Practical test: gasoline consumption

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Practical test: gasoline consumption

Practical test: gasoline consumption
Consumption advice

Work makes you thirsty. That applies to man and machine. And raises questions: How much fuel does it cost to have fun on the road, and how much can you save by driving cautiously?

Stefan luck

08/25/2009

Are we motorcyclists the polluters on the street?? No, we are not, as MOTORRAD already showed in issue 17/2008. Modern motorcycles consume less than most cars, especially given their driving dynamics and performance. And thanks to regulated catalytic converters, they have long ceased to be a mess.

Nonetheless, the topic of gasoline consumption has been the topic of more and more discussion among bikers. Because apart from the environment, it’s also about money. At the moment gasoline prices are quite moderate, but that can and will be different tomorrow. How much of the precious juice a motorcycle consumes depends on many factors. Sure of performance and displacement, also of mapping or vehicle weight. But to a decisive extent, it depends on external influences, such as driving style and driving conditions.

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In order to contribute a few facts, MOTORRAD went on a trip together with four motorcycles, which could hardly be more different. First the two abstainers, namely the Kawasaki Ninja 250 R, which embodies the inexpensive and frugal entry-level motorcycle, and the BMW F 800 R, with 87 hp, definitely not underpowered and one of the most economical bikes in all tests so far. Opposite are the two drunkards, on the one hand the Benelli TNT 1130 Sport Evo, which sends 129 little horses to the rear wheel in an Italian-theatrical manner, the two-wheeler become sin. With the first generation, the fuel soon ran out at the back faster than it could be refilled at the front. Benelli has made improvements, but so far with moderate success. Let’s see if the evo (lutione) can also do eco (nomia). On the other hand, as the peak of irrationality Yamaha Vmax. More motorcycle is hard to imagine on this side of Boss Hoss. 1.7 liters displacement, two hundred hp, 187 Newton meters, 314 kilos with a full tank. Of which, however, only around 11.5 kg represent the tank content, which corresponds to the equivalent of 15 liters.

These four candidates were sent on different routes together with different specifications in order to clarify what would go up or down in terms of gasoline consumption. The prelude was a 100-kilometer country road course, which is initially mastered with a very defensive driving style. That means upshifting early, just caressing the throttle, only using the brake in an emergency and above all: no excessive speed. Just the enjoyable way of getting around, which definitely has its charms. You avoid stress, see a lot of the landscape and save your nerves.


Practical test: gasoline consumption


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They are still driving, but everyone has to stop at the gas station – sooner or later

This cautious driving style is experienced completely differently on the four test machines. The little Kawa twin also walks easily through the village in sixth gear and walks in a cultivated and quiet manner. It doesn’t matter that nothing comes out of town, after all we are saving. BMW does this exercise with a stoic sense of duty. The twin only picks up the chain at very low speeds. Then it is time to turn the throttle further back, or perhaps, for once, shift down a gear.

Meanwhile, the Benelli man has nothing to laugh about. Like an Arabian stallion that has been leashed for vaulting, the three-cylinder behaves bitchily, gruffly on the gas, nervously pecking at the chain. Every combustion cycle a request to accelerate. However, the laborious taming of the beast is not rewarded: The triple pours his grief with a hefty 7.09 liters per 100 kilometers. The BMW manages the same distance with 3.88 liters / 100 km, this is called effective use of the fuel. The Kawa is just below that with 3.75 liters / 100 km. And the Vmax?

Tipped a whopping 7.45 liters behind the bandage, and still reaps understanding. Even – or especially – at a slow pace, the mighty V4 flatters the driver, letting him glide along with relish on a carpet of sound. Corridor? Really does not matter. The thing drives off in the fifth if necessary.

The toughest test for fans of sporty locomotion still follows, namely the motorway consumption at 100 km / h. Even on the Kawa, most of the attention has to be devoted to keeping an eye on the speedometer needle. As soon as one devotes oneself to other things, such as traffic, for even a short time, the pointer strives for higher things. Naturally, the problem does not get any smaller with increasing performance, and so everyone involved is delighted when this stage is overcome. As a reward, there is the lowest consumption (see table). After all, most of the fuel is burned during acceleration – and there is hardly any such thing on the autobahn at 100 km / h. The averages therefore converge a little further here, but the trend remains the same. Benelli and Yamaha save around one liter each, but are still a long way ahead of Kawasaki and BMW.


Practical test: gasoline consumption


Artist

But the higher the speed, the sooner the refueling stop becomes unavoidable

Let’s see what it looks like when the journey is clear. So open the gas and full tank, as long as traffic allows. The group quickly breaks up due to the differences in performance. Full throttle on the Ninja 250 means 180 to 190 km / h on the speedometer. A considerable value for the little green speedster. Still are Vmax and F 800 only small dots on the horizon after a few minutes, with a top speed of 230 or 210 km / h, they can easily keep up with the TDI speed of the left lane. The TnT even has an Italian optimistic 270 km / h on the speedometer. How much that is in reality does not matter: In any case enough, it pulls and tugs tremendously. The yellow warning light on the Yamaha is the first to signal the impending lack of fuel after 80 kilometers. Average consumption of 14.25 liters / 100 km is easily on par with a car.

But such values ​​are more academic in real life. Because usually you prefer to let it run on the country road. For example on a mountainous circuit with many switchbacks. Whereby definitely not a race is meant, but lively drifting. At Vmax, surfing on the torque wave means surfing, the Benelli screams out their zest for life and revving and occasionally turns out to be males at the exit of a curve. The BMW makes up for the lack of performance with easier handling. The Kawa sometimes loses connection, especially on the mountain, but easily recovers it on the plain. As I said, we’re not racing.

