Fuel Consumption

So, as a new Swing owner, what fuel consumption should I be expecting on a longish trip, loaded with camping gear etc. ? Imperial MPG

Some motorway work (to channel ports) then mainly equivilant of A and B roads on the continent. I am just working some budgets out over the coming weeks! The guys I will be with are "mature" riders, all riding big trailies and the like so no "bum in the air" nonsense

I am working on 45-50mpg average.... is this realistic?

Hi Steve welcome to the forum I don't think you are to far out with your estimate I'm only getting around 35 or so but I do ride bloody hard always have and as my wife said always will.my swing has got 68000 miles on so maybe this doesn't help nor does the mallossi variator with 21gram rollers but it ain't have fun ride safe mate

I have been getting 54 on the freeway with my gear.

The guys I will be with are "mature" riders, all riding big trailies and the like so no "bum in the air" nonsense



yeah, right.

KurtPerthWA wrote:

The guys I will be with are "mature" riders, all riding big trailies and the like so no "bum in the air" nonsense



yeah, right.

You know the type too!

I even refrained from the "Babygrow Power Rangers" type remark that often prefaces less than complimentary remaks about sports bike riders... well some of them

lesley & John wrote:

Hi Steve welcome to the forum I don't think you are to far out with your estimate I'm only getting around 35 or so but I do ride bloody hard always have and as my wife said always will.my swing has got 68000 miles on so maybe this doesn't help nor does the mallossi variator with 21gram rollers but it ain't have fun ride safe mate

35 MPG!! Gulp! My 3litre 4wd farm truck can almost manage that, you must really be caning the poor beastie! I do wonder whether the "twist n'go aspect encourages hard acceleration?

Gotta admit that a couple of bigger bike trips were an eye opener to me as regards fuel consumption. 3000miles, 2 Transalp 650's averaged about 47MPG, Triumph Tiger averaged 55MPG. All carrying similiar weight and gear. Put me in the Dolomites riding with a local guy on a Yam 900 twin, playing sill bu**ers, my fuel usage increased to an amazing 32-34MPG. I blamed the altitude not the riders right hand

Hi steveR.

I ride on all kinds of roads either on my own for short journeys of say 50 miles, at a reasonable pace, and also on longer club runs which are quite a bit more energetic to say the least and can be from 100 miles up to 300 miles a run.

I was a little dubious about getting a SW as I had heard and read that the MPG return on a SW was not very good but I went ahead and bought one anyway.

Since I got the SW, in September last year, I have been pleasantly surprised to have averaged out a return of 60 MPG (Imperial) with a max 64 mpg / min 57 mpg return.

My Burgman 400 averaged 74 MPG and the X Max 250 I had for a while last year averaged 85 MPG.

mitch wrote:

Since I got the SW, in September last year, I have been pleasantly surprised to have averaged out a return of 60 MPG (Imperial) with a max 64 mpg / min 57 mpg return.

My Burgman 400 averaged 74 MPG and the X Max 250 I had for a while last year averaged 85 MPG.

Cheers Mitch, that is an impressive return I have to say. Is a newer machine? I ask, as I am wondering if the more recent machines maybe have a better fueling setup?

Very good for the Burgerwan, but the 400 is known for that. Stay out of the cities is usually the answer... to many questions!

steveR,

My SW was first registered in March 2010.

It was a demonstrator and the salesman at the dealership used it as often as he could, as he really enjoyed driving it, to commute to and from work (about 74 mile round trip) and so the mileage was quite high at 4600 when I bought it last September.

Perhaps the longer / frequent runs, from new, helped the mpg.

Hopefully it will keep on returning this level of mpg.

Hello Steve.

I consistently get 46 miles to the gallon (US) when commuting on the interstate at about 75 mph and US highway at 65 mph. I recently went on a trip of 62 miles each way where about one third were smaller roads, doing about 45 to 50 mph and that brought my economy up to 50.5 mpg.

I read on the japanese site for Honda that the SW should give you 30 km/l (about 70.5 mpg) at 60 km/h, about 38 mph.

But again, the SW in Japan may, or may not come with the heavier variator rollers that come OEM in some parts of Asia.

I have a J Costa variator in my Swing, and ride it kind of hard. Fast starts all the time. However, I don't like Interstates and take secondary roads instead. Top constant speeds are usually no more than 70 mph indicated.

