Picked up my new-to-me K5 14 from Johno yesterday morning. First new bike day in about 8 years, so very excited. Rode around Johno's local area for 15-20min to get a feel for the 14 - brakes, handling, throttle. Once I was comfortable I headed for home. Then the heavens opened. :)
Have got my first 100km under my belt in the last 36 hours, almost all of it while raining lol.
Filled the tank up for the first time just before getting home today. Interested to see what sort of fuel economy I get in the coming weeks/months with my style of riding and our particular local roads.
++ going to keep updating this thread each time I mod/change something as I personalise my 14
MOD # 1 = grip puppies
Did it still have the bazooka on it when you collected it J?
Quote from: KiwiCol on Sunday, 25 September 2022, 05:15 AM
Did it still have the bazooka on it when you collected it J?
No, but it was included in the sale. If I understood correctly, Johno ran the Staintune day to day, but brought the bazooka out for special occasions. Bazooka was in perfect condition, Staintune has some minor damage (shallow dent and scratches).
I decided against strapping the bazooka to my new hike and riding home with it. Need to arrange to go pick it up sometime in the coming weeks (or Johno kindly offered to drop it at my place if he happens to be in my area before I have a chance to make it up to his).
Quote from: j_rider on Sunday, 25 September 2022, 12:40 AM
MOD # 1 = grip puppies
One of the first thing I do on any bike these days, certainly helps with mildly arthritic finger joints. I need one for my car steering wheel now :rofl2:
I have them on my bike as well, must be an age thing eh Chris?
On both my bikes, I have large hands so I find them really comfortable. Not old enough for arthritis yet....
Fuel consumption..
When out on solo rides I typically get 57mpg (UK)
Or
4.95 litres per 100 km (sounds alien to me but i know a lot use this system)
If I am with questionable mates (1 in particular), then somewhat less !!!
Tank range is comfortably well over 200 miles (UK) (321km)..
Especially with the mod to the tank that some Puttz revcommended on here a while back :whistling:
https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=1790.0
S.
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Sunday, 25 September 2022, 02:00 PM
Fuel consumption..
4.13 litres per 100 km (sounds alien to me but i know a lot use this system)
That's 532kms from a 22L tank .... really?
Hi Snapey
Just noticed that was set to the US Gallon!
UK Gallons are larger in volume (just to complicate it even more).
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsYaWyDm4mYtGF5o2L_twDNUNYAlhw:1664083847895&q=57+mpg+UK+to+l/100km&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUiIW1m6_6AhX6SkEAHUipB38QBSgAegQIARA2&biw=1536&bih=780&dpr=1.25
This isnt a fluke reading.. I get these figures regularly..
It has to be said I dont screw my bike everywhere I go...
But it shows what is possible if needed I suppose.
S
24l tank with the breather hole mod
Quote from: Snapey on Sunday, 25 September 2022, 02:07 PM
That's 532kms from a 22L tank .... really?
Your right Snapey..
I didnt notice the online calculator was set to US Gallons..
Ive now altered the figures but its still pretty impressive.
Assuming I "only" used the standard 22 litres then a range of 273 imp miles or 439km
If I used all 24 litres of the modified tank then 296 imp miles or 476km
These figures assume youre running the tank dry which obviously we dont do if we can help it.
S
407k from 22litre/444 from 24. Thats always been constant, give or take a bit. Pretty close to yours Speedy. Always thought bloody good for a big girl. 50.8 MPG. Pussy Grips i also like,them with throttle rocker been on mine forever, so much easier on old wrist. 👍
Thanks for all the real world fuel economy stats. I did read earlier in the week the thread about the breather hole mod. On my list to check whether Johno did it already.
One fuel related question - how sensitive (or not) is your 14 to different fuel brands and 91/95/98 RON (common Aussie octane ratings)?
Eg. on one end something like, 'my 14 doesn't care what fuel I use the fuel economy and way it runs is consistent'; on the other end, 'my 14 runs significantly better and gets noticeably better fuel economy when running 95 unleaded from Ampol'
Thanks.
No difference Mate. I just run a tank of 98 BP once in a while because it has cleaner in it.
The engine is designed to run on 91 & runs happily on that. You can use 95 if you wish, makes no difference to performance or economy. 95 / 98 might clean things a little better than 91, but that's up to you if the extra $ is worth that fuel all the time. A tank now & again is what most guys would do I'd assume.
I wouldn't run E10 or the likes as a full time fuel, as with 98, a tank now & again to get any moisture out is ok, but use it all in 1 go (as it will attract moisture from the air) then fill with fresh 91 / 95.
Personally, I always add a measure of Moreys Upper Cylinder Lube to a tank full. I've measured out, 30ml I think it was, can't be sure, and have a supply of little canisters (old film canisters actually) on the bike & 1 tank full gets 1 canister. Been using this stuff for years & I've found it cleans things, prevents gum build up and, believe it or not, it seems to stabilise fuel so that if it's left for a long time, months or even 2 years, it still runs good as gold. Yep strange but true.
I use it in my 2 stroke boat fuel as well, the chain saw gets it too & even the lawn mower fuel has been known to get as taste occasionally. Nothing scientific, it's just my observations over many years of using it.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Monday, 26 September 2022, 05:01 AM
The engine is designed to run on 91 & runs happily on that. You can use 95 if you wish, makes no difference to performance or economy.
This.
and definitely this:
Quote from: KiwiCol on Monday, 26 September 2022, 05:01 AM
I wouldn't run E10 or the likes as a full time fuel, as with 98, a tank now & again to get any moisture out is ok, but use it all in 1 go (as it will attract moisture from the air) then fill with fresh 91 / 95.
