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Fuel Economy - is anyone getting better?

Alberts46

Member
I now have 1200 miles on my 1 month old RTS. I ride twice a week with a large group and we normally do a lunch run round trip of between 175 - 200 miles. No one every stops for gas including HD, BMW, Honda, Victory's etc. I have two other bikes both Victory's and they can go 200 easily without worries. The RTS today went 142 miles, the light was on since 117 and took 5.5 gallons. I know it holds 6.7 but I intentionally ran it out of gas several weeks ago and think that after about 6 gallon you are out. Since I am averaging around 25-26 miles per gallon is this pretty common. I don't care about the gas price, etc. I am just not ready to stop at 140-150 miles. I am not riding the bike hard, we are on back roads averaging 65mph and not stop and go traffic. I am shifting at about 4200 rpm when we do stop and start. Comments??
 
Your about there with the rest of us. about 25-30 miles at best. The others your rideing with have a LOT more torque and can run at lower rpms and weight is less. Now that tight motor is breaking in...getting loser, she will get some better but not much. "for me" its just more Beer breaks:yes:
 
I don't know if I can offer any good advice but I will say that I have just over 5000 mi on my RT SM5 that I got in October. I am over 300 lbs and I always stay in the highest gear I can. I ride on a wide variety of roads so I don't know what effect that has. The only time I stay over 5K is if I am doing 70 on the interstate a 6th gear would sure be nice).

My mileage is 32 -34 and always has been. A couple of things to consider ... you are pushing a lot of air so your drag is much more than a 2 wheeler. You may be pretty aggressive with the throttle if you are riding with some other 2 wheel guys. Be sure to use 93 octane - I don't know if it matters but I always do and the MPG is what it is.

The good thing is that I am retired and I don't mind stopping every couple of hours to stretch out and see the sights ;)

Good luck is your efforts to find the better mileage.
 
It is what it is! You can't go comparing the Spyder to a motorcycle. The Spyder has a far great frontal area, three wide tires on the ground, and the aerodynamics of a tumbling brick. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you pray, it will never do much better than 30 mpg. My 2010 averaged 23 mpg over the time I had it, and my 2011 has averaged about 28. Many trikes don't do much better. The with most fuels and riding habits. Your choices are simple, get used to stopping for gas more often than your friends, or move on to another vehicle. We'd all like to see more range, but the Spyder is worth the sacrifice to most of us.

BTW, the fuel tank capacity is 6.6 gallons, but part of that is head space, so you are talking about 6.0 gallons usable capacity...max, as you guessed. Figure 5 gallons times your typical mileage, then go by the odometer and stop in that many miles...or when the low fuel light comes on, whichever comes first. You don't have a whole lot of wiggle room after you get the light on most Spyders.
 
What the Spyder needs is a count down gague like the Tri Glide has. When the low light comes on, a miles to empty turns on and reads 31 miles to empty and then counts down one mile at a time, at 10 miles it reads low. Thats when i stop to get gas.
 
I also got about same milage as you are untill I had 5 or 6000 miles on it it has since been doing around 30 or more all the time. I never run below 4500 rpms. I ride easy( pokey) most of the time in 4th. two up on back roads.
 
Has anyone checked into an aux tank?

I had one on my last two trikes. I don't mind stopping but an alternative would be nice. Do you think BRP is working on an aux tank?
 
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Has anyone checked into an aux tank?

I had one on my last two trikes. I don't mind stopping but an alternative would be nice. Do you think BRP is working on an aux tank?


Check with Jim Potts Motor Group @ 815-338-0640. This is a platinum BRP dealer who sells a fuel cell that fits in the frunk. Mr. Orange has the first one installed. The amount of fuel that can be carried is limited by the load rating of the frunk.
 
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I always use 87 octane and average 37 mpg, maybe I should try 104 octane av-gas - I might get 50 mpg. :roflblack:
 
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The other posts have you covered pretty good with information and suggestions.

30 mpg is a usual average for a lot of :spyder2: owners. I usually gas up between 130 and 150 miles on most trips. I have ato get off the bike and stretch every hour or so--so every other stop is usually for gas.

A comparison between two wheelers and :spyder2: is definately apples vs oranges. You will probably find another couple miles per gallon as the :spyder2: "breaks in". It has been about 6000 miles for me on all three :spyder2: 's I have owned.
 
An RTS... A couple of things that you can think about to help the fuel mileage a bit...
The higher you run the windshield, the more frontal area you are throwing into the wind...
Thw wind deflectors on the sides of the cowling can also be removed so that they're not re-directing the airflow so wide around you...
Tire pressures... higher probably reduces rolling resistance a touch...

I keep my revs low on my 2010 RT and seem to get around 34 mpg... the right wrist has a lot to do with how much fun you can have between stopping for fuel...

Good luck! :thumbup:
 
About $2,500 plus installation, the tank is almost 6 gallons, transfer pump is built into the tank, all lines are braided stainless steel.
 
Wouldn't mind sacrificing a saddlebag for one of those. The saddlebags in my limited experience are exactly too small to hold anything of useful size.
 
I was a little upset on fuel thing on my 08 GS/RS going from a 300 plus trip on my ST110. As said above the right hand has a lot to do with fuel economy. I am getting a little over 30 MPH most/some of the time. My right hand acts up a little and it is less. I am ready after a couple of hours to stop and move around anyway.

Is that front tank "foam filled" or a plain tank ? I would be concered in either case. 5 gal of gas makes a nice fire. IHMO
Oldmanzues
 
It is what it is! You can't go comparing the Spyder to a motorcycle. The Spyder has a far great frontal area, three wide tires on the ground, and the aerodynamics of a tumbling brick. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you pray, it will never do much better than 30 mpg. My 2010 averaged 23 mpg over the time I had it, and my 2011 has averaged about 28. Many trikes don't do much better. The with most fuels and riding habits. Your choices are simple, get used to stopping for gas more often than your friends, or move on to another vehicle. We'd all like to see more range, but the Spyder is worth the sacrifice to most of us.

BTW, the fuel tank capacity is 6.6 gallons, but part of that is head space, so you are talking about 6.0 gallons usable capacity...max, as you guessed. Figure 5 gallons times your typical mileage, then go by the odometer and stop in that many miles...or when the low fuel light comes on, whichever comes first. You don't have a whole lot of wiggle room after you get the light on most Spyders.

The subject matter title is oxymoronic. There is no fuel economy with the RT. IMHO

:agree: on both. That is why I rather rYde with mostly other :spyder2:'s or big events where eventually other bikes have to make frequent stops at some point. And like both Chris and Scotty are implying, these are not fuel economy vehicles. I just enjoy the ride!!:bowdown:
 
Is that front tank "foam filled" or a plain tank ? I would be concered in either case. 5 gal of gas makes a nice fire. IHMO
Oldmanzues

Back during the oil embargo days [73] i was driving 75 to 95 miles a day so i put a go far tank in my Beetle
22gal total, I would get a lot of comments like what would happen in a accident? I would just say to the naysayers ,It won't kill me any more than the original 11 gals..
 
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:
 
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