expectations of mileage

[parrot820]

Hi All,

I recently acquired a 2003 R1150R non-ABS with 36k miles.
It just had the 36k service done at the dealer.
I've mainly been using it for commuting, but finally went on a 200+ mile ride yesterday.

The bike is getting less mpg than I'd expected it to get.
During mostly commuting (mixed, but mainly freeway going 65mph (70 indicated)) I get in the upper 30's, call it 37mpg.
On the longer ride yesterday, which was mainly backroads going a leisurely 55-65mph, I ended up getting 42mpg.

I was expecting, overall, to get more in the upper 40's with this bike.

From the reading I've done here so far, I've checked a few things, and here's what I've got:
- charcoal canister has been moved, not removed (as told by previous owner, haven't popped the tank to verify)
- CCP is installed
- the bike has a Staintune lowered tail pipe
- looks like it still has the stock cat, no Y pipe. At least I think it's stock. I can't find any obvious markings to verify.
- The O2 sensor is installed, it's centrally located on the cat.
- My only other observation is that the bike's exhaust, when I'm sitting on it at idle, is noticeable and smells rather rich.
- I don't think the bike has either a Techlusion or RhineWest installed.

I'm willing to ditch the Staintune and put on a fully stock cat+pipe if it'll improve the gas mileage, but from my readings here, it looks like a stock pipe won't really help, assuming the cat really is stock. I'd also considered a Techlusion or RhineWest (either or?), but if their job is to make things richer, that would be the opposite of what I want.

Does something seem off? Or should I be happy with the mileage I'm getting and get on with my life?

Thanks!

[lionlady]

Hmm. I've still got the stock exhaust on my Rockster, but I removed the charcoal cannister. I'll get from 36-46 mpg, depending on what sort of riding I do. (I've also got the OEM windscreen.) My commute is 30 miles, part highway, where I run at ~75 mph (80 indicated).

My low fuel light usually comes on at around 150 miles, but I've got a friend who's light comes on at 120 miles - obviously she's doing something different!

I suspect that putting back the stock exhaust will help, but how much I can't say for your riding.

P

[riceburner]

I get anything between mid 30s to low 40s (I think - haven't done a check recently).

its very dependant on how you ride.

[Buckster]

I average about 42.

[shake1150]

I get anywhere from 39mpg (6L/100km) to 50mpg (4.7L/100km).

average is 45mpg (5.2L/100km).

I have a Rhinewest chip installed, Zach pipe and the stock cat in place. the bike did not come with a CCP.

[marine dad]

i was getting around 45-48mpg back in sept, but now that its cold and our gas is supposedy "oxygenated", i am only getting around 40. from a full tank this past friday i went 140 miles and ran er pretty hard. gas light came on at 140 ( used to come on at 165 ) so i topped up the tank with exactly 4 gallons. thats 35mpg, not too great but it was fun
mike

[MikeCam]

Over the past year the addition of ethanol to every US regional market will impact fuel economy adversely. 10-15% reduction of past mpg performance is not uncommon. So if the bike in 2003 was capable of 45 mpg then 38 mpg is a new potential norm. Your riding style and the age of the bike also contribute to the final mpg average.

[CycleRob]

Like riceburner says . . . . "its very dependent on how you ride".

You should be in 6th gear as much as possible for your "My best of" MPG test. That means, to me, at least 50 MPH on the road you're traveling. Also worth noting:

--4th or 5th gear cruising hurts
--An unsteady throttle hand hurts
--Red traffic lites hurt
--Jackrabbit starts hurt
--Engine warm-ups hurt
--Short trips hurt
--Very cold weather hurts
--Under inflated tires hurt
--Imperfect injector spray patterns hurt
--Degraded/dysfunctional O2 sensor hurts
--Loaded touring bags hurt
--Hilly countryside hurts
--280+ lb bodyweight hurts
--CCP removed hurts
--10% Ethanol really hurts!

If you see 2, 3 or more of the above items in your routine . . . . . we've found your problem.

.

[wncbmw]

If I cruise the interstate sedately, I can get 45 to 50. But unlike CycleRob, when I am having fun in the twisties, I am never in 6th. I like the engine running around 4,000 to 5,500 rpm.

So I never get better than 40 mpg! But I have fun not getting better mileage!

I don't think your mileage is much different than average.

[GypsyRR]

I'm disappointed with anything less than 42 mpg.......always. I'm just lucky, I guess.

when I am having fun in the twisties, I am never in 6th. I like the engine running around 4,000 to 5,500 rpm.

So I never get better than 40 mpg! But I have fun not getting better mileage!

.

I read a statement you made similar to this almost 2 years ago, Vann (which is about when I started really learning to ride.) But, I only tried it within the last year. I admit, you were right on about that. Now that I know how to ride this BMW the way it wants to be ridden, I'm having even more fun. Spending more money on gas, but having more fun doing so. Thanks for the tip.

[ProductUser]

I usually average around 45 mpg; 32 mpg when I'm trying to keep up with my hooligan friends

I've hit 50+ mpg when I cruise ~70 mph in 6th on the freeway. I'm currently weighing in at 230 lbs. Doh!

PW

[ruddy]

I get about the same mileage on my '03 non-ABS with approx. 38K miles.

[Texasdad]

I average 43 to 50 mpg. 02 R1150R with 24K 5 days a week 110 miles work to home.

[Biff's R]

I ride in a similar fashion to wncbmw, but I always get 40-47 mpg. Mostly in the 42-45 range.

Did you check the air filter? replacing it made a 2-3 mpg difference for me.

[TicTac50]

My bike is 2002 R1150R, single plug.
Most of the time, I get bout 42 MPG on the average. One time, on the Appalachian Mountains, I got 48 MPG.
BMW boxer engine does very well in MPG down the hills, but not Up.
Not to jump of the subject, I also have F650CS. Somehow, I get almost the same MPG from F650CS.
Does anybody gets better than 46 MPG from F650

[spoon]

On a 2004 Rockster, and it lives at 6000 to 7000 feet, it gets 50 to 52 in the summer. Thats with fat bags and me (150lb) and 70 mph. That also includes some wicked wind. It drops to 45 in the winter. Syn. oil will help.

[R4R&R]

I ride in a similar fashion to wncbmw, but I always get 40-47 mpg. Mostly in the 42-45 range.

That's what I usually get too.

[jfslater98]

...me (150lb) ...

So I have a 2004 Rockster. And I'm at sea level. I do not get 50-52 on my bike. But my poor bike is always weighed down with 80 more pounds of ugly fat, and I'm not talking about my cheapo JC whitney port-a-potti top case. So I'll never get down to Spoon's weight, but I was 50 pounds lighter at one point in my life. That was 10 years ago when I ran my first and last marathon (in Philly). Bet I would get high 40s on my bike then...

[TicTac50]

One time I've decided to check the total weight of my bike, fully loaded.
My self and the passenger, plus loaded bike, total came up to 1217 pounds.
I will never see 50 miles per gallon but, I probably can drive the marathon.

[parrot820]

I ride in a similar fashion to wncbmw, but I always get 40-47 mpg. Mostly in the 42-45 range.

That's what I usually get too.

Looks like I've got a bit more investigation to do.

I think first thing's first I'll start with checking the filters and see if I really do still have the charcoal canister.
I want to keep the Staintune, since it's lowered and I can fit the larger side case. So even if I don't find anything conclusive, I'll give it a good year to see how the bike does in Summer. I had forgotten about the drop in mpg during the Winter.

Thanks very much for all of the input!
Patrick