Poor MPG

singlecoillover · April 12th, 2011, 06:35 AM

So according to my last fillup I'm getting just shy of 47 MPG with my 09 SE.

This isn't the first time I've seen less than impressive numbers with this bike. The other week I ran the bike bone dry with 196 miles to a FULL tank. So 196 / 4.4 = 44ish mpg. That was before I shimmed the carbs and added the 2-bros slip on. I have to say I'm a little upset. The whole reason I went with a 250 again is because of the MPG. Heck even my old 87 ninjette got 50mpg, but right now my almost-new 09 with 3500 miles only beats my car and my old Nighthawk 750 by a paltry 5-7 MPG.

What gives?

I ride a mixture of highway and backroad cruising. Nothing wild or crazy; very little WOT. I am convinced that these numbers just should not be. I am considering having the dealer take a look at my bike, but that could get really expensive. I do have the good times protection plan, but I have no idea what that covers.

warlord · April 12th, 2011, 06:57 AM

Yeah, I don't know but that sounds terrible.

I'm still in the break-in period but my last tank was 4.2gal @ 228 miles or 54 miles per gallon. It's going to take a while before I can calculate average fuel economy though. Is there a thread of experienced fuel economy with mods? It would be handy since gas prices are increasing...

cwb48 · April 12th, 2011, 08:01 AM

Yeah, it's true, the '08 forward are not as good as the previous model on mpg. My '01 consistantly got 69-72 mpg, and the best I've done with the '08 is 62. I'm afraid to check it now that I've shimmed the needles.

Chris

sombo · April 12th, 2011, 08:12 AM

Don't feel bad, after I had my 94 serviced by a dealer about a month ago it dropped by 10mpg from over 50mpg (with mods) to in the 40's. So I'm soon getting it looked at by a different shop to get the 18k service, fix an exhaust leak and try retuning the carbs which I think might be set too rich.

CThunder-blue · April 12th, 2011, 09:23 AM

Sell it or trade it in and get the Honda CBR 250

I don't think I've ever gotten 50mpg, I've always been in the 40's, but my bike has the carbs and such worked on so it uses more fuel anyways.

kkim · April 12th, 2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singlecoillover

So according to my last fillup I'm getting just shy of 47 MPG with my 09 SE.

This isn't the first time I've seen less than impressive numbers with this bike. The other week I ran the bike bone dry with 196 miles to a FULL tank. So 196 / 4.4 = 44ish mpg. That was before I shimmed the carbs and added the 2-bros slip on. I have to say I'm a little upset. The whole reason I went with a 250 again is because of the MPG. Heck even my old 87 ninjette got 50mpg, but right now my almost-new 09 with 3500 miles only beats my car and my old Nighthawk 750 by a paltry 5-7 MPG.

What gives?

I ride a mixture of highway and backroad cruising. Nothing wild or crazy; very little WOT. I am convinced that these numbers just should not be. I am considering having the dealer take a look at my bike, but that could get really expensive. I do have the good times protection plan, but I have no idea what that covers.

you actually filled 4.4 gallons of fuel into your tank?

play2pwn · April 12th, 2011, 10:48 AM

Mines even lower im gettin 182 for a full tank im still in the break in period havent shimmed the needles since no hardware is sellin 3mm washer so ill order online

My friend told me thay my bike is not breathing well maybe becoz he ride an R1 and tried my bike

nakedhunter · April 12th, 2011, 10:53 AM

I have a 2009 and get right at 55 mpg rejetted and Area P exhaust, thats it at about 1400 miles. Had a 2002 and got almost 60 mpg.

singlecoillover · April 12th, 2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

you actually filled 4.4 gallons of fuel into your tank?

yeah. It was so empty it wouldn't start. So I filled a 1 gallon gas can and emptied that into the bike to get it running. Then I rode up the street to the gas station and put 3.4 gallons in at the pump.

