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Bikes, Hints'n'Tips => FZS600 Fazer => Topic started by: Tiercel on 21 December 2015, 12:01:31 pm

Title: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Tiercel on 21 December 2015, 12:01:31 pm
From what Ive been able to find on t'internets, Yamaha suggests the FZS600 should only be capable of 130 miles to a full tank?  :eek  What on earth are they doing to get such poor mileage? Ive ranged between 150-220 miles to a full tank depending on how ballsy I was feeling between fillups and how far I could push my luck! :P


Whats the sort of average MPG and range you get out of the Fazer? Ive tried using fuelly but cant get it to work properly, plus I dont really bother keeping petrol reciepts and noting the mileage! Rough calculations using an MPG calculator puts my MPG anywhere between 45-55MPG which dont seem to bad, and thats with fairly conservative riding.


Also the fuel gauge seems to be totally useless, when filling up to the brim, it stays above the F marker for about 80-100 miles, then instantly drops down to about 2/3rds of a tank, and the remaining 2/3rds vanishes very quickly! I dont really want to run it til its totally dry and risk wrecking my carbs or dragging crap into the fuel system.


What can be done to improve MPG as well? I generally tend to run on "super" petrols, because it only costs about 30p more to fill the tank and maybe the placebo effect benefits are worth it so why not? :rollin Ive not really owned it long enough to make a judgement on it, but I do seem to get marginally better range on super unleadeds. Filters and plugs were all done about 2 months ago so they should all be good. Ive heard mutterings that changing your sprockets can give better economy too, any truth in this?
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Slaninar on 21 December 2015, 12:14:10 pm
I just reset trip meter when filling the tank. I always fill a full tank.


The fuel gauge seems to have 3 positions: full, half and empty. However, once it reaches empty and the light comes on, you have about 40 miles of fuel left at least.


My Fazer is with a 20 litre tank (1988, and 1999 models have an 18 litre tank).


I fill it when I go around 300 kilometers. The (reseted on the last fill) odometer shows around 300 kilometers and the amount of fuel that fills it to the brim is between 16 and 18 litres.  So say: 16.5/300*100 = 5.5 litres per 100 km.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Frosties on 21 December 2015, 01:00:27 pm
Get an easy and consistent 50-55mpg and I don't hang about. As said, also an easy 40miles+ remaining when fuel light comes on . All in you should get 200+ miles out of your 20litre tank.


Oh and forget the fuel gauge - it's crap  :lol
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: limax2 on 21 December 2015, 01:03:15 pm
This has been discussed at length in the past on here somewhere. A bit sad but I religiously keep a record and always fully fill the tank and zero the trip each time. I average about 60 m.p.g. But have been down to 55 with spirited riding and up to 65 on several occasions. I thing the average for most was about 55 so yours sounds about right. If I know where the next garage is I aim to fill up at 200 miles but if not sure,like remote parts of Scotland, it's 150 or less. Bike is a 2001 FZS600.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Tiercel on 21 December 2015, 01:06:43 pm
Im not sure whether mine is an 18 or 20L tank actually, bike is reg'd in 00 but think it mighe be a 99 model? Any easy way to tell? I think the most Ive ever wedged into a tank is 17L, but cant tell if its near empty or has a few more L sloshing around in the bottom!


Did a 200 mile trip yesterday, fuel light came on at 1/4 of a tank, and I chickened out and filled up at approx 170 miles because gauge was showing empty and I didnt fancy running out of petrol on the M3 at 2am! Wedged 16.7 litres in it then so still had at least 1 litre+ left
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Frosties on 21 December 2015, 01:15:54 pm
If you have a clock and can change to trip/total miles then you have a 20 litre tank. A trip and total miles only is an 18 litre tank.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Tiercel on 21 December 2015, 01:25:00 pm
Yeah its got a digital odometer that you can change between odometer/total miles, trip 1, trip 2, clock.


