Econorun SA - RS Fuel consumption.

[Insy]

For those of you RS owners wondering how far you can go on a tank of petrol, here's an official verdict.
The wife has just returned from competing in the 30th annual RFS Econorun. This is an annual motorcycle competition held here in South Africa to measure/compare the fuel economy of unmodified motorcycles under standard public road conditions and traffic rules. The event is underwritten by Motorsport SA (MSA).
The event is held during the last or 2nd last weekend of August each year and is hosted in the Lowveld vicinity.
Each competitor travels according to a pre-set route following a special route scroll map. Each competitor is set off individually at one minute intervals and is required to arrive within a specified time at the next re-fueling point. Competitors can enter under different classes e.g. 1000cc and up, dual purpose bikes, pillion class etc. the competition takes place over two days. This years total distance was 1067.15 Km. Altitude on the route ranged from 450 m to 1450 m. A total of 55 bikes entered.
All major brands were in the field but only one Can Am Spyder (being ridden by my wife)
Being involved on the marketing side of Spyders for the local importers (CMH), and being a previous winner of this event on a BMW F650 CS, the wife decided to enter and here then are the fuel economy results for the Can Am Spyder she competed on.
2010 RS SE 5. Hindle pipe. No other mods. (A demo bike desperately in need of a catch can !)
Total distance day 1 - 548.45Km. Fuel consumption = 7.18221 L/100Km
Total distance day 2 - 518.70Km. Fuel consumption = 8.91216 L/100Km
Average fuel consumption over the two days under most conditions including rain but not gravel roads = 8.047185 L/100Km.
(So riding sensibly, with the reserve light on, you should make 300Km on a full tank !)

Note : 95 Octane used throughout. Wife weighs 55 Kg. No weight in "frunk". Tyre pressures. 1 bar front, 2 bar rear.
No comparison but the 1000cc class was won by a Ducati ST45. Average fuel consumption = 4.009335 L/100Km.

Being the recognized event/competition that this is with it's 30 year history, professional scrutineers, strict rules and so on, it would be interesting to hear from others on this forum who may want to agree with these results or differ entirely.

Ride safe.

 

[NancysToy]

29.23 miles per US gallon

 

[boborgera]

I would go many times 185/195 miles on 5.6 gal. 08 Gs SM5. At 65/70 MPH.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

BLUEKNIGHT911

HI MIKE LONG HERE, PRIOR TO PUTTING ON MY HOME MADE TOURING WINDSHIELD ON MY STOCK 08 RS I WAS GETTING 33MPG WITH A 15 IN. BRP WINDSHIELD. AFTER THE SWITCH I AM NOW GETTING 37 MPG IF I KEEP IT LEGAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS.:clap::clap::clap::thumbup:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Very interesting. Did she win?

 

[34fun]

No she was second last only vehicle worse was a Harley with a side car running on one cylinder with a hole in the gas tank. Thanks Insy for the official data , Riding at Sensible Speeds, A full tank will go 186 miles ish, average mpg was 29.23 Tire's 14 psi in front 29 psi in back , your wife weighs 123 lbs or close to.

Sounds realistic they are definately pigs on gas, I've always figured on 25mpg.

 

[Insy]

Nope, the wife didn't win but finished 3rd in class. As well as the organizers weren't sure in which class the Spyder should compete, it did manage to beat a Yamaha R1 and BMW R series on overall finish. The Spyder drew a lot of attention and the organizers stated that should there be three or more Spyders in future events a separate class would be created.
The point of my wife's adventure was to measure the Spyder's performance under controlled conditions and to prove to a lot of naysayers that Spyders are indeed a part of the local biking landscape.
Of interest is the fact that a number of riders had narrow escapes in the appalling wet conditions and road surfaces on certain parts of the course and were quite open about the fact that 3 wheels would have saved them from almost tank slapping and near offs.
There were a number of bent rims due to potholes but the Spyder shrugged off the conditions and finished intact with an unstressed rider on board.
Proves the point that a Spyder might not be as economical, fast or nimble as a two wheeler but when the conditions turn ugly, it's comforting to be on one.

Ride safe.

 

[HeadTrauma]

Future Spyder owner from SA

I know this is a dead/old thread, but was wondering if there is any new/current data RE economy on the 2015/16 Spyder models?

Would be nice to compare.