Mileage concern.

[codetrap]

So, I've done a little research into the Katana, and users report that it gets around 36-42 mpg.. The general ratings is about 40 mpg and users report a range of about 200 miles, or 320 km. With the 5.3G tank, that's all consistent.

Now, I bought the bike from a guy that put what he said was a cobra jet kit on it, and I have since found out that it wasn't Cobra, but the Canadian version of it (no worries there) and a custom exhaust. It was installed at GW along with new plugs which I confirmed by having it's history pulled. All good.

Now, on a complete fill, running to empty, I'm getting around 120-130km to a tank. That equates to about 17mpg. (US)

Now, I know that owning a "sport" bike I shouldn't be too concerned about that, but the environmentalist streak in me is appalled by this.

Is this pretty normal? Would a carb kit and exhaust mod normally reduce efficiency this much?

[Eleanor]

17mpg?!?!?!?

I get about 40mpg on the CBR. And that's all city, with a lot of sitting in traffic on Crowchild/Glenmore.

[Stunt66]

That's brutal gas mileage for a bike. The problem could be a bunch of things but i doubt just an exhaust would do that. If you ever took that bike on a road trip you'd have to make sure there was a gas station every 100kms.

[Ferio_vti]

Originally posted by Stunt66
That's brutal gas mileage for a bike. The problem could be a bunch of things but i doubt just an exhaust would do that. If you ever took that bike on a road trip you'd have to make sure there was a gas station every 100kms.

Bad for a bike?? That's not even good for a car.

[Freebs]

wow something is wrong there.. I get pretty well 275kms consistantly with my 06 R6 in the city... and mid (some times high) 300s on the high way. And my tank is 4.6gal

[Eleanor]

How rich are you running?

Does the exhaust piss fuel?

[Supa Dexta]

How are you driving it? Riding around in too high of a gear for the rev's will be just as bad as honkin' on it..., Check timing and make sure all else is working properly.

[Masked Bandit]

I would guess that it's running a bit rich. When I did the jet kit / exhaust thing on my Bandit I lost about 15% in fuel mileage but some of that may be due to the increased beatings I gave my machine.

[GQBalla]

right now for my 07 cbr600rr i get 300 ish km per tank depending how hard i push it, most i ever got was 325 while the empty light was blinking.

soo 300 km = 186 miles

18 litre tank so 4.76 gallons

39 miles per gallon or 16.67 km per liter.

not bad, a little better than my civic but oh so much more fun

[Eleanor]

Originally posted by GQBalla
39 miles per gallon

Originally posted by Eleanor
I get about 40mpg on the CBR.
I win ;) :D

[codetrap]

Ok I'm glad I'm not just out to lunch here. I think it's running really rich as well, as the garage always smells like gas. Considering the car is a diesel, I'm thinking it's the bike.

I took it into GW and they're gonna tune it up.

Thanks again :D

[Supa Dexta]

Is it leaking anywheres? The leak could be small enough you aren't noticing it, but big enough, that over time it's eating all your gas. Could be dripping on the engine somewheres and not even being seen on the floor. Look for damp spots.

[GQBalla]

Originally posted by Eleanor


I win ;) :D

Lol bet your not riding in the powerband hehehe ride it hard! WOT baby

[Eleanor]

I try and keep it between 5000 & 7000 normally.

I can't bring it to redline cause topping it out in first is higher than the speed limit on everything but Deerfoot :rofl:

[codetrap]

Well.. it took $432 to finally get it fixed, but it turns out there was two things wrong. The K&N filter the previous owner put on was put together wrong. He didn't follow the instructions about bikes that have carb kits on them. Also, they had adjust the carbs as they were way off, and regapped all the plugs. The bike runs a lot smoother now, and throttle response is not nearly as sluggish. Time will tell if the mileage improves.

Anyone want to buy a K&N filter for a Suzuki, minus the large diameter velocity ring?

[GQBalla]

Originally posted by Eleanor
I try and keep it between 5000 & 7000 normally.

I can't bring it to redline cause topping it out in first is higher than the speed limit on everything but Deerfoot :rofl:

but than its not fun?!?!

[Eleanor]

^ it's still fun, I actually like the pull of the mid-range torque more than the top-end screaming power :D

(I know, torque on a bike, haha)

[GQBalla]

the 47 some odd pounds of tq is only top end though bro.

mid range maybe 30

come on man WOT ftw

[theken]

My redline is 140 in first Haha. Try breaking it in while doing the speed limit

[Eleanor]

haha, I'd be happy right now if my bike was street legal. I need to wait until my watsens are done until I can take it out again :rofl: and I'd need to ride it street fighter style while I'm fixing my fairings.

theken, I'm sure you broke it in on the track, right? :devil: