KLE500 - fuel consumption ?? excessive
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the board and to KLEs but have been biking for a very long time. I 'm hoping you guys that know these bikes can answer a question for me....

I have a 95 KLE (no cats) and like it a lot APART from the fuel consumption - basically getting around 40mpg commuting on tarmac. This seems a lot! I am travelling at an indicated 70-80 quite a lot of the time but on the same trip (60miles one way) my 1500cc car is the cheaper option fuel wise (and about same speed!).

Is this normal? The bike is fairly low mileage - 11.5k miles and is serviced well although I have to confess I have not yet replaced the air filter as it looks very clean.

I was hoping for 50+ MGP ....... but have found I can not do a 'whole' round trip without refueling whioch is anoying!

Has anyone any thoughts other than go slower? :rolleyes2:

Cheers

Frog

Hi Frog,

Mines a 2006 KLE but is being strangled by the cat. I get about 130 miles before she coughs and I have to switch to reserve.

If I boot it, then it could be as low as a 100miles. At 70mph you should do the 120miles round trip without going to reserve. are the carbs in need of a balance or mabey theres a build up of carbon in the jets.

I run a one shot of fuel cleaner in my tank evey so often to stop the build up of carbon.

Hope this helps

Roy:thumbup1:

Just try it once sticking to the speed limits and maintaining a steady speed... It is my experience that the right wrist is the biggest factor of mpg. My own 1985 BMW R80RT mpg jumped froma bout 50mpg to 57 when I accompanied a diesel enfield to the german diesel bike rally. We were doin mostly 55-65 mph. Not bad for 9hp :)

Despite the increase in my mpg pleasing me, my companions mpg was somewhere between 150 and 180 mpg :( and he had to keep stopping to wait for me to refuel.

Fuel consumption.
 

Hi Frog, it might be worth playing around with sprocket sizes. I believe earlier KLE's ran 46teeth rear, '05 models use 44teeth. It will drop the revs a bit for the same speed. I use a 42teeth sprocket and it's ok unless there is a strong headwind. I normally get 55-60 mpg at 70ish mph.

Enjoy the ride.:funmeteryes:

Regards, Richard.

p.s. I had to take out two links for the smaller rear sprocket.

Thanks everyone.

I'll try a steadier run and see what happens.

The sprocket change is an interesting idea - I guess it would mean a new chain as well.........:(

I'll give the filter another clean and maybe dry it a little more (- maybe it's over oiled???) and resync the carbs while I'm there - they do feel a little out although only just done!

Cheers

Frog

fuel
 

A few weeks ago I did a few calculations on fuel consumption.

When I was motorway riding at a stady 60mph I was getting 64mpg (14.3 miles per litre).

If I stayed at that speed for the complete tank capacity I would run out after roughly 210 miles.

When I rode at 75-85mph mph on a journey having filled up the tank full at the beginning of the journey I had to turn to reserve after 102 miles :-(

On town riding / commuting at speeds varying from 10 - 50mph, stopping and starting I am getting 50mpg (12.5 miles per litre), this is with cafeful riding, slow accelaration, smooth revs.

Hey guys,

in the german community a so called rimfire-conversion is famous to reduce the amount of fuel seriously. We usually count in liters used in 100 km. Usually it is around 6 - 7 Liter a 100km for the KLE and with that conversion you should be able to reduce it to 5 - 5,5 liter a 100km.
It consists of making holes in the airfilterbox. The only thing is that the early KLEs (1991- around 1996) have a different Airfilterbox than the newer onces (I dont know about the very knew KLEs). So be aware that the conversion is not the same for both.

here is the link: It's in german I know, I can translate it if someone wants me to... http://winweb373.sr23.firestorm.ch/t...ltertuning.pdf

It is not a legal modification! But I think it could be somehow usefull:).

Cheers
Micki

12 months of figures...
 

Bought my KLE new 15 months ago and decided to do the exercise myself. My riding varies from offroad to highway and has mostly been highway for the past 6 months. I travel at a moderate speed off road and have been known to give the girl a caning on the highway so have figures for a wide variety of styles.

My consumption has only ever varied from 20-22klm's/litre (that's 56-62mpg in the UK or 47-52mpg in the US). Distance per tank is 300-340 kilometres.

