XB9S MPG

[Flying Couch]

What kind of mileage do those of you who have an XB9S/X get? How hard do you ride?

I posted a similar topic in the X1/S3/etc. forum but I'm also looking at the XB9S/SX.

 

[loose1]

If I ride aggressive I get 42-46 If I ride nice, I've gotten up to 65-68 mpg.
Matt

 

[dallasb]

same experience as loose1. Average mid 40's. Max is around 70. This is with hawk pipe, KN filter, and custom tune.

 

[Flying Couch]

Hrm. No one gets any lower than that? Really? I just have difficulty buying that 984cc sport bikes are getting 45+.

 

[EmptyChambers]

In the city I usually get around 110-120 miles until my reserve light kicks on. highway improves my milage significantly

 

[jefferyfriso]

Mine is exactly the same. I get almost 70 per gallon if I baby it. Goes down to 40 of I get on her

 

[winnetka]

If you baby it you get over 200 miles to a tank? Really? Seriously?

My XB9SX gets around 42 mpg +-2mpg depending how I drive. From what I've read on this forum that's about what most get with an XB9SX. Note: I said "about" and "XB9SX". I believe the pre-2008 XB12's get a little better MPG.

 

[captain chaos]

Hrm. No one gets any lower than that? Really? I just have difficulty buying that 984cc sport bikes are getting 45+.

Boy, you'll have a really hard time believing that during the trip I took last year, I got over 60mpg out of my XB12 on several consecutive tanks then. My worst tank for the whole 1500mi trip was 56mpg. On my daily commute (40-ish miles each way; 80/20 hwy) I would consistently get low 50's out of it; you could bank on it.

The XB9S I had before that would give me low to mid 50's tank after tank after tank. I never did a trip on it so I don’t know what it would do on the open road; 65 sounds completely reasonable though. The only way I found to get less than 50mpg from it was to spend a lot of time in town or absolutely ride the crap out of it.

The Harley motors in the XB’s don’t make the power of the “other” sportbikes but they squeeze a gallon of gas better than anything shy of a scooter. It is kinda hard to believe but I’ve personally done it on 2 different Buells and my experience, apparently, isn’t unique.

 

[Flying Couch]

Well, I suppose it's worth considering that I ride my bikes pretty hard when I'm having fun, which is most of the time. And when I'm not having fun, I'm commuting in stop-and-go traffic and still amusing myself however I can. Usually by doing things like crossing intersections and reaching 60 before the cars next to me realize the light has changed. I'm used to expecting the lowest numbers possible out of any bike.

I believe the pre-2008 XB12's get a little better MPG.

What's different about the pre-'08s? Just tuned differently or something?

 

[user_deleted]

my 9 cityX mileage exactly the same as matt's mileage. work the motor hard and i'm in the mid 40's. baby it and ride gently like i usually do and mid 60's. and that's at near sea level elevations.

 

[28003]

i get 32 mpg, but something is wrong with my bike

 

[winnetka]

What's different about the pre-'08s? Just tuned differently or something?

Not really sure, but there was another gas mileage thread a while ago and there were a bunch of people with pre-2008 XB12's getting 50 - 60 mpg. The only way I can get that kind of mpg is if I bring my XB9SX into my living room and strap it to my treadmill.

Congrats on getting high MPG. It will come in handy with the higher gas prices.

 

[g3STRIKES]

riding with the cruiser crew my 12 will post 50ish sportbike friends its low 40s .....05 , my nine got better

 

[user_deleted]

The only way I can get that kind of mpg is if I bring my XB9SX into my living room and strap it to my treadmill.

LOL LOL LOL classic!!!!!!

 

[fakameanrepresent]

wow, my xb12 only gives me around 39-42mpg.

 

[rah7777777]

03 XB9S, some mods.. 32 if I'm beating her real bad on a back road.
44 if it's all city, regular riding.
42 if it's all highway.

When I bought it ( factory race kit only) I got about 51 city. Not sure on others.
I do know city is always better then highway since its only a 5 speed.

Performance mods:
Drummer pipe, catch can, K&N filter, open airbox, 12 header, xopti tune.

 

[XB1125s]

My 03 xb9s gets about 36 riding hard and I get 54 on the highway talking it easy i have the race kit, crank case mod and a k&n

 

[Flying Couch]

So, just to clarify: everyone in here is using American gallons, right?

You guys have given me some stuff to consider. Given the way I ride (like I stole it), I'm guessing I'd get between 45 and 50. Now I'm even more torn about an XB9/XB12 or a Suzuki SV, Duc Monster, or somesuch...

 

[captain chaos]

I do know city is always better then highway since its only a 5 speed.

It's the final drive ratio that will have the bigger effect, not the number of gears. technically, my Buell, with its 5 speed, was geared taller (lower revs at highway speed) than my 6sp Hayabusa (which has VERY tall gearing for a sportbike) and it was also better on gas.

I've never driven any vehicle of any sort that got better mileage in town; even the old 3sp auto cars/trucks I drove back in the day.

You guys have given me some stuff to consider. Given the way I ride (like I stole it), I'm guessing I'd get between 45 and 50. Now I'm even more torn about an XB9/XB12 or a Suzuki SV, Duc Monster, or somesuch...

45-50 is very reasonable although you could easily be closer to 40 if your really pounding on it.
Of the bikes you listed, the Buell will be the best on fuel without a doubt (if you're concerned about that). Of all the bikes I've ridden and owned, my Buells were the most frugal on gas by far.

Also, there is very little mileage difference between the 12 and the 9 so don't let that concern you if you find a good deal on a 12. I was pleasantly surprised at how good my 12 did on gas.
Having owned both a 9 and a 12 though, I think the 9 was more fun. It's a little smoother and a bit higher reving. The 12 just always felt like the rev limiter cut it off too soon.

 

[1972c10]

ON my 03 xb9sl ive seen my mileage in the low 40s all the way up to the 60s. its hard though, everytime time I fill up and tell myself to baby it to see what kinda mileage I can get Im good for like 60 miles or so and then the urge to have fun is to much to take.