Best MPG on Silverwing

Hello. Long-time lover of the site, former Helix rider and hoping to get a SW in the not-to-distant future. I keep coming back to one dilemma however....

IF O2 sensors were first installed in '08 models, why is MPG soooo much better on the 2010-2013 models than 2009 and older?

Not that there's an overabundance of data, but from what fuelly.com displays, why would one purchase older than 2010?

I would buy as new as possible. MPG, based on 2 new 2009 and 2013, for me average 55 mpg, based on throttle hand. Even riding a lot, gas is your least expense---my case drive belts.

It has been stated over and over again that scoots pre 2008 get worse fuel mileage than newer ones. My 2012 does well for me, sometimes getting over 60 MPG, range is low 50's to high 50's normally. To be honest I try and watch my speed and usually avoid freeways and hit smaller 2 lanes as they are more fun and much more beautiful in most cases. The CVT works well but they are not the most efficient for fuel, a DCT or such will do better. That said however, if you only drive a few miles a year who cares? If you find a clean 2004-2007 at a good price, grab it unless you REALLY roll on the miles in a year.

I have an 08 SWing and got around 50 mpg with it, give or take. Now that I've had it converted to a trike the mileage will go down somewhat. I really don't care because it gets a lot better mileage than my 99 Silverado pickup. Not to mention the "fun factor" of being on a SWing.

Can't help thinking a large barrel of fuel with a 2" hole in the bottom would use less fuel than a typical American pickup!

On mine, I'm still enjoying the novelty of riding a big scooter, so it's wide open throttle acceleration whenever possible, and cruising at 75-85mph depending. With 22g Dr Pulleys it's particularly fun! So for me, I tend to burn fuel at about 52mpg, but that's with a UK 4.54L gallon, not the US gallon (whatever that is).

If I want to go slow and save fuel I'll take the 125 3-wheeler, which gets 80mpg (4.54L) at 60mph.

US gallon=3.78 liters I think

gavinfdavies wrote:

Can't help thinking a large barrel of fuel with a 2" hole in the bottom would use less fuel than a typical American pickup!

That is true. My 99 gets about 12-14 mpg on the highway. It has 241,000 miles on it and still runs great and starts at -20 degrees. It also doesn't use any oil yet, the tranny doesn't slip and the 4 wheel drive works great too. Plus, it's paid for.

Mr Grinsel is right onto it,

(I would buy as new as possible. MPG, based on 2 new 2009 and 2013, for me average 55 mpg, based on throttle hand. Even riding a lot, gas is your least expense).

Just did a 1200 k trip (750 miles) at roughly 4800 to 5000 rpm at an average of roughly 100 to 110 kph on my 2009 fjs600 D9 fitted with 5000 miles old Hoops.

Average 23.5 ks per litre or 66.4 Imperial MPg or 55.5 US MPg. That is an Urban/Rural mix, (not much urban)

Cant really complain about that. (Much better than my previous old PC800 !!)

I bought an '06 specifically because it did not have a O2 sensor... Fuel economy on the scoot' is irrelevant to me as it is much better than eithrr of my other vehicle; an '09 Tacoma Prerunner and a '98 SL500--both of which barely make 20 mpg...

I have a year old 2013 from factory crate. It has the O2 sensor and I average in the low 60s. Dealer said the O2 was phased in between 2011 and 2013. i'm a two-lane non lead-foot rider and, love my Swing.
Blain

I am just returned from a 4000K interstate trip. Taking into consideration hilly terrain, overtaking, en-route road works, cross/head winds and a lot of A - B transits at 110KPH ( = 5100 - 5200RPM ) etc., etc, the consumption was consistently in the 20 - 22Ks/litre range. My '07 model has an O2 sensor.

Bairdb wrote:

< snip >Dealer said the O2 was phased in between 2011 and 2013. < snip >
Blain

Odd statement considering that the part #'s for both the PGM-FI (ECU) and the O2 sensor are the same for all Silverwings from 2009 thru 2013.

Perhaps your dealer is one of those plaid-suited, pinky-ringed paragons of credibility?

THe '02 to '13 FSM I have shows the O2 sensor as an '"After '07" thing:

Thanks all. Basically what I gather is...yes newer is better. But, if you can't do "newer" do no later than '09 (if one prefers higher MPG). Again, thanks.

cliffyk wrote:

THe '02 to '13 FSM I have shows the O2 sensor as an '"After '07" thing.

You are correct, Cliff. The FSM does state that. But is seems that those 2007 models may be in a gray area. 

