KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: jermwars on October 01, 2021, 12:01:28 AM
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Ive had my AK550 for almost a week and im getting concerned about the MPG...The red gas light starts flashing at about 135 miles. Not sure how much is left in the tank at that indication but i cant imagine theres a whole gallon left and thats how much id need to get anywhere CLOSE to the MPG im supposed to be getting.
Not sure what to think.
Anyone know when the gas light comes on as far as reserve?
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I've read in many places, including journalists reviews, that the gas gauge on the AK goes down VERY VERY rapidly. If your gauge is flashing then the best thing to do is go ahead and fill up just to find out how much you actually put in. And then use that information to adjust how far you can go on a tank. All USA AK 550s should have a 3.9 gallon tank. If you put in 2.5 gallons you are getting about 54 mpg and you should be then able to go over 200 miles on a tank, but only if you intend to run it dry. If you put in more than that you are getting less mpg than that. Either way how much gas you put in to fill the tank will tell you what your mpg is. All new scooters/bikes will improve mpg over the first several hundred, if not first several thousand, miles. My last brand new bike was a CTX1300 and for the first 1500 miles I was averaging only 40-42 mpg. But it kept improving the more miles I put on it. After 8000 miles I was getting around 48-50 mpg regularly. And that was considered really good for that bike.
I always use the A trip meter to tell me when it's time to get gas and don't go by the gauge. For what I have read on the AK 550 I would expect somewhat over 50 mpg and likely near that 52-54 mpg mark if you ride conservatively. Lower if you ride aggressively (48-50). During the warm summer months I often get 58-62 mpg on my Burgman 650. A bigger engine but the same size tank. My last long trip included some Interstate speeds and I still was able to go as far as 209 miles before I could stop to fill up. I ended up putting in 3.59 gallons in that time. I don't usually go that far but knew that I could based on my experience with the bike and how it was running. I would expect to do AT LEAST as well on the AK 550 when I get one.
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Are you entirety certain you are filling the tank?
Tricky here, because it is not a good idea to run some scooters dry....trying to find the limits of your reserve.
I've had a quality scooter that came with a fairly wacky fuel gauge. Showed full for miles then dropped like a stone.
My guess is nothing wrong with your scooter -- except the guy gassing it and / or the gauge needs some more experience ?
Stig
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Precisely why my first recommendation is to go ahead and fill the tank to find out how much is needed to fill it.
As Stig stated do make sure you actually fill the tank.
I do not recommend running it dry just to find out how far it will go. The only reason I did go so many miles, and have once or twice before, it because I have learned my scooter and what it is capable of doing for mileage. I also learned what the gauge is actually telling me but still rely on the miles traveled and know how it is running to be able to go any distance. That takes time and experience with it.
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I've read in many places, including journalists reviews, that the gas gauge on the AK goes down VERY VERY rapidly. If your gauge is flashing then the best thing to do is go ahead and fill up just to find out how much you actually put in. And then use that information to adjust how far you can go on a tank. All USA AK 550s should have a 3.9 gallon tank. If you put in 2.5 gallons you are getting about 54 mpg and you should be then able to go over 200 miles on a tank, but only if you intend to run it dry. If you put in more than that you are getting less mpg than that. Either way how much gas you put in to fill the tank will tell you what your mpg is. All new scooters/bikes will improve mpg over the first several hundred, if not first several thousand, miles. My last brand new bike was a CTX1300 and for the first 1500 miles I was averaging only 40-42 mpg. But it kept improving the more miles I put on it. After 8000 miles I was getting around 48-50 mpg regularly. And that was considered really good for that bike.
I always use the A trip meter to tell me when it's time to get gas and don't go by the gauge. For what I have read on the AK 550 I would expect somewhat over 50 mpg and likely near that 52-54 mpg mark if you ride conservatively. Lower if you ride aggressively (48-50). During the warm summer months I often get 58-62 mpg on my Burgman 650. A bigger engine but the same size tank. My last long trip included some Interstate speeds and I still was able to go as far as 209 miles before I could stop to fill up. I ended up putting in 3.59 gallons in that time. I don't usually go that far but knew that I could based on my experience with the bike and how it was running. I would expect to do AT LEAST as well on the AK 550 when I get one.
Tested it out just as advised...even filled it up at the same spot to be sure
Both times it worked out to be getting well over 50. Right where you said it should.
I think maybe i didnt have it filled all the way the first time like Stig was thinking. That or i reset the mileage while i was fiddling around with all the neat new buttons and switches on the new toy :D :P
What you read about the gauge seems to be the case for me too...Stays on full for about the first gallon and then the bars drop off really fast...and from what i can tell, theres about a gallon left when the red bar starts blinking. Especially if you turn the bike on while its on the kick stand and not straight up
SO!! One gallon for the first bar, one gallon for the last bar, and a little under two gallons as the lions share of the gauge. I guess that makes sense
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Are you entirety certain you are filling the tank?
Tricky here, because it is not a good idea to run some scooters dry....trying to find the limits of your reserve.
I've had a quality scooter that came with a fairly wacky fuel gauge. Showed full for miles then dropped like a stone.
My guess is nothing wrong with your scooter -- except the guy gassing it and / or the gauge needs some more experience ?
Stig
I kinda think i might have been being too cautious the first time i filled it and had the nozzle too deep in the tank so it shut off prematurely. Not even close to full. Good call. That would explain my 35mpg for the first fill. Im confident now that im getting right about what i should at around 53.
And this fuel gauge is the same. Goes 50 miles for the first bar then half as much for the next 3. Thats ok...I loved my suzuki gs750l (79) and it didnt even have a gas gauge. I never missed having one. Sure miss that bike though...
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Tested it out just as advised...even filled it up at the same spot to be sure
Both times it worked out to be getting well over 50. Right where you said it should.
I think maybe i didnt have it filled all the way the first time like Stig was thinking. That or i reset the mileage while i was fiddling around with all the neat new buttons and switches on the new toy :D :P
What you read about the gauge seems to be the case for me too...Stays on full for about the first gallon and then the bars drop off really fast...and from what i can tell, theres about a gallon left when the red bar starts blinking. Especially if you turn the bike on while its on the kick stand and not straight up
SO!! One gallon for the first bar, one gallon for the last bar, and a little under two gallons as the lions share of the gauge. I guess that makes sense
I found the gas gauge on my Burgman 650 is almost the very same... at least for that last bar. 5 bars in the gauge. When the last bar is left it stay solid (not flashing yet) but the tank symbol above the gauge starts to flash. That indicates about a gallon is left. Then the last bar starts flashing along with the tank symbol to indicate about a half gallon. The 4 previous bars all differ a little with how much is burned before they drop off but they are all relatively close. First might be after 4/5 gal, then the second goes after another 2/3 gal, then the third is gone with another 4/5 gal leaving about a gallon remaining for that last bar. Verified by my own tracking miles and gallons put into the tank at each fillup.
So it sounds like the AK gas gauge may not be so different than on many other bikes, other than the first 4 bars. At least not as bad as some have implied.
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I found the gas gauge on my Burgman 650 is almost the very same... at least for that last bar. 5 bars in the gauge. When the last bar is left it stay solid (not flashing yet) but the tank symbol above the gauge starts to flash. That indicates about a gallon is left. Then the last bar starts flashing along with the tank symbol to indicate about a half gallon. The 4 previous bars all differ a little with how much is burned before they drop off but they are all relatively close. First might be after 4/5 gal, then the second goes after another 2/3 gal, then the third is gone with another 4/5 gal leaving about a gallon remaining for that last bar. Verified by my own tracking miles and gallons put into the tank at each fillup.
So it sounds like the AK gas gauge may not be so different than on many other bikes, other than the first 4 bars. At least not as bad as some have implied.
My other bike is a yamaha majesty yp400 and its kinda the same story there except not as extreme...3.7 gallon tank and the last bar starts blinking when it has .7 gallons left...BUT!!
At the same time it starts blinking, it starts a special "F" trip distance so you can pretty much tell exactly what you have left. Then the "F" trip resets itself when you fill up...really good system
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Keep in mind, too, that Kymco maxi's anyway, do not reach their peak(broken in) until about 5 to 7000 miles.
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Keep in mind, too, that Kymco maxi's anyway, do not reach their peak(broken in) until about 5 to 7000 miles.
I'd endorse that. My X-Town at 5K miles is still loosening up! Hoping to see an improvement in the mpg when I get the binding rear brake fixed by a replacement caliper - offered under warranty!
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I will also add in here that my CTX1300, the last bike I bought new, didn't reach peak mpg until close to 8000 miles along. I was initially wondering about it the first few hundred miles on the odometer and was concerned that I wasn't seeing as good mpg as I was expecting. But it just kept getting better and better leveling off by 8000 miles.
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My new AK550 starts blinking at about 120 miles. Takes 2.5 gal. to fill it. Seems about right.
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I ignore my gas gauge, its as bad as the speedo and the dash illumination sensor. I have a dashboard cover screen and I'm tempted to actually blackout those parts along with the bottom part of the mode indicator lights.
As we all have with every other bike. I go by my mileage and my riding style during that tank full. I'm fill up at about 180 to 190 on a normal tank and around 140 on a heavy throttle tank with about 3 gal.
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Precisely why my first recommendation is to go ahead and fill the tank to find out how much is needed to fill it.
As Stig stated do make sure you actually fill the tank.
I do not recommend running it dry just to find out how far it will go. The only reason I did go so many miles, and have once or twice before, it because I have learned my scooter and what it is capable of doing for mileage. I also learned what the gauge is actually telling me but still rely on the miles traveled and know how it is running to be able to go any distance. That takes time and experience with it.
I know I'm late chiming in here...
I'm a conservative rider and watch my miles after a fill up. This past Saturday, I was coming up on 135 miles and still had 2 bars showing. It's a new bike and far from being broken in. So, I'm very happy with my mpg and potential range for the riding I do. Next year, a longer trip on my bucket list, the range may fall short somewhat. But, for me anyway, the 550's many advantages far outweigh a few extra gas stops.
Ride safe everyone.
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My dealer didn't fill mine up. It showed 1 bar short of full when I left the shop. After it dropped the 2nd bar (60 miles on 2nd bar) it took 1.9 gallons to fill it to the top. Other bikes always have those tube sticking down from the filler port.
My question is, how full do you fill it? Do you put the nozzle full in and call it full when it cuts off? Or do you fill it to the top as I just described?
Anyhoo, I gotta get out and put some miles on this tank to see how it does for my riding style.
I'm kinda AR about knowing how much fuel is used at each bar drop, so I'll be trying to figure that out too. No, it doesn't matter. It's just one of my quirks.
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Looking at the fuel tank in the service manual there is really no neck to the fill tube. Looks like the cap is right at the top of where you would fill it with maybe a little space right at the cap.
The fill cap and port is at the right top corner of the tank in this screen clip. Looks like the tank slopes up toward the rear so there would be some air at the top of the fuel with a full tank filled to just at the cap with enough air at the cap to close it without spilling any.
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I will also add in here that my CTX1300, the last bike I bought new, didn't reach peak mpg until close to 8000 miles along. I was initially wondering about it the first few hundred miles on the odometer and was concerned that I wasn't seeing as good mpg as I was expecting. But it just kept getting better and better leveling off by 8000 miles.
