Fuel economy on a big trip

[Alun]

My mate Spencer kept a tally of all fuel payments on our recent 3000 mile blast around the Alps. Something to keep in mind when checking out a new machine.

The three bikes all covered exactly the same distance.

Spencer - GS 800
Total Spent £244

Alun - Tiger 955i
Total spent £293

Jason - KTM 990
Total spent £374

Jason is looking into a change of machine as I type.

[Steve T]

Did exactly the same last year when I went through France to the south of Spain - 3.5k+ miles cost me £338 for 353 lts of fuel, using a 1999 Varadero.

Not bad for a fat bird, I thought

Steve T

B)

[africajim]

My 6 speed EFI Varadero averages 50+ MPG, I've no complaints. The 955i Tiger wasn't too bad though, I reckoned around the same 50MPG. I know the 800 BMW is damned good on fuel, although the difference between Fiona riding her F650GS and me is around 20mpg! It's all in the right hand I believe!

[Lolo]

I get about 50 MPG out of my R1200GS not sure if thats good or bad?

[africajim]

Well, we just returned from a trip to Ullapool, W. Scotland. We took the long way round, Elgin to Inverness, north to Durness on the north coast then down the west coast to Ullapool, 226 miles. We both filled up this morning and the mighty Varadero took £24.00 compared to the F650GS only taking £17, damned economical little bike!

[Dick Dastardly]

Was Spencer keeping a tally of the fuel used for a bike test or for some other reason?

[Alun]

No reason other than curiosity at the start but as the miles increased and the difference in £ started to pile up, just thought it was worth following through.

That's over 50 pints of beer difference between the BMW and the KTM, a issue that no man can ignore.

[Mark Manley]

A friend of mine just got back from a tour to Italy on his R90S trail bike, yes you read that correctly, whose Dellorto carbs were sucking it through at a rate of 35-40 mpg, they were taking it steady and his partners F650 was doing 80 mpg.
With the carbs overhauled and cruising at 55-60 mph my R80GS will manage about 50 mpg and the R80G/S which has higher gearing about 55 mpg if I'm lucky. I know that I could get better with a more modern bike, and F800GS looks good, but if I bought the bike I could not afford to go to the places I hope to on it.

[Nomad]

FJR1300 with a Power commander did 5,786 miles using 124.75 Gallons of fuel averaging 46.38 MPG or if you work in metric 561.39 litres of fuel averaging 10.31 LPG

[GUNDOG]

R1200GSA

Two up, fully loaded with stuff....

50 mpg no matter how you ride it.

Thats brill in my book.