So 20L tank you reckon? Might have to be brave and let it run a bit emptier next time, see how much I can really squeeze in there!  :D
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: limax2 on 21 December 2015, 01:28:29 pm
With the bike level and stationary I measured it needed 1.5 litres before fuel flowed due to the stand pipe inside the tank. On mine it took another 2.3 litres before the fuel gauge registered anything. Those figures will be less when on the move and yours might be different anyway. I wonder why I bothered writing it? :\
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: darrsi on 21 December 2015, 01:31:03 pm
A "rough" guide is 10 miles per litre.
Obviously this is governed by motorways, traffic, riding like you stole it, etc.
I ride a lot of traffic so all quite pointless me even bothering to find out what I get out of a tankful.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Tiercel on 21 December 2015, 01:44:02 pm
With the bike level and stationary I measured it needed 1.5 litres before fuel flowed due to the stand pipe inside the tank. On mine it took another 2.3 litres before the fuel gauge registered anything. Those figures will be less when on the move and yours might be different anyway. I wonder why I bothered writing it? :\


Didnt think of the fuel already in the pipes, thats an interesting extra variable. Also noticed than when moving theres a huge difference in fuel reading, I seem to "gain" 1/4 of a tank when moving :P So in theory as long as I never stop moving Ill never run out of fuel... right? It totally works like that doesnt it?  :rollin
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Fazerider on 21 December 2015, 02:33:41 pm

Journalist reviews rarely have any grip on reality when it comes to fuel consumption. They either print what the manufacturer tells them or, if they do bother to measure what they've actually used, will have spent the whole time pulling wheelies and revving the tits off the bike... then act surprised when they only get 35 mpg.


I used to average 54 mpg. Thanks to my regular commute being on the M3, which now has a 50 mph limit for the majority of the part I use, I'm getting around 63 mpg. That, and a 20 litre tank (actually an 18 litre one with the filler neck tube drilled), means I can rely on a 250 mile tank range.


Aside from the inconvenience there isn't much risk to the bike should you run dry. Low fuel doesn't mean you're suddenly going to be sucking crap from the bottom, the fuel outlet has been down there the whole time. :)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Gnasher on 21 December 2015, 02:46:07 pm
(1988, and 1999 models have an 18 litre tank).


The fuel tanks are the same until 02 it's just the filler neck is longer.


Easy mod just enlarge the vent hole in the neck to 8mm and fill to you reach it you'll get 20lts in. 
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: mr self destruct on 21 December 2015, 02:49:20 pm
No matter how I ride I always seem to get roughly 200 miles to a tank (20l), which is about 45mpg.


Most folk seem to get about 10mpg more so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong!
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Gnasher on 21 December 2015, 03:16:47 pm
230 was the most I used to get from daily commute into London 50mile round trip mixture of fast dual carriage way, N Cir and traffic. 


Anything over 240 it ran dry!  Used to carry one of the brilliant 2.5Lt fuel cans Hein Gericke did in my tail pack.     


 
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Val on 21 December 2015, 04:17:20 pm
No matter how I ride I always seem to get roughly 200 miles to a tank (20l), which is about 45mpg 55 mpg.


Most folk seem to get about 10mpg more so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong!

FTFY when you do 200 miles per 17L (because you never spend all 20L) is exactly 55 mpg.

You are fine  :)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: limax2 on 21 December 2015, 08:25:41 pm
Also noticed than when moving theres a huge difference in fuel reading, I seem to "gain" 1/4 of a tank when moving :P So in theory as long as I never stop moving Ill never run out of fuel... right? It totally works like that doesnt it?  :rollin


Yes, but you have only discovered part of the magic of these bikes. Going up hill you gain about 1/4 tank of fuel, so it would have to be a very long hill to run out going up. Of course going down you loose 1/4 tank, but that doesn't matter because you can just freewheel to the bottom with enough speed to reach the next up-hill bit and you're off again.  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bretty on 21 December 2015, 09:12:09 pm
One thing I do notice. With 20l of fuel, that's an extra 20kilos!
My bike goes like a rocket when the tank is empty and lifts the front wheel in second! Sometimes that catches me out. :-D
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: mr self destruct on 21 December 2015, 10:47:20 pm
No matter how I ride I always seem to get roughly 200 miles to a tank (20l), which is about 45mpg 55 mpg.


