Touring gas mileage

[SeaBreeze]

Just got back from a 245 mile trip. Got 35 miles to the gal. Have been getting 31 to 32 on a regular basis. This was my best yet.:2thumbs:

 

[zackybilly1]

Goldwing comparison

I just pulled my CanAm trailer (est. 225-250 lbs) with 100 lbs of gear from south Mississippi to the Smokies and back behind my GL1800. Averaged 38.5 mpg on the interstate +/-75 mph and 40-42 mpg on the slower mountain roads (Helen, Suches, Skyway, Hell Bender, Atlanta and home). Without the trailer, I usually get 39-40 at interstate speeds and 41-43 on the back roads.

For me, I didn't start getting better milage out of my RS until I installed the MCCruise on it...just too easy to run it hard. I haven't rigged up to pull the 622 trailer behind the Spyder (RS) yet but will report the milage. The CanAm trailer, although it has a design flaw on the lid, it is an easy pull.

Skyway

Deal's Gap on a holiday week-end and no people...rock slide side-effect.

Z

 

[bodymanpainter]

I had a 2006 Goldwing (NOT a trike) and NEVER got close to 40mpg. The Wing has a 1800cc 6-cylinder! It's thirsty!

Goldwing Trikes (any trikes really) get TERRIBLE gas mileage. The Spyder RT is the best in the 3-wheel category, other than the RS/GS.

Plus, by paying $15,000 LESS for my Spyder RT compared to a Wing/Harley Trike, I can buy a lot of fuel for that $15,000!
V.

:2thumbs:

I had an 08 Goldwing and the best it got was 38 mpg with 31000 miles, my RT-S with 3000 miles now is getting about 27 mpg.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Deal's Gap on a holiday week-end and no people...rock slide side-effect.

Z

With the through traffic shut down and with a small amount of round trip traffic, it was almost like a ride at Disneyland.

 

[theHammer]

Would be VERY interested to know what Octane # most RT ryders are using...

 

[wcc002]

gas mileage

I picked up my RT-S Saturday; currently have 350 miles on it and recorded 25.72 mpg using 93 octane. The first time the gas light came on I was able to put in less than 3 gallons. For this last fill up I was below the red line and she took 5.26 gallons, the trip mileage was 135.3

 

[VaughnCat]

I've never heard of a Goldwing Trike getting 40mpg, all the guys I know who have them pretty much get the same as us.

On my RT SE I've got as low as 19.5mpg and as high as 37mpg. With the trailer I seem to be around 25-28mpg. Without the trailer I average 28-32mpg depending how I drive.

I just drove over 9,000 miles 4 gallons at a time and my only real complaint about the RT is it needs to be able to go at least 200 miles with a reserve of at least 30 miles. I would like to see 250 miles but I don't think that's going to happen on a three wheeler.

Ah, gas mileage . . . now that we have two Spyders, I have to wonder why we didn't just buy a Prius and a Rascal (old folks electric scooter) and you know what? Fun! As far as 3 wheelers go, my CB-750 with a sidecar gets about 26 mpg, handles like a truck, and my wife would rather walk than ride . . . . and isn't even interested in driving it. . . . now that she is indulging in an RS . . . . I'm thinking that I/we, should buy stock in Shell Oil .. . . :yes::yes:

 

[2Gunns]

oddest thing has happen since reaching the 1000 mile mark.... RPM's have dropped ! Example: Was 5,000 - 5,500 rpm @ 55 mph in 4th gear....
Now 5,000 -5,000 rpm @ 55 mph in 3rd gear.

And mpg have gone from 25 'ish to 35 'ish

Even pushed it to 150 miles before stopping for gas...and still only put in 5+ gallons :2thumbs:

 

[stillriding]

Just read the Rider review of the RT and they mentioned gas mileage in the high 20's, said the low light came on as early as 90 miles! Is this true? Any solutions except keep putting gas in the bike during a trip?

Mike

My fuel economy has been improving steadily. I've gone from 28 mpg when the RT-S was new to 33.5 mpg when I filled up yesterday with over 1300 miles on the odometer.

