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Message started by Trump2Thump on 03/30/05 at 19:44:12

Title: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Trump2Thump on 03/30/05 at 19:44:12

I've put 400 miles on my 88 Savage in my first week here in the Florida sunshine.... i don't miss the Boston traffic nightmares as my commute to work is now 20 minutes down country lanes lined with palm trees..... i need to do some routine maintenance, change oil and filters, tune-up, that kind of thing, but this bike is everything i had read it would be on this site and i absolutely love her..... yup, my butt goes numb after 45 minutes in the saddle and i get that one gunshot backfire when i turn her off but it just sounds so freakin' cool..... it only ever backfires other than that when the tank is low so those backfires combined with the loss of power lets me reach down to switch to reserve without even stopping...... i'm getting around 100 miles before switching to reserve and cruise to the first available gas station, but my question is does that mileage sound about right and roughly how many more miles should i expect on the reserve before i'd be pushing 350 pounds down the road?? even at these ridiculous gas prices we're filling the tank for 5 bucks...... Sweeeeet........ any other quirks or general tips on this beautiful machine would be greatly appreciated.......

Gabba Gabba Hey!!!!

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Greg_650 on 03/30/05 at 19:47:37

I get between 100 and 120 before switching to reserve and never think about it. It's a lot cheaper than the car.

PS- I saw less than that one time after some serious mountain riding 8)

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by sluggo on 03/30/05 at 21:24:51

Greg_650 wrote:

I get between 100 and 120 before switching to reserve and never think about it. It's a lot cheaper than the car.

PS- I saw less than that one time after some serious mountain riding 8)

i've ran dry twice, once on purpose with a gallon can to see how far. and once just trying to push it the last 2 miles home. here's what i come up with,

my machine goes on reserve at about 90 miles. on the test at 55 on county roads i got 34 miles before dry
pushing my luck at 70mph slight wind 29miles. generally i'll plan on 25 at both conditions.

a cheap trip meter is a ulta small 3 digit luggage lock. set the miles each time you fill up. i put mine on the zipp tie that hold wire bundle to handle bar.

mines a 2004 the best way for you to know it strap a can and run here dry. just set to prime to restart.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by WD on 03/30/05 at 21:37:28

Man, how can you guys get such crappy mileage? I've never gotten less than 70mpg, even when I was breaking in the engine! Mine must be a fluke... Makes me wonder though, am I doing something right (for a change), or are you guys just throttle happy? I do run the engine on the lean side though...open exhaust (glasspack is gutted), stock spacer, stock jets, stock (original) air filter (filthy), air screw out two turns over stock. Last time I rode it consistently, was knocking on 80 mpg commuting. Hmmm... ???
-WD

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by sluggo on 03/30/05 at 21:42:44

WD wrote:

got me, i'm in a stock configuration. yes i am a little throttle happy. got a sporty machine got to ride it that way.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Paladin on 03/30/05 at 22:51:20

sluggo wrote:

got me, i'm in a stock configuration. yes i am a little throttle happy. got a sporty machine got to ride it that way.

In another thread there was something about the main jet kicking in at 3/4 throttle plus, so it doesn't get used much. I didn't understand 'cause most of my unobstructed starts are full throttle. I don't go fast, but I do go quick. I get about 100 miles per $5-6 fillup (regular is up to $2.399.)

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by sluggo on 03/30/05 at 23:15:01

Paladin wrote:

i believe that it's quick that eats up my fuel. ;D

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Diane on 03/31/05 at 05:59:46

My Savage is all still stock set up and I get 50 mpg in the city (that's the big city of Houston with lots of traffic lights) but out on the country roads I get 70 mpg easy. I have no desire whatsoever to test the reserve (maybe it's a girl thing), it's easy to remember to just fill up about every 100 miles.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by cphilip on 03/31/05 at 07:17:11

I normaly hit reserve at about 120 miles. I do what Diane does more times than not. I try and start thinking gassin up around 100 miles.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by gandalph40 on 03/31/05 at 07:37:49

120 miles is my normal reserve limit too. When I pull into the gas station it normally takes 2.2-2.3 gals to fill up, with a total of about 130-135 miles normally. It doesn't seem to matter how I ride. This seems to be true within just a few miles, regardless.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by PerrydaSavage on 03/31/05 at 08:21:42

Interesting discussion ... quite the varying fuel consumption rates? ... the topic of the LS650's gas milage came up on the old BeginnerBikes.com (now defunct) Message Board last year ... I figured mine out at the time and wrote it down, but I can't remember ... when I get home this evening, I'll look it up and post ...

