--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Watson wrote:
>
> David, over the years this gets discussed a lot - it seems that the
responses will vary plus or minus 15 mpg from about 53 mpg. The
lowest numbers are 38-ish from an occasional poster, there are the
majority around the middle (50-55) and the upper end of the responses
is around 68 mpg. It's mostly the rider and driving cycle. Your 61
sounds great.
>
> As for speedometer error, yep, it's documented. The odometer
(which we calculate fuel economy from) is usually very close. I
correct my readings by a .996 factor, which is only 0.4 miles off for
every 100 miles. Almost no error at all.
Hi Bill,
I for one have experienced a wide variety of gas-mileage in the last
10000 miles ridden since 1 May--a low of 32 all the way to 55.
The 32 was in horrific headwinds of at least 40+ and sometimes 50 mph
during my ride from Dallas TX to central SD. It nearly beat me to
death, as previously described: the tattered flag tour. At 70mph
plus 40-50 mph headwind component, you are in a 110+mph headwind
component. Add the fact that my bike was loaded like a rented mule,
the gas mileage was grim, indeed. Those of course are extreme
conditions...I also experience 52 mph during one portion of that trip
when I went through a wind shift and had a 40+ mph tailwind. It was
like riding with a windshield!
Fast forward to this Sept., same bike, loaded more heavily....
Gas availability was going to be dicey on the lower 1/2 of the GDR
and we were hawking the fuel numbers like a turkey on the Wednesday
before Thanksgiving. We concluded that at 45mph GPS, loaded like a
rented mule, with relatively no wind, the 07, and the 98 were
constantly making 53ish gas mileage using the GPS mileage as the
miles driven. We would easily cross the New Mexico 'void' between
Grants NM going South without deviation for fuel--if we made no
navigational errors. (As it turned out, we deviated from
the 'subscribed GDR' due to our lack of physical endurance and
injuries sustained prior to reaching Grants, NM = non issue for
fuel.) shrug.
I suspect most any KLR bike would get greater than 55 if driven at
45mph, cough, (gag), but 'ultimate gas mileage' is in interesting
noteworthy achievement for some...but if the purveyors of super-gas
mileage were realistic for saving money, you would be considering all
input cost, not just 'fuel'. 5000 miles per set of tires offsets the
gas savings significantly when factored in as an input cost; and
calculating cost/mile.
As described earlier here, one kind poster showed that his 6-cylinder
F150 was cheaper to operate/mile than a KLR, just not as many
smiles.... Gas approaching $5 may make that F150 a little less
desirable--but you get the idea.
If ultimate gas mileage is the goal, then a diesel equipped car that
goes 50+ MPG and tires that last nearly 50,000 miles would seem to me
to be a better choice. shrug.
We don't ride KLR motorcycle's because it saves us money. We ride
KLR's because it is the most smiles for the money--and as a tertiary
result, it annoys the chrome crowd to no end when you get off your
heavily laden mule, walking into the restaurant in full armor and
layers of dirt/mud/blood with a swagger (or limp) that shouts that
you have just accomplished something! The look of amazement and
admiration registered on their faces is "PRICELESS".
revmaaatin.