I won't use E10 at all.
As for fuel uneconomy - mine uses 6.5 l/100km which seems a lot. I do have Yoshi cams but am mostly well under the 6000 or so revs when those kick in and a lot is commuting / conservative riding.
In context that's the same as my missus' Mazda 3.
Mine preferred E5 to E10, the actual octane seemed to make no difference. The difference was enough improvement in MPG to make the more expensive fuel cheaper, if that makes sense. It rode nicer too.
Thanks for all the great tips re: fuel and everyone's experience and fuel economy figures.
@KiwiCol - will look into that Morey's product.
The next mods from yesterday.
MOD # 2 = Cramp Buster
MOD # 3 = (testing, so possibly temporary) round bar end mirrors**
MOD # 4 = RAM ball on right mirror mount for GPS (have never had a naked bike, so not sure if this will be final position)
** have had these sitting in a box for years and years. Really lovely build quality (Barracuda brand?) other than the mirror surfaces which have a few dark marks that won't rub off. Came with my SV from the PO, but never installed mainly because the round shape didn't seem right on that bike. Visually a better fit with the 14 though don't laugh at me - I only installed one side (right) to test out performance, so am riding around today with one bar end mirror and one stock. :whistling:
Looks good mate,
There's a few on here with those mirrors so no one will laugh besides we all do something with our own touch imagine if we all liked the same flavor how boring would that be!!
Remember variety is the spice of life.. :grin:
Pretty much my set up J, diff shape mirrors. Pussy Grips and throttle rocker(cramp buster) Been on for years.
Pretty much my set up to, pussy grips, bar end mirrors, I don't have one of those cramp busters though, could be next on my list!.
A better view
If you want to get rid of the mirror mounts get Hyabusa caps from wreckers much neater look 👍👍👍
Thanks Chris, never thought of that. Doesnt worry but would look cleaner. :)
Quote from: GSXKING on Wednesday, 28 September 2022, 08:57 PM
If you want to get rid of the mirror mounts get Hyabusa caps from wreckers much neater look 👍👍👍
Another option I've done is turn them upside down.
Thanks for all the pics of your handlebar/mirror setups.
MOD # 5 = Givi tank ring
MOD # 3b = decided to go with the bar end mirrors for a while, so installed the left hand mirror, plus flipped the left mirror clamp for a cleaner look (thanks
@Stevel3 for that tip)
MAINTENANCE # 1 (about a fortnight ago) - indicator switch was "sticky" since my purchase. About 75% of the time it was hard to cancel the blinkers. Opened up casing, cleaned out grit from the mechanisms > working easily and reliably now.
TROUBLESHOOTING # 1 (last week) - first minor 'breakdown' - intending to ride to a client's, but bike wouldn't start. Turning key gave me lights on dash, fuel pump primed, hitting ignition just dimmed the headlights (no cranking). Looked up troubleshooting lists on the forum and worked my way through a few possibilities. Third thing I tried was disconnecteing the electrical cable from the clutch, blowing out connector and reconnecting. Bike started right up. :) Rode to work in the rain again. At the end of the day tried starting and same symptoms. Disconnected, blew out and reconnected clutch cable and it started and got me home. Has started first time each time since. Need to buy some contact cleaner, but not 100% sure what the cause was. My guess is that riding approx 80km in pouring rain on 4 consecutive days resulted in a little water in the connector and it needed cleaning/drying out?
MOD # 6 - Givi 527FZ rear rack, Monokey plate and Givi Trekker TRK52N top box
The clutch switch can rot inside too, they trap water well. I used to drop mine off occasionally and spray WD40 or ACF50 in to the holes in it.
MOD # 7 - switched dual USB charger and voltmeter on handlebar (stock photo)
MOD # 8 - replaced stock right horn with PIAA 500Hz 'Slender' horn
Gee guys, did one of the worst fuel consumptions since I got the bike, about 13 years ago: 8,4 l/100!! That´s about 33,6 mpg (UK). Bloody hell, city riding, must take care of the throttle
Go everywhere in first gear did ya? :confused1:
Quote from: KiwiCol on Sunday, 15 September 2024, 06:21 AMGo everywhere in first gear did ya? :confused1:
:lol: Guess I did!
I've never worked it out, what are they ment to do mpg wise. My old xjr was around 38 mpg.
I'm pretty sure top whack is about 45mpg , I may be wrong, I may be right. :onya:
I get anywhere from 40-55mpg depending how I ride it. Mid to high 40s seems about normal for most people I know with them.
Usually on my home circuit (around 200km) 6 L/100km = 47.080167 mpg (UK). Guess about 50km in 2nd gear and a 10km "spirited" ride on the Autobahn. No city but a number of villages.
Lowest consumption was a leisurely 400+ km ride where I made it a point to spare fuel.
5.1 L/100km = 55.388431 mpg (UK) to 6.2 L/100km = 45.561452 mpg (UK) (8 seasons)
Last 500km ride was 5.5 L/100km = 51.360182 mpg (UK)
With my 1st 14 (when I was a maniac) I frequently went over 8 L/100km = 35.310125 mpg (UK)
All better than xjr, 6th gear helps :cheers:
My XJR is much worse, but then it's a Jag XJR :lol:
Just had a quick look at my consumption figures, average usage over a 5+ year period is 5.82L/100k (46.39mpg) sometimes better sometimes worse, guess it depends on how much flex goes into the right wrist at the time.
:cruisin:
I'm sitting on around 5.2 to 5.5 l/100km, need to measure again since replacing TPS and STPS, I guess I ride conservatively.
Yeah mines always been around that, 400k per tank average.