Fuel consumption

[dnlwthrn]

I brought this up on an e-mail list, and am looking for more input... I have an 03 ST, bought new 11/22/04. It is completely stock with the exception of the "mufflerectomy." Ever since it was new, I've never gotten more than ~180 miles before the low fuel light comes on. Most of the time its around 140-150 miles. Average fill-up at this point is 4-4.5 gallons, putting my mileage between 30-38 mpg (US). I've never thought much about this until comments about fuel consumption have come up. Why would my bike get such horrible mileage compared to other bikes? I know the 02-04 has a smaller tank than the 99-01's, and also gets slightly poorer mileage, but my bike seems to be on the low end of even the 05-06 bikes.

So what would be the cause? I ran the bike in according to the manufacturer's recommendations for the most part, keeping within around 1k rpms of recommended. Break-in service was done at 620 miles.

The rider in question is 6', around 220lbs plus gear. Some of my best mileage came while riding 2-up with loaded side cases (probably REALLY close to the max rated load for the bike).

The bike currently has around 7500 miles on it.

Dan

[deller4210]

Sounds like normal mileage for a Sprint ST. I have a “02” St and I am lucky to get 40 mpg keeping my revs down, much less if I ride in the power band.

[REGULATOR]

with staintune exhaust, FPR mod, and Off road tune ( don't know which number) Oh and 18 T sprocket. Heavy handed, High speed, combo Highway and a lot of around town daily commuting, with rapid acceleration away from lights.

I just got 41.221 MPG and thats on Regular unleaded.

I just switched back to 19T sprocket for an extended highway trip and will track my milage along the way. figured at "higway speeds" I might benefit from a few rpms less.

OH a suggestion, I noticed a BIG difference at the altitude I am at ( over 5000 feet) after I did a 12 minute tune. bike felt a little sluggish before I did it.

[cyclebob]

Maybe you need a fresh map, especially if you haven't had one to match your 'mufflerectomy'. I get about 40 in town, and usually 49-51 on the highway, running 70-85. Good luck.

[dolson]

My very first two hundred miles got 51 mpg.

I average around 50-51 and have gotten as high as 56.7.

The lowest I get is caneing it back side off at 47.

I have stock filter and can. 18 front and the pressure is at 60psi.

When I drop by the dealer I usually spy Clint checking the ECU. I don't know what he's doing but I leave him alone as whatever it is it works.

My power is fine. The front will power up in first and second shift and pulling the bars will do third too. Don't have to monkey with the clutch.

Don

[ This message was edited by: dolson on 2006-04-08 00:02 ]

[triumphstluster]

I have to ask you dolson how how high are your rpms at around 75mph? Mine right now with stock everything is 4,500
rpms. Also how many tooth is the stock front sprocket, and did the change of sprockets make a lot of difference.

[dolson]

Mine are about the same. With the stock 19 tooth they were 3500 at 70.
With the 18 they are 4000 for a 500 rpm increase at that speed. So about 4500 at 75 sounds about right.

Take your front cover off and see what your sprocket says. It sounds like you have an 18 on there. It should be stamped on it.

Don

[rodneybrown]

Sorry Deller, that isn't normal mileage for a pre-05 ST. If you are hard pressed to get 40mpg something is wrong.

Also, TriumphSTLuster, that is 75 mph indicated which is more like 67 to 69 actual. If I can stay at or under 70 in 6th indicated (about 4K rpm) I always get 48 or over mpg.

[93-Daytona]

the new '01 RS would average 38mpg with a lot of 'spirited riding', many of which 2 up and packed.Always had an annoying flatness around 3000-3600rpm.
At 12,000km I had a Triumph carbon track muffler fitted by a dealer a long way from here. He noted the current code was inncorrect for the factory muffler and bike model from new. Also noted the fuel lines had been coupled incorrectly, with strange affect at below half a tank of fuel, and occassional 'almost' stalling when coming to a stop. Had been back to the selling dealer many times to 'fine tune' but to no avail.
With the 'track' muffler, corrected fuel/air ratio, and new code the RS was a VERY different machine and returned almost consistantly 52-55mpg. Power was well up and the 'flatness' gone completely.
Maybe a trip to your dealer or a Dyno is in order? Either way, the consumption is well out of order!

[cm08]

according to http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/tri...nt_st_1999.php
expected fuel consumption for a 99 sprint is 6.8 litre / 100km. My conversions, if correct, convert this to
miles / us gal miles = 34.6 or miles / imp gal = 41.5

Another report writes, "The Sprint is incredibly fuel efficient turning in 45 miles per gallon on the highway and not dipping much under 40 mpg on the backroads." As this is from europe I expect that it was Imperial gallons and is in line with above conversions.

So, "dnlwthrn's" calculated mileage of 30 - 38 (avg 34), seems to be right where expected from the above.

Now I wish I could say that I am there as well. Never thought about it before but I just checked after reading this thread and only got 28 miles to the US gallon on last fill up. Converted from 8.5 litres/100kms (19.65 litres for 232.2 km). I better take a few more readings before "freaking". Mind you I do a lot of idling in the city. Or I got my numbers all wrong...late in evening!

Costa