Power commanders and MPG...

I've recently installed a set of remus exhaust pipes and a power commander. With loaded luggage I was getting to about 180+ miles before the light even was to blink. Now, at 140+, no luggage... I'm on empty...

Is this normal? What is recommended? I'm a bit stuck as I only have a mac and the software requires a pc...

Someone named Trev sent me a map, but again, I can't install due to not having a pc anymore.....


Curious what folks are seeing. I expeted a drop, but not close to 10mpg! People often say, 'oh, what's that get like 50mpg?'.... NO...31.... It's like a subaru.

Anyone on here in the Lake Tahoe area with a pc and some power commander experience?

thanks.

 

Loaded them with my macbook and Parellels

That's a pretty big drop, I'd expect 35ish with the power commander. Driving habits has a huge effect... And I'm sure you just don't put around the lake, you're goin up and down the hills!

I just put a PC3 on the 1100xx yesterday for my roadtrip, I'll have mileage reports next week when I hit the road. It fixed so much with the Blackbird, I think I'm going to throw one on my VFR after the trip.

 

I just did a mileage check on my 99 with Staintunes and a PC, after slabbing it on I-5 for 175 miles it got 43.5 MPG, almost the same as before the PC...

 

Yikes. I'm seeing a huge drop then, nearly 8+mpg. When I rode the stock setup from San Diego to Tahoe, both side bags FULL, one with camera gear, speeds in excess of 120 and 130 at points, all flat driving, but still 90+ for a whole tank I was gettin mid to high 30s, I want to say 38 maybe. My ride from Tahoe to San Francisco, where I had the work done was near 40. My ride back was closer to 30.

You say you uploaded a new map via a mac. What's involved?

thanks.

 

I have to say that something is up! I can't really say that my situation applies but here's what I've got and getting:
stock pipes with PC3, stock filter, true dyno-custom map for this set up
getting 36mpg with bags loaded, 80+ mph cruise speed, from lemoore to auburn.
so you can compare notes with your tuner.......

 

I don't think he has had time to reply so I will explain it. He has one of the new Macs with the intel processors and he is running parallels which allows the mac to run Windows XP or Vista or some other operating system. I'm assuming he has windows of some sort on it. It's basically just like having a windows machine, but it runs OS 10 as well. So it's just like using a dell or any other Windows based system.

Matt

 

thank god i am not going nuts! i went from 42 to 31mpg after full motad system, custom and fuel pressure regulator (not all at once, FPR and custom map were the latest). took off the FPR and have managed to be back to around 36mpg. and that is without ever touching the second set of valves!

 

Parallels is a pretty good tool, but if you work for the government and have to follow HSPD-12 and other security standards they can be a pain for admins. cost of support doubles as well. each OS has to auth to an agency (NASA) Acitive Directory (single forest, with center resource forest), have patchlink installed, AV, and scanned server times a month. oh yeah, don't forget the MAC address... if network is not told that you have two OSs using the same MAC address they block the port. Sorry about the bitch, this is a motorcycle form and not for work!

 

I routinely get 42-43 just putting around NJ. I did a loop of the Cherohala Skyway,TN RT360 onto US RT 129, ran the Dragon going southbound, NC RT28 then US RT19 Back into Cherokee, NC & returned 47 MPG. Trust me when I tell you, I was not taking it easy. In fact, I rarely use 6th gear. Seems to me that the 6th Gen's get significantly worse MPG's than the 5th Gen's. Anyone who's owned both have anything to add?

BTW, don't anyone tell her but I'm planning on surprising my Wife with a silver 2005 VFR non ABS as soon as I get back from my "all expenses paid (by the USAF) middle eastern vacation". I leave in 9 days. I already have the sale lined up with a guy in PA near my parents house.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Um, yeah... I need a differnt map... For someone to get 10 more mpg than I'm getting.... It makes my bike a short trip bike, not a touring machine. I knew I would lose some mpg but figured I still be at least in the mid to high 30's, not low 30s to high 20's......