Coming into 2000 miles now and it looks like i am getting juuust a little better mileage each time i refill :D
Fascinating
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Full on the AK550 is when the gas is level with the metal plate just inside the filler neck. Anymore than that and you'll have a problem on a hot day as there is very little "extra" or expansion in these tanks. Also the gas cap on these take up a lot of the the room between that metal plate and the top of the neck.
Side note, don't put the hose into the hole in that metal plate to fill it. You won't be able to see anything and the pump I was on at the time didn't auto shut-off when the gas reached the hose nozzle.
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Thanks to all replies. I had read the manual...no details.
Filled up at the station and couldn't see nothing or get feedback from the pump while filing.
Thought I must be missing something.
Sometimes I (or others) ask a question that is just plain obvious but for some reason at a particular time just eludes me.
Glad this wasn't one of those Doh' moments.....
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I found the gas gauge on my Burgman 650 is almost the very same... at least for that last bar. 5 bars in the gauge. When the last bar is left it stay solid (not flashing yet) but the tank symbol above the gauge starts to flash. That indicates about a gallon is left. Then the last bar starts flashing along with the tank symbol to indicate about a half gallon. The 4 previous bars all differ a little with how much is burned before they drop off but they are all relatively close. First might be after 4/5 gal, then the second goes after another 2/3 gal, then the third is gone with another 4/5 gal leaving about a gallon remaining for that last bar. Verified by my own tracking miles and gallons put into the tank at each fillup.
So it sounds like the AK gas gauge may not be so different than on many other bikes, other than the first 4 bars. At least not as bad as some have implied.
So i discovered the last red blinking bar isnt actually the last bar :D
That one goes away and then the red "E" sits there and blinks on its own!
I thought it was weird that the low fuel warning was triggered at just under 1/3 of a tank...
This was probably all covered in the manual.
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So i discovered the last red blinking bar isnt actually the last bar :D
That one goes away and then the red "E" sits there and blinks on its own!
I thought it was weird that the low fuel warning was triggered at just under 1/3 of a tank...
This was probably all covered in the manual.
Thanks for taking one for the group and risking being stranded on the side of the road.
My Burgman 650 would flash the tank symbol with the last bar staying on solid when there was about .95 gallons left. 3.9 gallons so that would be close to 1/4 tank left. Then when down to 1/2 gallon remaining the last bar would also start to flash.
I was hoping there was something like that on the AK but wasn't going to hold my breath looking for it. Good to know there IS a 2 step warning that fuel is getting low. That actually does make sense to me.
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So i discovered the last red blinking bar isnt actually the last bar :D
That one goes away and then the red "E" sits there and blinks on its own!
I thought it was weird that the low fuel warning was triggered at just under 1/3 of a tank...
This was probably all covered in the manual.
But, but, but.......how soon after the blinking E did you fill up and how much?
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But, but, but.......how soon after the blinking E did you fill up and how much?
Not long after at all...so it still accepted just over 3 gallons. (US gallons that is...now that i know there are OTHER gallons i guess i need to make that distinction)
;D :P ???
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Not long after at all...so it still accepted just over 3 gallons. (US gallons that is...now that i know there are OTHER gallons i guess i need to make that distinction)
;D :P ???
Not to get nit picky...
Ok I'm getting nit picky...
"just over" means what? .1? .2? .3? gallons or .6 gallons? (USA gallons of course).
It's very possible I was very close to discovering that on my last fill up as well when I filled the tank with 3.004 USGallons with "just over" 142 miles on that last tank. ;)
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I read that Pfizer's coming out with some pills for these AK 50 guys to deal with their massive OCD.
Fingers crossed.....
we can only hope ;)
Stig
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I read that Pfizer's coming out with some pills for these AK 50 guys to deal with their massive OCD.
Fingers crossed.....
we can only hope ;)
Stig
I already just got my booster yesterday. BEFORE I posted that last. ;D :o
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I read that Pfizer's coming out with some pills for these AK 50 guys to deal with their massive OCD.
