Thirsty or thrifty?

[Richard_gib]

I have a '97 Hornet 250, and was wondering what milage other riders get. I seem to hit reserve anywhere between 160 and 180ks. It takes about 12 to 14L to fill from reserve. Is this excessive??
My bike has after market twin exhausts (impoted with these on). I am close to 100kg's and average riding is 90 to 120kms (with the odd blast to pass cars etc. I have found she will happily do 160kmh with no complaints). Feels like it has a very limited range, and I don't want to go for a long ride and not get back lol.

My old ZXR250 did about 250 to 280 kms before hitting reserve (about 16L)

Also anyone have any idea how big the reserve is and how far I could go on that??

Love my little hornet, and she is still much cheaper that my family van to run(especially when it has the wife and all five of the future kiwi bikers in it)

[Radar]

4 cylinder bikes seem thirsty. Have a look at this page (http://www.ciao.co.uk/Honda_Hornet__Review_5340093), where it says of the Honda 250 Hornet: "The fuel economy is not bad, and the small tank makes it seem worse. Not sure about mpg but I usually get 160km (100mls) to a tank before reserve (after 12 litres)." Evidently you are getting the expected fuel consumption. The trade off is that your 250 cranks out more hp than most all other 250s.

[Richard_gib]

Thanks Radar. I feel better about it now. The review is not wrong, she is a heap of fun, good power and fantastic handling. The size of it (mainly the arse) make people think it is a bigger bike.

How does the hyosung do??

[DarkLord]

Filling up my Hyosung GT 250R '07 on 98 from empty cost me about 35 bucks, and I'll usually get about 400 k's out of that. So, pretty good.

I've heard of people getting even more than that as well, but I wouldn't want to push it any further than that.....

[KelvinAng]

I've got the lil' ol'hornet for about a month now and the fuel consumption is getting to me a bit. I'm getting somewhere in the region of 13-14km/L, which means I spend about $40/week on gas to get me to work and back.

She sure is a fun little 250cc bike, but I think I might want something that is easier on the gas...

[vindy500]

i get about 250km from 14 L

[Maki]

I get 200k from just over 8L.

[road king]

im getting 300km on 17L

[de_wood_elf]

I get about 200km on my Zeal, but when I filled it up I only put 11L in so probably a bit over 200km on full tank before reserve.

[gijoe1313]

A good well tuned running little ol'hornet will be getting around 16km/L ... yep thirsty little beasty zipping around. You can ride more economically by not screaming up through the gears ... :whistle: but thats not what hornets are made for :msn-wink:

Keeping tyres inflated to correct pressure, using 98 and having good plugs with regular oil changes will keep it running efficiently.

It is relative of course, $40 for some may be too much whilst for someone like me $40 in a week means I haven't been riding enough!

[McJim]

Interesting. I thought I was getting bad economy from the 600ss with 287 from 18 litres. this is just shy of 16km per litre or 6.27 litres per 100km.

The VTR250 was very economic - I could get 320km out of a 13 litre tank and I spent most of the time wringing it's neck. So 24.6km per litre or 4 litres per 100km.

4.0 litre Ford Falcon (my other ride) gets about 10kms to the litre on the open road......it's even less economic than a 250 Hornet eh?

[KelvinAng]

A good well tuned running little ol'hornet will be getting around 16km/L ... yep thirsty little beasty zipping around. You can ride more economically by not screaming up through the gears ... :whistle: but thats not what hornets are made for :msn-wink:

Keeping tyres inflated to correct pressure, using 98 and having good plugs with regular oil changes will keep it running efficiently.

It is relative of course, $40 for some may be too much whilst for someone like me $40 in a week means I haven't been riding enough!

Everytime I think about my gas money and feel like selling the lil' ol'hornet to get something cheaper to run, it takes just a short pootle on open roads to change my mind :clap:

Maybe it's time to add another bike (a 125cc scooter?) to the stable for those city travelling.

