bad fuel range drz-400s
 

I have range about 1:14km, that makes even with a big tank sometimes 200-250km
and I think that's really shit for a big trip but i've no idea why and what to do about it. Some suggestions would be welcome

Simples! :mchappy:
Or get one of the old styles Dromedary 10 litre bag or a bespoke fuel bag, some which fold flat or roll up- light and cheap options unless wishing to use discarded plastic containers.
Oldies are still the gooddies! my old girl has a range a smidge short of 822Kms :Beach:

How big is the big tank? I'm just trying to work out if the range problem is one of not carrying enough fuel or whether the tank is big enough but the bike isn't going very far on each litre.

My little Suzuki 125 only has a 9L tank so you're looking for more fuel after about 120km. Over the course of a day that gets annoying and you can't go anywhere that doesn't have frequent fuel stations.

On the other hand my old XR600 with a 40L tank (and a steady right hand) would approach 800km on a tankful. I got so used to there being fuel in there I stopped checking and a couple of times it dumped me at the side of the road. Not much point in having a huge tank if you forget to fill it.

Good day Bob
11 Ltrs each side + main tank 17.
I keep 3 litres in each tank and 'forget' about them- enough for 100kms+ as a reserve.
& only fill as needed- no need to hump weight for the sake of it.
And there's always the half litre in my multifuel stove bottle :biggrin:

I have a 2006 drz400s. Riding Dakar Dog (God spelt backwards... :mchappy: ) style, I'm on 16:1. Riding/travelling normally in a non hooligan style I'm on 20 or 22 to 1. Draw your own conclusions as to your riding style/ state of tune/necessity of a service of your bike's motor.

That's the problem with huge tanks; all that weight sitting up high. If you filled it up because you needed the range the bike would be unridable for a couple of hundred miles. Most of the time I'd only half fill mine and then try to guess how much was in there. Guessing badly is how I ended up running out.

14km /litre is about 40miles per gallon (old imperialist brain :rofl:) which I would have thought pretty poor for a DRZ. Chris's 20/22km (55-60mpg) would be closer to what I would have expected. There's loads of things other than riding too fast that could be affecting it, engine tune being the obvious one. How long since it was last serviced? Was that just a 'short' service (oil and maybe filter only) or the real thing, covering everything in the book?

Other stuff that I've found kills mpg /kpl is a big screen and /or loads of luggage. On my CCM600 fuel mileage would drop 10% just by putting panniers on.

Riding in the winter makes a big difference, probably through a combination of wearing bulkier clothing, windy days / wet roads and (air cooled) engine never really warming up. Put all of that, engine, luggage, weather etc, together and I've had my 125 go from nearly 100mpg on good summer days down to 55mpg on dark wet winter ones on the same road.

Yeah that seems really poor range for a DRZ. I was well over 300km range with a 17L Safari tank except for the very end when I was only on the motorway with a knackered engine, and even then I was at 250km range.

I am however a conservative rider and a light packer (and am pretty small myself). Does the bike have a bunch of performance mods? (Bigger jets, big bore?) Is the carb in good shape? Valves in spec? Spark ok? Air filter? Tyre pressure? Do you ride like a lunatic?

Btw I would NOT head off on a big trip with that bike until you're confident that the bike is performing as it should. I learned this one the hard way...

You can use this to benchmark: http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/suzuki/dr-z400s

I rode a DRZ400S to Capetown. I had a Clark 15L tank.

I had the 3X3 Mod and up-jetted to suit a Scorpion Exhaust so mine was more thirsty than standard.

I would get about 200-230 miles to a full tank. That's fully loaded and riding at 60mph.

What DRZ do you have ? If its the E model with the pumper carb then it sounds about right.

The SM and S models have a traditional Vacuum carb and should do a lot better.

There are many factors which can effect MPG. From a poorly engine to sticking brakes.

It could also be how you ride ! :smartass: