| Author | Message | ||
     Sunshine_fisherman |
I traded my Harley in last month at Latus Motors in Gladstone for a new 2008 Buell Ulysses (XP12X). So far I have almost 400 miles on it. I have already had it back once for service because it was backfiring really, really badly when it was cold and the engine light came on with less than 100 miles on it. They found a service bulletin about ground connections and when I got the bike back, things were much better. Fast forward 2 weeks. The last tank I got 33mpg so I decided to check it again and got 35mpg out of the next tank. Spec says 51 urban and 64 highway. My driving is about 50/50 and since I am still in the break-in period, I have not been flogging it. I usually run at around 2500 to 4000rpms. Today on the way to the shop, the check engine light came on again for about 3 or 4 minutes. It is also running rough and backfiring at low speed when cold. The dealer has it now but they are telling me that if I just drive it some more, the mileage will improve at around 3000 miles. I could believe this if we were talking about 5 mpg but I should be getting 55 or better, a difference of 36%. My Road King with 200cc more and 300 pounds heavier got 46mpg out of the box and 41mpg after stage 1 conversion. Can anyone confirm what they are telling me or are they full of crap? | ||
| Thepod |
Welcome to the club, you should ride with us, the Portland Buell Riders Your topic has been heavily beaten to death here http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 394183.html?1234920699 | ||
| Panhead_dan |
You can ask them yourself. They are one of our sponsors here. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/306497.html?1233507691 Your mileage will improve to about the 2000 -3000 mile mark. In my opinion, the mileage that the factory stated is a bit inflated, as are most manufacturers ratings, be it bike, car, truck etc although I suppose it could be true under ideal circumstances. More realistic would be about 50mpg. I get that routinely on the highway at a steady pace. The rough running is something else and needs to be fixed. Riding it more is probably not going to get the job done.. If the light came on, it may have stored a code that could give the tech a clue to the problem. (Message edited by panhead_dan on February 19, 2009) | ||
| Boltrider |
Sorry to say, but the mpg for the 2008 XB's isn't really good. I think the '09s are in the same boat too. I have 6000 miles on my '08 Firebolt, and I get around 40 mpg no matter how easy I try to be with her. I've never seen 50 mpg during the entire time that I've owned the bike. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
So let me get this straight; Buell changed the ecm so that ecmspy can't be used. Correct? Then, the new bikes won't run correctly or won't run efficiently. Correct? | ||
| Froggy |
It is true if you ride in the exact same conditions the bike was tested under. I have beaten the rating on both my car and the Buell.
Yes they changed it, but not with the intent of blocking ECMspy. ECMspy just hasn't been updated for it, and there is workarounds to get limited use of out it on the 08+ bikes.
The new bikes run better than the old ones, part of it is the improved fuel injection system. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Thank you Froggy. | ||
| Snakebreak |
I am having a similar experience. (40-42 MPG no matter how I ride) I was thinking that it was because I have never ridden the bike in temps above 40 degrees. I only have about 1K miles so perhaps it will get better. If not I need to put big miles on my friends with GS's to fill my tank. | ||
| Voofighters |
I've got close to 7k miles on my 08' XB12scg and it only gets 39-42 MPG.. I driven it granny style and hard.. and while I can make it get crappier gas mileage driving it like an @ss, I cant seem to do much better than 42ish when taking it smooth and slow.. YMMV | ||
| Froggy |
Snake the winter formulations of gas and a partial ethanol content will also reduce your fuel economy. I have been getting only about 50mpg lately instead of my normal high 50's, because of the winter gas. My best tank was over 75mpg, I stopped before the light came on. 200 miles and less than 3 gallons to fill  Also getting your bikes ECM updated to the latest version can help you get a few more MPG. No matter what you do it will not be as good as the 07 and earlier bikes, as they traded a little fuel economy for smoother operation and cooler running. But you didn't buy a bike that does 0-60 in 3.5 seconds because you plan on pussyfooting everywhere? | ||
| Ourdee |
