License buzz

[granty92]

So when I got my license I expected that I'd be throwing all my money into the fuel tank but a year on and I'm still skint because all I do is sleep, work and ride, anyway to make the mpg a bit better?

[jambo]

1) Describe the use of the bike - 50 miles each way of motorway will be different to a 2 mile commute in town.
2) What sort of mpg are you currently getting?
3) Do you plan well in advance, or use the throttle as a switch and come up to every set of lights with the tail in the air?
4) How fastidious are you about tyre pressures, chain lubrication and maintenance in general?

Jambo

[granty92]

I do a 40 mile round trip to work but ride into town most nights, I think I get about 90 miles from full to the light coming on, I'm fine on the throttle and don't feel the need to just open it up, I lube my chain enough but haven't checked rear tyre for a while

[Fallout]

90 is low! Even pinning it everywhere I always got 100 miles before the light.

[granty92]

Any idea what's making it that low?

[Fallout]

A MOD will probably move this to bike chat. When it gets there someone more clued up will give you some ideas. There's a thread doing the rounds again there at the moment ...

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=169737

[jambo]

I've managed less than 90 to reserve, but that was at Brands Hatch GP.

Check your tyre pressures and chain condition, but I'd suspect you've got an issue with the fuelling.

As Fallout shows there are 3 or 4 of these threads that are current, have a read of what's already been written, check what's already been suggested and post back with as much detail as possible on what you've tried, what you've found and people will try to help.

Jambo

[MisterTommyH]

I was once quite proud of getting less than 100miles on a motorway at constant speed - shows how low yours is.

[granty92]

My rear tyre is now getting changed Friday so will ask the bloke to check pressures and chain

[Runako]

That won't account for the massive difference IMO. I just did maybe 300 miles this weekend on less than 2 tanks. And this was very spritied mountain and country road riding. So the variance you are getting is more likely due to what is suggested above - fueling / air etc.

[yorkie_chris]

You really should be capable of looking after your own tyre pressures and chain.

[granty92]

The chain I am but when it comes to tyres I'm scared of pumping them up, had a bad experience where I over pressurised a bike tyre when I was young and it blew up and hit me in the face, so don't like pumping them up really

[Spank86]

A motorbike tyre is a bit different to a crappy pushbike inner tube. You can pump it up to 50 psi if you really want and it wont blow. Of course it would be very bad to ride on.

Also you need to be checking yout tyre pressures FAR more often than in between services or it's liable to be roadside furniture hitting you in the face.

I should know, I've ridden with 8psi before.

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah My XJ gets decidedly squirrelly when it gets down below 10psi. About 10 day intervals...

The chain I am but when it comes to tyres I'm scared of pumping them up, had a bad experience where I over pressurised a bike tyre when I was young and it blew up and hit me in the face, so don't like pumping them up really

Learn to check them then.

[Fallout]

The chain I am but when it comes to tyres I'm scared of pumping them up, had a bad experience where I over pressurised a bike tyre when I was young and it blew up and hit me in the face, so don't like pumping them up really

I reckon you'd need some seeeeerious PSI to blow up an SV tyre. They're a lot softer than the stupid PSIs you put into push bike tyre inner tubes.

I'm the opposite to you. I check my tyres before almost every ride. I'm paranoid if they drop below 40psi (Pilot Powers), because psychologically I can feel the squishy handling ... even if it's not actually making that much difference.

Oil and tyres before every ride. Chain when I remember. :thumbsup:

Edit: I've had a puncture repair on my rear tyre, so it needs a weekly boost from 33 to 40 too.

[Runako]

Tyre pressure - every time I go out for a ride (not popping to the Supermarket, a proper ride). Takes 2 minutes to check. If there's ever a problem then its a good thing you checked.

[Sir Trev]

If you don't like pumping up your tyres can I guess that you let a mechanic do all your servicing too? Do you trust them? Did they really change the air filter they billed you for if they know you'll never lift the tank to check it? Same with carb body balancing.

Don't want to pre-judge so post all relevant details as Jambo suggested before we all jump to conclusions :).

And Fallout is not alone in checking fluid levels and tyre pressure before each ride. After a bad experience following a not-dectected-until-almost-too-late slow puncture I do as well.

[Fallout]

To be fair, having an engine that loses oil quicker than the Exxon Valdez and a rear tyre made of cheese with a puncture repair, I do have special motivation to do those checks. :)

[Ceri JC]

90 is low! Even pinning it everywhere I always got 100 miles before the light.

Yup. 90 is my riding like an absolute hooligan worst ('best'?) ever in 50K miles on my K4.