Restricted bikes get better mpg?

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Hey,

I've had my NSR125R1 (2001 model) for about 6 months now. It's the swiss import one, still restricted.

Up until recently I'd just fill it up every time I'd done around 150 miles. It was never empty, and I only had it on reserve once, so I never really knew how far it could go on a tank. For some reason I have in my head that it's a 10 litre tank (8 + 2 reserve), but I might be wrong.

In any case, last couple weeks I've decided to let it run down to reserve from full to see how many miles I get per gallon. So far I've got 180 miles, and not hit reserve yet! This means I'm at AT LEAST 102mpg.. and considering all my riding is harsh and stop/start, (I'm a learner having fun and have a very trafficky commute, no long cruise motorways or anything) it means one of 2 things.

1) My nsr gets incredible mileage to the gallon (leading me to think restricted ones get better mileage, best quotes I've seen for mileage are 90mpg at the max)

2) I'm dumb, and I've got my fuel tank size or something wrong. I don't think so though, because when I fill it up when I think its close to reserve I can only pack in about 7 1/2 litres.. which fits in with the 8 litre main and 10 litre total idea.

So what's going on? Is my bike really getting this good mileage?

Not that I'm complaining.

Cheers

Charlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :

Sure the mileage isn't km/h?
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M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

The speedo's in mph. Is there any chance the odometer reads km despite that?

EDIT* That would make more sense though, gives me more like 70mpg at the moment (though possibly more because I'm not on reserve yet)

Stiffler · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Karma :

spike_Alike · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Karma :

I only seem to get about 110 miles out of my NSR before I have to hit the reserve and limp to a petrol station. Dunno how big the tank is, but it costs me just under a tenner to fill it up (although never from "true" empty).

Most of my riding is full throttle back roads and my bikes restricted. I dunno what kind of MPG I'm getting but I guess I get about 110 miles from about 9.5 litres.
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iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Well either someone's had a go at some part of my bikes restrictions or that information's wrong. My bike sails past 7500rpm (ok not sails, but revs way past it before it starts complaining). And mine definitely says JC22E on the side.

Why is the power stuff relevant anyway? Were you answering my question of fuel efficiency? If so I don't quite follow? Are you saying that because I don't get in near the "power area" I use up more or less fuel?

Yeah that's the sort of factoring I was doing, but I think it's more like 180km rather than miles. And the tank isn't empty anyway.

Ravo · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 May 2007 Karma :

The more power an engine makes, the more fuel it uses to make it. Simple math.

Let's say your NSR gets 70mpg. It makes 31hp. That's totally unrestricted.
If it's getting 109mpg you're using only 2/3 the fuel. That means you're getting about 2/3 the power. Or about 20HP.

Am I close? Or completely off the map as usual?

If you want to debate over the factors involved: drag, weight, real HP, RPM, etc, I'm not gonna argue. This is all just being vague attempt to figure out why his bike gets such excellent milage.

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Well, I would agree with the idea that the more power an engine makes, the more fuel, but that's over a set period of time. It stands to reason that more power also makes you go faster, so you're using fuel for less time. It's just whether that balance swings it in the way of using more fuel or less fuel? Someone will know I'm sure.

In any case, thanks for your attempts to help. Appreciate it. I have a sneaky feeling however that the odometer is in km, seeing as its a swiss import, and has just had the mph speedo plate put it. This means I'll have a bit of math to do every now and then, but also knocks about a third off the mileage of my bike! Woohaa!!

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Scotch Bonnet · Scooby Slapper Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

might be cus of the restrictors you can't wring its neck and thus burn more fuel ,

A common complaint with anybody and everybody who has ridden with me is that I absolutely devastate fuel, the Longridge Clitheroe route ridden mildly should take only 8-9 litres , ridden hard it can eat up to 19 litres Gman always complains about this. Very Happy

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