Report on new DT 300i

[CROSSBOLT]

First tank of fuel yielded about 53 mpg. Dealer filled tank so all I know is the gas gauge had all segments (5). I suspect it was ethanol fuel. Filled to the tab with non-ethanol 87 octane (R+M/2) and made 112 miles and just the first segment of the fuel gauge blanked. I will try to report the progress as it breaks in.

Boy, do I love this bike! Cargo rack sucks and is made of composite material. It is VERY light and probably quite strong. Will report on that since I am making a more usable cargo platform/adapter for the dog box. Pictures to follow if I can remember how to PhotoBucket them!

Karl

[Cortez]

First tank of fuel yielded about 53 mpg. Dealer filled tank so all I know is the gas gauge had all segments (5). I suspect it was ethanol fuel. Filled to the tab with non-ethanol 87 octane (R+M/2) and made 112 miles and just the first segment of the fuel gauge blanked. I will try to report the progress as it breaks in.

Boy, do I love this bike! Cargo rack sucks and is made of composite material. It is VERY light and probably quite strong. Will report on that since I am making a more usable cargo platform/adapter for the dog box. Pictures to follow if I can remember how to PhotoBucket them!

Karl

1st segment on the LCD alone lasts about as much as all other together, or a bit less.

[CROSSBOLT]

Yeah, especially when you fill it like I do! Went way back an I think it was you reported about 73 mpg after yours was broken in. That right? Good number to see and shoot for.

Karl

[Cortez]

Yeah, especially when you fill it like I do! Went way back an I think it was you reported about 73 mpg after yours was broken in. That right? Good number to see and shoot for.

Karl

You can click on my signature line to open up the complete fuelly report from day one.

There's info in the description about what mods were done at which mileage.
Going to the malossi multivar definitely increased the fuel consumption around town, but
it's about the same on open roads.

My current average is worse then what I had on a 650cc kawasaki, so it's nothing to write home about!
(However it's cold outside and I tend to let the bike warm up for at least a minute or two before riding).

[jwalz1]

I go full throttle all the time and my worst tank was 68mpg.   My very first tank with 2 miles on the odometer was 73.   I probably average 73-74mpg riding pretty heavy on the throttle but I am only 160 pounds.

[Cortez]

I go full throttle all the time and my worst tank was 68mpg.   My very first tank with 2 miles on the odometer was 73.   I probably average 73-74mpg riding pretty heavy on the throttle but I am only 160 pounds.

It's a very different thing going full throttle on a stock bike and on a bike with dr pulley slider and/or aftermarket CVT.

Stock bike should rev around 5600-5900 at full throttle up to around 60mph, then the revs start raising.
Throw in 14gr sliders, and you're at 6500-6600 at WOT.
Malossi multivar = 8000 revs (with 20gr stock rollers).

That makes a HUGE impact on fuel consumption.

The engine gets thirsty above 6000 from my experience.

[Cortez]

I have sliders sitting in a drawer to put on, BUT the bike hits 6500 rpm lots of times.  For me it seems to scream to about 6000 and then build to 6500 and hold when I accelerate.  Reading you thread on ADV about your slider trials, I started wathing my tach and was surprised to find under full throttle it spends 1/3 to 1/2 the time at 6500 rpm.

I have no understanding on why mine will go to 6500 and others don't seem to.  It is a US spec bike, with about 1000 miles on it.  Outside of the fact that I am a good bit lighter than some people report, I don't know what the difference would be.  But when the bike jumps to about 15mph, then hits the sort of hesitiation spot and then takes off again is when mine climbs to 6500 and will hold there until I let off at about 60-70 mph getting on the freeway.  I am curious to see if it just gets to 6500 quicker and holds once I put the Dr Pulley's on or if it will climb to a higher rpm.

You got the newer variator type (from the People), I got the 2010 model which revved less.

[Cortez]

Maybe that is it.  I bought it new in 2012, but it was a leftover 2011 Downtown.  At any rate, I am still winding it pretty good and getting mid seventies for mileage.  I'd like to hyper-mile it for a tank and see if I can break 80mpg, but I just can't lay off the throttle.  FWIW about half of my miles are freeway at about 65mph and half around town between 30-45 mph.

Sliders would get you 500 revs more at 30-45mph and 500 revs less at 65mph so don't expect an improvement in
MPG figures there. It usually gets worse since the scoot accelerates better and people like to use that "new feature"
often.
 

[CROSSBOLT]

Second tank got 73.3 mpg, a big improvement and close to what Cortez has on the Fuely thing. Will advise on next tank.

Karl

[CROSSBOLT]

Here is the modified rack:

The hardware is from Lowe's and Fastenal. Could not find 3/4" poly cutting boards so got two 3/8" 12x24" boards from Wal-Mart. This is Polypropylene or Polyethylene and will not "glue" together with either Gorilla, PVC cement or anything I could find commonly. So I used 10-24x1" stainless machine screws and SS Nyloc nuts. The spacers are 1.5" from Lowe's and the M8-1.25 bolts were made from threaded rod and low-profile locking nuts from Fastenal.

The black contoured spacers took the most time and were made from 3/4x1.5" oak "hobby wood" from Lowe's.

Forgot to mention the underside has a groove routed all the way around inside the bolt/screw line for bungee hooks. It works as I strapped down two gas cans for about 20 lbs cargo weight. Also used a rectangle of drawer liner to keep the cargo from slipping on the poly surface.

Karl

[(Tony)]

Crossbolt, I thought (as per the instruction mannual) we are only supposed to put 91 octane or better in our 300i Downtowns.  Has anyone had problems with running 87 octane?

[Vivo]

Crossbolt, I thought (as per the instruction mannual) we are only supposed to put 91 octane or better in our 300i Downtowns.  Has anyone had problems with running 87 octane?

The manual refers to fuel in Taiwan...

In Taiwan they use RON Octane and in the U.S. it's RON+MON/2....  92 Octane in Taiwan is around 87 Octane in the U.S.

[de dee]

  when you say mpg.  is it usa gallons or imp. gallons    imp. gal 1/5 th.  bigger,.

[CROSSBOLT]

Dee, I keep forgetting the INTERNATIONAL flavor of this forum! That's US gallons when I say mpg. Vivo is right (as usual!) as far as the fuel is concerned. Kymcos seem to have 91 in the book and then 87 R+M/2 on a sticker in the luggage tub under the seat.

Third tank was 73.3 mpg.

Karl

[Vivo]

  when you say mpg.  is it usa gallons or imp. gallons    imp. gal 1/5 th.  bigger,.

It's U.S. gallons in the U.S. because MPG is a U.S. measurement.  In Europe, they use Liters per 100 kilometers (Liters/100 kms.) except for Sweden where they use Liters/10 kms.  In our country, it's Kms./Liter. Most countries use the metric system, liquids are in liters, our wrenches are in millimeters, weights in kilograms, etc.   but some still use the English system.. especially those influenced by Americans... like a quarter pounder burger... 14-inch rims... .38 caliber pistols, etc....