I've read that during the break in period gas mileage is lower, but with 3500 miles my bike should be broken in. I am gonna talk to my dealer and maybe go back to stock and check mileage again. Even though it seems to be getting better after shimming and pipe. I did use 2 washers on each needle.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

kkim · April 12th, 2011, 12:04 PM

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13536

DaBlue1 · April 12th, 2011, 12:19 PM

Cooler weather temps will affect with your gas mileage, especially with carbs. Gas vaporizes better at higher temps. Altitude, air temperature, and humidity are big factors that will affect how an engine will run. Air density increases as air gets colder. This means that there are more oxygen molecules in the same space when the air is cold. When the temperature drops, the engine will run leaner and more fuel will have to be added to compensate. When the air temperature gets warmer, the engine will run richer and less fuel will be needed.
A bike will run richer as humidity increases and lean out or run better with less humidity. Depending on which State you live in, the blend of gas you get will decrease your gas mileage. Some states have a winter and summer blend gas.

The Ninjette simply runs better in temps over 70 degrees and avg humidity.

singlecoillover · April 12th, 2011, 03:58 PM

I never knew that. That could be why I'm having trouble. Our temps really haven't been that warm lately. A lot of my riding has been in 40 - 50 degree weather.

I called the dealer and they really couldn't tell me anything besides what the EPA estimate was (49.)

warlord · April 12th, 2011, 04:26 PM

Most of my riding has been from 30-50 degree weather. I'm interested to see what I'll get when the weather gets warmer.

edwinmcq · April 12th, 2011, 04:57 PM

I almost always ride in the city and when I have done tests it has come out to roughly 44 on the low side and 54 on the high side.

Which is a 500 to 700% increase in MPG over my other means of transportation...540i M-sport.

kamikaze · April 12th, 2011, 05:43 PM

in a little over 10,000 km I'm averaging 5.3L/100km which is 44mpg. I ride it like it's stolen

edit: BTW, anyone with an iPhone, an awesome app to track your fuel mileage is AccuFuel. I track my mileage everytime I fill up.

setasai · April 12th, 2011, 05:51 PM

I dont really go WOT often but my commute is 11 miles half city, half freeway and I've been getting 46-48mpg. To be honest, I dont think I've gone past 51/52mpg max ever.

April 12th, 2011, 06:35 AM	#1
singlecoillover ninjette.org member Name: Barak Location: South-Central PA Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja EX250-J Special Edition Posts: 71	Poor MPG So according to my last fillup I'm getting just shy of 47 MPG with my 09 SE. This isn't the first time I've seen less than impressive numbers with this bike. The other week I ran the bike bone dry with 196 miles to a FULL tank. So 196 / 4.4 = 44ish mpg. That was before I shimmed the carbs and added the 2-bros slip on. I have to say I'm a little upset. The whole reason I went with a 250 again is because of the MPG. Heck even my old 87 ninjette got 50mpg, but right now my almost-new 09 with 3500 miles only beats my car and my old Nighthawk 750 by a paltry 5-7 MPG. What gives? I ride a mixture of highway and backroad cruising. Nothing wild or crazy; very little WOT. I am convinced that these numbers just should not be. I am considering having the dealer take a look at my bike, but that could get really expensive. I do have the good times protection plan, but I have no idea what that covers.

April 12th, 2011, 09:23 AM	#5
CThunder-blue ModMy250.com Name: Tri Location: St, Louis Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.	Sell it or trade it in and get the Honda CBR 250 I don't think I've ever gotten 50mpg, I've always been in the 40's, but my bike has the carbs and such worked on so it uses more fuel anyways. __________________________________________________ The www.ModMy250.com guy

April 12th, 2011, 12:19 PM	#11
DaBlue1 Long Time Rider Name: Blue Location: Charlotte, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Cooler weather temps will affect with your gas mileage, especially with carbs. Gas vaporizes better at higher temps. Altitude, air temperature, and humidity are big factors that will affect how an engine will run. Air density increases as air gets colder. This means that there are more oxygen molecules in the same space when the air is cold. When the temperature drops, the engine will run leaner and more fuel will have to be added to compensate. When the air temperature gets warmer, the engine will run richer and less fuel will be needed. A bike will run richer as humidity increases and lean out or run better with less humidity. Depending on which State you live in, the blend of gas you get will decrease your gas mileage. Some states have a winter and summer blend gas. The Ninjette simply runs better in temps over 70 degrees and avg humidity. Last futzed with by DaBlue1; April 12th, 2011 at 03:00 PM.

