Suzuki GS500 Fuel Economy

[beatr911]

I have to admit, a generic O2 sensor and an inexpensive gauge while appealing to my cheap side will unlikely be as accurate as a more expensive wideband kit.

For my setup I have noticed that for my best flowing pipe the engine acted as if it was lean and the gauge showed it slightly lean. For the pipe I have on now it runs perfect and the gauge shows a little rich. This corroborates what I've read that ICEs can run well farther into the rich zone from stoich than into the lean zone.

I look forward to reading your results whatever you end up with. Sometimes some instrumentation is better than none, provided you can accurately interpret what information is provided by it.

[redyaris]

beatr911 I like your two suggestions of having more than one bung for an O2 sensor, what I have in mind today is three locations; one in the cross over and one in each header. That way I can test if one or the other is different. The other idea of yours I like is removing the O2 monitering system after I have aquired as much info as I need. It can then be used on other vehicles to diel them in for better FE. I have been looking at road maps of Washington State, I think I like highway 12 going through the forestry reserv/Park.

[beatr911]

All that is needed is a single O2 sensor in one of the exaust pipes. Both cylinders run nearly identical assuming the jetting, valve settings, spark, etc is the same between the two. No real need to monitor both cylinders. I don't think the crossover would have enough flow or heat for the sensor, but I may be wrong on that.

Highway 12 is a good ride, but slow. Highway 20, way north is really great but you'll run into traffic in Seattle, depending on the day you ride. On your way south, Mount St. Helens will be an experience you'll never forget and the roads are really fun.

[low&slow]

Kudos to Galahs, that very impressive for a 500cc bike. My 550 cc Yamaha Vision averages about 56 mpg and has a best tankfill of 66 mpg.
Redyaris, when ids the Vetter challenge. I was thinking about riding done to observe as I live in the SF Bay area. Good luck!
L&S

[redyaris]

low&slow, the vetter challenge is on May 13 In Carmel CA. You can get more info at
craigvetter.com, I think that this one will be great fun and interesting. More and more people are taking up the challenge. I suspect that someone will meet the Vetter challenge this time around, maybe even Craig Vetter himself. If the 650 diesle got even some half way aero modds it would be there. My personal objective in 94mpg [2.5L/100km] but will be happey with 81mpg [2.9L/10km]

With respect your 82 Yamaha Vision. I really wanted on of them when they first came out. I also think that, the Vision could be aeromodded to get some much better mpg than you get now. To start with a pair of properly shaped and positioned sadle bags [cargo boxes] could be built, that looked good as well if looks are important to you.

[roosterk0031]

+1 on wanting a 550 vision back in 83. Dealer had a left over, but couldn't work a deal with the 2 wreck bikes my dad bought older brother crashed to get down to the point I could afford what was left.

[low&slow]

Hi Red Y & Rooster, Thanks for the Vision love!! I've owned mine since 1984 and still love it.
Red Yaris, 94 mpg is awesome, great job! Hopefully I'll see you at the Vetter Challenge.
I'll have to start playing with some aero mods like your luggage box suggestion. I was thinking of some streamling panels when the weather ges warmer .
thanks for the encouragement.
best wishes L& S

[redyaris]

low&slow It will be the most awesome if I can get there. At this point it is best discribed as wishfull thinking. I am confident that I will get improvements based on fudamental principals of Aerodynamic, but I am not able to quantify how much of an improvement in mpg.


Sorry I made a mistake in the month for the vetter challenge. is in may not march!

[low&slow]

Red Yaris, I checked out Gray in your garage. Excellent work! Excellent FE for a lot of travel on gravel roads. I was going to say I couldn't make to the Vetter Challenge this weekend but since its in May I'll start planning for it. The saddlebags sounds like an easy start for some aero mods to my Vision.
best wishes L&S

[redyaris]

[QUOTE=low&slow;224529]Red Yaris, I checked out Gray in your garage. Excellent work! Excellent FE for a lot of travel on gravel roads. I was going to say I couldn't make to the Vetter Challenge this weekend but since its in May I'll start planning for it. The saddlebags sounds like an easy start for some aero mods to my Vision.best wishes L&S[/QUOTEI]

Just looked at the pics of your Vision and it looks like a good sadle bag project with the duel mufflers. the way that I do mine is to make the front mounting point the rear foot rests. I use a 2x2 aluminum tube over the foot rest which is then welded or rivited to the front of the aluminum box. I then look for existing points on the frame that I can attach to with brackets. The last step is to glue on peaces of styrofoam that can be shaped then covered with a layer of light wt fiber glass and then painted. I will post some pics of what I have been doing latter. I am not as concerned with looks as most people, I am most concerned with function. I expect that my first attempt will be effective and the third versions will be both good looking and effective.

Just for your amusement there is a 6ft deep snow drift that covers my back yard, the green I am feeling is not eco it's envy for you who live in
California and can make motorcycle fuel log entries in February and March.

I have just added two pics of the work in progress on Gray, in the EM Garage so you can have a better Idea of what I'm doing.