RTL MPG Question

[Boilermaker]

I have a 2018 RTL (10th Anniversary edition). Went out for a 50 mile jaunt yesterday through countryside and on highway. Clicked over to mpg screen to see how it was doing. Through the countryside I was getting around 36 mpg, which I expected. But, when I went out on the interstate running at 70-75 mph, the mpg went down to 25 mpg and stayed there pretty consistently. Granted, I was running into a headwind for most of the way. Ran about 15 miles at that speed, but did notice the fuel gage starting to drop. Just wondering if anyone else sees this type of reading on their RT? I know the only real way to check mileage is from tank-to-tank after refueling, but I thought this was an interesting observation. Thoughts?

 

[Little Blue]

Mpg

Seems about right with the list of conditions that you posted. The faster the Spyder goes the more she burns the fuel. I usually get around that range (36 - 25 mpg) too. ENJOY your RYDE and Always RYDE SAFE....:thumbup:

 

[Easy Rider]

The faster the Spyder goes the more she burns the fuel.

Which is true of any vehicle with any engine.

Seems about right to me too based on manual calculations with my '17 RT.

 

[Boilermaker]

Glad to see mine is not out of the norm, but it seems that when I have done longer road trips in the past, I can get around 180 miles before the fuel light comes on and 200+ before I need to fill up. If I am only getting 25 mpg, I would have thought that I would be in trouble at 150 miles. When I think back, I probably just haven't run at 70+ mph for long periods of time. Thanks for the feedback! :thumbup:

 

[fatboy]

the wind really has an effect on fuel mileage

 

[Navydad]

Spyders are as aerodynamic as a barn door. My RT gets in the 32 to 36 MPG range most of the time, but at speeds above 70 the mileage does suffer. We rode yesterday and had a pretty strong wind with some gusts above 30 MPH and that did zap the mileage very quickly.

 

[Zoot]

MANY years ago I used to ride a Suzuki 2-stroke street bike. 250cc twin, expansion chambers... I rode it around the small town where I lived, to work, etc. and was averaging about 30 mpg. I finally got a chance to take it out on the highway for a longer ride (~75 miles at 65 mph) and mileage dropped to about 15 mpg!

 

[Boilermaker]

For those of you who run an RT 1330 for long distances on interstates, what is your normal range between fill-ups? Does pulling a cargo trailer make much difference?

 

[AeroPilot]

Depends whether you drive the interstates at 80 or backroads at 60 mph

At 60 mph with regular open road and no headwind expect 40 MPG plus. Chasing the semis down the interstate at 75-80 you will get less than 35 Miles per gallon.

Ann can probably give an idea on the affect of towing a trailer. The biggest difference is how fast you run and the wind direction. Add the wind speed to your ground speed depending on direction. If you like to run the interstates, plan on fueling up every 150 miles with your RT...

 

[ARtraveler]

On my 14/1330 I get consistent high 30's. I don't use a mpg gauge, but check mine on a per tank basis. Never any towing or two up riding.

I will also add...I ride no more than five above the posted limit.

 

[JayBros]

I'm kind of anal about tracking the mileage numbers that involve my Spyder and have detailed them elsewhere on SL. I bought it for the fun of being out in the open air and not in a cage. My basic approach to riding is if I have to get somewhere in limited time, minutes, hours or days, I use interstates and accept the decreased mileage per tank. If not time constrained I use back roads and U.S. highways as I find they give the biggest fun reward. Life's too short not to have as much fun as you can, particularly when you spent your prime years on Uncle Dudley's short leash.

 

[FalconAF]

2018 RT Limited. 75+ MPH will definitely put you in the mid 20's MPG. I was coming back to Las Vegas from Laughlin, NV yesterday morning. Speed limit 75 so I put the cruise control on 80. Steady 24 - 25 MPG as long as it was there. With the new firmware version 20.8 showing the remaining miles available on the digital dashboard, it was showing about 120 miles remaining with about 3/4 gas tank indication. You're gonna suck gas like crazy at 75 MPH and above...even with a tail wind. Which is still a bit shocking to me, as my previous Honda NT700VA 2-wheel sport tourer got 45+ MPG on the interstate at 80 MPH. But...well...it only had a 700cc V-Twin. And it ran on regular unleaded too. So.... :roflblack:

 

[canamjhb]

FWIW..... I just got back from a 2 day trip with some friends. There were two 1800cc GW trikes and me. Both GWs were riding 2 up and I was solo. I was pulling my 622 trailer and riding in the middle. Neither of the GWs were pulling a trailer. We rode the same speed distance and roads for over 500 miles. At each fuel stop, I put in consistently a little over one gallon LESS than the two GWs..... Jim

 

[FalconAF]

At each fuel stop, I put in consistently a little over one gallon LESS than the two GWs..... Jim

That sounds about right. Prior to my accident on my Honda V-Twin 700cc 3 years ago, I would do road trips with a friend who owned an 1800cc Wing. We would have to stop every 180 miles for him with his almost 7-gallon fuel tank. I'd still have between 1/4 and 1/2 fuel remaining. His Wing weighed about 950 lbs at 1800cc. Compared to our Spyder RTL's at 1330cc's and just over 1000 lbs (dry weight) with the same fuel capacity (6.9 gals), we should be getting slightly better mileage than an 1800 cc Wing.

 

[JeffandLori]

Does eco mode affect mileage?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

For those of you who run an RT 1330 for long distances on interstates, what is your normal range between fill-ups? Does pulling a cargo trailer make much difference?

Distance between fill ups depends mostly on distance to next gas station and bladder capacity, ususally 100 to 120 miles. And yes, pulling a trailer can hurt MPG if, especially if it is not small, really light, and aerodynamic. As others have said, speed can be a real killer as well as headwind. I've experienced MPG as low as 17.

For some graphs of a couple of years of my MPG experience look at this thread: https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...sed-Premium-vs-Regular&highlight=fuel+mileage

 

[Boilermaker]

Does eco mode affect mileage?

Theoretically, it should help overall gas mileage because you shift at lower RPMs, but once you are running down the road in a given gear, everything else is the same. Most don't use it because they shift by RPM or sound and the shift points in ECO mode are at relatively low RPMs. I don't think it makes enough difference compared to the pain of having to look for the little arrow telling me when to shift.

 

[ricford]

I don't really now about mileage but if 25MPG at 75 is normal, that's great to know. I ryde on long trips until the fuel light comes on. Don't know just how far I can push it but I have gotten 40 more miles after the light comes on. I have put 6.9 after that on a fill up so it was close. But, not to worry, I carry a 2 L spun aluminum fuel cell just in case I get carried away... I notice lots more folks are now going on rydes these days. I would ryde more often this month but this damnable daily rain in the South month prevents many long rydes. But, hang in there..... Before you know it, it will be just too darned hot to ryde... Which is worse, cold day rydes or hot day rydes... (ryding at night is the only way to travel in June through October) I hope everyone gets lots of miles in the next few months. Personally, when I start a ryde, I just don't want to stop and go home. I want to just keep going and you know, the rabbit thing....

 

[Easy Rider]

Theoretically, it should help overall gas mileage because you shift at lower RPMs, but once you are running down the road in a given gear, everything else is the same. Most don't use it because they shift by RPM or sound and the shift points in ECO mode are at relatively low RPMs. I don't think it makes enough difference compared to the pain of having to look for the little arrow telling me when to shift.

Forum won't allow just +1 as a reply so............
What he said.

 

[JeffandLori]

I don't look for the arrow either. I do know with it off and I punch it the tire spins a little. With it on it doesn't. Very new here so I am still learning from the seat and forum.