Most folk seem to get about 10mpg more so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong!

FTFY when you do 200 miles per 17L (because you never spend all 20L) is exactly 55 mpg.

You are fine  :)
Oh that's good news then, so what I was doing wrong was the maths, not my riding.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: crickleymal on 22 December 2015, 08:50:04 am
I usually get about 60mpg but that does involve quite a bit of motorway riding which, because I do the same route at the same time every day, I tend to keep roughly to the speed limit or at least not outstandingly faster  :D . I've noticed that it's dropped a bit recently but then I think the valve clearances are due a check and the carbs need balancing.
Because I've run out of fuel on the motorway before and in a very dangerous place too, I tend to fill up at 150 miles and it takes between 11.5 and 12.5 litres.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: fazersharp on 22 December 2015, 09:26:14 am
One thing I do notice. With 20l of fuel, that's an extra 20kilos!
My bike goes like a rocket when the tank is empty and lifts the front wheel in second! Sometimes that catches me out. :-D
Im lucky in that I don't need the bike for anything other than fun and mostly come home on low fuel and only being 10 stone myself a full tank is a big proportion of my weight and so usually only put in enough for my ride out and I have noticed I get about 10p per smile mile
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: JoeRock on 22 December 2015, 09:41:52 am
No matter how I ride I always seem to get roughly 200 miles to a tank (20l), which is about 45mpg 55 mpg.


Most folk seem to get about 10mpg more so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong!

FTFY when you do 200 miles per 17L (because you never spend all 20L) is exactly 55 mpg.

You are fine  :)
Oh that's good news then, so what I was doing wrong was the maths, not my riding.


Sorry fella, it is your riding! You've got a 22L tank on your Foxeye, not the 20L tank used to work it out!
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: mr self destruct on 22 December 2015, 04:18:56 pm
No matter how I ride I always seem to get roughly 200 miles to a tank (20l), which is about 45mpg 55 mpg.


Most folk seem to get about 10mpg more so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong!

FTFY when you do 200 miles per 17L (because you never spend all 20L) is exactly 55 mpg.

You are fine  :)
Oh that's good news then, so what I was doing wrong was the maths, not my riding.


Sorry fella, it is your riding! You've got a 22L tank on your Foxeye, not the 20L tank used to work it out!


 :rollin
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: paulchucky on 22 December 2015, 07:30:57 pm
mines a 99 and i usually get 120 brim to light on normal riding
with the mrs on i get closer to 150
if i`m on a mission more like 100 if i`m lucky  but that alot of berry work  :lol :lol :lol
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: darrsi on 22 December 2015, 07:52:55 pm
mines a 99 and i usually get 120 brim to light on normal riding
with the mrs on i get closer to 150
if i`m on a mission more like 100 if i`m lucky  but that alot of berry work  :lol :lol :lol


That's the lowest i've ever heard?
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: paulchucky on 23 December 2015, 11:18:56 am
mines a 99 and i usually get 120 brim to light on normal riding
with the mrs on i get closer to 150
if i`m on a mission more like 100 if i`m lucky  but that alot of berry work  :lol :lol :lol


That's the lowest i've ever heard?








when i`m on a mission   i dont hang about lol  :lol :lol [size=78%] [/size]
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: JZS 600 on 07 January 2016, 07:40:28 pm
I'm getting up to 230 before the fuel light comes on... last fill was 18.5L (commuting)


I thought it was a 23L tank on a Foxeye (02)


Anyway, better than 120 miles on my VFR12 before the light comes on!!
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: darrsi on 07 January 2016, 09:37:39 pm
I'm getting up to 230 before the fuel light comes on... last fill was 18.5L (commuting)


I thought it was a 23L tank on a Foxeye (02)


Anyway, better than 120 miles on my VFR12 before the light comes on!!



