Author Topic: Windscreens and gas milage? (Read 4890 times)

stormi · « **on:** August 11, 2006, 05:49:43 PM »

I recently put a windscreen on the 919, to make it a little easier to ride on the highway, but have noticed that my gas milage seems to have dropped significantly. (From about 60mpg to about 40mpg or less. )

Has anyone who's streetfightered/removed a windscreen or added a windscreen noticed a difference in gas milage?

Also, does anyone here use any fuel additives for gas milage?

Ronrdrcr · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2006, 09:22:05 PM »

Prolly cause you're going so much faster now that you don't have the sensation of the wind on your chest. Had that problem going from my B4 to my Z1000, it felt as if I was going about 85 the first time I rode the Z, I was actually doing 150. Just a little wind deflection can make a big difference.

Ron

curiousmike · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2006, 09:37:34 PM »

I can't believe you're dropping 20mpg because of a windscreen.
I'm guessing you might lose 2-3mpg.

But, as was mentioned, adding 10mph to your driving speed can knock 10mpg easily.
On the Blandit, averaging 70mph gives me about 40mpg, averaging 80mph gives me about 32mpg.

stormi · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2006, 09:56:19 PM »

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Prolly cause you're going so much faster now that you don't have the sensation of the wind on your chest. Had that problem going from my B4 to my Z1000, it felt as if I was going about 85 the first time I rode the Z, I was actually doing 150. Just a little wind deflection can make a big difference.

Ron

Actually, for the most part, my top speed has stayed the same. I think that the speed at which I get there might be shorter though.

I had wondered if this was normal, or if perhaps I needed to start looking at the tune of the bike. Of course, because it's FI and not even close to needing a major service, I thought it odd. One thing I Had noted though is that I was getting absurdly good milage compared to most of the 919 owners on the Nest, now it seems average. Perhaps the bike is training me and breaking me in to the way he wants to be ridden?

I suppose it shouldn't hurt to dump a little upper cylinder treatment in there and see if it makes any difference.

Perhaps I'll see if I can be really consistent, and put about 100 kms on with and then 100 kms on without the windscreen and see what happens. Maybe I've become a little more agressive coincidentally at the same time as I put the screen on?

stormi · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2006, 09:58:19 PM »

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I can't believe you're dropping 20mpg because of a windscreen.
I'm guessing you might lose 2-3mpg.

But, as was mentioned, adding 10mph to your driving speed can knock 10mpg easily.
On the Blandit, averaging 70mph gives me about 40mpg, averaging 80mph gives me about 32mpg.

That's why I was so shocked as well. Perhaps it's just a coincidence? I'll be interested in seeing if anyone else has found the same thing. Sure makes me think twice about having spent so much on a windscreen though if I'm not going to use it.

banditII · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2006, 05:47:52 PM »

I would think that there would be no difference in before / after windscreen because your body was acting as a wind deflector before, unless your new screen is really wide. I don't know? I have a Z.G. S.T. screen on the B12 and I don't notice any difference in mileage between it and my former Naked B12. But differences in speed and / or elevation does make a difference. I've also noticed that I got terrible mileage in the winter when I was not riding much and the bike set up a good bit as compared to regular riding.

stormi · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2006, 01:39:12 PM »

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I would think that there would be no difference in before / after windscreen because your body was acting as a wind deflector before, unless your new screen is really wide. I don't know? I have a Z.G. S.T. screen on the B12 and I don't notice any difference in mileage between it and my former Naked B12. But differences in speed and / or elevation does make a difference. I've also noticed that I got terrible mileage in the winter when I was not riding much and the bike set up a good bit as compared to regular riding.

Well,.. purely for the sake of science

I'm going to spend some time on the bike in the next few days, once with the windscreen, and once without, and try to see if it was the windscreen. I'll try to do the same route, and ride the "same".