[gijoe1313]

Everytime I think about my gas money and feel like selling the lil' ol'hornet to get something cheaper to run, it takes just a short pootle on open roads to change my mind :clap:

Maybe it's time to add another bike (a 125cc scooter?) to the stable for those city travelling.

Now you're talking! Well done that man! :clap: I wholeheartedly approve of this strategic decision! :yes:

And yes, thats why I still have my little ol'hornet even when I have a Big Ol'Hornet! (and the middle ones to come yet! :msn-wink:)

[Badger8]

i took my lil' ol' hornet on the open road last week, a three day tour up north, and routinely got 20km/L on the open rd. That is hauling my.. err... ample frame, plus a backpack and tank bag loaded up, and i was givin her a reasonable bit of stick at times. 180km before i hit reserve, and that took 9L to refill. Not sure how big the reserve is, anyone know? (mine is an 01 btw)

[KelvinAng]

Now you're talking! Well done that man! :clap: I wholeheartedly approve of this strategic decision! :yes:

And yes, thats why I still have my little ol'hornet even when I have a Big Ol'Hornet! (and the middle ones to come yet! :msn-wink:)

How much more thirsty is the Big Ol'Hornet? Considering the little one is already drinking gas like a bigger bike, the Big one must be quite a shocker at the pumps...? But still, nothing a short pootle on open roads can't fix :clap:

[Roki_nz]

I am getting an average of 22-24 km/L, this is pre first service though so i think it may improve after its first service

[gijoe1313]

How much more thirsty is the Big Ol'Hornet? Considering the little one is already drinking gas like a bigger bike, the Big one must be quite a shocker at the pumps...? But still, nothing a short pootle on open roads can't fix :clap:

Actually its about the same! :rofl: Fuel injection n'all that ... larger tank makes it go long time (compared to its little brother that is! :msn-wink:) Open road riding is more efficient ...

I average about $32 these days to fill up when the orange fuel light comes on ... :scooter:)

[KelvinAng]

Actually its about the same! :rofl: Fuel injection n'all that ... larger tank makes it go long time (compared to its little brother that is! :msn-wink:) Open road riding is more efficient ...

I average about $32 these days to fill up when the orange fuel light comes on ... :scooter:)

I fill her up once I exceed 100km (ie every 2-3 days). There's a servo near me and it's along the way to/from work. I don't want a repeat of the out-of-gas incident... you're right, the tank is tiny for her thirst.

[imw-hornet]

Just filled up after doing 280km ,,,,,$21.20 ,,about 10l ,,, yea ha

[Badger8]

Well, i answered my own question. Flushed the tank last night, and refilled her from scratch. it is indeed a 15L tank, but i'm not sure that she'd be able to suck it dry (i had trouble getting most of the fuel out after i'd removed the fuel tap and was shaking it around)
That means she has 9L to hit reserve, and 6L thereafter... seems like an odd ratio to me. Mind you i was having problems with the fuel intake, so that may change now :2thumbsup

[imw-hornet]

Well, i answered my own question. Flushed the tank last night, and refilled her from scratch. it is indeed a 15L tank, but i'm not sure that she'd be able to suck it dry (i had trouble getting most of the fuel out after i'd removed the fuel tap and was shaking it around)
That means she has 9L to hit reserve, and 6L thereafter... seems like an odd ratio to me. Mind you i was having problems with the fuel intake, so that may change now :2thumbsup

What year is yours? Mine does not have a reserve tap ? , just a fuel gage
,,, it was just above the red when i filled up <_<

[Badger8]

Mine's on '01, same as yours. I have a fuel gauge on the clocks, but it doesnt work (i think they're aftermarket clocks). The fuel tap on mine is very nearly hidden unless you know where to look. Left hand side of the tank, tucked almost up under the lip of the tank. You should at least have an on/off tap for when you remove the tank for servicing etc. Have a look, you may be surprised :bleh:


What year is yours? Mine does not have a reserve tap ? , just a fuel gage
,,, it was just above the red when i filled up <_<

[disenfranchised]

Filling up my Hyosung GT 250R '07 on 98 from empty cost me about 35 bucks, and I'll usually get about 400 k's out of that. So, pretty good.

