A thirsty beast

My Sv has proved thirsty since i bought it so after an oil & filter change, new irradium plugs, new air filter and the carbs balanced I thought things would improve but alas no...

I am averaging 30 MPG

60 miles this week so far, mostly a city commute with one A road run for 15 miles.

My commute takes in a lot of filtering and lights. I am clutching at straws when I mention a 2-3 minute warm up, each end for 5 days thats 20-30 mins tick over time.

Why so low? the bike runs well and I smell no leaks.

the bike is a 1999 SV650s and has 38.000 miles on the clock. My Z1000 is not near as thirsty on the same commute.

[Richie]

what were the plugs like when you took them out, is the exhaust a little rich?


Or is someone nicking your fuel from work?

Your not far off what I get, its cool isn't it...

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


It could be a choke plunger sticking slightly, or has your bike been Dynojetted, or has someone been playing with the jet sizes?
Dynojet kits have a nasty habit of wearing the emulsion tubes inside the carburetors. This is usually accompanied by a progressive rise in fuel consumption.
As suggested, check your plugs, & see if they're both a similar colour. If one's considerably darker than the other, then it could be a sticky choke. If they're both dark it's most likely a carb issue. Either wear, or incorrect jets.


Cheers.

[Biker Biggles]

And dont warm it up.Start up get on and ride off saves fuel and engine wear.

[keith_d]

Check the plug leads. If you're running on one cylinder part of the time you'll be opening the throttle further to compensate.... slurp!!

[dyzio]

I'm commuting between Aberdeen and Kirkhill, loads of lights and stops, I was getting 130 miles to the light on the curvy.

As far as I remember, your bike has the Fuel stubby but I'm pretty sure it wasn't rejetted as it was on 33bhp.

Was it always like this? Have you asked Aaron how the bike was running when he had it? I can't remember him saying anything about it.
Is it possible that the guy you bought it from messed with it a bit?

I don’t think its has been fettled with unless Aaron did so but I will ask him. The guy who had it afterwards covered under 300 miles since buying it from Aaron and had no idea what was what.

The short can has gone as well for a full length micron but no baffle.

The bike idles at 1400rpm and pulls away strongly through all the gears; this was not the case when I bought it but the carbs were in a shocking state so cleaned and balanced them. I removed the K&N filter as I don’t think the bike was set up for this….however I may be wrong if Aaron did it.

I don’t understand how it will run so sweetly but use so much fuel. I am never over 3rd gear.

I am on a run this weekend so will be able to gauge it then

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

And dont warm it up.Start up get on and ride off saves fuel and engine wear.

Bike struggles when cold, needs warming up but when warm runs sweetly besides the ticking noise

[Richie]

Originally Posted by monkimagic

I don’t think its has been fettled with unless Aaron did so but I will ask him. The guy who had it afterwards covered under 300 miles since buying it from Aaron and had no idea what was what.

The short can has gone as well for a full length micron but no baffle.

The bike idles at 1400rpm and pulls away strongly through all the gears; this was not the case when I bought it but the carbs were in a shocking state so cleaned and balanced them. I removed the K&N filter as I don’t think the bike was set up for this….however I may be wrong if Aaron did it.

I don’t understand how it will run so sweetly but use so much fuel. I am never over 3rd gear.

I am on a run this weekend so will be able to gauge it then

and here may lie the problem....