April 12th, 2011, 04:57 PM	#14
edwinmcq ninjette.org member Name: Ed Location: Washington DC Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 157	I never really thought about it... I almost always ride in the city and when I have done tests it has come out to roughly 44 on the low side and 54 on the high side. Which is a 500 to 700% increase in MPG over my other means of transportation...540i M-sport. __________________________________________________ www.edmcqueen.com

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April 12th, 2011, 06:57 AM	#2
warlord ninjette.org guru Name: war Location: north chicago burbs Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Ducati Panigale 899 Posts: 325	Yeah, I don't know but that sounds terrible. I'm still in the break-in period but my last tank was 4.2gal @ 228 miles or 54 miles per gallon. It's going to take a while before I can calculate average fuel economy though. Is there a thread of experienced fuel economy with mods? It would be handy since gas prices are increasing...

April 12th, 2011, 08:01 AM	#3
cwb48 Mature motorcyclist Name: Chris Location: Sykesville, MD Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R, blue Posts: 126	Yeah, it's true, the '08 forward are not as good as the previous model on mpg. My '01 consistantly got 69-72 mpg, and the best I've done with the '08 is 62. I'm afraid to check it now that I've shimmed the needles. Chris

April 12th, 2011, 08:12 AM	#4
sombo Newb..... on a steeek! :D Name: Mike Location: Windermere, FL Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster Superlow Posts: A lot.	Don't feel bad, after I had my 94 serviced by a dealer about a month ago it dropped by 10mpg from over 50mpg (with mods) to in the 40's. So I'm soon getting it looked at by a different shop to get the 18k service, fix an exhaust leak and try retuning the carbs which I think might be set too rich.

April 12th, 2011, 10:48 AM	#7
play2pwn Only the good die young Name: Aaron Location: Vegas baby!! Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 ninja 250r SE Posts: 86	Mines even lower im gettin 182 for a full tank im still in the break in period havent shimmed the needles since no hardware is sellin 3mm washer so ill order online My friend told me thay my bike is not breathing well maybe becoz he ride an R1 and tried my bike

April 12th, 2011, 10:53 AM	#8
nakedhunter ninjette.org member Name: Naked Location: Colorado Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R (RED) Posts: 59	I have a 2009 and get right at 55 mpg rejetted and Area P exhaust, thats it at about 1400 miles. Had a 2002 and got almost 60 mpg.

April 12th, 2011, 12:04 PM	#10
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13536

April 12th, 2011, 03:58 PM	#12
singlecoillover ninjette.org member Name: Barak Location: South-Central PA Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja EX250-J Special Edition Posts: 71	I never knew that. That could be why I'm having trouble. Our temps really haven't been that warm lately. A lot of my riding has been in 40 - 50 degree weather. I called the dealer and they really couldn't tell me anything besides what the EPA estimate was (49.)

April 12th, 2011, 04:26 PM	#13
warlord ninjette.org guru Name: war Location: north chicago burbs Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Ducati Panigale 899 Posts: 325	Most of my riding has been from 30-50 degree weather. I'm interested to see what I'll get when the weather gets warmer.

April 12th, 2011, 05:43 PM	#15
kamikaze ex-ninjette.org guru :o Name: Trevor Location: Barrie, Ontario Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2003 SV1000 S Posts: 475	in a little over 10,000 km I'm averaging 5.3L/100km which is 44mpg. I ride it like it's stolen edit: BTW, anyone with an iPhone, an awesome app to track your fuel mileage is AccuFuel. I track my mileage everytime I fill up.

April 12th, 2011, 05:51 PM	#16
setasai ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Brian Location: Detroit, MI Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.	I dont really go WOT often but my commute is 11 miles half city, half freeway and I've been getting 46-48mpg. To be honest, I dont think I've gone past 51/52mpg max ever.