in mildly. I don't believe a production bike can vary this much per gallon, just my very humble opinion.

Thanks for all the input, this site is invaluable.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

So my 08 G/S owner's manual states my engine operates correctly on 87 octane and "BRP" has designed the computer to save the engine from damage if you use gas rated at 87 octane so they can avoid replacing the engine under warranty. REALLY... REALLY...

Seat of the pants is for "Bar Stool Racing", otherwise please show me the Dyno printout. Dis-claimer, I do not own an RT, if they Require higher octane petrol absolutely use the recommended fuel. But engines that only require 87 octane and can't run on 87 octane need to be fixed because there is something wrong with them. Octane is not a cure for something that is broken.

 

[ThreeWheels]

It seems pretty straightforward to me. At least for my riding style.

You are pushing a huge barn door on the front of the Spyder RT. When riding the backroads, generally around 45 MPH, I am getting about 34 miles to the gallon or so.
When hitting the highway at 70 MPH plus, I get about 28 miles to the gallon.
As anyone who has read any of my previous posts will know, I've said this before, and I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record. The Spyder RT needs more range, either with better gas mileage or a bigger tank.

When you are going out on a recreational ride, stopping for gas at 150 miles is fine. That translates to about two and a half hours ride. That's an excellent time to stop, get off the bike and stretch your legs.

However, if you are using the Spyder as a daily commuter, 150 mile range means that you are stopping for gas every other day. And for some people, it can be a gas stop EVERY day. That's a royal PITA.

But that's my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[Bob Denman]

So my 08 G/S owner's manual states my engine operates correctly on 87 octane and "BRP" has designed the computer to save the engine from damage if you use gas rated at 87 octane so they can avoid replacing the engine under warranty. REALLY... REALLY...

Seat of the pants is for "Bar Stool Racing", otherwise please show me the Dyno printout. Dis-claimer, I do not own an RT, if they Require higher octane petrol absolutely use the recommended fuel. But engines that only require 87 octane and can't run on 87 octane need to be fixed because there is something wrong with them. Octane is not a cure for something that is broken.

Am I missing something here?? :shocked:

From what I recall; the GS has a lower compression ratio, and was set up to run on 87.
The RTs are up a bit over 12:1 and were meant to run on 91...
They will run on pretty much whatever swill you dump in the tank because the electronics are designed to prevent things from going

"BOOM", they just would run better on the suggested grade of fuel.

 

[Bootie]

Hey Mike, I knew it was a joke but I had nothing better to do then. :roflblack: Also, up in VT there, the temperature never gets above 80deg, so you probably don't get pinging. Just saying... :lecturef_smilie: