May 16th, 2015, 11:22 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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Recent buy really bad gas mileage
2007 250r
bought it last month and have run through 3 tanks of gas including reserves I have done a full tune and oil change I have used a small amount of sea foam in the first and 3rd tank. my idle is set at 1600rpm I'm at around 130 miles per tank. (27-28 mpg) I romp on it maybe once per tank I'm very concious about gas mileage my other vehicle is a 4 cyclinder. this is my first bike so I don't know what else to look at. Last futzed with by silverchair19; May 18th, 2015 at 03:04 PM. |
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May 16th, 2015, 11:29 AM | #2 |
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Tire pressure
chain tension fuel leak
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May 16th, 2015, 11:37 AM | #3 |
Daily Ninjette rider
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Welcome, Jay !!!
Do you mean that the bike is doing 130 miles per gallon or that you can only cover 130 miles using a full tank, including reserve?
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May 16th, 2015, 11:46 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
I read it as 130 miles per tank. He would not be concerned about getting 130 MPG?
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May 16th, 2015, 11:50 AM | #5 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Aaron
Location: Winder, GA
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If you really want seafoam to do its business, I'd use at LEAST the recommended dose. If you suspect your carbs are really gummed up, I'd fill the bowls with it and let it sit for a day. It will smoke like crazy after you start it, but it will be clean.
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May 16th, 2015, 12:30 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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I get 130 miles to the whole tank including reserves about 115-119 til I switch to reserves.. I checked for leaks and found none. The bike only has 2400 miles on it I just don't get why this bike would be having this issue when I see everyone claiming 40 mpg as their minimum. I'm now shifting at lower rpm (4-5 k rpm), not sitting upright, and I adjusted my idle to 1,600 rpm. It was set at about 1,900 -2,000 rpm. I also just filled the tank and added double the sea foam from last time. Has anyone else had a low mpg like this?
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May 16th, 2015, 12:54 PM | #7 | |
Daily Ninjette rider
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Quote:
You may have a float valve that is leaking badly with the vibration of the engine and overflowing the bowl. This may be happening only when the engine is working, producing vacuum to activate the petcock and vibrations. If happens when the engine is off, then some fuel is going into your oil in the crankcase, increasing the volume and ruining the oil.
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May 16th, 2015, 12:55 PM | #8 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
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How much your you filling up? As in how many gallons??
The tank holds about 4.8 gallons if you fill it up to the tippy top. The reserve is about the last .8 gallons, so if your petcock is working right, and the fuel feed tubes it should take about 4 Gallons. http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_doe...e_tank_work%3F Is the 100% stock? Any modifications?? @Alex this needs to be moved to the PreGen section
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May 16th, 2015, 01:18 PM | #9 | |
ninjette.org dude
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Quote:
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May 16th, 2015, 01:40 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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No mods and I fill it to the very top everytime. I did notice today the exhaust smells really rich bit I'm told the bike runs lean from the factory. I forwarded what you guys suggested to my friend who works on bikes he said he will take a look and let me know.
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May 16th, 2015, 01:47 PM | #11 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
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No modifications as far as you know of, doesn't mean a past owner might have done something.
Your list of causes is long, jet kit? Leaking petcock, sucking gas thru the vacuum side? Bad and/or improper float heights, and float needle valve, etc.........
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May 16th, 2015, 02:36 PM | #12 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
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Check your oil, is the level rising and smell of gas? If so, you have a float stuck and it's leaking into the case.
After you park your bike, lean it over pretty good to each side. Any leaks? Many pregens have tank leaks where the fairings bolt to the tank due to the owners using screws that were too long. it could be leaking while you ride. Good luck and let us know.
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May 16th, 2015, 03:54 PM | #13 |
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So what is your actual measured miles-per-gallon?
(rather than miles per fill-up) |
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May 16th, 2015, 04:25 PM | #14 | |
cadd cadd cadd
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Quote:
I think there's a possibility the bike may be running rich as well. But first, do what Motofool mentioned. Check the petcock. In it's original position, there should not be any fuel dripping at all. If you see fuel dripping, will enter the carbs. And if your float needles aren't in great condition, they will allow fuel to flow pass the carbs, through the motor and into the crankcase. Do a quick test. Open the oil cap and take a sniff and see if you there's a big whiff of gasoline smell. Also take out your air filter and see if there's any gasoline smell in the airbox.
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May 16th, 2015, 04:31 PM | #15 |
Participant
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May 16th, 2015, 07:35 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Bombaclot
Location: Island in the Pacific Ocean
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In my automotive experience as an automotive backyard worker and online research made me conclude that SeaFoam does nothing other than dumping baby oil into your engine.
I used lucas fuel cleaner and it fixed a non-firing injector lol, But this is carbs and; although, I still dumped a bottle in my tank for fun lol. |
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May 16th, 2015, 07:39 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Bombaclot
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*Stupid newb input * but maybe there isn't stock jets inside?
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May 16th, 2015, 08:25 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Aaron
Location: Winder, GA
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718
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Seafoam is good stuff when used correctly. It is not a miracle cure-all and 99% of the time is more of a maintenance product, but if you have some nasty old varnished up carbs, it will clean them out given the proper amount of time.
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May 16th, 2015, 11:57 PM | #19 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
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Okay Seafoam is not the cure all, it's works great for preventative maintenance/upkeep item, add to tank to keep things flowing, but once they stop, it will not unclog jets, fuel circuits, wore float needle valve, etc....
Only a proper and meticulous carburetor cleaning and rebuild is the only answer.
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May 17th, 2015, 11:54 AM | #20 | |
EX500 full of EX250 parts
Name: Bill
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I'm saying this because I've seen it happen before, and a number of people wasted a bunch of time trying to fix a non-existent problem because the poster didn't specify actual numbers.
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May 18th, 2015, 02:35 PM | #21 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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my friend found the needle valve stuck and changed my oil ....he also found the air inlet for the gas tank was slightly pinched.
hecalso recommended changing to a different sizes front and rear sprocket for better gas mileage. has anyone done this? i have a 2007 kawasaki 250r can someone recommend or give me a link to a set of sprockets that would help me to achieve this ? thanks everyone for your help !! |
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May 18th, 2015, 02:39 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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and between 2 tanks i was getting about 27-28 mpg...i just picked her up and drove her home she feels great and has a full tank now. so i will update when i run the tank dry and tell you guys what my mpg is.
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May 18th, 2015, 03:02 PM | #23 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Byron
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15 tooth front sprocket will help a lot. It can be done very easily on a pregen. The rear sprocket is a bit more work bc the wheel has to be removed but the front can be done really fast. A lot of guys on here switch to the 15 tooth sprocket for gas mileage and keeping the rpms lower on the freeway
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May 18th, 2015, 03:11 PM | #24 |
Inline 4!!!
Name: Danny
Location: MA
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I thought switching the sprockets had no affect on gas mileage...
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May 18th, 2015, 04:06 PM | #25 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
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I personally have gone +1 on the front, which is the most one can do, and probably for good reason, if you gear it too low, then you'll be lugging the engine, it's not a car, it's a bike, and bike loves revs, the power band on the Ninjette starts to wake up at about 8k, no worries because Kawasaki made it to run like this.
Any more questions feel free to ask.
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May 18th, 2015, 04:08 PM | #26 | |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
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Quote:
Personally I did +1/-2 which at 70mph equals 7.5k RPMs, at 75mph, equals 8k which is just at the lower of the power band.
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violente et ignorantia ZX-2R BLOG Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform. Last futzed with by Ghostt; May 21st, 2015 at 11:37 AM. |
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May 18th, 2015, 04:17 PM | #27 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
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thanks ! nice to know!
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May 18th, 2015, 04:24 PM | #28 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
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If your commuting is mostly on the highway, then gear down might be the answer, if it mostly in the city with a lot of stop and go, then stick to stock.
You could try changing the front sprocket, it's easy and inexpensive to do, if you like it fine, if not change it back.
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May 18th, 2015, 04:46 PM | #29 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
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Quote:
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May 18th, 2015, 04:49 PM | #30 |
in your machine
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot.
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Keep in mind with lower gearing, it will also change all the gears as well, it does spread them out a little.
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May 18th, 2015, 04:55 PM | #31 |
Daily Ninjette rider
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Could you explain those a little more?
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Motofool .................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí |
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May 18th, 2015, 05:00 PM | #32 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Jay
Location: burlington
Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2007 kawasaki 250r Posts: 8
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May 20th, 2015, 03:13 PM | #33 |
Lostcause enthusiast
Name: Graham
Location: Austin, TX
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he probably means the float needle in the carb was leaking/hanging and that the line coming off the nipple out the back of the tank was pinched.
i hope you fixed the problem, but i'll add (since nobody clearly stated it) its very common for people to put bolts in the side of the fairing on the gas tank that causes it to puncture the tank. you will see run marks under those bolt holes, hidden beneath the fairing, if this has been done. if you can see tool marks on the screws that hold the fairing to the tank, its probably worth popping it off and checking to make sure you don't have a small leak... although i'm guessing it would be pretty hard to miss, smell and possibly gas on your legs would be a dead giveaway. |
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May 21st, 2015, 08:26 AM | #34 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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Along with all of this, I believe Ghost mentioned it - these engines like to rev. If you are accelerating, make sure to be higher in the revs. Above 6K at least, then downshift when you're at speed. You're not going to hurt the bike, and you're gas mileage will improve up to a point.
I get 70mpg on average riding with heavy acceleration in the first 3 gears, then shift to top gear to cruise - this means you have to downshift 2 or 3 times when needing acceleration and if you're not comfortable with shifting that fast when you need the power, maybe not the best idea, but something to think about.
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