K11 Owners Group

[Saltcreek]

Having finally learned how to use my newly acquired (from SugarHill) Fuel Plus I've done some analysis of K1100 fuel consumption. If it's of value to you, great. If you're satisfied just watching your fuel gauge, stop reading here.

First I tweaked the mpg display to show consumption recalculated about every mile. I experimented with how different kinds of riding affect consumption. No surprises. Lot's of speed, acceleration, or even lower speeds at higher rpms result in low miles per gallon. Under 40 for sure and possibly a lot lower. The surprising thing is how high you can push the mileage if you think you're in danger of running out of gas. Steady riding below 50 in fifth gear could give you 10 or more extra miles out of that last gallon after your light comes on. The difference between making it and pushing a 650 lb brick. The thing that will kill you is if those last miles to the station are up grade at all. If they're down grade even a little you could squeeze 65 miles out of that last gallon.

The other interesting feature of Fuel Plus is how it tracks remaining fuel in the tank as a percentage of fullby monitoring the injection system. I carried a 1 gallon gas can and rode a route where I could safely run to empty and tested it. When the fuel light came on, it indicated about 25% remaining. When it got under 10% I could hear the pump whining. When it got to 5% the pump started catching air. I gave it the gallon and headed for a station. I'm told it's possible to make several miles at that reduced power but I didn't want to try it.

There's a procedure to recalibrate it so that it runs out at 0 instead of 5%.

I know not all bikes are the same with that fuel pump whine and some whine all the time but it's definitely a warning sign for me that there's not much left.
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Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold
2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

[MakaSichu]

Thanks for the good write up.
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"Things are not as they seem, nor are they otherwise." - Buddha

[CheapJapCopy]

Thanks for that. I might also add that many short journeys/town work can make a *massive* impact too.

Though this is coming from a Brit living in London
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1992 K1100RS - Red and gold.