In order to better this I bought a new sprocket today (standard is 46 teeth/new one is 43 teeth). This will drop the gear ratio from 3.29 to 3.07. I've also switched from a knobby to a road tyre (not sure if this will have any effect).

Give me a week and I'll post results of the change.

fuel figs
 

Hi All, My '07 reg kle returns on average 120-156mles to reserve, depending how twist the right hand:innocent: 97% tarmac odd green lanes and my deep gravel drive:rofl: no mods to engine and cats installed etc....
TDMalcolm

Update to last post...
 

Bike shop steered me wrong on sprocket details (noticed this only when the rear wheel was in pieces on the garage floor and scraped the grease off the side of the sprocket). Seems the standard rear is 44 teeth and front is 17. In order to get the same drop in gear ratio will have to go to a 38 on rear and 16 on front. May be a month or so to order the 38 from overseas. Keep you posted.

Having just calculated fuel use over an initial 1500miles on a new KLE I can concur that I am getting between 56-71 miles per gallon (20-25 km per litre). Obviously running in the machine has limited the twist of the right wrist but at the same time the engine should be starting to free up. Half of the distance has been covered with a passenger along. While the weight and dynamics maybe affected consumption with having a passenger I am sure the dig in the ribs from the mrs to slow down may balance this out.
:innocent:
Neil

My fuel consumption has improved dramatically (20% or so) since it topped about 13,000 miles and I switched to Avon Roadriders. I used to get around 45-50mpg and now get around 60mpg. To be honest, I'm not sure whether it was the engine freeing up a bit more or the tyres, but the sidewind stability improved a lot when I ditched the pretend off-road tyres.

I rate my fuel consumption as average. I too experienced exceptional mileage during running in, simply because rpm's stayed below 4500.

These days (23000km) commuting at 100-120kmh, my KLE hits reserve between 184km and 195km from full. This means that apprehension about pushing the thing sets in at around 240km from full. I have had to do so after using the old "lay the bike on the left side" trick to drain the right side of the tank until it was dry. good news was that the push was only half a kay to the servo - nice!!

Cheers
Ian

K's
 

:eek3:I thought 230klm to reserve was bad. I Filled up and got 254K's on 11.8 Ltrs. This is it's second tank of fuel I've put in. I'm new to the KLE world I just picked it up 2 weeks ago New But 2007 plate.
It works out roughly 21.5 ks to the L or 4.6L Per 100Ks

I get about 230-240 before hitting reserve. 25000 kms on the clock

Will

Just realised...

Last chain and sprocket change had a 44 on the rear - back to the 43 now AND switched to reserve at 205km! I am a fat bustarde (95kg) and have a givi top bix fitted (not the best aerodynamics),

Will - how is your airbox modded?

Cheers
Ian

Snorkel off and a about four drill holes on the opposite side. And a DNA filter. Part number KD5E05. But also my carburetor is rejetted and the bike was dynotuned when they did all that.


Will

EDIT: Also I only run the bike on premium fuel.

Excessive fuel consumption
 

I just registered today and don't know if you guys are still on the forum. My 95 kle only gets 13km/liter. I want to try the rimfire-conversion but I don't understand German at all. Micki, if you can help (or anybody) with translation to english it will be great.
Thank you
Neethling

My '05 gives me 50mpg (17.7k per litre) around town.

Pump up your tyres and check if your pads are rubbing. Personally I wouldn't spend too much chasing better fuel consumption. It'll will only save you a €1 or two a fill.

Sounds the same as my '06. Its all down to how much wrist action you apply!.

Ive had upto 160miles on mine with ease but only if you take it easy. Give it some stick and only 100.

goodluck

Roy:thumbup1:

On my last run out a couple of days ago, I got the following...

Full Tank 15ltrs

I covered 145 miles and filled up when I returned.

I put 9.65ltrs to top the bike back up, This works out at 68.31mpg.

This covered different speeds on motorway, A-roads and back roads upto 70mph.

So Im quite pleased with them figures.


Roy:thumbup1:

Geez - The best I have ever got (aside from running in) was that exact mileage before going to reserve, so around 12 litres for 145 miles for me (usually consistent high speed travel though!)