Fingers crossed.....
we can only hope ;)
Stig
Niiiice lol
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Im showing 67 for the average mpg...convert to US almost right at 57
Knock out 5% for the spedo/odo differential and we land right at 54 MPG (US)
Next fill ill see if that matches reality
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Now that the temps are dropping below the freezing mark I am expecting the mpg to drop dramatically as I continue to ride for the next several months.
I was out delivering a package to the local USPS terminal in our local grocery store and figured I'd ride there since it was close to time to fill the tank with gas anyway. The temp on this ride was right at 23 F but the ride was only 6+ miles round trip to the store and gas station and home again. My last 3-4 rides on this tank of gas were in temps that ranged between 40-55 F other than this last short one. While I was just getting to the store, about 2 miles away, the last red bar started flashing. This was around 128 miles on this tank of gas. I filled up at 131 miles with 2.577 gallons and that calculates to about 50.8 mpg. I was thinking this was a little higher than expected, but close. I am expecting the mpg to improve over the next 6 months so by the time temps warm up to over 60 F again sometime in April (maybe) I hope to be seeing closer to 60 mpg by then. But in the next 3, maybe 4, months I don't expect more than 50 mpg. In fact, if temps drop to what they normally do during this time of year I expect around 45 mpg most of the time.
Most motorcycle engines do very poorly in cold temps and really well in warm to hot temps. And I've not been wrong about this for my last 6 bikes.
BTW- I've been filling the tank while the AK is on the side stand. This keeps both wheels on the ground and the bike more level rather than elevating the rear wheel tilting the bike forward a little. The side stand is as good as the center stand as far as where the gas ends up when full (other than the tilt thing with the center stand) since the gas port is in the center line of the scooter. I did this with my CTX1300 also since the gas port was also in the center line of that bike. It's just a little quicker to not put it up on the center stand. The tilt is really not significant enough to bother being concerned about but there is no problem with filling the tank while it is on the side stand. My Burgman was different in that the gas port was on the left SIDE (like on a car) and there was a slight, but measurable difference when filling up with that scooter on the center stand vs the side stand.
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Now that temps are again going higher than freezing my mpg is also going back up. Filled the tank a few days ago after burning through it in temps ranging from mid 30sF to near 50F and speeds ranging from 35 mph to over 70 mph, mostly 45-55 mph. That tank of gas calculated to just over 55 mpg. Better than before when temps were above freezing. I can tell that some improvement is due to simply putting some miles on the AK. It always happens with a new bike. MPG is lowest when the first few hundred miles are put on the odometer but gradually get better after a few thousand miles are added. I've found improvement continues to happen until around 6000-8000 miles when mpg starts to level out.
However, since the tank on my AK is smaller than I'm accustomed to (pending actual measuring of volume) I will be buying a MSR Fuel bottle from Amazon. Same price at REI and other places so I could just go shopping... on my AK of course. The bottle is their 30 oz version (.89L). I'm thinking this will be enough emergency supply of gas to get me to a station as long as I don't need to go more than 12 miles to get there (55 mpg * 30 oz or .234 gal = 12.65 miles). I was thinking of maybe a 1.5 Liter bottle. Will have to make a trip to REI to see what they have. I looked at some cheaper bottles but shy away due to many reviews about leaking or special procedure to prevent leaking. There were one or two reviews for those cheaper bottles about the bottle bursting but all of those were when the bottle was left in full sun for a time. That, to me, would be stupid obvious. The MSR bottles do not have that problem, maybe because those who buy them are smarter than a rock.
Anyway. I've been thinking of getting a spare fuel bottle for many years and just haven't done it yet. This would be a good idea for any rider on any bike or scooter.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015I0GE6/?coliid=I2I1RM2KJJTO2C&colid=18TV0X8O5SQLR&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015I0GE6/?coliid=I2I1RM2KJJTO2C&colid=18TV0X8O5SQLR&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)