The worst tankful that I have ever seen was just over 44 mpg US (dead of winter) and the best about 53 mpg US. Probably 90% of my fill-ups are 47-51 mpg US. I have put about 10,300 miles on the bike.

From my reading, I feel that sustained speeds over 70 mph start to really hurt mile per gallon figures.

I get 54MPG consistently when I buy gas here in Missouri (10% ethanol required by law) but I can get 60 or 61 when I go down to Arkansas and buy pure gas.

WOW smorkle, That's some GREAT MPG!

If I ride the speed limits I get around 50 mpg. But when I avg 75 (gps) in the interstate I get about 42-44 mpg. I'm happy with it since I generally go the speed limit mostly now. For a nice smooth ride with plenty of storage it is well worth the mileage.

I'm getting between 53 and 56 MPG (that's US gallons) consistently and it doesn't seem to waver from that range whether I baby it or run 90+ on the superslab. But as I've mentioned elsewhere, where I live the earth truly is flat...

mitch wrote:

steveR,

My SW was first registered in March 2010.

Perhaps the longer / frequent runs, from new, helped the mpg.

Hopefully it will keep on returning this level of mpg.

I would too!

As you are a uk rider, you should really listen to people who ride the same kind of roads as you. I do about 200mls a week all year round riding for pleasure.I mainly ride in Lancashire and Yorkshire so plenty of hills and country lanes. I bought my Silverwing in May last year, it was registered in Feb07. It had 1300mls when i got it and iam now coming up to 8000mls. I never get less than 58-60mls per gall. I check tyre press weekly as well as oil. I have recently fitted a new rear tyre. It passed M.O.T.no problems. The only extra thing i do is put a measure of Redex every time i fillup.It might be worth mentioning that a US gall is less than a Uk gall.I hope you enjoy your swing as much as i do. Safe and enjoyable riding to you SteveR

Old Limey wrote:

As you are a uk rider, you should really listen to people who ride the same kind of roads as you. .....

......It might be worth mentioning that a US gall is less than a Uk gall.I hope you enjoy your swing as much as i do. Safe and enjoyable riding to you SteveR

Thanks old fellah and the same to you too, it does feel as if the Winter may be over, it sure has been a long one!! I thought that the "UK" section may be best for just the reasons you suggest

As we know "our" gallon has more in it than in the US by about 20%... Sorry you guys in Texas, not everything you have is the biggest...!!

At present, I am going round the bike checking and tweaking odds and sods to sharpen up the handling if possible as it doesn't feel as "planted" on the road as a bike this weight should, the tyre pressures were all to cock when I got the bike and the rear shocks were on 5 which was too hard for a solo rider. I am wondering if the front forks may benefit from some fresh oil as although it is only 10K miles, it is 8 years old. I hope to get a good ride out today/tomorrow of 180-200 miles and really get a proper feel for it and find out if the Swing will do what i hope it will.

steveR wrote:

At present, I am going round the bike checking and tweaking odds and sods to sharpen up the handling if possible as it doesn't feel as "planted" on the road as a bike this weight should, the tyre pressures were all to cock when I got the bike and the rear shocks were on 5 which was too hard for a solo rider. I am wondering if the front forks may benefit from some fresh oil as although it is only 10K miles, it is 8 years old. I hope to get a good ride out today/tomorrow of 180-200 miles and really get a proper feel for it and find out if the Swing will do what i hope it will.

When I test rode the SW I felt the handling was quite strange i.e. loose and spongy at the front as compared to the ER6F I had at the time, to the X Max 250 just prior to that and to other maxi scooters I have had before before.

I knew, at the time, that all bikes were different and hoped I would get used to the SW handling especially it seemed that the front was the problem rather than the back.

I also knew from the forum that the front can be beefed up at not too great an expense.

Anyway I bought the SW and after I put a few good runs on the bike I very quickly became used to the handling and built up my trust in the bike.

I am now of the opinion that, overall, the standard SW handles very well indeed and I do not think about it other that the adjustment of the rear shocks.

I am 5ft 11" and just over 200 lbs when fully booted and suited, have my rear shocks set at 2 for normal solo use and up it to 3 for faster and more demanding runs.

