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RT Gas Mileage

Mr. White

New member
I very close to ordering a 2011 RT-S SE5. I wonder what mileage I can expect at say 70mph with cruise control on. Just wondering. My Gold Wing Motor Trike gets 31-33 depending on wind.
 
I got less with my 2010 RTS, a few get more. I'd say 30 would be average at highway speeds. The 2011 is supposed to be slightly better. Be aware of your cruising range. Only about 5 gallons of usable gas before you start to worry.
 
Yes to 30 mpg for the RT/RTS, increased compression, premium fuel, 200 more pounds of weight to push and a larger front end then the RS/GS models. I wonder what BRP did other then aerodynamics to increase fuel consumption on the 2011 model? I think a larger lower reving engine would get better mpg.
 
Guess I'm the exception

Since I've purchased my 2010 RT-S new, I've only ran 93/91 Octane. Have never been able to put in more than 4.6 gallons, otherwise it will overflow. Every time I fill up, I snap a pic (using my droid) of the total sale on the gas pump (gals/$$) and another pic of my instrument cluster on the trip screen showing total miles driven since last reset & I reset trip A with every fuel up. This gives me an accurate account of miliage along with current temp (-6 degrees) time of fill up & if I was pulling my trailer or not. Provides me a really convenient tally without all the hassles of juggling paper and pen. Just pull up my pics on my phone & it's all right there.

So, with all that being said, IMHO, my fuel economy SUCKS :yikes:!!! I average between 24-28mpg :gaah:in a little over 9500 miles since May of 2010. I do use the wind shield up about half way to block most wind turbulence & I understand that that does cause my miliage to suffer some. I'm not that heavy on the throttle & do use cruise control on open highways w/o pulling my trailer which I would estimate is about 85% of the time. My V6 Cougar gets better miliage than my Spyder :roflblack:

Many ppl here get better miliage than I. As with most things on any forum, take my experience with a grain of salt :dontknow: & don't get me wrong, I still love my gas-hog of a :spyder: & would rather be on it any day than anything else :2thumbs:
 
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I get about 30 MPG as an average on my base RT with 11,700 miles. It's not unusual to get 32 but neither is it unusual to get 28 MPG. I had one tank which only got 21.5 MPG running 80-85 MPH into a strong headwind but several tanks in the mountains in New Mexico got over 40 MPG. I use the highest octane fuel I can get but that may only be 87 octane at times. I haven't been able to tell any difference in fuel mileage based on octane rating. Headwinds make a lot of difference as does speed.

Cotton
 
25 to low 30's seems to be the range that most experience. Varying weather conditions, load carried, speed driven, all contribute to the mix. There are quite a few threads about gas mileage on this site. It might be good to do a search--a few of us have went into great detail about mileage under different circumstances.
 
I gotten anywhere from 28 to 36 mpg on my RT. I say I average 32 to 34 using 93 octane Now I don't rev the rpm up or whin it out to change the gears but I don't lug the engine either. If you hotdog :yes: it all the time milage sucks. Where I'm from it curves and hills. Not flat or mountainous. 1 hour ride I can be in the mountains SC /NC.
 
Yes to 30 mpg for the RT/RTS, increased compression, premium fuel, 200 more pounds of weight to push and a larger front end then the RS/GS models. I wonder what BRP did other then aerodynamics to increase fuel consumption on the 2011 model? I think a larger lower reving engine would get better mpg.
They only utilized a smaller windshield and the revised deflectors, as far as I know.
 
My BMW LT gave me 52+ all the time, and I wouldn't trade my RT S for another one, if you added cash to the deal.

Milage depends on how and where you ride. Cold(er) weather = better milage, flat land = better milage, no twisties = better milage, steady cruise = better milage.

I can vary milage - given the above - from 24 to 32mpg - so the comments advising a average of 30 will probably be fairly close. However, I have never used anything less than 91 octane in my RT.
 
Thanks to all who responded. Sounds like 30 is a good figure. I realize conditions and throttle control make a lot of difference.
 
