"07 Sprint ST mileage

[Chronic]

Rode back from Los Angeles yesterday along Hwy's 5 & 99.  Much of the ride was in 6th gear at around 5,000 - 5,500 rpm ( 85 mph +/- ) and calculated  45.6 mpg at the end of the 200 mile jaunt.  I'm fairly pleased with that Should be able to get 235+ miles out of a tank.

Spent saturday chasing the So- Cal Guzzi  crowd around the Santa Monica Mtns. ( with obligatory stop at the Rock Store).  Even this type of spirited riding produce a decent 40.2 mpg...I'll give it another   for that.

Used the ride it hard but sensibly method for break-in (w/ Dino oil) and now has 5,000 miles with synthetic oil now.

How are some of the other Sprint's out there doing with mileage??

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I'm currently (over the last 5K or so- can't remember when the last time the battery was disconnected) averaging 42.9.  It was a smidge over 43, but a fast trip to Wisconsin and a day of hard twisty riding while I was there dropped it a bit.

If you ride conservatively, there should be no problem getting 45+.  The problem is riding conservatively .

[basco]

I have no problems with over 40 on the slab or twisties. What kills the mileage is the scoot around town for some reason. I only get 35 mpg but right know I have construction all over the place so I am just sitting in traffic most of the time. I can't belive that has that much of a difference to a days worth of twistie action. I am averaging about 43 now, so says the gauge.

[vfrmarc]

I have a new 06 and the bike computor sayth 45.9 mpg.  I know on the ride home from picking it up at the dealer the ave was 55 - a combo of interstate 40 miles and 80 miles of 55-65mph two/four lane roads (break-in speed limited - but it got me through the 1st break-in limit).  I whacked it to 8K today on the way home (just cleared 800 miles) feeding my way into fast traffic on a two lane - felt the front wheel skimming a couple of times as I was leaned to cross oncoming traffic.  My vfr wouldn't do that without some help from me and the clutch   .  What I am wondering is does the mpg improve a bit after break-in as it does on autos?

And just how inaccurate is the triumph speedo?    I haven't bolted my GPS on it yet to find out.  Anybody been down that road already?  And if so has anybody used the 'Speedo Healer' on their Sprint?

[basco]

Its about 5% I think. I really don't use the speedo that much since I have a gps that tells me accurate readings. I mostly use as a gauge to let me know what gear I'm in when I forget to count.  

[vfrmarc]

Its about 5% I think. I really don't use the speedo that much since I have a gps that tells me accurate readings. I mostly use as a gauge to let me know what gear I'm in when I forget to count.  

You made my day  Half the time I think I'm in 6th and I'm in 5th the other half the time I think I'm in 2nd and I'm in third.  I'm jealous of my son's 675 which provides a gear indicator.

[Capirex]

I'm jealous of your son's 675 too.  

I have just over 10K on my '06 and gas mileage seems to be about the same as it was when new.  I still get between 40 and 42.

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

And just how inaccurate is the triumph speedo?    I haven't bolted my GPS on it yet to find out.  Anybody been down that road already?  And if so has anybody used the 'Speedo Healer' on their Sprint?

Mine seems to be off about 7%.  I also use GPS for a speedo instead of the gauge.  Sometimes, when I try to use the speedometer, I have to look for it because I forgot where it is.

[HipGnosis]

 Wow...

 I'm getting 50 - 57 mpg on my '00, depending on how much time I sit in traffic and how hard I push it

 How am I ever gonna sell this warrior?

[BBB]

The earlier spec 955 engine used in the ST and RS up to 2001 is a very economical engine. I did manage 63mpg (UK gallon, not US) on my first ST. The 2004 ST I have now is nowhere near as fuel efficient as my original '99 ST.

[B-rent]

In an effort to get better fuel economy, I dropped my side bags. Silly enough as it sounds I get about 3mpg better without the bags.

I see about 49mpg without the bags riding conservatively. Riding more aggressively, I'll see about 5mpg less with or without the bags. It looks pretty much the same as everyone else.

[ol Rocket]

51.5 for the first 100 miles or so.  I didn't think I was being overly conservative, but maybe I'm more of an old lady than I see myself.  I know that this won't last as I get to the point where I can wind it out, but the triple is very frugal compared with my carbed 750 VFR.  

[Alsworld]

My daily commuting has my '06 getting 36-38 mpg (US).  This is actual manual math.  The computer shows me getting 42, a bit optimistic.  I have achieved 45 mpg on a slab road trip riding at 80 mph indicated, the computer showed higher but I don't recollect what.  I was at 175 miles on that tank of gas and still did not have a low fuel light on.  When filling, I was indeed not as low as I thought which surprised me.  That particular tank of gas I could have easily gotten over 200 miles.  The rest maybe, probably not.

My low fuel light comes on around 155 miles when daily commuting, and takes about 4.3 gallons to fill.  Traffic is not bad but it's low speeds (55 mph max with some stops, all through the city, no highway).

[markml]

The display on the 06's (and I assume 05's) defaults to reading in UK gallons.  To change it, hold in all 3 buttons for about 5 seconds.  The display will change to a '1'.  Use the left button to change it and the center button to exit.  Set it to 1 for miles and UK gallons, 2 for km and liters, and 3 for miles and US gallons.  I don't know if this is the same for the 07's.  

I get 41-42 mpg (US) commuting on my 06.

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

markml-

That's a handy little bit of knowledge!  Thank you!  Now I have to go out to the garage and mess with it....

[Alsworld]

markml,

after owning my ST for 1 year, and scouring the internet for information about it, that is the first time I have ever read that.

I did just like TheRedOnesAreFaster and went to the driveway and played with mine.  I saw my average mpg go from 44.? to 37.8 (US now).  Now the 44.? was after a few tanks (no reset), but had alway been optimistic.  I'm really curious to see how it will balance out over a few tanks of fuel.

I can say 100% that my manual math figures are no BS, and seeing my computer back me up once changing to "3" was refreshing.  But your information was quite a surprise and appears little known to many of us.

Thanks for sharing that!

[VTSprint]

Same here—I had no idea that needed to be set in the computer! And apparently, neither did the dealer... but since they weren't even able to install the luggage properly, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

My mileage doesn't look quite as good as it did before your advice, but it sure is more accurate now! Thanks again!

VTS

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I completely forgot to do that yesterday.  Turns out I'm only getting 35.7 mpg instead of almost 43!

The mileage makes more sense now, though.

[Capirex]

The display on the 06's (and I assume 05's) defaults to reading in UK gallons.  

Was that in the owners manual?  I swear I read that damn thing.  
And can someone tell me why UK gallons are different from US?

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

 



Was that in the owners manual?  I swear I read that damn thing.  
And can someone tell me why UK gallons are different from US?

Don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, but you can try this Wikipedia link.

[rselin]

Glad I read through this thread to the end and the UK/US gallon bit, because I just got back from a 4000 km trip and my mileage was looking really low!  According to the computer, I was averaging 6.1 l/100 km (l/100 km is the factory setting on Canadian models) which works out to 38.6 mi/galUS.  About 1/4 of the trip was 80-85 mph (actual-GPS) interstate, 1/2 73-78 mph two-lane, and 1/4 twisties.

As to speedo accuracy, 140 km/h (87 mph) indicated is about 133 km/h (83 mph) on the GPS, so about 5% high.

Oh - 2006 Sprint with saddlebags and tankbag.

[Capirex]

Don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, but you can try this Wikipedia link.

Thanks.  Seems to be an issue of wine vs. ale.  

The American colonists adopted the English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches, and used it for all fluid purposes. The English of that period used this wine gallon, but they also had another gallon, the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches. In 1824, the British abandoned these two gallons when they adopted the British Imperial gallon, which they defined as the volume of 10 pounds of water—much closer to the ale gallon than the wine gallon.

[markml]

Was that in the owners manual?  I swear I read that damn thing.  

No, it's not in the owner's manual or the service manual, so you didn't miss anything.  I figured it could be changed, since you can see the metric units on the display, and it was pretty clear that its gallons were bigger than ours, but I never stumbled across it.  Someone on triumphrat.net found the 3 button trick, but didn't know what it did.  I'm glad it turned out to be easy - I was thinking there might be a jumper inside the display.

[basco]

Thanks for posting that 3-button trick, markml. I will have to try it tonight. I am sure I am getting same mileage as others 43mpg before the trick.

I did however get the mileage up to 48 mpg (240 miles/5 gallons) once on my trip last weekend. I couldn't believe it. This was riding hard and fully loaded with camping gear down the twisty section of the Blueridge Parkway.

But that is rare. I don't usually go more than 180 miles on a tank.

[SprintSTboy]

The display on the 06's (and I assume 05's) defaults to reading in UK gallons.  To change it, hold in all 3 buttons for about 5 seconds.  The display will change to a '1'.  Use the left button to change it and the center button to exit.  Set it to 1 for miles and UK gallons, 2 for km and liters, and 3 for miles and US gallons.  I don't know if this is the same for the 07's.  

I get 41-42 mpg (US) commuting on my 06.

Damn, I learned something new today.  Thanks newbie!  I get 36.3 mpg U.S.

[B-rent]

And here I was boasting that my bike gets better gas mileage then my co-workers V8 Dodge truck, which kicks down to a 4 cylinder on the highway getting, he claims, 40mpg. Now I don't even get as good of gas mileage as my little Toyota Corolla.    