Essence: Compared to crawling, consumption only increases by around 15 percent, but fun increases by at least 100 percent. So it’s nice when efficiency can bring so much joy. The comparison also shows that: thirsty bikes are thirsty under all conditions, while frugal bikes are frugal with the precious water even when riding briskly.

Benelli TNT 1130 Sport Evo


Practical test: gasoline consumption


Artist

The primordial animal: The Benelli is primarily defined by its three-cylinder: strong, powerful, unpolished. If necessary, brutal, always greedy and ready to race, never boring and always thirsty. Driving slowly is a punishment for both man and machine.

Data:
Displacement 1131 cm³, rated output 95.0 kW (129 hp) at 8500 rpm, max. Torque 110 Nm at 5250 rpm, weight with a full tank 221 kg, tank capacity / reserve 16.0 / 5.0 liters.

Price test motorcycle:
13,990 euros, additional costs approx. 250 euros

Consumption in l / 100km:
Country road economy mode: 7.09
Motorway: 5.85
Country road fun: 8.02
Motorway full throttle: 11.10
Mountain and valley: 7.09

Range:
Maximum: 274 km
Minimum: 144 km

BMW F 800 R.


Practical test: gasoline consumption


Artist

The pet: Sounds derogatory, but it’s not. The BMW can do everything, travel and speed, stroll and shoot, alone or in pairs, evening lap or alpine tour

Data:
Displacement 798 cm³, nominal power 64.0 kW (87 PS) at 8000 / min, max. Torque 86 Nm at 6000 / min, weight with a full tank 205 kg, tank capacity / reserve 16.0 / 4.0 liters.

Price test motorcycle:
9205 euros, additional costs approx. 264 euros

Consumption in l / 100km:
Country road economy mode: 3.88
Motorway: 3.78
Country road fun: 4.30
Motorway full throttle: 9.32
Mountain and valley: 5.01

Range:
Maximum: 423 km
Minimum: 172 km

Kawasaki Ninja 250 R


Practical test: gasoline consumption


Artist

The small animal: Seems something out of place in this field. But be careful: Except when the Autobahn is at full throttle, the little green can hardly be shaken off. Provided that the driver always keeps the speed low in the five-digit range. Which has less of an impact on consumption than on heart rate.

Data:
Displacement 249 cm³, nominal power 24.0 kW (33 PS) at 11000 / min, max. Torque 22 Nm at 8200 / min, weight with a full tank 172 kg, tank capacity 17.0 liters.

Price:
4595 euros, additional costs approx. 150 euros

Consumption in l / 100km:
Country road economy mode: 3.78
Motorway: 3.60
Country road fun: 4.13
Motorway full throttle: 6.42
Mountain and valley: 5.92

Range:
Maximum: 472 km
Minimum: 265 km

Yamaha VMax


Practical test: gasoline consumption


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The beast: What the brain is with the dinosaurs, the tank with the Vmax. Too small in relation to the rest of the body. In an emergency, this can lead to acute drought after just 100 kilometers. But then they can hardly be surpassed in terms of driving pleasure and monumentality. Despite all the violence, a gentle giant.

Data:
Displacement 1680 cm³, rated output 147.2 kW (200 PS) at 9000 / min, max. Torque 167 Nm at 6500 / min, weight with a full tank 314 kg, tank capacity 15.0 liters.

Price:
19750 euros, additional costs approx. 205 euros

Consumption in l / 100km:
Country road economy mode: 7.42
Motorway: 6.53
Country road fun: 8.67
Motorway full throttle: 14.25
Mountain and valley: 8.60

Range:
Maximum: 230 km
Minimum: 105 km

Driving pleasure despite economy gas


Practical test: gasoline consumption


Artist

If you give everything, you don’t need a knife between your teeth, but you always need a gas station within reach

If you keep the throttle valve on the draft, you accept high fuel consumption. But driving fun can also be economical.


Cold start:
Drive off at a low speed immediately after starting the engine. Shift up the first few kilometers early, which reduces consumption and wear.

Speeds:
High speeds mean high consumption. So drive in the highest possible gear as often as possible. It is better to accelerate in higher gear at lower speed than in lower gear at higher speed. Except when overtaking, safety comes first: then over as quickly as possible.


Round driving style:
Frequent braking and acceleration costs energy, it is better to drive smoothly and in the range of maximum torque than screeching through curves in the five-digit speed range. A clean line is safe and can be economical.

Driving resistances:
Make sure that the air pressure is correct. Increase the air pressure to the maximum permissible for longer and fast stretches of the motorway. On the other hand, on country roads, lower them to the recommended values ​​for the best self-damping and grip. Flutter jackets are aerodynamically very unfavorable. And suitcases and topcases that are not currently required also cost fuel.

Drive chain:
Wrong tension, badly lubricated, rusted, worn out? Everything costs fuel.

Engine:
Ancient spark plugs, dirty air filters or incorrectly adjusted valves eat up gasoline. With older models, it is worth paying attention to the synchronization of the carburettors and the perfect function of the choke.

Highway:
Double the speed means four times the air resistance and even higher power requirements! All with a corresponding increase in consumption. A 1000cc super sports car is enough for 120 km / h around 15 HP on the rear wheel. For a speed of 240 he needs around 90 hp. So just get off the gas.

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