I decided to leave it at home on our trip to Jasper last weekend, because the gas stations were far enough apart that if I used it, and it did what I'd been seeing, that I wouldn't make it to one of the stations,. I would prefer to be able to use it whenever I want to, since it was picked up for the purposes of highway riding, in places like Jasper.

The windscreen that I have is this one:

Daytona · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2006, 01:46:06 PM »

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="curiousmike"]I can't believe you're dropping 20mpg because of a windscreen.
I'm guessing you might lose 2-3mpg.

But, as was mentioned, adding 10mph to your driving speed can knock 10mpg easily.
On the Blandit, averaging 70mph gives me about 40mpg, averaging 80mph gives me about 32mpg.

+1 on what was said!!! There has to be another reason.

stormi · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2006, 05:29:40 PM »

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+1 on what was said!!! There has to be another reason.

That's why I thought it was so strange, but it did coincide with the install of the screen perfectly. *shrugs* I'll see what I can figure out in the next bit. I haven't had any time on the bike in about a week

kevinfromrex · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:59:22 PM »

My bandit 600S only gets about 36 mpg, is that correct (with pipe, mid pipe, timing advancer, jets etc) , hell I wish I got 40, let alone 60!

stormi · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2006, 08:51:11 PM »

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My bandit 600S only gets about 36 mpg, is that correct (with pipe, mid pipe, timing advancer, jets etc) , hell I wish I got 40, let alone 60!

Yeah,.. that's probably pretty good. I used to get much better gas milage, now that I'm more comfortable with the power of the 919, I think I might be a little harder on gas. I used to get obscenely good milage on both the 919 and the B4.

smooth operator · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2006, 07:12:15 AM »

Thats a cool lookin' windscreen Stormi. I'd just leave it on if it helps keep the wind blast off you. You'd think it would help mileage if anything. But not much either way. Have you cleaned your air filter latley? Just a quess.
My milage has dropped latley too,I just put it new plugs and cleaned my K&Ns. But I don't know if it has helped yet,I've been working 12 hr days for the last couple weeks. Hoping for better results when I get a chace to ride. Dan

amboman · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:52:09 AM »

I have recently fit a fly screen to my CB1300. Before screen 14km/lt, after screen 15km/lt. Much nicer ride also.

stormi · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2006, 12:50:48 PM »

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I hadn't even thought about the air filter. The poor boy. I'm going to have to spend some time with him tomorrow before we head back to the mountains. I've been changing the oil at crazy short intervals, but I gave in to the "Honda's need so little maintenance" FUD and forgot to look at the filter. He has a K&N as well, I've never cleaned one of those, but the other half has. Which means that it hasn't even been looked at since I bought him in April, 3850+ kms ago. Perhaps I'll change the plugs as well while I'm lifting the tank.

Ok,.. well, checked the air filter, there was a mosquito in it. That's it, after 4 and a half months of riding. Apparently it didn't need the filter cleaned. I tried to change the plugs, but the store I got the plugs from only had 3 in stock. The last one arrived yesterday, so this weekend he'll get the plug change. We did his 8 and 12 K mile inspections, with the exception of the plugs and "secondary air supply system" inspection. As soon as I find out what that is I'll inspect it, I promise.

Found one interesting thing though. There's a hose that's duct taped off that should connect to some little vaccum thingy on the back of the air cleaner housing. (Looks like when the vacuum is applied that it pulls a door on the inside of the air "scoop" shut, to limit (severely) air intake. Hmm,.. I wonder if that's a "performance" mod, or hiding something. I knew eventually the other shoe would drop. He's been such a good bike, I wondered when I would get a surprise from the P.O. He seems to run great though.

For the record, I got 54MPG on the bike in Jasper, without the windscreen. I'll do some testing around here with the screen on in the next few days. (Unless I can convince the other half that I need to go back up to Jasper.

)

0to60 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 30, 2006, 11:55:19 PM »

I chopped my windscreen down to where it is below the guages and I have'nt seen a change in my mileage. Also I don't regularly use additives in my fuel.