Triumphrat

sql-lover

I am kind of disappointed, or should I say, worried?

This is the third time I fill my brand new Bonnie SE, and low fuel indicator turned on at 92 miles; previously, the bike gave me 81 miles and I put 3.1 gallons. This time it took 2.8 gallons to fill.

How that can be? Is this normal? I just don't get it.

Is the low fuel indicator defective? Am I getting normal mpg for mixed driving or the bike needs some adjusting? I honestly was expecting about 100 miles per tank, before the low fuel indicator goes on.

Can't wait for the 1st oil and filter change and see what happens ...

VodkaAndPickles

How hard are you riding it?

sql-lover

"normal" ...

My commute is 20 miles, 40 round trip. 11 miles city traffic, stop and go mostly. Last 9 miles is highway.

Third gear mostly during 1st leg of the trip, 3k to 4k rpm. 5th gear in highway, 65mph.

I am not lugging the engine but not pushing hard, I am still in break-in period.

vzshadow

My T-100 usually tells me it needs gas at 115 to 120 miles but I know I can still go quite a way yet. THe last couple of tanks more like 110 or 105 when the fuel indicator light comes on. Winter gas? The tank I'm on says 130 and still no indicator light. Riding on this tank was mostly all country roads at 55+ mph with little stopping or starting.

bluesman77

The city traffic is killing you fuel economy. When you're sitting at a light, unless you turn the engine off - you're getting zero MPG. It doesn't take long for that to through things off - not to mention having to run in 3rd gear.

My warning light stays on between 150-155 miles and I try to gas up within 20 miles. I've gotten 54 to 55 MPG every tank, but I rarely ride in town except to gas up.

VodkaAndPickles

The worst I got on my Scrambler was about 36 mpg, and that was after 2 hours of continuous 90-100 mph speeds on I-95. I think stop and go city traffic really kills mileage (I've gotten into the 20s on other bikes before). That, combined with the fact that it's brand new, may be what's causing it.

I have to say, I was hoping for better mpgs. The most I ever got was 48, and that was taking it easy, cruising at around 65 mph on the interstate. I don't see why an 865cc engine shouldn't get over 50 mpg quite easily. More often, I get around 44 mpg. My old 1990 Kawasaki Concours got 43 mpg at 75 mph pretty easily.

sql-lover

Hmmm...

I had my Street Triple for 600 miles only ... :-( ... and I remember it improved from 90 to over 100 miles per tank. But that was a more powerful engine. My expectations are realistic but better than what it was with my Street Triple.

I hope the 1st oil and filter change will also help the Bonnie, but even for stop and go traffic, 92 miles per tank it is kind of low, in my opinion.

zeiset777

I think most guys are averaging 120 till they hit reserve. Third gear is defiantly killing your MPG. Not sure how it is where you live, but here in the northeast, they start loading the fuel with winterizing crap and most people begin to notice a decrease in fuel mileage on all their vehicles.

eric nyc

Through your reserve at 92? I ride in heavy NYC traffic and I usually don't hit my reserve until at least 100. From what I've been told I should have an extra 20 on reserve. I never let it get that far but if you're tapping out at 90ish I'd say you have a problem.

luckyduck

sql, you seemed to have found a lot of things that bug your or worry you in your first few weeks of ownership of your Bonnie:

-scraping pegs
-no gas cap lock
-shifting/power issues.

I'd suggest to just enjoy riding your bike or wrench on it.

I get about 33mpg from 80% city riding. I weigh about 170lb on the bike.