Partzilla.com's Honda parts list for the 2007 model illustrates the O2 sensor but doesn't give a part # for that item. While the part # for the ECU says that it applies to '02 thru '07 models.

The parts list for the 2008 model shows those items as applying to 2008 thru 2013 model.

Who knew?

Tim

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

cliffyk wrote:

THe '02 to '13 FSM I have shows the O2 sensor as an '"After '07" thing.

You are correct, Cliff. The FSM does state that. But is seems that those 2007 models may be in a gray area. 

Partzilla.com's Honda parts list for the 2007 model illustrates the O2 sensor but doesn't give a part # for that item. While the part # for the ECU says that it applies to '02 thru '07 models.

The parts list for the 2008 model shows those items as applying to 2008 thru 2013 model.

Who knew?

Tim

It is not unusual for makers to incorporate changes late in a given model year's production cycle as supplies of earlier parts, such as motor assemblies, run low/out...

With my '09 swing I used to get about 55mpg. I'm not sure what my '13 will get. I just picked her up in November and I have less then 250 miles on her. I got it brand new at a dealer. I've filled up a couple of times but with just starting it during the winter and short little rides my gas millage has been really bad. I'm hoping to get at least what I used too with the 09.

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katschamne wrote:

With my '09 swing I used to get about 55mpg. I'm not sure what my '13 will get. I just picked her up in November and I have less then 250 miles on her. I got it brand new at a dealer. I've filled up a couple of times but with just starting it  during the winter and short little rides my gas millage has been really bad. I'm hoping to get at least what I used too with the 09.

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I'm just guessing here but it might have to break in and loosen up before you start getting better mileage. From what I've found it takes some miles before everything loosens up and settles in. I had a brand new 77 Yamaha RD-400 and the first few tank fulls were pretty bad but after about 1,000 miles or so it got better.

I getr a consistent 48 mpg on my performance modified '06 (four 26 g and four four 28 G sliders, and a spacer beneath the torque multiplier spring to increases its preload)-and a pretty "heavy" right hand.

Riding is 80% rural at 70 to 75/80 mph; 20% suburban at 40 to 55 mph... Gas is cheap here, $2.50 US/gallon som 0.39 £ / L for those on t'other side of the pond...

I figured it will take a while before I start seeing better gas millage. My '09 was used with 2126 miles on it when I purchased it. I was disappointed that it was totalled last year. I had just over 22126 miles on it. In 2 years. I loved the color. Not a fan of the Black...oh well it's brand new with a warranty. I know the gas mileage also improved on my new PCX 150 after I did the first service on it.

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Regarding O2 sensors, my UK bike was registered in Sept 2007, and has an O2 sensor.

And regarding my fuel economy (or lack of, due to lead-wrist syndrome), I should add that my bike is barely broken in, with about 4,000 on the clocks!

gavinfdavies wrote:

Regarding O2 sensors, my UK bike was registered in Sept 2007, and has an O2 sensor.

And regarding my fuel economy (or lack of, due to lead-wrist syndrome), I should add that my bike is barely broken in, with about 4,000 on the clocks!

But is your bike a 2007 or 2008. New model stuff comes out in fall of every year. Could be 2008?
Sometimes manufactures make changes mid-year. Sticker up under right side with the VIN and year.

katschamne wrote:

With my '09 swing I used to get about 55mpg. I'm not sure what my '13 will get. I just picked her up in November and I have less then 250 miles on her. I got it brand new at a dealer. I've filled up a couple of times but with just starting it  during the winter and short little rides my gas millage has been really bad. I'm hoping to get at least what I used too with the 09.

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You're close to a year with the '13 scoot.  Have you been able to determine the mileage yet?

And no, I still haven't purchased my Silverwing as of yet.

Interesting on the mileage thing but of course we are all wrong in figuring efficiency based on mileage.

On my 2012, I get a pretty steady 50 US mpg around town with some highway mix. Never got more than about 53 mpg highway, and I'm very conservative cruiser--no jackrabbit starts, rarely over 65 mph on highway. Air in tires is stock pressure. I switch stock and larger windscreens and seem to get the same mpg.

I really don't care much about the mileage I get on my SWing. It's too much fun to just ride it. That being said, after I got the trike kit put on I did check it to compare to just two wheels. I've lost about 5 mpg on the highway and more than that in town with stop and go rides. But like I said it's too much fun to ride to worry about a few mpgs. Heck, my old 99 Chevy pickup gets between 10-12 mpg so the SWing is a big improvement although it's only a summer thing.