I've heard of people getting even more than that as well, but I wouldn't want to push it any further than that.....

Why do you use 98?
The engines only have a compression ratio around 10.2:1...which is well below the 11:1 mark where 98 starts becoming the recomended fuel.

I'll fill up after 300K's and fit between 12-14L in....so with the 17L tank there's still plenty more K's available.

[DarkLord]

Why do you use 98?
The engines only have a compression ratio around 10.2:1...which is well below the 11:1 mark where 98 starts becoming the recomended fuel.

I'll fill up after 300K's and fit between 12-14L in....so with the 17L tank there's still plenty more K's available.

True I didn't know that...so it would actually be more efficient to use 91?

thanks for pointing that out!

[NOMIS]

Ive never filled up under 320km before and i constantly have a heavy hand so dont know what every one else running......

I use 95 octane, never had to turn the trap ever and i think max i got was 350 still hadnt run out.

[disenfranchised]

True I didn't know that...so it would actually be more efficient to use 91?

thanks for pointing that out!

In theory, assuming that the only difference between the fuels is the octane rating (i.e. no extra additives to change how it burns) then 91 should perform exactly the same, for less money

read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

The higher octane fuels are required by engines with a higher compression ratio, to prevent knocking within the cylinder.
Otherwise though, you may as well use the cheapest fuel you can get away with....especially with todays prices.

[Badger8]

Ive never filled up under 320km before and i constantly have a heavy hand so dont know what every one else running......

I use 95 octane, never had to turn the trap ever and i think max i got was 350 still hadnt run out.

erm... you might wanna check you're not on reserve all the time there mate! :bleh: Would hate you to hit that magical 'reserve' one day to find she's bone dry :doh:

[NOMIS]

erm... you might wanna check you're not on reserve all the time there mate! :bleh: Would hate you to hit that magical 'reserve' one day to find she's bone dry :doh:

nope... im not. and it does 300km before i fill it no probs stil only get about 14-15 litres in its tank when ive done around the 330mark

[Badger8]

nope... im not. and it does 300km before i fill it no probs stil only get about 14-15 litres in its tank when ive done around the 330mark

Yeah, the mileage sounds about right (22k/l), but do you have a larger than stock tank or something? she's only a 15L tank :s

[NOMIS]

Yeah, the mileage sounds about right (22k/l), but do you have a larger than stock tank or something? she's only a 15L tank :s

ahh no 17L man. 2001 a 17L or am i wrong?? ive filled over 15l before but only just somethn like 15.2L

[CookMySock]

In theory, assuming that the only difference between the fuels is the octane rating (i.e. no extra additives to change how it burns) then 91 should perform exactly the same, for less money [..] Otherwise though, you may as well use the cheapest fuel you can get away with....especially with todays prices.In theory, yes. I can not tell the difference in performance between the two octane rated fuels, but the high octane definitely covers more kilometers than the low octane. Yeah, don't ask me why, I don't know, but it is bloody clear to me at refill time if someone has put 91 in it - the odo shows 270km and an empty tank, versus 350km for 96 octane. shrug.

I haven't done the maths on which is actually cheapest per km, but I only use high octane fuel because its a pain in the bum losing range.

Steve

[Subike]

fook you guys got it good!
try feeding an 1100cc bike
mine does 12.39k per liter!
24 liter tank.
But if I was concerned with the cost of the fuel, I would buy a deisel powered Royal Enfield!

[DarkLord]

DB, can't some of the fuel consumption come under riding style as well?

