38 replies to this topic

[Hartside Man]

I can give an answer to this one.

wqas out having fun over hartside this afternoon, i noticed i was getting low (reserve came on the odo) now this was on the way up.

me is not too bothered as i know there is a petrol station at alston so proceed to ride in my normal maner. (mental)

gets to alston pulls into petrol station (shit realises no wallet no money) so i decide to see if i can gently coast home at 60mph ish (bear in mind i am now at 17 miles into reserve) so easy it is all the way. get to 1 mile from my house and even shaking the bike from side to side can't get me going again, totally empty.

so the total miles on reserve (17 miles very fast, the rest very sensibly top gear 60 mph) is 47.6 miles to 3.5 litres

what a frugal beauty this bike is

p.s. wifey saved the day , got petrol can out of shed and went to fill it for me, saved me pushing the bike the mile home and looking a pratt, 1st time in some 28years of biking that i have ever run out.

[sidestand]

Pretty impressive Mark

Now you're getting older & the old memory's starting to go, may I suggest you do what I find useful - put a tenner in one of those plastic coin bags, then put it in yer toolkit bag for just such an occasion

[Hartside Man]

Pretty impressive Mark

Now you're getting older & the old memory's starting to go, may I suggest you do what I find useful - put a tenner in one of those plastic coin bags, then put it in yer toolkit bag for just such an occasion

methinks that is a really good idea taken on board and will be done

trouble is though if said occasion ever happens again (another 28 years) the money will probs be out of date or i will forget its there

[mr grumpy 2]

Pretty impressive Mark

Now you're getting older & the old memory's starting to go, may I suggest you do what I find useful - put a tenner in one of those plastic coin bags, then put it in yer toolkit bag for just such an occasion

you only have to remember the money is there!

[sidestand]

you only have to remember the money is there!

True Mike,
Now did I ever take that tenner outta the toolkit on your bike ????





...........Stands back as Grumpy stampedes to the garage

[Pict]

what a frugal beauty this bike is

Totally agree. Never chanced running that low, though - one of my phobias (Main one is the chain coming off and/or seizing - anybody had that happen by the way?). Your figs. work out at 62 mpg, which is pretty much my experience - maybe as high as 70 mpg on occasion?

Edited by Pict, 20 July 2006 - 10:18 pm.

[laughin in a windstorm]

I've done over 50 miles on my bike with the fuel light flashing, this was taking it sedately, when I stopped for fuel there was still quite a bit sloshing around in the fuel tank.

[mr grumpy 2]

True Mike,
Now did I ever take that tenner outta the toolkit on your bike ????
...........Stands back as Grumpy stampedes to the garage

couldn't find anything....

[Minty Hippo]

so the total miles on reserve (17 miles very fast, the rest very sensibly top gear 60 mph) is 47.6 miles to 3.5 litres

what a frugal beauty this bike is

Thanks for posting that Amarko, good to know. I think the 900 is very economical, even thrashed I seem to get at least 50mpg. God knows how the journos at BIKE reckon it averages 45mpg . What were they doing? Or maybe they just can't do sums.

[wicklamulla]

sweet jaysus above in heaven thems impressive figures (unlike Sidestands)

[Guinness]

Pretty impressive Mark

Now you're getting older & the old memory's starting to go, may I suggest you do what I find useful - put a tenner in one of those plastic coin bags, then put it in yer toolkit bag for just such an occasion

good idea indeed !!!
defo gonna do that RIGHTAWAY

but remember:
here in belgium -and most countries around us- service stations arent manned 24/24 ...
so usually need plastic to fuel up

[Pict]

Totally agree. Never chanced running that low, though - one of my phobias (Main one is the chain coming off and/or seizing - anybody had that happen by the way?). Your figs. work out at 62 mpg, which is pretty much my experience - maybe as high as 70 mpg on occasion?

I top up every 4 days or so. Taking an average from 10th to 21st July I used 43.01 litres for 595 miles (half on m'way) which by my calculation is around 63 mpg. Have lost my earlier records, which I recall showed high 60's (68+) mpg. I've heard mention of 80 (Can it be true?). Talk of 45-54 mpg in the mags is sheer crap. Had a Honda Transalp 650 V-twin before, and the TDM is more economical if anything. Seems to be the beauty of the TDM - you can either keep the revs at 4000 max and be sure of lazy torque and economy, or go more sporting above 4k and be prepared to burn more: but has anyone checked if the consumption really does increase much at higher speeds?

I've just remembered - there's a forum on this fuel economy thingy, with data from Thomas and others.

Edited by Pict, 21 July 2006 - 06:57 pm.

[Tom S]

WTF? I only get about 41-42 mpg on my '92 850. Does this seem wrong?

[Pict]

WTF? I only get about 41-42 mpg on my '92 850. Does this seem wrong?

Dunno about 850's but 3 thoughts come to mind:

1) Winter over-run - still biking on ice?
2) Leaking fuel?
3) Panhandlers siphoning the tank after hours?

[Pict]

Dunno about 850's but 3 thoughts come to mind:

1) Winter over-run - still biking on ice?
2) Leaking fuel?
3) Panhandlers siphoning the tank after hours?

Don't forget that 1 UK gallon = 1.2 US. Still not a full explanation, though

[Tom S]

Dunno about 850's but 3 thoughts come to mind:

1) Winter over-run - still biking on ice?
2) Leaking fuel?
3) Panhandlers siphoning the tank after hours?

1) nope
2) Uh-uhh, nope
3) Keep it in garage

Ya know, the temp guage never gets above the bottom 1/4 or so unless I have to sit or go very slow for a while & it is hot out.
Previous owner said that's the way it alwas was for him too.
I never think about getting a new t-stat. Maybe I should.
Forgot about that 1.2 gal thing. Still--?

[Pict]

1) nope
2) Uh-uhh, nope
3) Keep it in garage

Ya know, the temp guage never gets above the bottom 1/4 or so unless I have to sit or go very slow for a while & it is hot out.
Previous owner said that's the way it alwas was for him too.
I never think about getting a new t-stat. Maybe I should.
Forgot about that 1.2 gal thing. Still--?

Joking apart, my 900 had a sticking autochoke which led to lumpy starting and higher consumption for a while. Mechanic said it was a known problem - anyone comment? Don't know about 850's. T-stat could be an issue I guess - maybe it's one of those multi-factor things?

BTW, I guess you have l-o-o-n-g daylight riding at this time of year?

Edited by Pict, 23 July 2006 - 03:00 pm.

[Tom S]

BTW, I guess you have l-o-o-n-g daylight riding at this time of year?

YES!!