Gas mileage

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camthepyro · #1 Post by **camthepyro** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:20 am

How should you ride to get the best gas mileage? Like when should you change gears, what speed should you cruise at, etc.?

skinnyjoint · #2 Post by **skinnyjoint** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:29 am

well the higher your rpm the more gas your going to burn, so if your trying to conserve gas shift sooner and shift more.

i usually shift around 6.5k, and cruise around 5ish

camthepyro · #3 Post by **camthepyro** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:45 am

Ok, I'll try to do that. Lol, which might be easier if I had a working tachometer.

DivideOverflow · #4 Post by **DivideOverflow** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:50 am

If I am trying to save gas, I throw it into 5th gear whenever I'm going the same speed for a decent period of time. Yeah, a working tach does help, but you can usually tell by the sound/feel of your bike.

I'm not sure what your Nighthawk gets, but on my 79 KZ650, I can shift at 4k rpms, and cruise at whatever 5th puts me at and pull 50-55mpg.

If I ride it hard, I'll get closer to 40-45mpg.

camthepyro · #5 Post by **camthepyro** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:01 pm

Ok, so accelerating slowly, and shifting in the lower rpms will be better for gas? And cruising is good, stop and go bad.

earwig · #6 Post by **earwig** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:47 pm

Some of this might be helpful.

Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
Adjust primary Chain to the proper tension.
Run Syn3 oil in the engine & transmission if possible.
Change engine oil/filter every 3K ... Change tranmission oil every 5K. (depending on your bike)
Replace air filter with a K&N.
Spark Plugs: Clean and gap to proper space... replace when required.
Lean into the wind as much as possible.
Depdning on your bike shift at the lowest RPMS reccomended by your owners manual.
Don't cruise at higher RPMs.
Put NAPA(orange in color) brake pad rattle stop on the caliper pistons/brake pads(very small amount).
Change the fluid master cylinders once a year.(depending on your bike)