5th Gen Fuel Mileage

I'm really happy with the fuel mileage I'm getting with my new-to-me 2000 VFR. I bought it in late March of this year and have put about 3,400 miles on it so far. My overall fuel mileage is right at 47.4 mpg. During a recent ~1,800 mile trip I averaged 49.6 mpg with a high of 54.3 and a low of 45.5. I never rode on interstates but mostly took 2-lane highways whenever possible including Deal's Gap, the Cherohala Skyway, and other twisty roads.

My bike's powertrain is stock except for a Yoshimura slip-on muffler. It wears Michelin Sport Pilot 3 tires. I was loaded down quite well including myself at 208 lbs plus all my ATGATT kit, Givi E21 saddlebags, Givi E460 trunk, a tank bag, and a tail bag that were all fully loaded. I'm not sure what that total weight was, but I'm sure it's more than a bit.

I generally waited to fill up between 190-210 miles per tank. I don't ride like a hooligan nor like an old man, but somewhere in between. I definitely had the engine wound up quite well going through the mountain twisties though. This 5th Gen VFR is simply an outstanding bike. Strong engine, comfortable ergos, beautiful engine and exhaust sounds, and great mileage too.

 

Honda VFR800 Interceptor MPG Reports | Fuelly

 

What are riders averaging for city mileage? I use mine as a city commuter, usually 25-35 mph with a fair amount of stop-and-go, and average around 30-32 mpg. Just wondering if that's normal for the kind of riding I'm doing.

 

Most of my comments when gas mileage threads come up are "who cares". I just want to make sure I have enough tread on my tire to get me home.

I think I average about 35-37mpg. I don't do much slab riding, and most of the time I keep my RPM's above 4.5-5K. I believe in full throttle as often as possible.

With that, Motographer, 30-32mpg sounds shitty, unless you truly flog that bike everywhere you go. Are you just staying in first gear everywhere you go at 25-35mph?

 

Yeah I average 45 mpg, but that is with a pretty good mixture of city and highway. I think the last tank I rode mostly city miles I got around 37 or 38.

 

I thought so too, I seem to get lower combined MPG than a lot of literbikes are supposed to, and I don't ride it hard at all. I'm usually between 2nd and 3rd depending on my speed, usually try to keep the rpms around 3.5k when I'm holding a constant speed. My bike's only got 15k on the odometer for a 1998, is it possible I just need to swap out the plugs or something like that? Or are there any other no-brainer fixes that could help my MPG?

 

I have hit 40 mpg once. I was riding with a 250 going 60 on a 2 lane highway for most of the tank.

I typically see 35ish mpg the way I ride (40 city/60 backroads), but I've got a PCIII USB, pipe, K&N filter and also de-pair'd though I'm not sure that affects mpg. I've seen as low as 28 with my buddies on zx6r and cbr600rr

 

Just a thought, but could the temperatures I'm riding in have anything to do with it? I'm presently in Louisiana, it's hot as balls all the time, and the only time my coolant temperature drops below 200 is when I've been doing 45-50 mph for a good amount of time. I keep reading about how high running temperatures can lower fuel mileage, so I'm just wondering. I haven't noticed anything wrong with the bike, still accelerates just fine and there's no hesitation or popping to make me think it's running rich or lean.

 

My new to me 98 has been averaging 39-40 mixed commuting and up to 45. Some days it's interstate and others it's the back roads depending on how hot it is outside. On the really hot days I try to avoid back roads and sitting at lights. I definitely don't baby it or I could get a lot better mpg. K&N, PC3, and Micron Exhaust.

Motographer - in this heat make sure you have fresh coolant and oil, it makes a substantial difference. Not to get in the "what oil to run argument" but I love Lucas Racing semi-syntheic motorcycle 10w40. Bike shifts smoother, runs cooler, and clutch release feels better.

 

My '00 gets between 45 and 50 mpg on avg. I never ride city, thank God, and do a mix of back roads and highway. Highway usually results in 45 mpg, while twisty back roads I get 48 to 52 mpg. My bike is completely stock with 50,000 miles on it.

 

Hey, Motographer. Is the video in your signature animation online? I am curious to see the whole video.

Jose

 

You like watching men get kicked in the nuts?

You ever seen a grown man naked?

You like watching gladiator movies?

 

Uhhhhhhh ...... I guess it would be yes on all counts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=a86cQobU-n4&NR=1

Jose

 

I ride city almost exclusively, in the south, hard on the throttle, temps running at or above 200 routinely ( which I hate ), and average right around 30 -32 MPG. The bike is so fun to ride I don't really care about the low, and it is low, mpg. My last bike was an '03 Kaw Concours and it got slightly better gas mileage and was 200 lbs heavier, go figure. If it isnt running like crap I'd say make sure your routine maintenance is up to date and go on about your business. 30+ is way better than my Chevy 350 that only gets like 14 mpg.

 

I've been hard on the throttle all week and it keeps asking for more !!!