Worst MPG Ever

[Spud]

Got a (thankfully) early jump this year and had a chance to tie some riding into some business, so off I went. I've got brand new Bridgestone '023GT's mounted up, hit the road. Headed south(ish).

Not far from home, somewhere around Idaho, or maybe it was Utah (or possibly Nevada) I started pushing a really nasty headwind. Figuring the faster I went the more stable the bike would be, I just sort of settled in, never really checking my speedo(of course)....

Well, pushing like that into what was probably a steady 30mph headwind, I got my worst mileage ever--by a long way. Riding solo, just overnight stuff in my cases and no tail-bag or trunk, I watched a full tank drain out in no-time...

The damn reserve counter started when I was at 161 miles! I ended up getting 5.35 gallons of gas after going 175.5 miles, for an MPG of 32.8. Took a snapshot of my GPS after the day's ride, then it was off to watch March Madness in the sportsbook section of my "hotel."

Final note, Oasis, NV is no Oasis. The gas station is gone :blink:

 

[TomInPA]

Averaging 80 mph over 329 miles is pretty spirited driving...I can see why you blacked out the Max Speed. :lol:

I had pretty similar results on a run to Redding, CA last year for business. Serious headwinds made the handling bad and dropped fuel mileage for a full tank to about what you showed.

 

[Ignacio]

The damn reserve counter started when I was at 161 miles! I ended up getting 5.35 gallons of gas after going 175.5 miles, for an MPG of 32.8.

Final note, Oasis, NV is no Oasis. The gas station is gone :blink:

Nevada can do that for some strange reason. In fact, myself and another spinny character here have seen reserve lights come on as low as 130 miles and average 23.5 mpg before...even without a headwind.

...I have no clear recollection of what my average speed was....but just remember the edges of my perspective had a violet hue like bad science fiction.

I know that exit. An abandoned shell station that gives one hope 2 miles away...only to be dashed by nary an active fuel pump. Wells, Montello, or Wendover becomes the next distant target depending on your direction.

 

[HotRodZilla]

On the way to Tennessee last May, Patch and I were in the same kind of headwind. It was terrible. Somewhere in TX or OK, I hit reserve at 160 miles. At 200 miles, the bike started to sputter and barely made up the ramp to the fuel pumps. Thank God it started that when it did. I was going to push it to the next exit 10 miles away. I think we were getting something like 23/24mpg at around 80mph.

 

[Spud]

Averaging 80 mph over 329 miles is pretty spirited driving...I can see why you blacked out the Max Speed. :lol:

Funny thing is, I said to myself "it's the first ride of the season--take it easy" and then I remembered how fun it is to twist my right hand...

Coming back the next day I did go at a relaxed pace and in the complete middle of nowhere NV a car coming the other way gives me the headlight blink (God bless those Good Samaritans among us) and there, in the bottom of a gully up the road sits a NV Trooper running radar....It made my stomach turn to think of what would have happened the day before....

 

[SQUEAL]

The damn reserve counter started when I was at 161 miles! I ended up getting 5.35 gallons of gas after going 175.5 miles, for an MPG of 32.8.

Final note, Oasis, NV is no Oasis. The gas station is gone :blink:

Nevada can do that for some strange reason. In fact, myself and another spinny character here have seen reserve lights come on as low as 130 miles and average 23.5 mpg before...even without a headwind.

...I have no clear recollection of what my average speed was....but just remember the edges of my perspective had a violet hue like bad science fiction.

I know that exit. An abandoned shell station that gives one hope 2 miles away...only to be dashed by nary an active fuel pump. Wells, Montello, or Wendover becomes the next distant target depending on your direction.

Boy oh Boy....You know you are going quickly when you get the "Blue Shift"!! So did your time distort too? According to Einstein you should have had your temporal perspective slow; while everyone else would be at the "normal" speed. That could become quite inconvenient during a timed rally!! LOL..

 

[SQUEAL]

Averaging 80 mph over 329 miles is pretty spirited driving...I can see why you blacked out the Max Speed. :lol:

Funny thing is, I said to myself "it's the first ride of the season--take it easy" and then I remembered how fun it is to twist my right hand...

Coming back the next day I did go at a relaxed pace and in the complete middle of nowhere NV a car coming the other way gives me the headlight blink (God bless those Good Samaritans among us) and there, in the bottom of a gully up the road sits a NV Trooper running radar....It made my stomach turn to think of what would have happened the day before....

Hey! You need to invest in a Bird Dog!! AKA: Fuzz buster.. You would have seen him blipping the oncoming car.

 

[Greb]

I agree with NV killing MPGs, worst ever for me was heading west through NV, avg MPG was 29-32 on couple tanks. Hate wind while riding!

 

[FJR Bill]

I agree with NV killing MPGs, worst ever for me was heading west through NV, avg MPG was 29-32 on couple tanks. Hate wind while riding!

Well it can work both ways...Going east in the Texas Pan Handle in a Mazda that typically got 27 MPG got 55 MPG with a 40 knot tail wind. Cheers, Bill

 

[Denver_FJR]

Nevada can do that for some strange reason. In fact, myself and another spinny character here have seen reserve lights come on as low as 130 miles and average 23.5 mpg before...even without a headwind.

On the way to Tennessee last May, Patch and I were in the same kind of headwind. ... I think we were getting something like 23/24mpg at around 80mph.

In a recent fit of desperation I filled up with Superunleaded thinking it might cure a stumbling problem (with bike ). Burned through the tank solely on my office commute and astounded to find I only got 23 mpg. I didn't even get the pleasure of seeing the "blue shift" either!