Terrible mileage on my 214 RTS

[caw001]

I love all the speculation due to lack of detail! :cheers: Sorry about that....

I have to say I did not start paying attention to the statistics until my 3rd fill (one at the dealer, and two myself).

Both times I filled up It took "about" 4.5 gallons (didn't pay attention). The first time was at 98 mi. (this one got my attention). The second was somewhere around 200. This was all in town stop and go driving, and being the owner of a brand new Spyder I have to admit I may have been a little heavy throttled at times as I have been ryding atop a magnificent beast.

The third time I filled it I decided I needed to figure out how to reset the trip meters so I could get the real facts and I did just that. I did some freeway driving to and from work and I am currently at 335 total miles and a 1/4 of a tank as it sits level in my garage. That's about 130 miles on 3/4 of a tank. So if you do the math on that, things are not looking so bad. I will take her for a spin tomorrow and refill again to get an accurate mileage burn.

I also have never waited to see the fuel light come on (quite frankly, didn't know there was one). Once I cross the black 1/4 tank marker I have been refilling because I just felt like It was going to burn that last bit of gas faster than I expected.

Yep its new, there is learning to be had. I've been trying the eco mode, but it seems that it always wants me in 6th gear. In stop and go driving that's not always possible to make that stretch and feel like you are doing the motor any justice.

We'll see how things go over the next couple tanks as the newness wears off. Does the "I just want to grab the throttle and GO!!!" feeling ever go away? I sure hope not...

 

[caw001]

I wonder if THAT little tidbit, will end up on FaceBook? :dontknow:

It did... I owned up to it...

 

[caw001]

Did you notice how quickly this OP's initial question got sidetracked into everybody else telling how great or lousy their mileage was?
And we STILL haven't heard back from OP...

Sorry, been working and dealing with an idiot kill switch issue... lol.... I provided all the details just now...

 

[szohar]

Low Milege

I guess there are two main reasons:

1. You only did 300 miles, check this again after 4,000 miles (next week).
2. You are in California, with as many clicks on the pump you will get, you will be missing at least 1 gallon, every time I am out of California I can get more then 160 miles on my 2012 RT, in California the most I ever got was 134 miles.

 

[caw001]

I guess there are two main reasons:

1. You only did 300 miles, check this again after 4,000 miles (next week).

Correct! That's why I asked about when I would start seeing better mileage beyond break in mileage admitting that I knew 300 was low... Not sure about the California generalization, but once I fill next time I should have a definite more accurate reading of the mileage. Paying attention helps...

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for filling in some of the blanks! :thumbup:
Do you use the trip odometers to figure out your mileage between fill-ups? :dontknow:
(If I'm not the most anal-retentive person on the Planet; I feel sorry for the one that it... pps
Pick one of them...A, or B.
At each fill-up; note the mileage and actual gallons...
Zero that odometer...
Do the Math; at your leisure.

It'll allow you to keep an accurate picture of your fuel usage at your fingertips. (Or in your pocket anyway! )

 

[Hawk]

Also keep in mind as someone stated. If you put the nozzle all the way in and stop when it clicks the first time, your not totally filling the tank. My method is to put it all the way in, let it go until it stops, then pull the handle out until there is about 2 inches of nozzle in the neck of the tank. Slowly fill it until I see the fuel just barely starts to splash out of the vent holes.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I love all the speculation due to lack of detail! :cheers: Sorry about that....

I have to say I did not start paying attention to the statistics until my 3rd fill (one at the dealer, and two myself).

Both times I filled up It took "about" 4.5 gallons (didn't pay attention). The first time was at 98 mi. (this one got my attention). The second was somewhere around 200. This was all in town stop and go driving, and being the owner of a brand new Spyder I have to admit I may have been a little heavy throttled at times as I have been ryding atop a magnificent beast.

The third time I filled it I decided I needed to figure out how to reset the trip meters so I could get the real facts and I did just that. I did some freeway driving to and from work and I am currently at 335 total miles and a 1/4 of a tank as it sits level in my garage. That's about 130 miles on 3/4 of a tank. So if you do the math on that, things are not looking so bad. I will take her for a spin tomorrow and refill again to get an accurate mileage burn.

I also have never waited to see the fuel light come on (quite frankly, didn't know there was one). Once I cross the black 1/4 tank marker I have been refilling because I just felt like It was going to burn that last bit of gas faster than I expected.

Yep its new, there is learning to be had. I've been trying the eco mode, but it seems that it always wants me in 6th gear. In stop and go driving that's not always possible to make that stretch and feel like you are doing the motor any justice.

We'll see how things go over the next couple tanks as the newness wears off. Does the "I just want to grab the throttle and GO!!!" feeling ever go away? I sure hope not...

