Africa Twin MPG

[Zanzibar]

RD07a 1996/7. Standard sprockets. Laser exhaust. Scottoiler, MRA screen. Ridden carefully, and since fuel robbery have also reduced average speed to 45-55 mph. Using non motorways too.

Av. 180 miles per tank before reserve.

[Jacqueslemac]

23 liters = 6.0759572 US gallons

...or 5.06 Imperial gallons.

[futter]

RD07a 1996/7. Standard sprockets. Laser exhaust. Scottoiler, MRA screen. Ridden carefully, and since fuel robbery have also reduced average speed to 45-55 mph. Using non motorways too.

Av. 180 miles per tank before reserve.

I have a K reg RD04 that gets (with my rather heavy handed style of riding) about 48mpg, 55 on a decent run.

Just a question re tank range as this has come up often. My AT has two fuel warning lights, amber and red. My amber comes on 160-180 miles as I set the trip each time, where roughly would the red come on, how many miles to empty from amber and then red? Anyone know?

[Oro]

bog standard 98 rd07.i run a 16/41 steady riding town,country.60 mph to 75 mph i get 79.5mpg
23910 miles

[Farmboy]

Futter - On My RD04 - I get around 180 to 220KM to the orange light and another 50-70km to empty ( dont ask me how I know )

Having said that in Morocco earlier in the year I had to ride 110km on red out of the Desert and made it but I was going steadier than a steady thing

Remember mine is KM not Miles

[BobA]

I have a K reg RD04 that gets (with my rather heavy handed style of riding) about 48mpg, 55 on a decent run.

Just a question re tank range as this has come up often. My AT has two fuel warning lights, amber and red. My amber comes on 160-180 miles as I set the trip each time, where roughly would the red come on, how many miles to empty from amber and then red? Anyone know?

On my RD04, with mixed riding including a bit of town work, then 70-80mph motorway blasts, from a brimmed tank, I get...

160+ miles when the amber light comes on

190+ the red light comes on

I usually chicken out at 210 miles range and top up again, but have never really noted how much.

Am actually at 204 miles now, so will run it until it cuts out and report back. (I always leave the right tap off, so even when I run out with the red light on, I know there's a dribble in the right side of the tank)



Bob

[Lord Stig]

bog standard 98 rd07.i run a 16/41 steady riding town,country.60 mph to 75 mph i get 79.5mpg
23910 miles

Now THAT'S more like it!

Thanks for all your replies - much appreciated! I've been waiting for a few replies to build up, and now I have some averages. None of this is scientific of course - our figures are not really comparable because we all have different riding styles/speeds, ride on different roads that are flatter/hillier, windier or more sheltered, have more open roads or are nearly all town.

Assuming all of you who have not indicated what gearing you're running are on standard cogs, the standard gearing seems to give an average best MPG of 52.5 (6 observations) - pretty much what I would have expected from my own experience. I still only have three people with raised gearing who've given their MPG figures. The average best MPG is indeed higher at 63.8, but that includes Oro's amazing 79.5 MPG, which is quite a bit of an outlier (Enfield Bullet territory riding at the same speeds...) until others confirm getting similar figures. Take that observation out and the figure is 56 MPG, although that only leaves two observations (including matt's from the gearing thread).

So far it looks like the higher gearing probably contributes around 3 MPG over stock, but it would be good to get figures from as many people as possible who are using different variations of higher gearing to know what kind of effect each combination might have.

My feeling is that (as matt said) riding style is the biggest determinant of MPG. I suspect the reason I'm getting low 60s with such low gearing is that the set up gives a much more direct link from throttle to back wheel - I don't have to yank the throttle so wide open to take off, nor close it so fully to slow. It's easier to stay at the same speed without varying the throttle for hills and headwinds too. Riding the same way on the same bike with the standard gearing should give a better idea, and I'll be trying that when the current set wear out. Still, high 40s, low 50s used to be the best I managed on this bike, and I doubt I'll get much of an improvement...

I should mention I did try raising the gearing on a 600 Transalp (a 16 tooth front; 1 more over the stock 15 tooth) many years ago, but was disapointed with the results. There was absolutely no MPG improvement, and the bike was guttless as hell.

[Scooter]

Hmm. RD07 with 80k on the clock, Venom exhaust, Piper Cross air filter, I get about 34mpg but that's mainly commuting at London speeds...

[cbrpaddy]

RD07a here, standard gearing but I've found different tyres, screens, pipe, etc make no difference to my mpg at an average of 54/55mpg. The only time it does drop is when I'm fully loaded with Zegas and motorway riding at 75+mph, especially into a headwind.

[Jacqueslemac]

I have an RD04 with standard gearing. It's done 44,70 miles. Over the 5,400 miles I've had it, it's averaged 49.78 mpg.

Most of my mileage is commuting - 40 miles along a good B-road. The rest includes the odd trip into London, plus longer trips to Wales, Peak District etc. And a little offroading.