Heavy fuel Usage

[RichH01386]

Hi  got 07 DL1000 ,, only getting about 31mpg, anyone else had similar or know of a reason so low, and not overly heavy handed
thanks

[kwackboy]

My K6 Vee does around 45mpg if I short shift and keep revs around 4000rpm, In top gear that's 70mph .
However, if I want some fun mpg is reduced to around 35mpg. I have a PCIII with a custom map , foam filter , titanium akrapovics , secondaries and clean air removed.

From what I can remember when my Vee was stock the mpg wasn't much better .   

[Rich:-)]

I was recently tempted by the idea of cheap power in the form of an SV1000 or a VTR1000. One common theme in all of the reports was that big twins give poor mpg. I've since changed my mind and will be heading for something like a CB1000R or a GSR-750 next year so I'm sticking with the in-line four for a 1 litre bike.

[Flanners]

I had a VTR1000; both mpg and tank tank range were not good, but then it is a V twin sports bike so really mpg is not a real selling point.

I have a K7 Vee and my mpg was awful, changed the air filter, put in iridium plugs and a TRE which since has made the bike achieve 50+mpg on a 5 day trip to Normandy last week, on N and D roads at 60-70mph. Before this the mpg was poor I also don't thrash the bike changing gear 3-5000 rpm; apart from the odd overtake.

[mr_diver]

My Varadero has the old Firestorm engine and she's thirsty. I get around 42-44mpg on average, but 47-48 on a long calm run. Mine is a later fuel injected which is a good 5-8mpg better than the carb'd ones.
Give it some beans and I'm down in the mid 30's easily. that's with an o2 eliminator, k&n air filter and dominator straight through cans. She is actually more economical now than when stock.

Big twins drink fuel... new models like the Veek have been totally redesigned to get the economy to the point where they pass emissions and economy targets.
I bought a 1000cc twin after a 650cc bike that for the time got a respectable 55mpg. I knew I'd take a hit at the pumps but the extra grunt make up for it.

That said I'll have another DL650  some day.
650cc twin= fun, nimble and economical.
1000cc twin= grunt, grunt and fantastic sound.

[TLPower]

I suggest giving it a good going over. Usual suspect is the throttle position sensor being out of adjustment. Same goes for throttle body balance. The search function is your friend. 31 seems a bit greedy.

[tallpaul]

TLP, I was half expecting you to say "sounds about right to me. Wish mine was that frugal..."

[TimV]

31mpg?!! I'd definitely give it a good service. Is it all standard?

My stock K3 vee usually gives low 50s, 44ish is probably about worst (lots of traffic or 3 figure speeds needed), on last month's trip the best I got from one tank was 203miles before refuelling, which is 58mpg, fully loaded with panniers & top box & tent, on A roads & motorways at 60-90mph.

[Yoyo]

When I had my 06 DL1000 I would get low 30's if I rode it hard but even being very conservative I never had over 42mpg. Also had a PC3, filter, cans etc.It was a massive shock getting the S10 64.9mpg when running it in and now I get mid to high 50's even when getting a lick on.

.

[TLPower]

Tallness, the Nail does 25mpg on a trackday so 31 is well greedy. F*ck my petrol 2.4T5 does 33.

[Rusty Nuts]

Unfortunately your engine is 350cc too big.

[Flanners]

In my copy of Bike magazine June 2004 Adventure Bike Test 'Tank Range' bit, theoretical tank ranges based on their motorway testing:

KTM 950 Adv 256m
Caponord 241m
VStrom 236m  (reserve on at 170m)
GS1200 211m

GS has a 20 litre tank, Aprilia has a 25 litre tank other two have 22 litre tanks.

They give average fuel consumption as:

VStrom 43mpg
950 Adv 42mpg
R1200GS 45mpg
Caponord 42mpg

Whilst not really real world gives a comparison to other large capacity of the same genre. If the TL lump is worked hard it's fuel efficiency drops dramatically. I was getting well over 200m to a tank recently, thing that was putting me off though was how reliable was the reserve system and what was actually left in the tank, when I thought it was on vapours I still had several litres left in it.

Two-up with all the kit last year saw much less mpg, will see in a week or so as we are off to the Black Forest.

[Mark Shelley]

My Glee has averaged exactly 67mpg on both trips out with the wife on pillion so far. Most of the time the bike was on bendy B roads and rarely above 5K revs though. The computer was telling me we averaged 68. I was surprised it was that accurate. I suspect that will get a lot worse when I go out on mu own and use the engine more.
My old R1100GS averages 50mpg whether you are pootling around or revving the nuts of it, which is a bit weird.

[wurzel]

My Veek will average about 45mpg, that's with mixed riding, not hanging about  but trying to preserve life and licence.

On a steady long run I can get 55mpg going gently at up to 70mph.

Thrash it about and I'm at or below 25mpg.

Sounds like the op needs to get the bike set up to get it running efficiently.

[Mr Nick]

KTM 950 Adv 256m

What? Was it in a van for 100 miles? Okay, I've got a 990, but I'm generally seeing about 160 before the light comes on and there's around 20 miles left, according to the wisdom of the web.
Part of the issue is you can't fill the tanks in normal use: you have to leave a fair gap on the right tank or it spills out the left on the side stand. I suppose an upright full fill prior to a long run would give a better range.

[MartinW]

Unfortunately your engine is 350cc too big.

+1 - Spot On