Just wish power commander would, 1. respond to my email about a map recommendation, and 2. make their software available for macs... I think macs are here to stay?

c

 

Yikes!! Mpg in the 30's? I have a y2k viffer that I have put over 46k on since I have bought it new in 2000. I had consider putting a PC II and a slip on exhaust when I first got the bike. However when I did my first tour up to Canada, I was getting over 50 mpg tank after tank. When I am consistantly travel over 250 miles on 4.5 gallons while traveling on a average of 75 mph, I decided to stay stock. The only thing I use as a engine upgrade is a K&N filter.

I am curious if there are other VFR's that get the same mpg as me.

 

I've owned both. I only have 800 miles on my 6th and at last check, I was getting just under 44 MPG and I am currently 100% stock. I believe my 5th Gen was getting about 45 MPG and it too was 100% stock. However, I'm running an extra +2 on the rear of the 6th Gen so that might account for the 1 MPG difference.

 

I have, on tour my previous Gen 6 used to get an easy 200 and a bit miles before flash, my current Gen 5 Mk 1 has just got its best at 188miles. The Gen 6 was stock with NO PC3 and the O2 sensors were still installed...

Think the O2 sensors would help with economy by leaning the bike out on constant cruise, the Gen 5 Mk 2 may also get better MPG than a Mk 1 for this reason.

 

Best I ever got was 266 miles on 5.4 gallons which equates 49.25MPG. My routine average just ripping around NJ is 200-230. I am truely surprised if I don't top 200 miles before I fill up.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Before I had my windows XP I had a similar problem with not having the correct hardware. Staples office supplies has a 14 day no questions asked return policy, go" buy" a nice lap top and just as long as you keep all the packaging materials and put everything back correctly they will let you return it within 14 days. I guess I had a little trouble with the ethics of doing that ,but I returned a perfectly good laptop and no one was for the worse. So stop worring about hardware compability and use a different map, sounds like you are running way rich.eddie

 

PC III's and mileage

I have an 05 VFR with the PCIII and a Two Brothers Racing 4 to 1 with the Carbon Fiber can and the best mileage I've ever gotten with that setup is 38 MPG. Whether I consistently romp on it (which is typical) or when I take it easy, my MPG variation is only about 2 MPG. I consistently check mileage and I've never seen worse than 35 MPG and that tank had several 120+ MPH adventures on it.

It sounds like if you're seeing a 10 MPG drop with the PCIII, something isn't quite right. How is throttle response around the VTEC mark? If it is still "popping" over that threshold or if it surges heavily in first gear, there is likely a better map out there for you.

 

Is it typical that you would lose gas mileage by installing a PCIII?

 

Yes, it is typical to lose mpg with a power commander. I spoke with someone in their company a few days ago. The main answer, which wasn't really an answer was that 'people don't admit to gassing it more'. Frankly, that's one aspect but when I've ridden sevral tanks of gas at normal rates of speed split between 55mph areas and small town 'traffic' and get only 143 miles before the lights blinking, that's a HUGE drop and something I need to fine tune. The people at the company felt that I could get better mileage but couldn't direct me to a map, or offer any real advice what so ever... Kind of friggin lame really. My last tank of gas I went 153 miles and filled up 4.8 gallons for a mpg of 31.875 under very relaxed conditions and NO luggage. The bags were on the bike but nothing more than a helmet inside one bag... I was getting near 40mpg loaded and screaming fast before....

 

I think it's going to be a while before someone finally figures out how to crack the mystery of making this bike "wake-up" and get good gas mileage at the same time. Unfortunately it's going to get worse, as motorcycles get tagged with more and more EPA regulations. I have a couple of 1980's bikes that I don't think I'm going to get rid of for the sole purpose of reminding me what "unrestricted" feels like. I feel your pain Photo_grphr, I want them to make this bike run like it's completely capable of running- quick(not fast), and get decent gas mileage. How can you be saving the environment when you have to use more gas to go the same distance? Worst of all, I just read an article on the EPA website stating that by 2020 motorcycles will account for 2.2% of all road mobile HC emissions, and .3% mobile NOx emissions. WTF?!?! all these regulations and we won't even top 5%?!?!?

 

I'd say it's definitely a mapping issue. Sent you an email reply, if you're around my area I'm happy to try and help you out. Another option is to have it professionally tuned, there are a couple places in Reno that could do this. Pricey though at around $200-$300, I believe.