Tiger gas mileage & speed

[ArchRider]

Have any of you fellow Tiger riders found that if you keep the speed down to around 60 mph (97 kph for those outside the U.S.), you get much better gas mileage?  I suspect it is due to the reduced drag.  Sitting up as high as we do on our machines we are not the epitomy of aerodynamic efficiency.  The fuel savings have encouraged me to keep the speed closer to the posted limit.  And, of course, this has the added benefit of being safer and avoiding the impending fines.

[brad1098]

No, if im riding, im riding.  The absolute hardest I can ride my bike I still get 42mpg.  Taking it "easy" with passenger (its been awhile, she's, long gone)  :? I get 52.  

Added up that is twice the mileage of my car, triple the mileage of my truck and thousands less than gambling, golf, or any other vice  8)

[Mustang]

this one gets anywhere from 35-55 depending on wind and throttle position  hehehe


the best I can get out of this one is 24 mpg



and this one can't seem to do any better than 42 mpg even going easy on her

[2004Tiger]

I consistantly get 50 MPG (US gallons) plus or minus a little. I have ridden 48 hours at 90 MPH for 50 MPG, and also around town stop-n-go for 50 MPG. I attribute this to my easy style, i.e, I start slow and easy and twist the throttle slowly at speed to accellerate. The exception is overtaking when I might downshift and punch it. Even so I rarely rev above 6500 RPM. Excessive throttle and high RPM waste gas. The efficient zone for the bike is 3000 to 6000 RPM and just enough throttle to get it moving. Fast accelleration and high RPM are not fun. My fun comes from maintaining high speed through the twisties, using road tires. Also, my bike is in great tune and I use the 19 tooth drive sprocket.

[ArchRider]

Perhaps it's the throttle from a stop.  I'll have to pay more attention to the way I accelerate.

BTW, I love the side car.  I'm certain my kids would love it if I scored one of those.  However, I think the color needs to match the bike.  What did it take to outfit the Steamer with a sidecar?

[Mustang]

What did it take to outfit the Steamer with a sidecar?

yankee ingenuity and a mig welder and some steel and a few other bits from mcmaster carr :D
seriously though , I needed to make a subframe that was attached to the bike and rigid enough to attach a sidecar to .

[fret]

Most 955's get 10 miles per litre, as do the 1050's
This is 47mpg in old money.


Just as an exercise, I filled up my Super III at the weekend after riding it to TRIUMPH LIVE (Yes, it was the one on the stand) and it returned 154 miles from 11 litres.......................64MPG.
Not bad for a Cosworth engined Carbed bike

[ix]

I stopped measuring my Girly a long time ago, but I when I was keeping track I always got roughly 45 mpg.

In 2006 I spent a few entire days traveling at high speeds across the desert. I found that gas mileage dropped off dramatically over 80 mph. I don't remember the exact numbers, but traveling at 90+ for an entire tank netted me in the low 30's mpg. Still pretty good for an internal combustion vehicle, but remarkably bad for the Tiger.

[Bixxer Bob]

When you consider that my wife's Nissan Micra is 7 yrs old, has a 1400cc engine, weighs three times the Tiger and even when thrashed returns 48mph, you kinda wonder whether the bike makers are ever going to catch up.  Market forces I guess.  No-one buys a bike for it's frugality, but the ECU technology is available if they wish to use it (Bosch etc..).  I think perhaps the one drawback is the average bike environment, vibration etc, is too hostile for delicate items like a Mass Air Flow sensor which is prone to failure on several makes of car.

[Colonel Nikolai]

I needed to make a subframe that was attached to the bike and rigid enough to attach a sidecar to .

Impressive, Luke. Obi-Wan has taught you well!

How and where did you attach the subframe on the circled points, if you don't mind my asking?

[JTT]

Impressive, Luke. Obi-Wan has taught you well!

You have no idea Colonel.  Mustang is one seriously talented dude.  He'll let on "oh, anyone can do it", but I had the good fortune to see some of his talents and they are more than "anyone" work I assure you.  

I even got a short ride in that very sidecar...and it is even more fun than it looks  8)

[Colonel Nikolai]

I even got a short ride in that very sidecar...and it is even more fun than it looks  8)

I think if Mustang sold a kit (or even just the plans!) for the sidecar frame he's got there, there would be more than one buyer. One of them, for sure, would be me.

As far as talent is concerned, I'm guessing Mustang is a mechanical engineer or a master machinist. Lotta the folks that know these cats really well here are one or the other. Then there's JetDocX and Bixxer Bob who are aviation mechanics. All of em I bow down to "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!"  :D

[Bixxer Bob]

Don't be so hard on yourself Col Nick,  it's all about time and guidance.

Mustang's one of the most experienced Tiger fettlers on the planet and judging by his workshop pics - and his output of sidecar, shim tool, pegs  -is an extremely competent mechanical engineer and technician. (I make the differentiation because I've worked with degree-qualified engineers who I wouldn't let near my toolbox).

In my case, as a youngster, I was very lucky to be taught by some of the best machine shop guys in the business.  I carried that engineering no-how approach across to bikes where it comes in handy but there are guys on here who learned their trade on bikes and who's strengths I respect enormously because I don't have that experience.

[Madruss]

I consistantly get 50 MPG (US gallons) plus or minus a little. I have ridden 48 hours at 90 MPH for 50 MPG, and also around town stop-n-go for 50 MPG. I attribute this to my easy style, i.e, I start slow and easy and twist the throttle slowly at speed to accellerate. The exception is overtaking when I might downshift and punch it. Even so I rarely rev above 6500 RPM. Excessive throttle and high RPM waste gas. The efficient zone for the bike is 3000 to 6000 RPM and just enough throttle to get it moving. Fast accelleration and high RPM are not fun. My fun comes from maintaining high speed through the twisties, using road tires. Also, my bike is in great tune and I use the 19 tooth drive sprocket.

An old post of fuel economy might interest a few who've asking the question