No, it never goes away. I have decided that on my current tank of fuel I will use the Eco Mode for the entire tank. It makes me feel like I'm a 90 year old driving a huge Buick 30 mph in the left lane. I almost always take off too fast and that overrides the Eco mode but I'm trying.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ann,
Retrieve your seat belt; it's hanging out the bottom of the closed door, and is throwing sparks! :shocked:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Guilty

Yes, it was just the kill switch. I met him up where he was stranded & got him back up & going. Good news is he now knows to be sure the kill switch is in the "on" position prior to starting. Something that most of us have done in the beginning:gaah:

Yep happened to me about 3 weeks into my bike. I was on aRyde sponsored by a dealer and as we were leaving the darn thing would not start, couldn't figure it out. Asked one of the employees to assist and they hit the kill switch into the on position, and BAM it started right up:banghead:

 

[cuznjohn]

how many

of us have forgotten to put the kickstand down when getting gas or getting off the bike, 2 wheels

 

[Yazz]

of us have forgotten to put the kickstand down when getting gas or getting off the bike, 2 wheels

Did that a couple times when wasps flew down the back of my jacket. pps:
Another is leaving your bike parked in 1st gear, then starting it up without holding in the clutch. :gaah:

 

[jwulf74]

Or cussing and spitting and getting real mad because the $!&%$! thing won't go in reverse. Had to push it out of the garage just so we could go for s ride on our only 40 degree day in Jan... :banghead::banghead::banghead:



Wife then asks...did you hold the R button while down shifting?



pps:

Won't forget that for a while...

 

[bluestratos]

If you use Fuely to track you fuel consumption it will provide an over all average. I love to ride my bike.. I mean ride fast and hard so I have dropped my 2011 near 20, my best was 32 if I recall. My over average is 27 which is a mix of every thing, trailer, 2 up, fast twisties and scenic drives. I am looking forward to see what my 2014 will do over time but I know it will be better, not that I was unhappy with 27 mpg either.

 

[ARtraveler]

I love all the speculation due to lack of detail! :cheers: Sorry about that....

I have to say I did not start paying attention to the statistics until my 3rd fill (one at the dealer, and two myself).

Both times I filled up It took "about" 4.5 gallons (didn't pay attention). The first time was at 98 mi. (this one got my attention). The second was somewhere around 200. This was all in town stop and go driving, and being the owner of a brand new Spyder I have to admit I may have been a little heavy throttled at times as I have been ryding atop a magnificent beast.

The third time I filled it I decided I needed to figure out how to reset the trip meters so I could get the real facts and I did just that. I did some freeway driving to and from work and I am currently at 335 total miles and a 1/4 of a tank as it sits level in my garage. That's about 130 miles on 3/4 of a tank. So if you do the math on that, things are not looking so bad. I will take her for a spin tomorrow and refill again to get an accurate mileage burn.

I also have never waited to see the fuel light come on (quite frankly, didn't know there was one). Once I cross the black 1/4 tank marker I have been refilling because I just felt like It was going to burn that last bit of gas faster than I expected.

Yep its new, there is learning to be had. I've been trying the eco mode, but it seems that it always wants me in 6th gear. In stop and go driving that's not always possible to make that stretch and feel like you are doing the motor any justice.

We'll see how things go over the next couple tanks as the newness wears off. Does the "I just want to grab the throttle and GO!!!" feeling ever go away? I sure hope not...

This was posted in #18 and may have got lost in the shuffle.

"The recommendation to fill the same way each time is right on. The most I have ever put in a tank was 5.8 gallons and that was at 185 miles on the tank. (31.8 mpg). When filling I always run the gas almost up to the O ring but do not fill beyond that point. I zero the trip meter and am then ready for the next go around. I calculate mpg by taking miles driven on the trip meter divided by number of gallons put in. I go to the nearest 10th on mileage and gallons. I use the digital gas gauge and the fill up lights usually come on between 140 and 150 miles on the trip meter.

If you are already following this procedure, then there may be something wrong with the :ani29:. Based on what you have said, I recommend the above procedure for the next couple tanks or so."

The use of the fuel gauge 1/4 left indicator is probably not the most accurate way to determine remaining fuel in the tank.

 

[cuznjohn]

just looked up

what i had posted b4 about my gas mileage and i am averaging 27 MPG

 

[BikerDoc]

I've heard and read many times that the fuel mileage will go up after breakin... So when exactly does the fuel mileage begin to get a little better?

Mine is not fully broken in, but I've got 300mi on my 2014 RTS and am averaging just a hair over 100mi per tank... PER TANK! Not good, not even bad, but freaking horrible...nojoke

Something is seriously wrong with your individual bike if that is the case.. I have ridden close to 5000 miles with the 2014 RT LTD and i get 200 miles a tank routinely

 

[Spyder Tony]

Hello caw001,

You should definitely be getting better mileage than that. Please contact me via PM here or email at [email protected] ; I'd like to get more details (ie how much gas you are putting in the vehicle, driving style, etc) in order to solve this for you.

I don't mean to hijack this thread OR divert it from it's original topic of average MPG on 2014's, but I have to say that I am impressed with the speed at which a BRP representative stepped in.
Not that it's any of my business, but i'd love to know what the conversation between the OP and BRP consisted of...not verbatim, just the gist of the conversation. Might entail some useful nuggets of info for other 2014 owners.

opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Did that a couple times when wasps flew down the back of my jacket. pps:
Another is leaving your bike parked in 1st gear, then starting it up without holding in the clutch. :gaah:

When I had to switch back to the 2011 SM last week I couldn't figure out how to start it. Forgot to pull in the clutch.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: Gee...
That almost sounds like a good reason, to pop for the, "ESSIE"!