Solved My Gas Mileage Riddle

In the year and a half I've had my R3T I've never been able to figure out my mileage on a consistent basis. Well - I've solved my own riddle.

My bike has a stock engine, except for the TORS and the TORS tune. I have the tall roadster screen, which, of course, effects the mileage by presenting a larger frontal area to the wind.

Monday, I had to ride to Orlando from Boca Raton for business. The trip was mostly Interstates and average speed was between 75-85 MPH. On the way back, I made certain to fill the tank right to the top of the filler neck insert, so I would have a reference point which was duplicate-able. The low fuel light came on at ~125 miles. When I got near home, my computer showed 9 miles range remaining, with 157 miles showing on the trip odometer, a total range of ~165 miles. I headed for the nearest gas station and filled up to the identical level. How surprised was I to find that the bike would only take 4.7 gallons, thus indicating that I still had 1 gallon or so in the tank - good for another 30-35 miles.

So, my actual range is nearly 200 miles and my fuel mileage is approximately 33+ MPG at those highway speeds. Very acceptable numbers for the performance I get.

MORAL: The fuel gauge and computer are set VERY conservatively. Use the trip odometer to determine your need for gas.

Gas Mileage

You made me feel better. That mirrors almost exactly my experience. The gage drops like a rock when it nears 1/4 tank. Most bikes I've owned have done that. I wish my Rocket had more range but then I wouldn't give up 1 hp for it. You must feed the beast.

Thanks for posting this. I've had a Rocket for about a month, and the gas mileage issue is really freaking me out. I can literally watch the gas gauge drop before my eyes which is very unnerving. But the data is EXTREMELY conflicting. I've done a long ride on sweeping roads with few stops and a 150 lb. passenger and gotten 40 MPG, but on my ride to and from work yesterday (about 60 miles roundtrip, mostly highway) I got only 20. I left the house with a full tank topped off and returned home with the gas gauge down to the halfway mark. I stopped at a gas station just to do a reality check and the bike took just shy of 3 gallons. It was an extremely hot day and I installed the tall roadster screen last weekend so maybe that has something to do with it.

Guy's never rely on a triumph fuel gauge..stock or accesorie..you will be walking

Ray

Limbuck said:

You made me feel better. That mirrors almost exactly my experience. The gage drops like a rock when it nears 1/4 tank. Most bikes I've owned have done that. I wish my Rocket had more range but then I wouldn't give up 1 hp for it. You must feed the beast.

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Mine falls most precipitoulsy at about the 40 - 50 mile mark on a full tank. My gauge typically shows 1/2 full when I have traveled only 40-50 miles and the computer shows approximately 110 miles to empty at that point. The computer will drop from 160 miles to empty to 110 miles to empty within about 25 miles. I couldn't understand why I was getting only 150 - 170 mile range on a nearly 6 gallon tank with my mild state of tune.

A trip odometer and manual tank reserve are the only reliable ways to estimate range on a bike ... and the R3 only has one of the two.

It's fuel gauge and trip computer are nearly worthless but the low fuel light will come on at a consistent level even it it's coming on too early. If you get used to knowing how much fuel is left when the light comes on and consistently reset #1 trip odometer at every fill up, eventually you can get pretty good at estimating your range no matter how good or bad your current mileage is.

If I was getting the low 30s I would be pissed off toooooooo It would mean that I am riding to slow.

if you want good gas mileage get a moped

dirtbagbiker said:

if you want good gas mileage get a moped

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ya but after the intake mod, exhaust mod, tire mod, map mod, spark plug mod, removing the air filter mod, battery mod and governer mod................you would be at the same place as the roc so......................nothing gained nothing ventured!!

mutt

scot in exile said:

If I was getting the low 30s I would be pissed off toooooooo It would mean that I am riding to slow.

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You know you're on this forum too much when you can guess the poster without seeing their avitar. Was on my droid surfing and when a saw this reply I did think to myself, sounds like something Scot in exile would say!