Suzuki GS500 Fuel Economy

[alvaro84]

So a GS500 works quite like the F650CS and the GV250 in this respect (except that Teresa has no problem getting out of neutral at 30km/h, only somewhat faster).

And after the row of 80+ mpg tanks (I was closing on 2.8l/100km) I'm afraid I'll get one worse. We came back from an 8-bit party late night and I didn't have the patience/energy to play my usual tricks, just tried to do the speed limit, in hectic sidewind. And there were roads with 110km/h which I mostly used, being afraid of not getting home while I could keep my eyes open. So, we'll see.

At least I was slow on the last quarter of the trip because one can frequently meet deers on this road at night (sometimes even in daylight).

[redyaris]

The return trip was very windy with gustes over 60km/hr, from all directions. what I was surprised by was that fuel consumption was only 1 mpg less, and I was riding a little faster for some of the trip. The thing about side winds is that the bike pritywll corects itself by leaning into the wind. I can see how some riders will panic when this happens and over react to what the bike is doing.
I am finaly in second place behind you in team motorcycle although I am more than 10 mpg lower than you. I should be able to get close to 75mpg with the present configuration, and with some more development you may be able to see me in your rear view mirror.

[alvaro84]

...as soon as I'll have that mirror.

Nah, I still have the left one. Anyway, I got used to winds of any direction (OK, that supercell thunderstorm was a bit too strong ), but they still make FE worse. If I hold a steady throttle position, speed can change drastically depending on the wind, not only in headwind, but in crosswind too. Of course tailwind can help a bit, but I don't feel it the same way as the others, it just makes my trips less noisy.

One interesting thing that Teresa still measures less distance than before even though she almost ate this rear tire to the mark. She'll get her 80000km maintenance in a month or so, which will include another rear K73. I suspect the steering head bearing has to be replaced too. And the mirror.

[redyaris]

Finaly made it to the 90 day, 70mpg zone I may be able to get to the 75mpg threshold before winter. This last tank was amazing at 85mpg, the only thing I can attribute it to is mostly favorable wind conditions. The return trip home may tell a different storey.

[alvaro84]

Congratulations on that 85mpg tank
I made one too, the best this year: 2.75l/100km=85.6mpgUS, which is 58% 2-up. I had a worse successor too, and I even know the average: it's 2.95l/100km, a tad worse than 80mpg... it breaks a long row of 80+ tanks. Tough luck But at least it was a hundred percent 2-up. Much of it on main roads, in high speed pulse&glide. But I tried to slow down as soon as the traffic got lighter...

[redyaris]

The return trip was at 3.0L/100km for an average of 2.9L/100km [980km/28.3L] or
81mpg. This is looking good, I hope it lasts. The wind varied all over the map. I kept the speed at 100km/hr and the rpm at 3900, the ambiant temp was 9*C > 15*C the small detail aeromods are adding up... Can you see me in the rear view mirror yet?

[alvaro84]

Just wow

Of course in the real life I couldn't see you in the mirror - you'd pass me right at the start, I usually go under 90km/h (I prefer a steady 70-75 or a 70-100 P&G if traffic permits) to achieve this FE. Therefore, route choice is critical: on the way back the traffic was often too heavy to play these tricks. But sometimes it was heavy enough to slow down by itself But I could handle them with some additional following distance, I could glide whenever they slowed down and luckily it didn't go stop&crawl

[redyaris]

I had an interesting experiance on the return trip when I stoped for breackfast in Stetler. Two men at the table next to mine started asking questions about the bike and its modifications and later on when they left the resturant they walked around the bike and checked it out for over five minutes and one of them came back and took pictures of the bike. This has been happening almost every where I stop. It's a real conversation peace.
Your FE numbers are the bench mark for me and as such you have been the leader for the intermediat sized bikes. You started with a very FE bike and worked it to get the impresive FE you get. In real life on the same roads at the same time I could get very close to your numbers but I dought I would beat them for quite a while, and not without major Aeromodds.

[redyaris]

The GS500 is now into the 80+mpg range. I keep the bike at 100km/h on secondary roads and EOC on longer downhills and up to stops. the last trip to Barrhead with a steady tail wind got 87mpg, a best with this configuration. with what I have learned, I should be able to do some more aeromodds next spring and get more consistant 87+mpg... I still have people come over and talk to me everyware I stop.

[alvaro84]

Hmmm... I'm gradually getting jealous You're about to reach the point where your aeromods do everything I have to work hard for