Suzuki TS 185 mileage?

[Matariki]

A lot will depend on the bikes fitted gearing. If a larger cog has been fitted on the rear wheel ... it will go slower than standard. And use more petrol.

A larger cog? What do you mean by cog?

[unstuck]

A larger cog? What do you mean by cog?

Sprocket.

[Matariki]

Yeah, but it won't triple the fuel consumption. If that 50 odd litres per tank was from riding off road in 1st-3rd gear then it might be normal. I suspect that's the case as I don't think the bike could use that much fuel in normal road use and still run OK. Really need to fill the bike up, zero the odometer and take it for a ride down to Martinborough and back, and then refill it to see how much it's used.

That makes sense, most of the riding I've been doing has been in 1st - 3rd gear, off road and around town. But I don't understand how going at slower speeds would use up more petrol.

[ducatilover]

Yeah, but it won't triple the fuel consumption. If that 50 odd litres per tank was from riding off road in 1st-3rd gear then it might be normal. I suspect that's the case as I don't think the bike could use that much fuel in normal road use and still run OK. Really need to fill the bike up, zero the odometer and take it for a ride down to Martinborough and back, and then refill it to see how much it's used.

This is a good idea if she's not doing it already

I'm guessing there's something wrong with your bike, as even if you're riding hard you'd get more mileage out of a tank.

This, I really doubt it could manage to eat this much without it pissing out
I'd clean the float needls and seat, my neighbors had one that was un-seating with vibrations while riding, had the perplexed for a long time, was easy enough to fix.
The float needle has a viton tip on it (little black rubbery bit) so I'd suggest you check it's okay and not brittle, if it's brittle, I probably have one floating around here (pun intended)

BTW Quite often you'll find Mikuni and Keihin use the same 8mm needle on smaller bikes without fuel pumps

I would offer to fix it, but my car's in Tauranga and I'm sick of riding my Kawasaki

[Matariki]

Sprocket.

Right, I see... But how does having a bigger sprocket affect fuel consumption?

[FJRider]

A larger cog? What do you mean by cog?

As Unstuck said.

The number of teeth the sprocket has will be stamped on it. Along with the chain type [ ie: 210:48 ... with 48 for example only] being the number of teeth on it.
A bigger rear sprocket only compounds fuel use figures ... and if low speed and your use is most often in the lower gears ... it is often preferred for the extra torque that lower gearing provides.
If you fit a rear sprocket with fewer teeth ... it may feel "lacking" in the lower gears ... but faster (slightly)in top gear.

Such is life with small bikes ... there is no replacement for horsepower.

At the end of the day ... the TS is a good (little) bike. But for a regular commute any distance ... start thinking along the lines of getting a bigger capacity motorcycle. (or not)

[ducatilover]

Right, I see... But how does having a bigger sprocket affect fuel consumption?

it keeps the revs higher, but it won't make that much of a difference
I recently went up a few teeth on my Kawagaysaki and it has seen a drop in fuel consumption, but not huge (and the part where it gets ridden by a complete pillock)

[FJRider]

Right, I see... But how does having a bigger sprocket affect fuel consumption?

A larger rear sprocket has more teeth. This gears the bike down. Same RPM (revs) in each gear but slower speeds. So fuel wont take you as far.

[Matariki]

it keeps the revs higher, but it won't make that much of a difference
I recently went up a few teeth on my Kawagaysaki and it has seen a drop in fuel consumption, but not huge (and the part where it gets ridden by a complete pillock)

With higher revs, does that mean my motorcycle has less chance of flooding (or taking longer to start up)?

[ducatilover]

With higher revs, does that mean my motorcycle has less chance of flooding (or taking longer to start up)?

It only keeps the revs up when you're riding.
So, if it was doing 4000rpm at 80km/h, it would do 5000rpm at 80km/h with a larger sprocket. It won't help it

If it takes long to start when cold, it could be flooding or simply too lean (the plug will tell ya) if it's taking ages to start hot, it's probably flooding

[SMOKEU]

Having the "wrong" sprocket size won't increase your fuel consumption by 2 or 3 times as much unless you're running a ridiculous combination and keeping the engine at the rev limiter the whole time. Realistically it may affect your fuel consumption by 10% or 15% at the most.

[FJRider]

If it takes long to start when cold, it could be flooding or simply too lean (the plug will tell ya) if it's taking ages to start hot, it's probably flooding

If it is flooding after you stop. Turn the fuel tap off until you are ready to start it. It may help.

Two strokes are renown for plug issues. Thus starting issues.

[Matariki]

Hmm... I'm pretty sure that the sprocket on my TS is stock standard. But I would have to check.

[Ocean1]

That makes sense, most of the riding I've been doing has been in 1st - 3rd gear, off road and around town. But I don't understand how going at slower speeds would use up more petrol.

Think of petrol consumption as related to the time you've got the throttle open, and how much. If you're riding on a narrow dirt track for an hour or so you'd probably only travel 10 to 20k, but you've used a fair bit of energy to do so, perhaps as much as 2-3 litres. Couple of hours of that and you'll be all but empty, so 50k from a tank for off-road use isn't unheard of, just perhaps a little high.

If you're traveling on the open road for an hour or so, mostly at 100k, you've had the throttle half way open for most of that time so you've used more petrol, probably about 4-5 litres. But, of course you've traveled 100k, and your tank's good for another 50 or so. Like I said, an hour's trip to Martinborough and back is about 90k, if you fill up when you get back I'd expect it to have used roughly 5L, (an actual 185 owner might refine that guess).