I got right at 50 mpg with the bags on my 08 xt with winter gas on a 400 mile cruise. I'm usually on it too hard and lucky to get 40 mpg | ||
| Boney95 |
3700k. I ride it some what hard. I get low to mid 30's. It's not a very big deal for me, it would be nice to get a bit more mpg, then again it's better than my Jeep's 15/19. | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
I now have just over 14,000 on my 08 TT. I have been keeping a record of my mileage for thousands of miles and my average is a whopping 38mpg. The highest I've ever done is 42mpg. All this talk about better mileage after break-in is a bunch of b.s. as far as I'm concerned. If an engine is wearing-in enough to make significant improvements in fuel mileage after just a few hundred or even a few thousand miles, I'd be concerned about it's overall lifespan. | ||
| Akbuell |
Looks like everyones mileage may vary, as it were. My '08TT got something in the 35mpg area on the first tank. As miles accumulated, mileage improved. Now in the 48mpg range, in an urban environment, with 5500mi on the clock. Highway trips do somewhat better. | ||
| Boltrider |
I should add that my bike runs great, but the mileage has always been off. I'm cool with 40 mpg given how strong it runs. I like to say that I'm "enthusiastic" with the throttle. Froggy I read your post, and I was just gonna speculate that maybe since the new ECM's w/ DDFI III perform more reads per revolution, that the bike is getting more fuel on a consistent basis, and that maybe it should have been that way all along. But of course, fuel economy would suffer. (Message edited by boltrider on February 20, 2009) | ||
| Ourdee |
Boney, I got 19 on factory tires, 02 TJ X with an auto by keeping the vacuum at over 12 inches and never going under. I ran 5 mph under posted speed limits unless drafting a big rig. I always asked the trucker on the CB prior to pulling in close and stayed in contact on the radio. Acceleration was as slow as a loaded tractor trailer. With the 31" BFGs I never get better than 15 mpg. My 08 XT keeps getting better gas mileage almost every tank full. I'm at 3000 mi. now. My goal this summer is to push it past 50 mpg with bags on a long trip. | ||
| Boney95 |
Ourdee, I'll have to check my mpg again. I bought my 05 unlimited Rubicon about 2 years ago used 32000 miles. Well I just figure the dealer did some general service on it, ie air filter... I just checked the filter and its dirty as hell, there was even a dead fly stuck to it (I've got a snorkle, so it got sucked in there pretty easy). I've since put in a K&N and I'm getting around 210-225 miles on a full tank before my fuel light comes on. Before I'd be lucky to get to 200. Don't ask me why I never looked at the filter. This is my first used vehicle that I have purchased, so in my mind I thought everything was new and current/up to date, just ignorance on my part. I've also replaced the rear dif fuid, who knows if it was ever replaced. Never assume anything is what I have learned. I'll tell you what though, I'll never buy a used Jeep again. I had a sh!t load of problems with it from the moment it drove it off the lot. Front dif leaking, new rear brake caliper, front dif lock locks, but the display on the dash shows other wise, o2 sensor 2x, screw in the spare, gas peddle was sticking (previous owner installed one of the throttle body's cables jacked up), burnt out reverse light (just recently had to send both KC reverse lamps in for warrenty since water got in both and corroded everything, thus one was out), 3 of the 4 fan/AC positions went out, and finally, both rear shocks had to be replaced. Sounded like I was driving an old school bus down a really bumpy road. The previous owner must have really beat the sh!t out of it. The undercarriage is all good, with no dings/dents and what not. I've even found sand underneath the carpet up in front and in the rear!!! Dude probably had the thing half way submerged at on point. It was all covered under warranty. I even went as far as to contacting a lawyer. I got 4k from Chrysler for my troubles and time. 2 of that went into a down payment for my 08 12Ss. Go I guess it all worked out. She runs great now though after everything got fixed. Its been 2 years now. I think I'll always own a TJ, you just can't beat it! (Message edited by boney95 on February 22, 2009) | ||
| Xbgeorge |
I have an 08 12R with 6000+ miles. I usually get 38-41mpg. Once I got 43mpg. Before I hit the 1000 mile mark it only averaged 33mpg. I took a 580 mile hwy trip and only averaged 38mpg, but I was moving. | ||
| Brumbear |
I don't care that much about milage I know my KZ1000 gets worse than my Van but I didn;t buy it for milage |
