XB12Ss Fuel Consumption

[Nofi]

I have a 2010 model with 2,000 miles on it. I live in California where the gas sucks in the winter. The specs for the XB12Ss state 48 mpg street and 65 mpg hiway.

I am only getting 40 mpg around town and 45 mpg hiway.
I don't think I ride that aggressively. I usually cruise town around 3,000 rpm to 3,500 rpm. On the hiway I cruise 70 to 85 mph (with occasional burst up to 90). Is this normal, or is it something I need to worry about?

P.S. There maybe a thread on this already, but I don't know how to search. I do not see any easy way to search.

 

[onelogue]

I ride through Los Angeles every day and im very easy on my bike riding between 2k and 3k RPM's. Getting about 45 mpg. So yeah soumds pretty normal. Especially if you accelerate hard and blip the throttle while riding.

 

[Nofi]

Oneloque, Thanks for the response. Is the Buell quoted mpg just hype? I can't imagine even getting close to 65 mpg, perhaps 55 mpg if you cruised at 2,500 rpm.

 

[Stevenc150]

Some have reported mpg's in the 60's but I'd have to ride downhill both ways to get that. Mid-50's is tops for mine and that's babying it - '06 XB12S.

 

[delta one]

I wouldn't expect it to be that far off on the 12, if I can ever stop riding it like I stole it I can get about 68mpg with mainly highway riding on my '03 XB9. when I bought it this summer I got 72mpg out of my first two tanks of highway riding as I got used to the bike. now I get about 46mpg with mixed city and higway riding it like I stole it.

My only "problem" it that it is just too fun to twist the throttle and hear the bike come to life.

 

[GatorBuell]

My light comes on at around 175/180 miles on my 06' Ss on average commuting per tank. In town and riding hard usually around 150 miles.

 

[bardo688]

55 if iam on the highway laying down on airbox but going through twisties and through town about 50 or lil lower
03 xb9s

 

[onelogue]

I can't imagine even getting close to 65 mpg, perhaps 55 mpg if you cruised at 2,500 rpm.

When i was back in Oregon. I was on the highway a lot going 3k RPM's.

Got 58mph best!

 

[fishgutz]

I get the best mileage running twisties. About 52MPG. Running the highway 80 to 85MPH I'm down to 40. In the city, doing a lot or hard take offs, 30MPG. But then I'm only 100 pounds below the max load for the bike. It should improve when I drop 100 pounds. The power to weight ratio will go up by 17% too.

 

[fakameanrepresent]

my 09 xb12scg gets about 117 before the fuel light comes on. so its about 40 mpg.

 

[Lesley]

I am in my fifth riding season and I have never gotten less than 50mpg @65mph on my 12. I have read where the XB/HD motors need a break in time of 5k miles before the good mileage comes around. But if you ride 75mph on the highway and above then you will probably never see that.

 

[user_deleted]

i think you're in the ballpark with your MPG. my 9-lightning consistently gets low 50's on average and i've flirted with 60 but i ride gently. my 12-Uly on average is about 10% less mileage but i ride it a tad harder.

 

[LightningLevi]

My 12s never drops below 45mpg. If I do a lot of highway riding, I get around 50mpg. I do pull the clutch or grab neutral and coast whenever I can though. Just a habit I picked up from driving a manual tranny car all the time. I think goosing it at low RPM's is what kills mileage, just a theory though.

 

[airBuell]

70 to 85 mph (with occasional burst up to 90)

But if you ride 75mph on the highway and above then you will probably never see that.

MPG usually have a specific speed associated with them. 55-65 is generally the "best" MPG speed for cars, probably true for bikes too especially since our drag increases with speed unless we lay on the tank. Anytime you mix in some stop n go (ie: LA freeways) or even occasional 90mph acceleration you will significantly affect your MPG.

In fact, according to this little chart Calculator if the vehicle is rated at 65mpg @ 55mph, then at 80mph the bike will be getting about 45mpg. This chart is based on cars, I imagine the drag ratio for a bike is probably higher depending on how the rider sits.

Short description of speed vs MPG

 

[rockerphotographer]

I usually get about 45mpg on my '07 12ss. I commute 45 miles one way mostly interstate running 80mph. I crouch down and forward just enough to keep the wind from pulling me away from the handlebars.

It feels like the drag goes up exponentially when I go faster than 70. Huge difference between 70 and 80...

 

[redbolt04]

On a straight hwy trip between 65-70 mph I pull between 55 and 60. With the occasional burst of speed. I don't really notice much difference in late season riding with our awesome WI winter gas.

 

[raz65man]

Mine drops down to 45mpg when averaging 75mph or higher. Keeping it around 70mph gives me 50-52mpg. And 60-65mph cruising will get me 55-60mpg. It's really hard to stay 60-65. Bruiser seems to be happiest around 3200 rpm = 70 mph. Highest mileage I've ever had was 67 mpg and that was putzing around in the rain.
Raz

 

[fakameanrepresent]

one tank with the fuel lights on is about 120 for me, so i average about 40 miles flat to a gallon. it is still 16mpg better than my car.

 

[GatorBuell]

I'm getting 175 to 180 miles on a tank. 06 Ss.

 

[fakameanrepresent]

176????????!!?!?!?!!??!??! oh wait, its an SS so you have a bigger fuel frame than me.