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ER5-A1 poor mpg?

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andy_uk
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Joined: 13 Aug 2011
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PostPosted: 07:25 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: ER5-A1 poor mpg? Reply with quote
I've finally ditched the 125 and got myself a 1998 ER5
After a couple of full tanks I seem to be getting around 34mpg from it, which seems a bit poor to me...although my (rather short) daily commute is mainly through town & residential areas, but my 125 2T was averaging 52mpg.

I have yet to give it a bit of a service but so far all I've done is an oil change.
Is there anything specific I need to look at or is the mpg about right for urban use?

Sorry for the potentially noobish question(s) but it's my first bigger bike so I'm not really sure what to expect..
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...
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monkeybiker
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PostPosted: 08:41 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is a low mpg for an er5 but short journeys in town I suppose it's possible if your heavy handed with throttle and brakes.

Have you checked if the brakes are dragging? Do you get any petrol smell from possible leak?
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 08:44 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
what sort of exhaust and air filter are you using ?
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 09:15 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
monkeybiker wrote:
It is a low mpg for an er5 but short journeys in town I suppose it's possible if your heavy handed with throttle and brakes.

Have you checked if the brakes are dragging? Do you get any petrol smell from possible leak?

I'm still getting used to the bike so I could be riding rather uneconomically Wink (it does run a little 'lumpy' at low revs so sometimes needs a little more throttle...a carb clean is planned very soon...)
The brakes are pretty free and no petrol smells (except when I flooded it the other day!)

Copycat73 wrote:
what sort of exhaust and air filter are you using ?

Just the stock system. It doesn't appear to have been modified in any way (except for a small screen and a respray).
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MCN
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Joined: 22 Jul 2015
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PostPosted: 09:35 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Your service should include: oil and oil filter, air filter, two new spark plugs, (NGK's Iridium are best) and possibly two spark plug leads. If you can afford them. The lumpy may simply be old plugs and leads. Plugs every two years isn't excessive though. The plugs are a phaph to get to so the principle it change stuff when easy to get a spanner on it. Not sure what you mean for card clean. You could try some eedex snake oil first Stripping carbs for cleaning is a bit of a mouthful. Smile
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 09:49 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
MCN wrote:
Your service should include: oil and oil filter, air filter, two new spark plugs, (NGK's Iridium are best) and possibly two spark plug leads. If you can afford them. The lumpy may simply be old plugs and leads. Plugs every two years isn't excessive though. The plugs are a phaph to get to so the principle it change stuff when easy to get a spanner on it. Not sure what you mean for carb clean. You could try some eedex snake oil first Stripping carbs for cleaning is a bit of a mouthful. Smile


The guy I bought it off said it had recently had an oil & filter change but I thought I'd drop the oil just in case...it did look pretty clean (only slightly darker than the fresh oil) so I didn't bother with the filter as that did look new. (as did the air filter. it's still shiny!)

Regarding the carb clean, I was going to clean the bowls and check the jets etc. Although if the plugs/leads make a difference I'll leave the carbs where they are!
I would have done the plugs the other day but none of my plug spanners are slim enough :/
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Papa Lazarou
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Joined: 28 Aug 2015
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PostPosted: 11:20 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Check the choke isn't stuck on. Grease cable etc.
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MCN
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Joined: 22 Jul 2015
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PostPosted: 12:00 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
andy_uk wrote:
MCN wrote:
Your service should include: oil and oil filter, air filter, two new spark plugs, (NGK's Iridium are best) and possibly two spark plug leads. If you can afford them. The lumpy may simply be old plugs and leads. Plugs every two years isn't excessive though. The plugs are a phaph to get to so the principle it change stuff when easy to get a spanner on it. Not sure what you mean for carb clean. You could try some eedex snake oil first Stripping carbs for cleaning is a bit of a mouthful. Smile


The guy I bought it off said it had recently had an oil & filter change but I thought I'd drop the oil just in case...it did look pretty clean (only slightly darker than the fresh oil) so I didn't bother with the filter as that did look new. (as did the air filter. it's still shiny!)

Regarding the carb clean, I was going to clean the bowls and check the jets etc. Although if the plugs/leads make a difference I'll leave the carbs where they are!
I would have done the plugs the other day but none of my plug spanners are slim enough :/


Aye they're a pig's bastirt on those ER6s.

Look at the green spark plug company for the cheapest plugs and loads of info on sparky things like socket and thread sizes for each plug. So you can purchase a plug socket with confidence.

Plug for Plugs
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 13:22 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Papa Lazarou wrote:
Check the choke isn't stuck on. Grease cable etc.

It seems to operate okay although it is rather stiff so may not be going off fully. I'll be checking that later thanks Smile

MCN wrote:

Aye they're a pig's bastirt on those ER6s.

Look at the green spark plug company for the cheapest plugs and loads of info on sparky things like socket and thread sizes for each plug. So you can purchase a plug socket with confidence.

Plug for Plugs

Cheers for that Smile
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Papa Lazarou
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PostPosted: 14:30 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
If the choke is sticking on-there's your problem
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 15:33 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
andy_uk wrote:

Just the stock system. It doesn't appear to have been modified in any way (except for a small screen and a respray).


I would expect 55-60 mpg on your bike set up OEM..
only thought I have is that some one has been messing with the carb and maybe up jetted for a since removed after market exhaust.. and not put originals back...
or may be internal damage ie. baffles have dropped and are rattling round inside exhaust can..

Papa Lazarou wrote:
If the choke is sticking on-there's your problem


a simple plug check may be revealing.
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 16:08 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the ideas, I definitely think I'll be swapping plugs tomorrow as well as checking the choke.
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 18:23 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Update...
It has now progressed from 'lumpy' to now just running on one cylinder after starting up (it seems to be the NS one that's not firing). After a few minutes it kicks in sporadically and a few minutes later they both run fine (albeit still a bit 'lumpy').
There was a slight smell of unburnt fuel so I'm hoping the plug change tomorrow will fettle it.
It's done 26K so a valve clearance check is probably due (although it starts okay when warm so I don't think they're an issue).
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sickpup
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Joined: 21 Apr 2004
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PostPosted: 18:38 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
The plugs are easy to change on the ER5, you need a genuine plug spanner for an NTV600/650.

While you have the tank off changing the plugs unbolt the coils. Notice the Aluminium stand offs, they almost always need changing and are often the cause of bad sparks. They are a sacrificial anode that corrodes instead of the frame but as they corrode they cause the coils to have a bad earth and consequently bad spark.

If the MPG is really that bad I would be looking at the diaphrams.
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andy_uk
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PostPosted: 20:55 - 05 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cheers sickpup, I'll check the standoffs tomorrow too.
If it's still running rough after that then I'll investigate the carbs.
(funnily enough, before I saw your reply I was just reading an old thread by Suntan Sid who had issues with an er5's carb diaphragms)
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