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  #1  
Old 6 Mar 2009
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loaded bike and fuel consumption question
Hi, my transalp does 230 km on a 19L tank one up, no luggage.

What would my consumption be with a backpack strapped down, I'm thinking roughly
half the weight or less than a pillion for a long distance.

I'm trying to get an estimate kilometer distance with a loaded bike.

Thanks

Ta
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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The weight won't make any significant difference IMHO, especially as you aren't adding any serious wind resistance. The main factors in terms of range are speed and acceleration. If you cruise at 150 kph and put the throttle on the stop out of every corner you'll loose a lot more range compared to hanging a bag or two on.

For a rather extreme example:

Triumph Bonneville without Ural sidecar at 100 kph: 270 km range
Triumph Bonneville without Ural sidecar at 140 kph: 210 km range
Triumph Bonneville with Ural sidecar at 100 kph: 250 km range
Triumph Bonneville with Ural sidecar at 120 kph: 210 km range

The sidecar weighs 500 kg loaded and is as streamlined as a block of flats. The nut on the throttle is the main factor in the range.

Andy
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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Thanks so much, I always thought it made for a drastic change, but as you say it's all about how you manouver that throttle.

Cruising equals more mileage.

Cheers Andy

Patrick
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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That doesn't sound quite right, either that or you need to go easier on the throttle.... I was getting around 20km/L on my fully loaded DR650 so on a 20L tank, could usually get 350-380kms before fill ups. A little windscreen can make a difference if you haven't already got one.
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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I'd agree, my TransAlp (2007, 650cc model) averages just under 19km per litre, so on 19 litres it will in theory do just over 360km.
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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You guys are probably right, I used to get 230 pour 19 litres burning it to work on the autoroute. So I guess cruising will make an enormous difference.

I'll probably get more km/l on cruise mode.

Thanks for the input.
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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My CCM 600 single does about 21km/L on a long run without luggage, cruising about 65 - 70 mph. Adding the pannier boxes drops it to 17km/L. Purely down to aerodynamics.
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Old 6 Mar 2009
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Have you made the exhaust/airbox mods to your bike..?

650 TA's were strangled to meet the emissions regs and as a consequence use more fuel making their power.

The mods free up the engine and let it breathe as it should, which gives you more mpg.

I can't vouch for it personally-my 600 is pre-emission hassle-but an extra 10mpg seems likely from what I've read.

Definitely agree with the difference a heavy right hand makes. Two-up, fully loaded, caning it down the motorway into a headwind can get it down to the low forties, bimbling around the countryside I've had sixty
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