Perplexed...

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binje
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Perplexed...

Post by binje »

Hello all. Hoping to find an informed answer (as opposed to my ramblings) about my fuel economy. A long time ago in a galaxy far away, my daily commute to work was 25 miles each way. I used to fill up at roughly the end of trip 5 (125 miles) just to save the hassle of stopping midway in a journey. This normally got me anything between 120mpg to 128mpg.

Recently I moved to a new job (getting a few more peanuts here) so my daily journey has gone up to a 56 mile round trip. I decided to try and see how far I could stretch a single tank so would push to just about where the last fuel bar would start flashing. I realised I could easily manage 140-145 miles on a single tank. The other week I managed 150 miles out of a tank as well which I was very pleased about... just something psychological about hitting that number I think.

Here is what's confusing me :? (its not normally too difficult anyway). Where before I would get anything between 120mpg and 128mpg, I am now getting 130mpg or thereabouts on a fairly regular basis and last week (dont ask how) fuelly reckoned I managed 138 mpg??? I thought it shouldn't make a huge difference when I fuel up considering I do a fairly long distance anyway and yet since I am stretching a single tank of fuel longer, I am getting much better mpg.... I try to make sure I brim it everytime I fill up and am fairly confident I fill up to roughly the same level every time so the fuelly figures should be accurate.

A friend who has a lot more riding experience than my 8 months reckons its because the engine has warmed up and performs more efficiently during the later stage of the journey hence the better mpg.... Sounds logical...

Thoughts and comments appreciated ...


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Re: Perplexed...

Post by gn2 »

Your friend is correct.
Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
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Re: Perplexed...

Post by kramnala58 »

I'm not sure an extra 6 miles (3 miles each way if I understand your post correctly) is going to make that much difference, but being that you have only been riding for 8 months, I'm wondering if the air temps are warmer now and that will make a fairly significant difference, particularly if your winter riding is quite cool and your spring/summer riding is not excessively hot. Ideal temps for fuel mileage are 50-55F 10-13C
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Re: Perplexed...

Post by kramnala58 »

binje wrote:... Recently I moved to a new job (getting a few more peanuts here) ....
Feed peanuts, get monkeys :lol: :lol: :lol: ... please know that I am only joking.
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binje
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Re: Perplexed...

Post by binje »

kramnala58 wrote:I'm not sure an extra 6 miles (3 miles each way if I understand your post correctly) is going to make that much difference, but being that you have only been riding for 8 months, I'm wondering if the air temps are warmer now and that will make a fairly significant difference, particularly if your winter riding is quite cool and your spring/summer riding is not excessively hot. Ideal temps for fuel mileage are 50-55F 10-13C
It is indeed an extra 3 miles each way... but yes the temps have changed. I commute from Berkshire into the jungle that is London everyday. And yes seeing as I did start in October and went all the way through winter I suppose the warmer temp has helped.... We are hovering between 14-15 early morning to about 20ish in the evening....
kramnala58 wrote:
binje wrote:... Recently I moved to a new job (getting a few more peanuts here) ....
Feed peanuts, get monkeys :lol: :lol: :lol: ... please know that I am only joking.


I am shocked by your comment.... that you figured out from one sentence what the people who hired me still havent :D
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Re: Perplexed...

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binje wrote:
kramnala58 wrote:I'm not sure an extra 6 miles (3 miles each way if I understand your post correctly) is going to make that much difference, but being that you have only been riding for 8 months, I'm wondering if the air temps are warmer now and that will make a fairly significant difference, particularly if your winter riding is quite cool and your spring/summer riding is not excessively hot. Ideal temps for fuel mileage are 50-55F 10-13C
It is indeed an extra 3 miles each way... but yes the temps have changed. I commute from Berkshire into the jungle that is London everyday. And yes seeing as I did start in October and went all the way through winter I suppose the warmer temp has helped.... We are hovering between 14-15 early morning to about 20ish in the evening....
kramnala58 wrote:
binje wrote:... Recently I moved to a new job (getting a few more peanuts here) ....
Feed peanuts, get monkeys :lol: :lol: :lol: ... please know that I am only joking.


I am shocked by your comment.... that you figured out from one sentence what the people who hired me still havent :D

:D best job in the world then :D
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Re: Perplexed...

Post by Tribpreper »

binje,
Perhaps you unknowingly dropped a stone to impress your new handlers. At our zoo they like their charges trim. 6kg could account for the .5% increase.
I don't know that the engine would so quickly become looser...
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Re: Perplexed...

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you you wrote:
:D best job in the world then :D
I aint complaining :D
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Re: Perplexed...

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Tribpreper wrote:binje,
Perhaps you unknowingly dropped a; stone to impress your new handlers. At our zoo they like their charges trim. 6kg could account for the .5% increase.
I don't know that the engine would so quickly become looser...
Were that I could drop a stone that easily... Even after a good bowel movement... Better chance of losing what hair is left on my head....

I dunno either how the PCX has all of a sudden decided to be so much more efficient... not that I am complaining... Am looking to have it another year or so which means the odometer will get a serious hammering :D
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Re: Perplexed...

Post by Tribpreper »

binje wrote:Were that I could drop a stone that easily... Even after a good bowel movement... Better chance of losing what hair is left on my head.... D
LOL! That's funny! :)
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