Getting about 10 miles to the galon wtf?

[maxspek]

So i have been noticing that my gas economy sucks some serious sack. The way i look at it is, i put in @5gals on saturday, ride to school a couple of times, pick up groceries, and by next saturday with 100miles on the bike im running on reserve.

I keep the engine RPM below 6K most of the time. I change my oil and filter at 500miles even, i do not wheelie or ride over 70mph.

The bike starts and runs fine. Idle is set to about 1K. No smoke in the exhaust, carbs are clean and synced.

There is a slight oil leak from the gasket between the cylinders and the crank case, but it does not effect oil levels between changes.

any idea whats going on?

[md86]

If your REALLY getting about 10mpg , you got MAJOR problems . I'd START by checking plugs and looking for fuel leaks .
And I often hit reserve by near 100 miles . I routinely get around 30mpg , which ain't great neither .

[jgalar]

100/5=20 not 10.

Check tire pressure - air up. Check for dragging brakes. Check for tight or misaligned chain. Change your air filter and look for signs of fuel in the box. Is your tank filler gasket shot and your venting in the hot sun?

As above check plugs for signs of rich condition.
Run a compression test.

[Genkenx2]

And with a Reserve tank of 1 gallon,

100/4= 25

[md86]

Ok , tire pressure won't make milage go down THAT much . I just read an interesting study that showed a 10lb under tire on a compact car only made milage drop about 1mpg , while on an SUV the difference was negligable .
Also , if your milage is worse than what MINE was (and still ain't so great ) , then either you're running at 10k rpm's EVERYWHERE , or somethin ain't right . I used to get 28-29mpg on the highway , so ....

[steves]

Check plugs,
then floats.

Any gas in the airbox?

[87vert]

put it on a dyno with an exhaust gas analyzer and see if it is running rich. then tune the carbs to lean it out.

[BarMatt80]

you change your oil/filter every 500 miles? that i think is a little overboard.

[guestrider]

you pick up groceries on your bike? thats impressive alone.

[md86]

put it on a dyno with an exhaust gas analyzer and see if it is running rich. then tune the carbs to lean it out.

If his fuel economy is ANYWHERE near as bad as he says it is , the dyno will say "rich" , REGARDLESS of whether it's truly running rich , has worn parts , or has some other odd problem . EGA=waste of time/money in his case

you pick up groceries on your bike? thats impressive alone.

Sure , why not

http://www.katriders.com/forums/car.php?mode=viewprofile&u=28

[Newbie2it]

you pick up groceries on your bike? thats impressive alone.

Off topic, but related to the above comment.


LOL Groceries are a cakewalk. Hell, if you saw half the crap i've put on mine and rode past cops, You'd say I was out of my mind!! 25 lb bags of tile grout, 2" x 4" x 10' <rear blinkers and the mirrors worked great for this stunt> Even tied a red flag on the ends to keep the police off my neck. Even a 30 packs of beer <g>

Who needs saddlebags LOL

[md86]

Ok , you MAY have beaten me with the "2"X4"X10' " thing . I thought the fact that I had literally half an engine strapped to my bike was pretty good . Plus the infamous ....

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1087/3892048/8098447/113154788.jpg

[Newbie2it]

LOL, Good pic, Its amazing just how much room there really is on a bike when you add more bungee cords :P

[source]

you pick up groceries on your bike? thats impressive alone.

Back when I was in college/a bachelor, I could have easily carried a week's groceries on my kat. It doesn't take much space for Raaman noodles & mac & cheese.

Not to mention I used to eat out 70% of meals before I got married.

[Jax]

Wow you guys are crazy...I hate to carry stuff when I'm riding...I have a small tank bag and a back pack...I stopped taking the back pack because it was a pain...wouldn't even think of an engine, groceries or anything else...I guess my bike is just my fun ride to work and home...for transporting stuff I use my cage...