I managed to get nearly 400 k's out of a tank (but I was stone cold empty on that) running 98, 270 on a full tank of 91 seems very low, surely riding style would come into that somewhere?

[Badger8]

ahh no 17L man. 2001 a 17L or am i wrong?? ive filled over 15l before but only just somethn like 15.2L

erm, i hit reserve at 9L gone... drained the tank to clean internals a couple of weeks ago, mine is prettymuch bang on 15L

[Choco]

Got to 210km the other day until I hit reserve, running 91, considering trying 98 and seeing how that goes.

I'll keep -thickening the ozone- doing scientific research and let you all know.

[CookMySock]

DB, can't some of the fuel consumption come under riding style as well? I managed to get nearly 400 k's out of a tank (but I was stone cold empty on that) running 98, 270 on a full tank of 91 seems very low, surely riding style would come into that somewhere?Yeah I'm sure it will. I filled today and got only 300km from 15.5L and I been fatting it around hardcore.

Yes you will find the fuel economy from 91 really horrible.

Steve

[brendonjw]

Still running my ninja in but so far iv been getting about 280ks off 10-11ltrs, Its a 18ltr tank :scooter:

Oh yeah, thats using 91

[Taz]

I get 17km/l from my Ducati and 18km/l from my BMW......... Just saying...:bleh:

[aewilliam]

Everytime I think about my gas money and feel like selling the lil' ol'hornet to get something cheaper to run, it takes just a short pootle on open roads to change my mind :clap:

Maybe it's time to add another bike (a 125cc scooter?) to the stable for those city travelling.

soudns like the average biker wodl loath to admit that they woudl desire such a :2guns: 125cc twist&go machine in their garage!

myself?
carbied 50cc AZ50 @3.5l/100km
Injected UZ125 @ 3l/100km
Carbied RS250 2smoker @ 8-9l/100km (12+km/l)
Injected ER6N 650cc @ 5+l/100km (19km/l)

Thought the economy of the 125cc was gonna get me sticking to the 125cc for commuting, but guns on the 650cc is seemingly a tad addictive! :doh: but still a mile easeir on the pocket than the RS... yet to discover the mid range of the ER6 fully as yet to be fully run in, so the insanity of the RS powerband is yet to be surpassed... just a few more kms to click over... :eek:

would suggest riding style on the 4cyl Hornet must be a driver behind the car-like fuel stats

[KelvinAng]

soudns like the average biker wodl loath to admit that they woudl desire such a :2guns: 125cc twist&go machine in their garage!


I like the smaller scoots, they are so blardy convenient when it comes to parking. I love the CVT drive, it's smooth and comfy. I love the storage spaces. I love the armchair riding position. I love the centre stand.

[NOMIS]

I like the smaller scoots, they are so blardy convenient when it comes to parking. I love the CVT drive, it's smooth and comfy. I love the storage spaces. I love the armchair riding position. I love the centre stand.

okay you should sell that hornet and get back on that scooter then haha.

[slofox]

Get around 20-22km/l out of the SV, using Force 10 - 10% ethanol blend, which gives less distance per litre than non blended gas. So about 300km per tank although it does vary a lot depending on the type of riding I do......basically the higher I rev it the more gas it eats....running in period, revs limited to 5000, did around 25 km/l....now that it can wind all the way up, it seems to want more feeding....funny that......

[KelvinAng]

okay you should sell that hornet and get back on that scooter then haha.

Unfortunately there's so much to love about the lil' ol'hornet it's not an easy decision to make :oi-grr: Chances are I'll probably get another bike/scooter.

Then again I'm relocating from ChCh to Dunedin at the end of the month for a couple of months so that adds more variables to the already complex decision-making process :zzzz:

[CookMySock]

another crap-economy fill today - only 280km from 15.5L I was fully loaded and working it hard though. Normally get 350km on 15L taking it easy.

Yeah so riding style makes about 70km per fill difference.

Steve