http://foc-u.co.uk/?topic=34.0 (http://foc-u.co.uk/?topic=34.0)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: tommyardin on 02 May 2016, 05:24:02 pm
One thing I do notice. With 20l of fuel, that's an extra 20kilos!
My bike goes like a rocket when the tank is empty and lifts the front wheel in second! Sometimes that catches me out. :-D
Im lucky in that I don't need the bike for anything other than fun and mostly come home on low fuel and only being 10 stone 98 lbs myself a full tank is a big problem as it gets in the way of my belly and so usually only put in enough for my ride out and I have noticed I get about 110p per smile mile grimace

Fat foccer.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bimbam on 02 May 2016, 08:04:35 pm
20 liter gasolin i not 20 kilos. I is about 15 kilos. :)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: tommyardin on 02 May 2016, 08:37:57 pm
Was leaded petrol heavier than unleaded :rollin
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: unfazed on 02 May 2016, 09:02:28 pm
Best I ever had from the 600 before filling it was 274miles, two up touring a few years ago, took 22.5 litres to fill it.  :lol

Got 260 another time in France after coming down off the Pyrenees and every place in France closes down at 7pm, the station I was aiming for on the motorway around 8pm was closed for refurb, next one was 20 miles away.  :rolleyes Had visions of staying in the side of the motorway. :eek

Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bretty on 03 May 2016, 01:30:02 pm
20 liter gasolin i not 20 kilos. I is about 15 kilos. :)

You're right! I just assumed it was a similar density to water (it ain't) ;-)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: celticdog on 04 May 2016, 10:31:37 pm
 :lol  All I know is that when that light comes on I'm a day or two away from filling up. I've also noticed that initially the light flickers on and off depending if your going up or down hill before it stays on permanently. I fill up from a BP station 2 mins from house on my way to work, I'm usually not fully awake at that point so I usually put in £15 of the 95 octane stuff, not sure if the 97 stuff is worth the extra!? I've got the original small tank. Had a great experience on the A66 heading from Penrith to Scotch Corner, RUNNING ON VAPOURS! Lucky it was mostly downhill as the needle was definitely below the bottom line :b
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: darrsi on 05 May 2016, 06:29:30 am
:lol  All I know is that when that light comes on I'm a day or two away from filling up. I've also noticed that initially the light flickers on and off depending if your going up or down hill before it stays on permanently. I fill up from a BP station 2 mins from house on my way to work, I'm usually not fully awake at that point so I usually put in £15 of the 95 octane stuff, not sure if the 97 stuff is worth the extra!? I've got the original small tank. Had a great experience on the A66 heading from Penrith to Scotch Corner, RUNNING ON VAPOURS! Lucky it was mostly downhill as the needle was definitely below the bottom line :b


I've tried many many times over the years each fuel with different octane levels and have come to the conclusion that for my bike at least the 97 rated fuel works best.
95 just hasn't got the same zip to it, and 99 is okay but overpriced and unnecessary.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: crickleymal on 05 May 2016, 09:17:43 am
I use the standard unleaded most of the time but once a month treat it to a tank of super unleaded. Can't afford to do it more often, not at 15p a litre more than standard.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: dublet on 05 May 2016, 09:41:04 pm
I wouldn't know, I've yet to empty my first tank.  :rolleyes
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bretty on 06 May 2016, 08:18:48 am
So, this mod' you can do to the filler neck to increase the fuel tank capacity... I've read about opening up a breather hole, but mine doesn't seem to match any of the descriptions I've read. Mines a 2000, the only thing resembling a breather hole on mine has an orange rubber seal on it.

I'm planning a European tour so wouldn't mind upping the capacity if I can.
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Fazerider on 06 May 2016, 08:45:25 am
(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n543/nerdybiker/tank%20filler%20hole.jpg~original)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bretty on 06 May 2016, 10:48:38 am
:-(  ??!?
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Fazerider on 06 May 2016, 12:54:16 pm
Ah! Just realised you have a more recent model with the shorter filler tube. Maybe there isn't a hole in that and I just highlighted a speck of dirt. :)
Here's a snap of mine:
(http://s19.postimg.org/vgd83ptpf/hole.jpg)
Title: Re: Fuel tank range?
Post by: Bretty on 06 May 2016, 12:57:29 pm
Thanks fazerider!

It appears I don't have a hole?! I guess mine is already at full capacity then. Cheers!