I regularly get 40-42mpg on my '07 Wee: is this normal?

[SWriverstone]

Hi All...I have an '07 DL650A with 34K miles. When I first bought the Wee in '07, I vividly remember routinely getting fuel efficiency in the neighborhood of 50mpg. Once I even got 60mpg (though I rode like an old lady on that tank). Over the years, my fuel efficiency has dropped to the point where I'm regularly getting no better than 42-43mpg now. I seem to hear that many other Wee owners routinely get in the 50mpg range...so I'm trying to determine if 40-42mpg is normal given the information below? Or is this indicative of something wrong? I understand that questions like this can be maddeningly vague without specifics, so here are some:

• I weigh 220lbs, and my reported 40-42mpg is riding one-up.
• My Wee is running flawlessly---I've never had an issue of any kind with it.
• I've changed the oil religiously every 3-5K miles. Rode the first 3K on dino oil, then switched to Rotella 5W-40 synth and have stuck with that ever since.
• I broke the bike in with an 800-mile ride back hom from the dealer: I varied RPMs the entire way, accelerating/decelerating between 5K-7K RPM's
• I had the valves checked at 16K miles (they were all in spec) and haven't done it since as several other Wee owners I know say not to bother again 'til 40K miles.
• I keep my tires inflated: usually around 34psi front and 41psi rear.
• I do a lot of around-town riding in short hops, and realize that lowers fuel efficiency...but the worst I've ever gotten in town is 40mpg. I went on a long road trip recently that was all slab or high-speed back roads...and I got 42mpg.
• I've always put 87 octane fuel in the bike.
• I ride both with hard cases and without---it's never made more than 1-2mpg difference in fuel efficiency.
• I've noticed no appreciable oil burning/loss---no more than dropping from the "high" to "low" lines in the sightglass over a couple months.

Those are the facts. Now for speculation:

• In the time I've owned the Wee, I've become a faster rider---not more reckless, just faster. I generally accelerate fairly hard (but smoothly) and ride at a vigorous, sporting pace. On the slab, I usually cruise between 6K-7K RPMs (80-85mph). In contrast, I know I was a "gentler," slower rider when I first got the bike (long, easy acceleration, and cruising speeds 10-15mph less than I do now). Could this account for the difference?

• As I mentioned above, I haven't had my valves checked since 16K miles. A couple friends who own Wees both checked theirs around 30-35K miles and said they were in spec. I know, I know---I shouldn't listen to friends and should just stick to factory-specified intervals. But I haven't noticed a thing out of the ordinary with the engine that might indicate trouble with valves. It purrs beautifully every time I start it up. Could out-of-spec valves have a big impact on fuel efficiency? (Could my engine be in imminent danger of blowing up without any audible warning signs?)

Any enlightenment anyone can offer is much appreciated!
Scott

[Bugz]

Originally Posted by SWriverstone

Hi All...I have an '07 DL650A with 34K miles. When I first bought the Wee in '07, I vividly remember routinely getting fuel efficiency in the neighborhood of 50mpg. Once I even got 60mpg (though I rode like an old lady on that tank). Over the years, my fuel efficiency has dropped to the point where I'm regularly getting no better than 42-43mpg now. I seem to hear that many other Wee owners routinely get in the 50mpg range...so I'm trying to determine if 40-42mpg is normal given the information below? Or is this indicative of something wrong? I understand that questions like this can be maddeningly vague without specifics, so here are some:

• I weigh 220lbs, and my reported 40-42mpg is riding one-up.
• My Wee is running flawlessly---I've never had an issue of any kind with it.
• I've changed the oil religiously every 3-5K miles. Rode the first 3K on dino oil, then switched to Rotella 5W-40 synth and have stuck with that ever since.
• I broke the bike in with an 800-mile ride back hom from the dealer: I varied RPMs the entire way, accelerating/decelerating between 5K-7K RPM's
• I had the valves checked at 16K miles (they were all in spec) and haven't done it since as several other Wee owners I know say not to bother again 'til 40K miles.
• I keep my tires inflated: usually around 34psi front and 41psi rear.
• I do a lot of around-town riding in short hops, and realize that lowers fuel efficiency...but the worst I've ever gotten in town is 40mpg. I went on a long road trip recently that was all slab or high-speed back roads...and I got 42mpg.
• I've always put 87 octane fuel in the bike.
• I ride both with hard cases and without---it's never made more than 1-2mpg difference in fuel efficiency.
• I've noticed no appreciable oil burning/loss---no more than dropping from the "high" to "low" lines in the sightglass over a couple months.

Those are the facts. Now for speculation:

• In the time I've owned the Wee, I've become a faster rider---not more reckless, just faster. I generally accelerate fairly hard (but smoothly) and ride at a vigorous, sporting pace. On the slab, I usually cruise between 6K-7K RPMs (80-85mph). In contrast, I know I was a "gentler," slower rider when I first got the bike (long, easy acceleration, and cruising speeds 10-15mph less than I do now). Could this account for the difference?

• As I mentioned above, I haven't had my valves checked since 16K miles. A couple friends who own Wees both checked theirs around 30-35K miles and said they were in spec. I know, I know---I shouldn't listen to friends and should just stick to factory-specified intervals. But I haven't noticed a thing out of the ordinary with the engine that might indicate trouble with valves. It purrs beautifully every time I start it up. Could out-of-spec valves have a big impact on fuel efficiency? (Could my engine be in imminent danger of blowing up without any audible warning signs?)

Any enlightenment anyone can offer is much appreciated!
Scott

That's the reason you're getting less milage, main factor being your cruising speed of 85 mph. Drop your speed to 70 and see what it does with regards your fuell efficiency. You'll be stunned.