 

[dave01]

I'm thinking that I/we, should buy stock in Shell Oil .. . . :yes::yes:

Just dont buy stock in BP. They will be bankrupt by the time this oil spill is cleaned up and they pay the fines.

 

[ARtraveler]

Update on PE 0474. I got 32.77 MPG today on a 175 mile highway only ride. We drove in both 55 mph and 65 mph zones. Based on 6 gal in the tank with .6 as spare gas, thats almost a 200 mile range (196). I fill my gas tank the same way each time. Automatic shut off, then ease gas in until it tops out--let it settle and repeat 3 more times.

 

[theHammer]

Octane

Is everyone across the board using 91 Octane (which I believe is recommended by the manual) - or are some using 87 or 89? Curious...

 

[dadof4]

MPG

Just filled up for the third time. On the first three fill-ups I've averaged 29.75 MPG. I'm OK with that. When the low fuel light comes on the Spyder will drink about 4.2 gallons so there is still about 2.4 gallons remaining in the tank.

Dadof4

 

[ThreeWheels]

Is everyone across the board using 93 Octane (which I believe is recommended by the manual) - or are some using 87 or 89? Curious...

I'm using 89. 87 and 91 are both shown as acceptable, but I can't get 91. I can get 87, 89 or 93.

Using 89 I managed a hair over 33 mpg on my last big trip, about 850 miles over two days. That was about 10 days ago. I need to recheck my mileage on my usual around town haunts.

You know, the Honda ST1300 has an online MPG calculator built in. It uses fuel level and miles driven to calculate MPG. Since it's all software, that's something that BRP could do with the RT as well in a future update.

 

[ARtraveler]

PE #0474

Im using 91 octane all the time now. The 91 seems to be the highest I can find in Alaska. I tried 89 once but the bike did not seem to run as "snappy" as it does with the 91.

 

[bikeguy]

Is everyone across the board using 91 Octane (which I believe is recommended by the manual) - or are some using 87 or 89? Curious...

I use Premium, which around here is 91, 92, or 93 octane, depending on the station. At some point I will try lower octane, 87 or 89, but haven't done it yet. On our last trip, riding two up but without a lot of luggage, we had one tank that got 31.1 mpg, the best we have done yet. It's still breaking in and getting better mileage.

Cotton

 

[VaughnCat]

:ani29: The RT-SE5 at 3500 miles with 20 fill ups recorded, is averaging 27.4 mpg
:spyder2:The RS (SE5) after 400 miles with 3 fill ups recorded, is averaging 29 mpg (we're still figuring how to ride this thinghyea
we've run the spectrum of octanes, including non-alcohol which is when we got the best mpg on both

 

[randian]

The RT doesn't need a bigger tank, it needs a sixth gear.

 

[NancysToy]

I have to admit I have been giving the RT some serious thought. I like everything about it except the engine. I think 900cc is just to small and busy for such a large machine and the tested average mileage of 26.5mpg on premium is just plain aweful. My stealth gets pretty poor mileage at 31-32 but I can at least go 230 miles between fill ups.
As much as I like the RT I am going to hang with my GL1800 and the Stealth until BRP or someone comes up with a more logical and efficient power plant. And really -premium? That's the equivalent of getting 22mpg on regular which is what my Jeep Grand Cherokee gets.
At that rate is would be more economical to trailer the RT behind the Jeep ala HD style.

First, the engine is 1,000 cc (actually 998), not 900. The numbers don't really matter, though, and the RT performance, while not stellar, is more than adequate. Second, it is not really appropriate to compare fuel mileage to a 2-wheeler. If you compare to a typical 3-wheeler, the Spyder holds its own. Finally, premium fuel is not an unusual need. My BMW needs mid-grade, at a minimum...and unlike the Spyder RT, it will not adjust to regular fuel. If I ride the Spyder 10,000 miles in a year, the extra cost for premium is about $70. That's not enough to make me sweat. It seems to me you've already made up your mind. Better stick to that Grand Cherokee.