Gearing for highway and better MPG's
05-14-2011 | 05:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Jack of all Master of non
Superstock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
From: Jacksonville,fl
Gearing for highway and better MPG's
does anyone know a good gear setup for better fuel economy and more MPG's.
i am currently running stock gears on my 1998 VTR1000. not sure what the front one is but the rear is a 41 thooth... any help out there?
i am currently running stock gears on my 1998 VTR1000. not sure what the front one is but the rear is a 41 thooth... any help out there?
05-14-2011 | 06:47 PM
#3
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Small changes in gearing won't change mpg's too much in my experience stock vs 43 tooth rear sprocket was negligible. Tuning and jetting have the biggest role one notch on the mid range needle changed one of the superhawks I have worked on -3mpg, and once right we gained an additional 2 mpg from where we started.
05-14-2011 | 08:16 PM
#5
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 320
I think you already got your answers. Rejet and/or drop a tooth in the back. Stock is 16/41. Maybe try 16/40 or something. But you probably won't get a big change in mpg from what I've read in this forum before.
I can get 40 mpg at absolute best for all highway miles (going about 60 mph, drafting cars).
I can get 40 mpg at absolute best for all highway miles (going about 60 mph, drafting cars).
05-14-2011 | 08:31 PM
#6
the boss
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,182
From: largo,fl
i get 35mpg in the city constantly,and its not even tuned correctly,with some tuning to the carbs,you can push it up in the city,most definate on the highway,but it does depend if yo done anykind of mods or running stock.
05-14-2011 | 08:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
From: Santa Clara, CA
I think you already got your answers. Rejet and/or drop a tooth in the back. Stock is 16/41. Maybe try 16/40 or something. But you probably won't get a big change in mpg from what I've read in this forum before.
I can get 40 mpg at absolute best for all highway miles (going about 60 mph, drafting cars).
I can get 40 mpg at absolute best for all highway miles (going about 60 mph, drafting cars).
You're not gonna be able to get all that good 'o gas mileage because of the throttle body size that we've got. But it's part of the territory with the hawk.
I lost about 2.5 mpg when I dropped sprocket sizes so it doesn't make all that big of a difference when we've got a tall 6th.
05-14-2011 | 10:57 PM
#9
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
All the hawks I have had access to (3 different ones) all got 45 mpg on the highway once tuned right. One was bone stock, one with jetting and aftermarket exhaust, one with filter jetting and exhaust. All once tuned correctly got into the 45 mpg range the stock one needing no changes obviously. Two where stock gearing and one was 43 teeth rear sprocket. All this to say, to me it doesn't seem like gearing has much affect on mpg's or at least its minimal. Also the sweet spot for getting the best mpg is 4-5000 rpm sixth gear in my experience.
05-15-2011 | 02:40 AM
#10
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 530
From: Central Fl.
My big bump in MPG came after adjusting the throttle position sensor correctly. Nothing else was touched from one tank full to the next, only the TPS. Milage went from 35 to 41, thats an 18% improvement.
I had believed that having high compression pistons and sport cams would mean living with poor milage. I was wrong. Simple but effective.
I had believed that having high compression pistons and sport cams would mean living with poor milage. I was wrong. Simple but effective.
05-15-2011 | 02:42 AM
#11
Light Cycle Expert
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 194
From: Tampa, Florida
The best I have had on a so far is 38.6MPG. That's a combo of mostly highway @70MPH and some city driving @40=45MPH. I've been playing with different accelerating patterns and gear shifts etc. Haven't been able to surpass the 38MPG mark. The worst was 34MPG when I had the idle turned up a bit too much.
05-15-2011 | 06:20 AM
#12
Thread Starter
Jack of all Master of non
Superstock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 297
From: Jacksonville,fl
all this is great info, thanks guys. yesterday i turned my idle down form 1300 to about 800 rpm. i am sure that played a factor in the whole thing. i figured if i could get the rpms lower at highway speed that i could save some gas. i got the bike used and am not sure if it has a jet kit in it already. it has two brothers exhaust on it, also not sure what air cleaner it has in it either. where is a good place to get a jet kit for one of these bad boys.
05-15-2011 | 10:48 AM
#14
Remember stock is BAD!
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 760
From: Jacksonville FL
05-15-2011 | 10:51 AM
#15
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,871
From: Phoenix, AZ
all this is great info, thanks guys. yesterday i turned my idle down form 1300 to about 800 rpm. i am sure that played a factor in the whole thing. i figured if i could get the rpms lower at highway speed that i could save some gas. i got the bike used and am not sure if it has a jet kit in it already. it has two brothers exhaust on it, also not sure what air cleaner it has in it either. where is a good place to get a jet kit for one of these bad boys.
Stock filter and shimmed stock jets aren't all that bad on this bike...
05-15-2011 | 11:18 AM
#16
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Also you would think that less rpm's = better mpg's but that is wrong it isn't that simple. Go too low and the motor is working harder because it is lugging and not everything is spinning optimally. There is definitely a sweet spot because too many revs and the mileage drops as well.
11-05-2011 | 08:33 AM
#17
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 344
I get 40+mpg out of a tank of gas just by usually shifting at 3200 in the city while accelerating slowly (as not to be lugging the motor), and by ducking behind the screen while on the freeway and going over 60mph...bike is stock except for slipons but I got the same mileage before putting them on.
My freeway cruising speed has the bike at 4500rpm approximately - 80mph.
My freeway cruising speed has the bike at 4500rpm approximately - 80mph.
Last edited by blamecanada; 11-05-2011 at 08:36 AM.
11-06-2011 | 07:45 PM
#19
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
Good mileage comes down to gingerly acceleration with this motorcycle. Whack the gas open a few times and those 48mm carbs give the engine all it's asking for. Gearing down should only help if you cruise at 65mph as stock gearing is on the tall side. I'm geared and jetted stock w/ a Yoshi full system (street baffle), I went 42mpg on my last tank.
11-07-2011 | 06:14 PM
#20
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
From: Santa Clara, CA
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