Touching the subject of handling, it took me a few rides to get used to tilting the bike with my hips instead of my knees pushing the tank, as in the 599 Hornet I had before.

I also, soon realized that tight turns work better if you tilt your torso forward to shift the weight balance in favor of the front wheel; it feels more under control and I'm able to lean the bike much more while feeling confident of its stability.

mitch wrote:

I knew, at the time, that all bikes were different and hoped I would get used to the SW handling especially it seemed that the front was the problem rather than the back.

Anyway I bought the SW and after I put a few good runs on the bike I very quickly became used to the handling and built up my trust in the bike.

I am 5ft 11" and just over 200 lbs when fully booted and suited, have my rear shocks set at 2 for normal solo use and up it to 3 for faster and more demanding runs.

Thanks Mitch, I may have to back off the rear a bit more then according to your experience, albeit with mine being a much older bike!

I was not expecting sports bike handling but had hoped it would be on a par with a big trailie like my Transalp. However, that has been modified and tweaked over many years so I am used to it's ways... A bit like a marriage really!

alejom wrote:

Touching the subject of handling, it took me a few rides to get used to tilting the bike with my hips instead of my knees pushing the tank, as in the 599 Hornet I had before.

I also, soon realized that tight turns work better if you tilt your torso forward to shift the weight balance in favor of the front wheel; it feels more under control and I'm able to lean the bike much more while feeling confident of its stability.

Thanks for that alejom.

The lack of tank to push down on is I suspect one of the real differences, that and holding the bike into a bend with the knees too. I will try your technique of pushing my torso forward, and in fact found that for a bit of bend swinging the whole feel was better if I pulled my feet back in a more "motorcycle" stance which will put a bit more weight to the bars as you say

steveR wrote:

So, as a new Swing owner, what fuel consumption should I be expecting on a longish trip, loaded with camping gear etc. ? Imperial MPG

I am working on 45-50mpg average.... is this realistic?

Well, as most of the UK was being washed with sunshine, I decided I should go and see if Wales was OK after the winter!

Happily, it was I did a 4hr run out, mixed roads from a bit of fast dual carriageway, A and B roads and a bit of sillyness. On the way back, I stopped in Welshpool and filled up for the last stretch home. 144 miles had used 11litres, so a bit less than 70mpg. Very impressive even with just a solo and no luggage.

The fuel gauge looks to be like most bike gauges, a guide only as with one bar flashing it only took 13l to fill at the station at the of the day...

SteveR, fuel consumption on the Swing gauge usually works like this:

First bar comes off the scale after one US gallon.

Each of the next bars (skinny ones) falls away after about 12-15 miles.

When the last bar (fat one) starts to flash, there will be one US gallon left.

Even knowing the UK gallon is larger, that 70 mpg figure is terrific. If a UK gallon is about 20% more, that's still like 56 mpg US.

buddy19520 wrote:

SteveR, fuel consumption on the Swing gauge usually works like this:

First bar comes off the scale after one US gallon.

Each of the next bars (skinny ones) falls away after about 12-15 miles.

When the last bar (fat one) starts to flash, there will be one US gallon left.

Even knowing the UK gallon is larger, that 70 mpg figure is terrific. If a UK gallon is about 20% more, that's still like 56 mpg US.

Thanks Philip. I will make a proper note of usage next time I am out and compare it to your guide. I reckon usage will go up as I become more familiar with the bike... and engine!

Just been riding SW UK. On motorways got over 62mpg, but country lanes/towns dropped to 55mpg

I envy you all getting 60 -70 MPG (UK galls). My 'Wing' is giving me around 45 - 53 right now. (I am canning it though.) Well over legal motorway speeds when the roads are clear!!!!! So I am not too disappointed in the fuel return.

When my sensible head kicks in, which won't be long as it is getting near holiday season and loads of folk unfamiliar with the roads and just generally bimbling around, I will resume my usual summer plod and see a better fuel return.

Just done a 111 mile round trip, mostly 'A' roads at 60-65mph, short stretches of dual carriageway 70-80mph, two-up, and into some very blustery winds at times. 55.5 mpg, (UK gallons, obviously), I'm well pleased.
Only slight downside - I had to switch on my heated grips for a while! Roll on summer!!

