x500 mileage

[rick71]

Wow... how often do you need new tires ?
:-)

[bongoman]

not as often now that I run Michelin Gold. My first set lasted about 15k miles. The Michelin still looks good after 14k.

[rick71]

I only got 36 mpg on my last fill up. Hopefully the tech will see something when it goes in for the 600 mile checkup.

On a positive note, the speedo seems to be less than 3% optimistic. I checked with a GPS. The odometer looks pretty close too, but I've only got a 15 mile sample for that.

I'll be doing a 2-way 50-ish minute ride Saturday to get the tupperware repair estimate. I'll use the GPS to check mileage there too.

I'll get almost 2 hours on the scoot in one trip Saturday. I haven't done that in over 20 years.

[Hoolander2]

Now that I've got a little more riding time and experience on the 500 I can say that it IS a gas hog! 

Haven't calculated the actual mileage yet but I'm guessing it's not the 45 I was originally thinking.  Maybe more like what Rick is getting.  And I don't get on the throttle much at all. 

[zombie]

It has alot of weight to push for a single jug. Some minor performance mods to get better accell, will actually bring the mileage up a few points. You know, more efficient = better mileage.

[rick71]

I am not sure what octane was put in  by the dealer, and I don't remember what I put in for my first tank. I put in 93 this last time and got 40 mpg. I've been doing mostly 20-40 mph, stop and go.  The GPS says I averaged 35 mph on the trip. I filled it up this morning and was on the road for 2 hours 8 minutes, mostly 45-55 mph. The gauge is now a little above half. I'm hoping that means I'll be able to go 3 1/2 - 4 hours between fill ups on a trip. I'll fill up tomorrow morning. Hopefully I'll have a better mileage to report.

It looks like my odometer and speedometer are close enough to be considered almost dead on. My speedo read 60mph and the GPS says 59.4 mph. The odo says 76 mile s and the GPS says 74.9.

Oh, yeah... as I'll post in my othr thread, I go the plastic prices....
$523.91 for plastic. $960.76 installed (tax, estimate charge). I'll go to the insurance guy Monday or Tuesday afternoon.

[zombie]

I would use nothing less than hi test

[rick71]

I used high test (93 RON) for the last 2 tanks. On very stop and go, I got 40 mpg. On mostly long stretches 45-55 mph, I got 48 mpg. I got some blow back when I filled the tank, but I don't think that is enough to alter the mileage too much.

I might try different stations to see if they mileage varies with vendor.

[bongoman]

I have found better mileage and performance using top-tier premium grade gasoline. Top-tier is a phrase I picked up from reading articles about gasoline posted by experts, or so they appear to be.

Premium - 93 octane by U.S. standards - gives mine better mileage and performance. Mileage does drop at hiway speeds over 60mph/120kph and carrying  a heavier load.

[Alex]

I get 220km warning light comes on but usually only take 8.5-9 ltd depending on how ,long i ran with the light on , have run until the needle is right past the red empty mark and stll only took 10 lts . i run in 7 lts a fast watch the gas pump sign then run the last ltr or so in gently until
i can see the level otherwise it belches back /or overfills and drains down the black plastic turning it grey.My

[rick71]

I just got 43.5 mpg on my last fill up. It was mostly in-town and very stop and go. That's close enough to 45 to be margin of error.

So, I have 2 fill ups that I am sure I put in 93 RON, and those were 47 mpg and 43.5 mpg, most highway-ish, and all in-town.  So, maybe, just maybe, my scoot is just a little bit of a gas hog :-)

[winginman]

I get 45 to 50 MPG regardless of the gasoline octane.  I believe specs call for min 90 RON.  This equates to 87 (R+M)/2 which is regular gasoline in the states.  Here is a link to some info on octane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

I also found an interesting consumer guide on octane myths.
http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Commerce/Gasoline_Octane_Facts_102902052227_OctaneFacts.pdf

Sometimes more important than octane is to make sure you are buying gasoline that is of good grade from a station that sells enough that you know what you are buying is fresh and not contaminated.

[bongoman]

I have read and heard it said often enough to believe that premium gasoline has more detergent which keeps engine clean. The mechanic that does the majority of work on my scooter has said that engines run on premium do not accumulate as much gunk.

[winginman]

I have heard that from mechanics as well, but found no real evidence to substantiate it.  In an article on gasoline from CNN here is an excerpt.
"Typically, within the same brand of gasoline, between regular and premium, "the difference is really just octane," confirms Prentiss Searles, Marketing Issues Manager at the American Petroleum Institute. To call a fuel regular, midgrade, or premium, Searles explains, only relates to octane; there's no other requirement that assures greater purity, more detergents, or better additives.

Nielsen says that the emphasis on detergents and additives for premium fuels is also misleading because in most fuels you have plenty of detergents to keep modern computer-controlled engines clean. "Unleaded is just fine," he insists."

Some brands do claim to put in more or better detergents, but apparently it goes into all grades.  Then again when you are only buying 2 or 2 1/2 gallons the cost is not appreciablle for peace of mind. 

[zombie]

Detergents are the garbage they "THEY" put in, Octane is the principal! The theory does meet in the end