 

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

And here I was boasting that my bike gets better gas mileage then my co-workers V8 Dodge truck, which kicks down to a 4 cylinder on the highway getting, he claims, 40mpg. Now I don't even get as good of gas mileage as my little Toyota Corolla.    

 

He's full of it.  My fiancé's father has a Ram 1500 with the MDS system (or whatever they call it) and it gets around 20 on the highway.  Even with a Dakota, your friend is not getting that kind of mileage.  Unless he drives downhill everywhere.

Dodge Fuel Economy Chart.

Dodge itself doesn't claim better than 22 mpg.  If they had a truck that got 40, they'd be screaming it from the treetops.

I'm guessing you don't wring out your Toyota like you do your Sprint.  You can get 40+ if you always ride conservatively.  That would take more willpower than I have.

[crispiegee1]

The Sprint is my favorite bike and I intend to buy one for my next bike, but that's some stinky fuel mileage!  You guys are saying your average is around 36 mpg?    I'm disappointed.

When I had a 120/60-17 front tire on my YZF600R, I computed my fuel mileage to be in the high-fifties.  Now that I have a 120/70, my computation has dropped down to 50 mpg.  I don't know which tire makes the speedometer more accurate, but I suspect that is was reading optimistically with the 60-series tire (lower overall height).  Therefore, I'm probably more accurate to say that my average fuel mileage is around 50.

I still want a Sprint ST, mind you, but taking a 14 mpg hit to go up to the bigger bike is nothing to sneeze at.    

[Chronic]

The Sprint is my favorite bike and I intend to buy one for my next bike, but that's some stinky fuel mileage!  You guys are saying your average is around 36 mpg?    I'm disappointed.


Taking a 14 mpg hit to go up to the bigger bike is nothing to sneeze at.    

No Crisp, I still think if you get an new Sprint and break it in properly AND use synthetic at some point you should get 46 - 50 mpg on the highway ( range due to hard bags) and 38 - 40 mpg when flogging hard it around the hills.  This is what I'm getting....... I calculate the old fashioned way - the miles I just rode divided by the gallons I just put in to fill it.  I do use a calculator now since I lost my Slide-rule........are we all old enough here to know what a slide -rule is??

[basco]

I get different results. That computer is way too conservative. I zero'd it out when I switched it US Gallons and still getting 36. On my trip to ESTN I was getting 48 mpg average running the corners and couldn't believe I was getting 240 miles on 5 gallons. But when I slab it I get 38-40 but usually I do 75-80 mi/h.

[Chronic]

I still can't figure out why some of you are getting such shitty mileage?!?!

OK, yesterday I did a big loop up thru Sequoia Nat'l park.  The first 1/3 rd of the trip was steep and very curvy while heading up.  Spun the engine hard in 1st & 2nd gears while having a bunch of fun ...although I did get pulled over by a Park Ranger (she was good looking , too) luckily she didn't ticket me

When I hit the gas station upon finishing I had 198 miles on the odo and them commenced to put 4.71 gallon of 89 octane gas to fill.....my calculator tells me  42 mpg.  Which I think is fairly good for spirited mountain riding

So what's up with this crappy mileage thing.   Here's what I have done that could be helping: Switched to the TOR exhaust & mapping and now only using Synthetic oil.

[basco]

Actually, I am not getting bad mileage. Its the computer that is screwy or the post about switching the calculator is not right. I get closer to the imperial gallon mileage setting then US gallon at 43.

[crispiegee1]

No Crisp, I still think if you get an new Sprint and break it in properly AND use synthetic at some point you should get 46 - 50 mpg on the highway ( range due to hard bags) and 38 - 40 mpg when flogging hard it around the hills.  This is what I'm getting....... I calculate the old fashioned way - the miles I just rode divided by the gallons I just put in to fill it.  I do use a calculator now since I lost my Slide-rule........are we all old enough here to know what a slide -rule is??

Well that's a relief.  Come to think of it, I know a lot of guys on 600-size bikes who get in the 30's and wonder how I get 50-or-more to a gallon.  Then I learn that they never upshift... toodling around town in 3rd gear at 6000 rpm.  I tend to shift early and keep revs at 3500-4000.  I once talked to a guy with an R1 who said he never used 6th gear until he got to 90 mph!  How silly!

As for the 40 mpg Hemi Dodge truck, that guy is either a pathological liar or he failed math.  My Chrysler 300 has the same engine and gets 18 in mixed (mostly suburban driving).  On the highway, I'm happy to get 25 mpg.  And on country roads - if I keep it to 55-60 mpg and play some clever games with the throttle, I've seen as high as 32 mpg for a 120 mile trip, but that was very difficult.  Anyway, the 300 is only 4200 pounds and has a much smaller frontal area than a Ram pickup.