Just tested mine. 80 miles of motorway (actual 80mph average), rest on 'A' roads. From full to the brim to coughing and spluttering was 150 miles. Put 5 litres in from a can and three miles down the road filled up at a petrol station with 10.5 litres. I don't know why I could only get 15.5 litres in considering the tank holds 16 litres. The other day I did 36 miles with the last segment on the gauge flashing, chickened out at 145 miles. Anyway I now have a new distance in my head before the panicking starts of 125 miles. Still nowhere near the 200 mile range of the Burgman.

Cheeers,

Interesting, thanks for sharing and testing that out. When it cut-out was in a controllable manner or similar to hitting the kill switch?

I wonder if that 1/2 litre was lost in the can or Honda added the neck to the size of the tank. Maybe a bit of both...

Generally, I wait for the flashing segment before I fill up and its normally 120-130 miles. Nice to know that there should be another 30 miles or so before we have to really panic

There was a very short period of coughing and spluttering. I was on a quiet stretch of road when in happenned. As I was going downhill I was able to coast to a suitable place to stop. Had I been going uphill then it would have stopped immediately.
I think 125 miles is a reasonable distance to use. I'll probably cut that down to 110 fully loaded with panniers etc. (Off to Spain next week for a fortnight in the Picos - petrol stations much fewer and far between there).

Cheers,

My experience is very similar to what Buddy described. Usually the number of miles I have travelled on a tank when the first bar comes off the fuel gauge is my average miles per gallon. I have never gotten less than 50 mpg and once while coasting down hill for 45 miles I was able to average about 65, but typically I average between 50 and 54 mpg. This gives me about 160 miles on a tank before the last bar begins flashing. My service manual tells me that when this happens there is 0.92 gallons left in the tank. Theoretically, if I am averaging 50 mpg I should be able to travel another 45 miles, but I don't like to push the limits quite that much and I begin looking for a place to fill up.

In the 9months since getting my Swing I've done 4500miles, mostly around town with the occasional short fast burst on a dual carriageway. I always fill the tank completely & reset the trip meter but have never bothered to work our the MPG. The last bar usually starts flashing at about 135miles so I fill up somewhere between that and 150 although once on a 180mile round trip it did get to 160miles 'cos I'd neglected to keep an eye on the gauge - Needless to say, I did the last few miles to a petrol station somewhat slowly!

Tarmie: I'm really envious as I love the Picos. I've been over them many times both on my Harley and on my previous Yamaha Majesty. Personally I think the scooter's CVT is great in the mountains as you don't have to change gear constantly which is a real pain on my Harley! Going uphill on the Majesty was a doddle however the lack of engine braking on the very steep downhill twisty bits meant the brakes overheated thus slowing down for yet another bend made the rides a little "interesting" - I always ended up gently using one brake then the other so the "resting" brake could cool and naturally never mentioned anything to Mrs. G. on the back! Now I've got the Swing, the next time I go, I'll definitely be taking it!!

Hello Gerry,

Really looking forward to it. I took the Swing to France in 2011. We went to the Auvergne region, extinct volcanoes and twisty roads. Riding down the Tarn Gorge to Millau was the highlight of the trip. At the moment keeping an eye on the weather over there, it has got room to improve!
Riding down to Winchester on Tuesday, ferry on Wednesday lunchtime, dock at Bilbao early Thursday afternoon. Then 120 miles to where we are staying for eleven nights. Full report and pictures / videos on my return.
We are coming down the M40 and A34 - Anyone know of a good pub to eat at near those roads? Please PM me, no point in cluttering up the thread.

Cheers,

Like a lot of bikes (I'm thinking particularly of my ST1100) you can get quite a lot more fuel into the tank above the full mark on the gauge. I reckon fill to fill I get 12 miles per litre which should give 180 miles to empty altho' I always look to fill up when I get under the halfway mark. I'm off to Eire next week on the SWing and then the Black Forest in Sept.

57 mpg uk, 2 up and solo, big roads and small, about 150 miles between fuel stops of about 12 litres, apparently there is 16 litres in a tank, so safe for 150 miles. Mind you, if you have not sorted the seat and back rest you may want to stop before that anyway. I have thought about putting a gallon in the top box, but haven't yet, I'm still a newby on these things. And for what it's worth, I find it handles best with soft rear shock settings 1 or 2.
Enjoy

I think I must be a bit too heavy handed with the throttle. Perhaps it is time to tootle a bit.
Planning to do a comprehensive check on consumption on the trip to the Picos. Expect to ride about 2000 miles so that will give a good indication.
Will do a spreadsheet and put my findings on here.