Cheers
Ian

Always get 20 km/L when heavy throttle, and 23km/L cruising at about 5000rpm. 2006 model stock gearing, 82kg rider, 24psi in tyres. 95 octane fuel.

There you go... My average RPM in top is 5500-6000 17/43 gears from memory and I weigh over 100kg with my gear on and have a topbox...

Sounds about right to me....

Cheers
Ian

.
 

these are my figures.

Commuting into work =

20 miles of motorway at 85mph and 8 miles of town at 0-30mph i get 125miles before hitting reserve. (12litres)

Travelling 70mph on motorways for general use = 150miles before htting reserve. (12litres)

Town riding I get 45mpg

My worst ever ride was 104miles before hitting reserve, open throttle bombing on motorway.

# ECO RIDE #

when i travel long distances on motorway and stay religously at 60mph I achieve 180 mile before turning to reserve.

my best ever ride I was travelled 240miles on 14.5litres of fuel :thumbup1:

overall it's not the best for fuel consumption, it completely depends on how i ride. and how much money i have.

I also get around 200km before hitting reserve, but the consumption is VERY dependent on driving style...

Not awfully impressed, but as some of the posters mentioned, shaving off 1 liter per hundred km is not exactly going to save vast amounts of money.

A bigger rear sprocket, or smaller front, could give better mpg.

I think you mean smaller rear sprocket and larger front sprocket

Here, Here. If you put a smaller front sprocket on, the bike will rev higher thus using more fuel. Deffo the other way round.

1 tooth at the front = 2 at the rear.




Roy:thumbup1:

On my old F650 1 tooth less on the front sprocket gave me 10 - 15% better fuel economy. I don't do a lot of motorway miles though. The gearing was much better and you could ride it at lower revvs, and it had a bit more acceleration.

I noticed the older KLE's have bigger rear sprockets than newer models. They also have 110 link chains as opposed to 108. I'm changing to the older set up next time I do my chain and sprockets. Only problem is the bigger rear sprocket doesn't come in black :-(

Fuel consumption...
 

Hi lads.:mchappy:

I've just bought KLE 500 '05 with small mileage and I'm preparing it to cut fuel consumption. First things first so VRT, insurance are crucial now but straight after test is starting.

I'll test my bike in quite specific conditions:
1. It's gonna be resctricted to 33bhp (25kW) 'cos I'm provisional driving licence holder (and that's law in ROI).
2. Mostly short distances (up to 10 miles) in city traffic.

For the first 2-3 months I'll be using genuine settings and parts.
Around november (if weather and € allow) I'll put on light (alu?) wheels and proper street tyres.

Hopefully I'll get some results...

p.s. If you got more ideas feel free to express them :-)
?c?

Double check it isn't a 25kw model before you go retricting it. There were some made. Bikeworld could tell you that, if they'd care to.

I VRT'd my KLE and saved myself a fortune. If you download and fill out the forms before you go to the VRT office, you will save yourself a lot of time.

Just a thought, you could try and VRT it as a 25kw model and then not bother restricting it. You will then have a power to weight ratio printed on your log book that you can show the cops, should they stop you. The reason I say this is when I VRT'd mine the woman at the office didn't have a clue what model number it was, and she left it up to me to pick one.

If I was you I wouldn't waste your money on new wheels and tyres. Wear out the tyres that are on it before getting new ones. And, when the time comes, byall means get street tyres if that's what you want, but by then you may get the urge to do some light off roading. Personally I wouldn't swap my tyres for 100% road tyres because of the amount of sh*te I come across on the roads sometimes.

Good luck with the KLE. They're great bikes. I've owned 4 different bikes and it's the only one I'd consider buying again.

I've check data at EC cert of conformity, it says 33kW and 0,17 kW/kg power to weight ratio (UK reg cert gives the same ratio)


Thanks for an advice.

Interesting thought :wink:

I'm thinking hard about getting my fuel consumption low because I've hope for looong trip next summer (7500km). But thinking forward - knobby tires can help me survive winter (my "favourite" part of Irish weather:rain: :(:rain:)
For the summer trip I'll need proper tarmac tires (mostly main roads of western Europe).

Well I love it all ready. My previous bike was (still at backyard) 11bhp Honda XR125 so difference is huge. When I see all those praises about KLE's reliability it only make me grin more...


Soon my first fuel consumption readings.