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Savage_Rob on 03/31/05 at 10:09:13

In regular daily riding which is mostly rush-hour freeway traffic and a little city/suburb, I average about 60 MPG. Since my round trip commute is almost exactly 49 miles a day, I gas up every 2 days.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Greg_650 on 04/01/05 at 06:45:40

sluggo wrote:

i believe that it's quick that eats up my fuel. ;D

Yep...higher RPMs while in lower gears does drop the mileage quite a bit. But that is simply logical anyway.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Red_Wine on 04/03/05 at 08:52:23

Just as a comparison,
my 400cc, chain-drive Savage gets 200 kms per each 10-liter tank fill-up, i.e.,roughly 20 km per liter, in Santiago city traffic, I seldom get on the freeway in working days, though I do get some escapades on them on weekends. However, consider the smaller engines is pulling the same weight as you bigger 650 thumper, since both models are exacly the same chassis, wheels and accesories.

Just for you to know...

RW

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by RG on 04/03/05 at 09:32:49

I don't really know what I get. I just run till I have to switch to reserve then fill up. When it only cost $5 to fill up, I don't really care what the mileage is . . .

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Greg_650 on 04/03/05 at 10:14:14

RG wrote:

I don't really know what I get. I just run till I have to switch to reserve then fill up. When it only cost $5 to fill up, I don't really care what the mileage is . . .

Pretty much the same here....with a truck that only does 20 on the highway, and a car that does 29, I really don't care if it's 40 - 60 on the Savage.

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by gazab44 on 04/04/05 at 07:46:36

I also run until i have to switch to reserve then fill up.

Here i go again complaining about uk prices, you lot in U.S. don't know how lucky you are.

when i fill up, after hitting reserve it costs me £5 to fill up

5.00 GBP = 9.36334 USD

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by PerrydaSavage on 04/04/05 at 14:37:50

8)Well, I've dug out my figures from last Summer ... ran milage vs fuel consumption numbers thru twice

188km to 8.0 litres of fuel (115.56mi to 2.136 US gal)
= 56mpg US (67mpg Imp.)

85km to 3.23 litres of fuel (52.7mi to 0.8624 US gal)
= 61mpg US (74mpg Imp.)

1.0 Imperial Gallon = 1.2 US Gallon

The milage I was getting last Summer appears in-line with what the majority of Savage owners get.

BTW, I was looking at a cage (car) today that returns "motorcyle" gas milage ... it's the Smart ForTwo sold by Mercedes Benz here in Canada ... European 2-seater mini-car with an 800cc turbo-injection diesel engine ... reportedly gets 60mpg ... cute as a button and perfect for city driving!
http://www.allsmartcars.com/gallery/20050308-08.jpg

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Reelthing on 04/04/05 at 16:57:39

What might the sticker price be on that little jewel?

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by klx650sm2002 on 04/05/05 at 00:56:18

The Smart looks like a modern day Mini. I like it.

Clive W :D

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by PerrydaSavage on 04/05/05 at 01:56:07

Base model starts at $16,000Cdn ... loaded cabriolet goes for around $20,000Cdn
Rated at around 60mpg city ...

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Reelthing on 04/05/05 at 04:24:39

Did measure the Savage MPG yesterday - was 94 miles with 1.4 Gal (US) ~ 67 MPG on the back roads to the office - this is few stops mostly 40-50 MPH - that seems to be the sweet spot on this engine - around 3K rpm.
The tach has been a fun toy on the bike!

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Greg_650 on 04/05/05 at 05:10:13

PerrydaSavage wrote:

Cute little car. Is that a front or rear engine?

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by Susan on 04/05/05 at 05:57:23

We saw lots of Le Smart cars when we were in Italy a few years ago. Particularly in Rome -- great for fitting into tight parking spots!

Title: Re: Reserve tank question.....
Post by PerrydaSavage on 04/05/05 at 08:30:41

Greg, those are rear engine, rear drive with 15 inch wheels