Gas Mileage Not What I Expected

[mdc]

I bought a used 2007 Grandvista with 650 miles on it.  I'm only getting 58 mpg.  I thought these got 70 mpg I am running Premium gas in it should I just go to regular?

MDC

[jprestonian]

You should burn 87 (in the U.S., we use AKI, not RON to rate octane). Your mileage is about mid-range for that scooter. Check Fuelly.com to see what others are reporting.
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[DreamLeaner]

Mdc,

It really is very dependent on how you ride.  I own a 2009 GV and when I make a lot of very short trips and in the 25MPH range then the MPG suffers, but if I ride it for longer trips in the 45MPH range then the MPG goes up considerably.  The best I've gotten so far is 53MPG with about a fifty fifty mix of short and longer trips.  Also keep in mind that my bike only has about 400 miles on it so far.

[Treynor1]

My 09 has 13,000 plus miles on her and I regularly get between 65 and 70 mpg.  Half my riding is 50 mph, the other half city traffic.

[mdc]

Thanks for your input.  All of my riding is surface roads in town with stop and go traffic.  I will start saving a couple dollars and start using regular gas as well.  Although, I do have to add that going slow is not in my vocabulary, much to my husbands regret. Since my other ride is a 2003 Anniversary Heritage Softail scootin' round town is much more fun on my lightweight and much smaller Grandvista (parking is easier too). MDC

[bunker buster]

Using 87 octane gas is good, I read the manual and indicated we should use 95 octane gas. Mileage is the same?


PS Still waiting for my GV to arrive.

[jprestonian]

Using 87 octane gas is good, I read the manual and indicated we should use 95 octane gas. Mileage is the same?

95 RON = 87 AKI.

Please, look it up.
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[JustWantToRide]

The lower octane gas will give you the same or better gas mileage compared to the premium (usually better)  The higher octane keeps the higher compression engines from knocking because it doesn't ignite as easily.  Most people make the mistake of thinking higher octane gas has more power in it because higher power engines use it - but it actually has less power.

With only that many miles in that many years - the engine may not be broken in.  Take it out for a couple of 50-60 mile runs while running it full throttle for a while and then going easy on it - that will help ensure the rings are seated and such.  If you haven't changed the oil - then do it.  The oil needs to be changed every year no matter how many miles it has - and a lot of people that barely ride also barely do maintenance. 

Your size, accessories, and your riding habits will also affect your mileage.  I'm 6'3 230lbs and have a heavy hand.  I never get the advertised or average mpg - normally 15 to 20% less...

[axy]

The lower octane gas will give you the same or better gas mileage compared to the premium (usually better) 

This is your second message with wrong content.
No offense.

[catman2130093]

5000 miles on my 09-and  get 53 mpg. I'm a large-ish guy,220lbs,and 99% of my riding is in the 60 mph zone. Also, our gas is almost 10% ethanol,and that hurts it some too. I also have the taller Givi touring windscreen on it.

[JustWantToRide]

This is your second message with wrong content.
No offense.

Octane is used to keep higher compression engines from knocking due to pre-ignition.  Octane makes the gasoline harder to ignite, and makes it burn slower so the engine will not diesel or ping - it does not add power.   

The KYMCO Grandvista 250 manual specifically recommends you use a Research Octane Number (RON) octane of 92 or higher.  RON 92 is "regular" gasoline.  In the US the pumps display the Anti Knock Index (AKI) which is the average of RON and MON - shown at the US pumps as "(R+M)/2".  Convert the RON of 92 and you get 87 AKI.  It's a common mistake to think that RON is what is displayed at a US pump - when it is actually AKI.

We're talking about an engine with a 10.5 to 1 compression ratio, and a 30mm Keihin carburator.  And you think that higher octane fuel will get you better mpg.  If you had the caveat that the previous fuel was diesel - then I would agree.  Otherwise - no.

[jimbo50]

I'm confused(it don't take much) I'm a new owner and my owners manual says to us 95 RON fuel.  So wouldn't that mean I should use 92 AKI? 
95-4= 91
thanks,
Jim B.

[jprestonian]

I'm confused(it don't take much) I'm a new owner and my owners manual says to us 95 RON fuel.  So wouldn't that mean I should use 92 AKI? 
95-4= 91

That's not the math (see JustWantToRide's post, above), but if it indeed says 95 RON for your bike, 90-91 AKI is appropriate.
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