Also fast acceleration doesn't kill your milage. It actually can increase it for a little bit as long as it's firm acceleration on low to mid revs (Thermal efficiency of an combusiton engine is better when the engine load is increased).

Your engine is fine. Valves probably within spec. It wont blow up out of nowhere

[steveb126]

Regularly get 52mpg on my 2011 Wee with 29k miles. Best is 60, worst is high 40s when slabbing at 80mph. Just changed to a 16 tooth in front. Planning a trip next week, interested to see if the sprocket change helps high speed fuel economy. Just checking in with my experience. If you do mostly high speed riding I don't think you're too far off average. Is your air filter clean ?

[AtlantaDR]

I do a lot of 80mph plus, mixed with some slower speeds when sharing lanes. I check every tank and I rarely get below 50. Mine is a 2011 with 10K mikes, but this was true of my 2008 also.

[zed88]

I had the exact same experience. Bought bike initally around 5k miles and average 55mpg. Gradually added farkles (weight) and got more proficient on the bike (cruising at 70-80 on the interstate (real speed not indicated) and accelerating hard. Mileage gradually dropped to 40-45mpg but I was flogging it alot. If you go back to taking it easy your mileage will go back up. Worst mileage ever was driving into a 30mph wind at 80mph with the temps around 20 degrees. Got about 33mpg.

[BigBoPeep]

I had to work very hard to get less than 50mpg on my Wee. I would routinely stretch it to 270 miles before filling up. I get the mileage you're getting with my 1000 Multistrada, and that bike does not inspire frugality. I am about 70 pounds lighter than you, but that still sounds pretty low.


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[Kawidad]

Originally Posted by SWriverstone

Hi All...

• In the time I've owned the Wee, I've become a faster rider---not more reckless, just faster. I generally accelerate fairly hard (but smoothly) and ride at a vigorous, sporting pace. On the slab, I usually cruise between 6K-7K RPMs (80-85mph). In contrast, I know I was a "gentler," slower rider when I first got the bike (long, easy acceleration, and cruising speeds 10-15mph less than I do now). Could this account for the difference?

Any enlightenment anyone can offer is much appreciated!
Scott

There it is right there. The wee will have a severe drop off in MPG at higher speeds. And, rapid acceleration will kill your mileage too. (Hammering the throttle does not increases it )

I had a wee and if I kept it at semi legal freeway speeds, the MPG was routinely around 48 MPG or so, however, once that speed increased to 80-85 MPH, the MPG dropped to around 40-ish.

It's not that I was that big of a speed freak, but when you ride out west on open desert highways, you have to go that fast or get run off of the road.

[robberst]

the fuel mileage on my '04 dropped from an average of 50 mpg to 40 mpg over the period of a year or so.

If you wanting to take your bike apart and look for a problem.......I'd first check the IAP sensor. (Intake air pressure) and the two temperature sensors. They are relatively easy to check if you have a multimeter and a hand vacuum pump for the pressure sensor.

In my case the IAP sensor was way off making it run rich. You could smell it was running rich in the exhaust. A good IAP sensor and I'm back to 50mpg

[Reposado1800]

Ethanol content is your problem. My 4.7 Dodge gets 11.9 in town. Sucks.

[steveb126]

Originally Posted by Kawidad

There it is right there. The wee will have a severe drop off in MPG at higher speeds. And, rapid acceleration will kill your mileage too. (Hammering the throttle does not increases it )

I had a wee and if I kept it at semi legal freeway speeds, the MPG was routinely around 48 MPG or so, however, once that speed increased to 80-85 MPH, the MPG dropped to around 40-ish.

It's not that I was that big of a speed freak, but when you ride out west on open desert highways, you have to go that fast or get run off of the road.

Yep, that's been my experience too.

[BikeMan]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...46&postcount=1 for best mpg use regular automotive grade fuel with the highest AKI rating.

[devo2002]

Have you developed a fuel leak? Take a peak under the tank for grit or oily substance on hoses/tubes. Smell gas upon startup? Have you ever cleaned your air filter?

[ph0rk]

I often get 45mpg in town on my 09 wee. 10% ethanol sucks.

[oldmanb777]

I have similar experience. Easily got mid to high 50's broke 60 on several occasions. when I got it in 08. I bought it new. I first noticed the fuel economy going down after a valve check, every thing was in speck, so no changes except new platinum plugs. Then a trip to Yellowstone and it has kept going down since. Some of it is the knut with his right hand on the handle bar
But I notice I can smell it sometimes. Smells rich, and it doesn't idle as smooth as it used to. It also starts harder, and low end power seems to be less. So on my to do list is a Throttle body sync, and check and clean the throttle bodies, and sensors. It never prefered premium gas either. In fact both my DRZ (carburator) and my Wee always prefered regular gas. but just filled the Wee with premium the other day, and noticed it ran better. I'm not sure how that plays into it, but it never ran better before on premium, in fact it ran worse on premium.

[Nd2Roam]

My .02, I've logged every fuel up on Fuelly.com on my new to me 07 Wee (16 tooth sprocket, top box & I weigh about 220) since I bought it earlier this Summer. The first fill was from a nearly full tank and the last tank before a camping trip I caught lowered tire pressures. I've found whether babying it or riding normal yields about the same results. Then you can see what happens when loaded with two 45l panniers chasing a Bandit 1250 for 2 days in the mountains. The Bandit was getting the same MPG's but he didn't have the joy of flogging his bike at much higher RPM's often at WOT.