How far will my DR-Z400 go on a "Clarke" tank of gas ?

[Tony W]

333.3km

Fair enough.

My guess will in that case have to be..........444.4km !

[rok-the-boat]

My DR500 does 20-25km/l depending. It has about 7L before reserve and will usually get up to 150km OK. It has taller gearing for the road though. I bought an old 650 bigger tank but it doesn't fit - it might if I whack it here and there ... I am tempted. It would be great to get 250+km per tank.

[MXNUT]

Am riding the Waikaremoana loop on Friday.
I put a Clarke tank on last year, but have not yet done a full real world economy/range test to see how many km I will go before I totally run out of fuel.
The tank NOW holds 15.75L of gas. (was only 14.75 on first fill)
The route will be approx 200km tar, 150 km gravel, 70km forest road, 20km forest track.
Would you guys like to take a stab at how many Km until I run out.
(I will keep riding until empty)

WHO CARESsarcastic bastard i am

I could only get 16km/l on my DR-Z with road gearing and a full yosh pipe, open box and 160 main jet...crazy frog runs almost stock and I think he is closer to 18-20 km/l.

16 to 18 km/l is about the norm for me too

[CrazyFrog]

My bet would be around 400km as well, given your gearing and miserly fuel efficiency, just watch how much you snap the throttle open thru the lovely winding Waikaremoana road. I'm envious........

[Gremlin]

In theory, you'll manage around 410km.

For more accuracy, if you have done the trip before, take fuel consumption figures from then, as fuel usage will vary according to how much you err... like the route.

[rogson]

I got around 22km/l on my DRZSM when I was relatively easy on the throttle running it in - so that translates to about 340km to dry. But if you ride it like it should/wants to be ridden, and there are a lot of high-speed/highway miles - less than 300km (6,000rpm is 102km/hr on stock gearing/rear tyre).

[Waihou Thumper]

If I ride highways at approx 105-115kph, I get about 320Km before running out, maybe 330 at a push...
I might try road gearing and sprocket on the bike and see if this makes a difference.
Still, I am impressed 19.4km/litre for a Fe450e blasting down the highway

[Tony W]

Well some of you were very close. I thought someone guessed 430.

How does 27.6 km/L sound....? eh 'Nut...?

Filled up at Hastings, ran out at Napier airport.

I think that's a pretty useful range from a relatively small tank.

(XR Johnny's XR650R used 40L on this ride.)

[bart]

you must have been riding like a girl after all.

[DR Girl]

you must have been riding like a girl after all.

Couldn't help having a grin at your comment Bart !!

[bart]

Hahaha, I was waiting for a comment from someone. No insult intended. Girls ride really fast.

[DR Girl]

Hahaha, I was waiting for a comment from someone. No insult intended. Girls ride really fast.

Nah, didn't take it the wrong way at all ! Grinned because it takes a BRAVE MAN to call BT ( Big Tony ) a "GIRL" !!!

[Tony W]

you must have been riding like a girl after all.

Yes, they say that you should be in touch with your feminine side sometime, and I guess this was my day.

I did discover a few things while riding on that day.
1. "It's not how big it is, it's how you use it." certainly was true in this case.
2. To be a real girl, it occured to me, it's not so much about riding, but being ridden... The thought of that prospect certainly made me pick up the pace somewhat !


My caring Green side also came to the fore.

I was wearing my long socks under my MX boots already, and I experienced a certain sense of supercilious smugness as I watched XR650RJohnny on his 11km per litre bike killing the trees as he rode by...
Whereas when I came past a minute later and called out my miserly rate of fuel consumption to the fallen trees, they miraculously became well again and waved their appreciation as I rode past...
I'm sure I felt stubble on my face sprout immediately at that prospect and by the time I had finished travelling through the forest, I had grown quite a sizeable beard !

My main mission now is to invent ADV riding sandals to complete the picture.


Next week I will be changing the personality of the DR-Z from planet saver to road warrior, as I redress the imbalance and enter a sealed hillclimb at Seafield Rd.

Peace to you all.

[bart]

Peace brother. That thing of yours must be real good on gas. No way mine would do 430km on 15 odd litres of gas. I'm lucky to get 160km out of 8 litres.

As for the XR650, I think I could do better on a long trip with my old V8.