First of all, confusion reigns when people start comparing fuel consumption while mixing references to American and Imperial gallons, then salting liberally with kilometers and liters. I'm just trying to get ahead of the curve by pointing that out.
I get 50 miles per US gallon (4 quarts, 5% under 4 liters) with my large, carburated single (KLR 650). That's about 80 km per gallon, about 20 km per liter. I've had as low as 25-30 miles per gallon in ferocious headwinds with bad gas and full luggage (Patagonia). I've had as high as 75 miles per gallon riding steadily with no load on a level road at 40 miles per hour. Big differences.
I get 5-10 miles per gallon better under all circumstances with a fuel injected v-twin (DL 650).
I've had the experience of riding along in misery (gusty winds, driving rain and hail, temps just above freezing).....and looking over at the folks in the Smartcar in the next lane, who're warm, dry, listening to pleasant music and carrying on a genteel conversation while getting better mileage than I.
On the other hand, there are advantages to doing what we do. Sometimes it's hard to remember just what and when.
Mark
Last edited by markharf; 2 Aug 2012 at 01:08.
Reason: edit to correct humiliating math error
|