Cheers,

One time I road with some friends to get lunch. I zeroed out my B tripmeter when I arrived but left my A tripmeter for a total mileage, maybe 50+ miles didn't pay attention. That said I usually fill up around 150-160 miles. When I stopped for gas I was on my B tripmeter. So I looked at my A tripmeter and I got 218 miles on a tank and couldn't fit 4 US gal. in when I got gas. I would never try to push 200, but I know I have ridden 218 one time.

tarmacburner2 wrote:

I think I must be a bit too heavy handed with the throttle. Perhaps it is time to tootle a bit.

tarmactootler? Nah, just doesn't sound tight.

"Hi Yo" wrote:

tarmacburner2 wrote:

I think I must be a bit too heavy handed with the throttle. Perhaps it is time to tootle a bit.

tarmactootler? Nah, just doesn't sound tight.

You are right, guess I'll just keep wringing the neck on that throttle and pass fewer petrol stations!

Cheers,

I've kept a spreadsheet since I got mine and my average since new is 55.95 mpg (Imp) with a high of 59 and a low of 52. I usually refuel between 120 and 140 miles. Last fill was 11.51 ltr at 146 miles. For a rough guide I work on 12 miles per litre.

I ride a mix of roads, motorways, A roads, and rush hour crawl.

The low mpg (52) was after a run out with the IAM observer practising overtakes in the rain.

Cracked the 60 mpg barrier today, with 11 ltrs at 146 miles. 60.26 mpg (48.21 mpg US). pushes my overall average to 56.10.

She has 3800 miles on the clock, so I guess that the engine is bedding in nicely. Soon be up for a service. The only modification is the Givi Airflow screen which I fitted back around the end of March. I was worried that the aerodynamics may have suffered, but apparently not.

I'm averaging around 44-45 mpg with the trike conversion. Country type roads with speeds from 35 to 55 mph. Since the 'trike' portion of my SW goes along for the ride, I'm guessing that is affecting my mileage by 3 to 5 mpg.

Homer

tarmacburner2 wrote:

"Hi Yo" wrote:

tarmacburner2 wrote:

I think I must be a bit too heavy handed with the throttle. Perhaps it is time to tootle a bit.

tarmactootler? Nah, just doesn't sound tight.

You are right, guess I'll just keep wringing the neck on that throttle and pass fewer petrol stations!

Cheers,

I have tried tootling around - Don't like it!!!!

Back on max revs and associated speed. I'd buy a moped if tootling was the order of the day. Better still - I'd take the car.

I don't tootle either - that's why I was so pleased with 60mpg

I guess over 60 mpg with Imperial gallons is pretty good

The gallons over here are smaller , but I average between 45 to 50mpg.

60 mpg imperial is around 48 mpg US, yeah, pretty good.

surlybiker58 wrote:

I guess over 60 mpg with Imperial gallons is pretty good

The gallons over here are smaller , but I average between 45 to 50mpg.

Im "over here" and our gallons are the same size as "over there"

Actually, 60 mpg Imperial is about the same as 50.6 mpg US.

I think a US gallon is 3.8 liters, while an Imperial gallon is 4.5 liters. That makes the conversion either 118% or 84%, depending upon which way you compare.

Waspie wrote:

I have tried tootling around - Don't like it!!!!

I wasn't "tootling around", as you rather condescendingly put it! But, as I'm still running in, neither was I thrashing it. My acceleration was smooth, with speeds variable and appropriate for the circumstances.

When riding for pleasure, I do not see the point of racing through beautiful countryside (Gloucestershire in this instance), unable to take in the scenery, and being left ONLY with a memory of a road stretching ahead.

"A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?"
Leisure ~ W. H. Davies


I mentioned my fuel consumption because I was surprised by the low figures I'd read here. With most of those reports being made by US members, I had failed to take into account quite how much those figures are affected by the smaller US gallon (thank you buddy for advising the percentage difference).

I was also pleased to note that the consumption was significantly better than the two Burgmen I'd previously owned (ridden in similar fashion).