Update 08 RT gas milage

[JCapo33]

I asked in a earlier thread about your gas milage, thank you for your replies. I stated my average gas milage was 44.3 with 1,800 miles, it now has 3,600 miles. I would like to give you a report about a trip last week and about gas milage.

I live in Kansas City and went to Durango Co, just for the ride. I do this often to different locations. Left KC at 8 AM Monday and returned Thursday late afternoon. I took US 50 from Emporia KS. and about 100 miles west through Western KS. to Eastern CO. we are talking real flat. I started to notice the cumputer gas milage increase in this area. Computer registed 60 mpg through this area, it dropped down to the mid 50's in the mountains and then the high 40's in the steep terrain. On the way back with a good cross-tail wind from the Southwest, the computer registed 62.4 mpg as it's peak. The computer would give me 290 mile range with a fill up at the 44.3 mpg, with the increase in mpg the computer registed 330-340 miles to go range.

I had loaded side cases, no top box, wind screen up,and my speed through much of my trip was in the 70-80 mph range. I did use a little over a pint of oil, called my dealer about that (talked to the machanic that has 30+ years experience) and he said that it is normal due to the bike still being in the break-in stage.

I am 64 and have 50 years riding experience on all types of bikes. I had an 01 Dakar that got around 60 mpg and I just sold an 03 k1200GT that would agverage about 42 mpg on the same trip same route, I couldn't keep that sucker's speed down, on it all the time. All the bikes I have had were fun and served thier purpose and just like the rest this RT is a great machine, maybe just a little better for sport touring, it sure is a lot more responsive in the mountains then many other blkes and the handling is impeccable, with excellent manners. I am pleased with this machine. Let me tell you that 60 mpg range for a touring bike is outstanding, especially at 70-80 mph range.

[Stixx]

I asked in a earlier thread about your gas milage, thank you for your replies. I stated my average gas milage was 44.3 with 1,800 miles, it now has 3,600 miles. I would like to give you a report about a trip last week and about gas milage.

I live in Kansas City and went to Durango Co, just for the ride. I do this often to different locations. Left KC at 8 AM Monday and returned Thursday late afternoon. I took US 50 from Emporia KS. and about 100 miles west through Western KS. to Eastern CO. we are talking real flat. I started to notice the cumputer gas milage increase in this area. Computer registed 60 mpg through this area, it dropped down to the mid 50's in the mountains and then the high 40's in the steep terrain. On the way back with a good cross-tail wind from the Southwest, the computer registed 62.4 mpg as it's peak. The computer would give me 290 mile range with a fill up at the 44.3 mpg, with the increase in mpg the computer registed 330-340 miles to go range.

I had loaded side cases, no top box, wind screen up,and my speed through much of my trip was in the 70-80 mph range. I did use a little over a pint of oil, called my dealer about that (talked to the machanic that has 30+ years experience) and he said that it is normal due to the bike still being in the break-in stage.

I am 64 and have 50 years riding experience on all types of bikes. I had an 01 Dakar that got around 60 mpg and I just sold an 03 k1200GT that would agverage about 42 mpg on the same trip same route, I couldn't keep that sucker's speed down, on it all the time. All the bikes I have had were fun and served thier purpose and just like the rest this RT is a great machine, maybe just a little better for sport touring, it sure is a lot more responsive in the mountains then many other blkes and the handling is impeccable, with excellent manners. I am pleased with this machine. Let me tell you that 60 mpg range for a touring bike is outstanding, especially at 70-80 mph range.


you gotta love them tail winds. Makes difference which gas I use but I think on flat terrain I could see getting close to 60 but not at 80 mph. My sweet spot seems to be under four grand on the tack.

Right now after 3600 I seem to have dropped off a bit on mileage but with the east coast shortages from the hurricane I've put a real mixture of brands and it has played heck with the mpg's. Last tank on a mountain run two up only delievered low forties. Worst I've ever got and I wasn't pushing it as much as I do when riding alone.

I'm going to Asheville in the AM and will see how she does up the mountain then one up with a full tank of Shell. I'm hoping she goes back to those mid fifties I was getting spoiled on. Computer is calling for 300 miles to go. We'll see.

[AliMar]

you gotta love them tail winds...
Yea - wasn't Ike blowing from the east in that area around that time? :D

[JCapo33]

AliMar: I did not have the wind effect going and that would have been from Ike, anyway Ike went toward ST. Louis and then Northeast. The wind on the way back was Thursday and Ike would have been long gone. I tell you, Kansas can have some really strong southerly winds anytime, nothing out there to stop it, and I have to go through Kansas heading to CO. The other options are Nebraska or Oklahoma and they can be as bad for wind and a lot farther in travel time.

Three years ago I was in Garden City Ks. with my GT, I fought a Southwest wind all the way about 400 miles, it wore me out and I had to stop. When I stopped to turn into a motel the wind caught me broadside and made the bike lean so far over that I almost dropped it, I mean I could not get it back to upright. I had a woman with me and had to have her get off the bike and help me push it upright. That 03 GT is lower and about 100 plus lbs more then this RT.

90 percent of the time the wind is from the Soutwest and can be very strong in that area.