so do you all find you get better gas mileage from kawasaki's suggested 3.5K RPM shifting or in the 6-7K RPM shifting?

5-6K results in best mileage for me, though it's not as fun as 12k shifts. :D

3.5K shifting... lol.
How would you ever hit 60? :P

Now you know how they got their claimed 60+mpg figures. In the real world though, off of a closed circuit where people will run you over because your speed is equivalent of a elderly lady in a power wheelchair, I wouldn't worry too much about losing 4 or 5 mpg and shifting at a higher rpm. Be safe and have fun. Getting a extra tank of fuel once or twice a month is a fair trade off for fun riding IMO. :thumbup:

Now you know how they got their claimed 60+mpg figures. In the real world though, off of a closed circuit where people will run you over because your speed is equivalent of a elderly lady in a power wheelchair, I wouldn't worry too much about losing 4 or 5 mpg and shifting at a higher rpm. Be safe and have fun. Getting a extra tank of fuel once or twice a month is a fair trade off for fun riding IMO. :thumbup:

agree...i only get ~45 mpg on my fiddy. I dont care too much about gas mileage when im having fun.

Couple of sample copy and pastes from my bike's maintenance log:

03.11.11 25,741.3 Refuel, 64.7 mpg
03.17.11 25,947.0 Refuel, 65.8 mpg
03.24.11 26,243.0 Refuel, 62.8 mpg
04.02.11 26,658.9 Refuel, 63.6 mpg
04.06.11 26,844.0 Refuel, 63.4 mpg
*****************
05.19.11 29,266.5 Refuel, 63.95
05.30.11 Refuel, 64.09
06.03.11 29,852.5 Refuel, 64.16
06.08.11 29,996.7 Refuel, 64.52
*****************

Average across those samples: 64.1 mpg. Average riding style is 75+ on the highways about 80% of the time, the remainder at 35-45 stop and go in town. We run 10% ethanol. Bike is a 2006, only drivetrain mods are a 15T front sprocket (stock original rear) and Kenda K671 tires. I typically shift around 5-6K unless getting on the freeway, then I shift around 7-9K. I don't dog it or flog it, I just aim to go slightly faster than traffic at all times. I rarely go over 75% throttle, no reason to since I don't want to get arrested nor do I want to smack into the cars in front of me. :)

I've only gone through four tanks since getting my Ninja (totally stock), but I keep track of the mileage on an app on my phone. All my fill ups have been over 60mpg

kawi suggested 3.5? where? i don't see that in my manual... does the bike move at 3.5k rpm?

Pregens seem to always get ~10mpg more than my newgen at ~50mpg +/- 2mpg so far.

the manual doesn't say what rpm's to shift, but it does give the suggested speeds to shift at which put it at shifting around 3.5k rpm

I just finished my second tank of fuel and I am averaging around 62 mpg. I usually shift around 7,000 to 8,000 rpm.

On the same note wouldn't shifting at 3,500 rpm tend to get the bike loaded up and full of carbon and then result in even worse fuel economy?

the best mpg can be achieved by not starting the bike and walking everywhere. you can get an infinite number of miles per gallon this way.

the best mpg can be achieved by not starting the bike and walking everywhere. you can get an infinite number of miles per gallon this way.

Yes, but for us who RIDE our bikes. :D Have you hit the 3k mile mark yet?? :p

Yes, but for us who RIDE our bikes. :D Have you hit the 3k mile mark yet?? :p

that wasn't his question. my bike's fuel consumption has been superb with it sitting unused in the garage.

that wasn't his question. my bike's fuel consumption has been superb with it sitting unused in the garage.

:( The bike shouldn't be sitting in the garage all the time. It's made to move.:lol: But yes, when it's sitting, thats when you get the best fuel consumption..well kinda. It isn't using any. :eek:

over 16000km i've averaged 48mpg, and that's riding it like i stole it. Through the week I'm usually a little over 50, and on the weekends in the twisties i'm anywhere from 40-45.

I don't think I've ever seen 60mpg, maybe the first week during break in, but that's about it.

Shifting at 3.5k? :eek: could you even go over 40 mph?

I get about 60 mpg, riding pretty spirited, shifting between 6-10k pending on my mood. Smiles per gallon is why you buy a motorcycle anyway

I get about 55mpg when riding really aggressive (like on the track). Otherwise I get over 60mpg riding normally and shifting at about 7,000rpm.

The best mpg that I can get is 62-68mpg while cruising around 70-75mph. I shift around 5-6k. Did the sprocket change(15F 42R) and a Scorpion slip on exhaust.

Smiles per gallon is why you buy a motorcycle anyway

Smiles per gallon. I like that!:)

You guys get some amazing mpg. My stock bike is new and it gets a little over 40 mpg if I'm lucky. I guess I ride rough, but even trying to keep the throttle and the RPM down, I get 45 mpg at the most.

Who knows, I ride it like I stole it.

Shift at 10,000-12,000 rpm when accelerating and 9,000 rpm while cruising.

the best mpg can be achieved by not starting the bike and walking everywhere. you can get an infinite number of miles per gallon this way.

Fact: gasoline do evaporate at room temperature. Therefore, even with your bike sitting around, you still losing gas at approximately ~0.0000001 gallon/day.

i get about 66 on ave with mine. get up to speed quick but take it easy at that point. i am up 1 tooth in the front on mine wich i like. dropped the rpms a little so the bike is not screeming at 75 mph

The best mpg that I can get is 62-68mpg while cruising around 70-75mph. I shift around 5-6k. Did the sprocket change(15F 42R) and a Scorpion slip on exhaust.

I get the same mpg's with a similar setup: 15/42 with full yosh and jetted. Probably the biggest difference is the gearing. My best was 67mpg and it has never been below 60mpg.

I get the same mpg's with a similar setup: 15/42 with full yosh and jetted. Probably the biggest difference is the gearing. My best was 67mpg and it has never been below 60mpg.
I am thinking about doing this same set up(well any slip on would be fine) Are you washer jetted or actually jetted? did you remove the snorkel?

My pregen has gotten: 66,65,71,71,(this is about when I changed rear sprocket) 70,70,(this is when I put the full area P exhaust on) 73,68,69, and 75 on fillups. I use an app. my gf's pregen has gotten: 67, 65, and 68.

I usually shift early, between 5 and 6, sometimes in town I'll go up to 10-11k if I'm playing. This is 1/2 city driving and 1/2 55mph highway.

I wonder why the newgens get much less.

I wonder why the newgens get much less.

The engine is tuned differently and pregens are not as heavy would be my guess.

Smiles per gallon is why you buy a motorcycle anyway

+1000 :thumbup:

+1 to that. I don't bother with mpg at this point. All I know is I can get just as far on my bike off a tank of gas as I can on my cage. I'm just putting 9 gallons less in my bike when I fill up.
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