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Gas Mileage high 30's to low 40's mpg

I have been griping about my gas mileage compared to that of a full dress Gold Wing. I finally started gentle quick shifting and always use the highest octane possible. My last two tank averages really blew my mind. One tank I got 41 mpg, next tank 44 mpg, last check 37mpg with a rider and head winds.......this is riding with a large MC where the leader loves twisties. I live in the North Central Texas and wind is a big issue here. I seldom use cruise as it's a pain when riding with the group. Our speeds are all over the place up to about 80mph on the straights. (I have also been watching my tire pressure). I ride with the windshield at its highest point.

I only ride on the weekend right now but put about 260 - 325 miles on the bike in one day. I am getting fantastic gas mileage right now. Other than the above, I'm doing nothing special. Today was the first time I could actually get 5 gallons into the tank. If the manual says our bikes hold 6.6 gallons, where is the rest of the fuel?

My ride is a 2011 RT-S SE5 with approximately 3,500 miles on it.
 
I have been griping about my gas mileage compared to that of a full dress Gold Wing. I finally started gentle quick shifting and always use the highest octane possible. My last two tank averages really blew my mind. One tank I got 41 mpg, next tank 44 mpg, last check 37mpg with a rider and head winds.......this is riding with a large MC where the leader loves twisties. I live in the North Central Texas and wind is a big issue here. I seldom use cruise as it's a pain when riding with the group. Our speeds are all over the place up to about 80mph on the straights. (I have also been watching my tire pressure). I ride with the windshield at its highest point.

I only ride on the weekend right now but put about 260 - 325 miles on the bike in one day. I am getting fantastic gas mileage right now. Other than the above, I'm doing nothing special. Today was the first time I could actually get 5 gallons into the tank. If the manual says our bikes hold 6.6 gallons, where is the rest of the fuel?

My ride is a 2011 RT-S SE5 with approximately 3,500 miles on it.
The Spyder has a 6.6 gallon tank, but some of that is head space. The actual fuel capacity is around 6.0 gallons. the low fuel light should come on with about 1.4 gallons left in the tank. The mileage you are seeing is quite unusual for a Spyder.
 
RT-SE5 fuel mileage

I purchased my spyder in Aug 2011. Mileage has run from 27 to 32 mpg, keeping speed under 70 this w/ 2 riders. After Cuba Spyderfest, I installed the cold air intake, prem plug wires,K&N filter and iridium plugs. Noticibly difference in performance. First tank of gas, 91 oct, mostly local driving, I recorded 33.5 mpg. It will be interesting after I get a 5 tank average. I previously had a GL1500 trike (Champion) and averaged 37-40 mpg with a 1200lb/1500cc machine and needed low end torque. Mixed on keeping mine! Only because of Cowtown that I still have it. Selling dealer was another story. jsh
 
The Spyder has a 6.6 gallon tank, but some of that is head space. The actual fuel capacity is around 6.0 gallons. the low fuel light should come on with about 1.4 gallons left in the tank. The mileage you are seeing is quite unusual for a Spyder.

I have started keeping my gas receipts and noting my miles on my trip meter. I also thought this milieage was basically impossible so I've had friends double check my figures. Just to make sure I post my receipt info for others to see if I'm going insane or what!!!

I filled up my tank, squeezing in every drop of petrol possible, and cleared my odometer's trip meters. I rode 187.1 miles when I pulled into the station to gas up. My tank held 4.512 gallons. If I divide my miles by the gallons, the number I came up with is 41.467 mpg. I have been keeping up with this for about a month. Am I doing this wrong????
 
I have started keeping my gas receipts and noting my miles on my trip meter. I also thought this milieage was basically impossible so I've had friends double check my figures. Just to make sure I post my receipt info for others to see if I'm going insane or what!!!

I filled up my tank, squeezing in every drop of petrol possible, and cleared my odometer's trip meters. I rode 187.1 miles when I pulled into the station to gas up. My tank held 4.512 gallons. If I divide my miles by the gallons, the number I came up with is 41.467 mpg. I have been keeping up with this for about a month. Am I doing this wrong????

Sounds right, although squeezing in every possible drop is a risk to the evap canister. Lots of people are going to be envious of 187 miles on a tank of gas. Keep up the good work! Sounds like your Spyder is a keeper.
 
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