I really dont measure MPG more than miles per tank.  if I twist it hard, I'm usually looking for fuel at 125-130 miles.  ive gotten as much as 160 miles on a tank while riding the natchez trace (average about 55 mph)  
I don't top the tank off and carry a spare fuel bottle just in case.  swing rides awesome but sucks to push.

I may have checked it twice remembering high 40's low 50's. Most of the time I fill up at home from my own supply so there is no way to be accurate. LOL, EZ to remember, lead foot low light foot higher but the best part is the smilage

As somebody who rides a lot and has ridden a lot.....and hates to walk or carry gas, on trips with SilverWing, I gased up every 100 miles in strange territory and every 150 in known places. Scooter do have small tanks. Really unknown places like rural Canada,, Alaska I tank every time a pump shows up.

Dale N. wrote:

Heck, my old 99 Chevy pickup gets between 10-12 mpg so the SWing is a big improvement although it's only a summer thing.

I had a friend who had an older Dodge truck. He said he got 15 mpg. (ten on the highway and five in the city)


As for me, it's about the smiles not the miles.

Been getting 55-60 with my 09, I'm old and ride like I'm old.

I know this is about the Honda Silverwing but.... In 1908: Henry Ford introduces the Model T. The gasoline-powered car enjoys up to 21 miles per gallon (just six m.p.g. fewer than the average new vehicle sold today).
You'd think we could do a lot better nowadays

Sknrdtec wrote:

I know this is about the Honda Silverwing but.... In 1908: Henry Ford introduces the Model T. The gasoline-powered car enjoys up to 21 miles per gallon (just six m.p.g. fewer than the average new vehicle sold today).
You'd think we could do a lot better nowadays

It's a weight thing, what did that T weigh vs say our Subaru Forestergetting as high as 47 mpg under ideal conditions. Or like saying a Prius gets xxx mpg while running on a battery.

Problem in US on gas mileage----cars/pickups are too big/heavy for decent gas mileage.....maybe for all the fat people. Note here: my wife offered to buy me a new Miata for my 80th birthday.....already had 2, one used, one new. New one would get up to 35mpg on long 85 mile commute....instead I bought 2018 Mitsuibishi Mirage, Thai made as is my CB300F.....heater/AC/radio work fine, drives only ok, now 16,000 miles, does get 50mpg average on long trips, if I use it for daily driving still can make 50mpg by staying out of the throttle. Price=$15,000 everything paid and with license. I am quite happy with it. Have to admit on 20 degree mornings better than my scooter----only thing lacking is cars are not much fun!

New car has CVT transmission----light throttle foot, great gas mileage, heavy on the throttle=just like the rest.

Problem with motorcycles is wind drag. Not very efficient cars are much better.
Hybrids get about equal city-highway mileage but are not better than other cars on highway. Advantage in city driving is from electric boost.

Auto CVT  are much different than on SW have a much greater ratio advantage. Only takes about 35 horsepower to go 70 in a car on level road and engine turning 1500 RPM or so.

I average 55mpg on SW 26G sliders over 60 sometimes but rarely.

john grinsel wrote:

Problem in US on gas mileage----cars/pickups are too big/heavy for decent gas mileage.....maybe for all the fat people. Note here: my wife offered to buy me a new Miata for my 80th birthday.....already had 2, one used, one new. New one would get up to 35mpg on long 85 mile commute....instead I bought 2018 Mitsuibishi Mirage, Thai made as is my CB300F.....heater/AC/radio work fine, drives only ok, now 16,000 miles, does get 50mpg average on long trips, if I use it for daily driving still can make 50mpg by staying out of the throttle.   Price=$15,000 everything paid and with license.  I am quite happy with it.  Have to admit on 20 degree mornings better than my scooter----only thing lacking is cars are not much fun!

New car has CVT transmission----light throttle foot, great gas mileage, heavy on the throttle=just like the rest.

When you use the TWPM as the mileage factor the big trucks are really not that bad but one doesn't see that as a determining factor very often.

TWPM?

Ton Weight Per Mile, should have per gallon added on, how much weight is the vehicle moving vs fuel consumption = efficiency.

Update on my gas mileage: Stock 2012. I usually get a steady 50 mpg. Yesterday, on 173 miles, with 90 percent of the miles above 4,000 rpms, I got 60 mpg.

I couldn't understand how some others were getting 55+ mpg, and I am a very conservative rider. I think I now know the answer. My conservative riding and traffic conditions in my area keep my rpms under 4,000. My recent trip put me on a road where I was able to keep the sweet spot of 40 to 55 miles per hour most of the way. That's keeping the rpms above 4,000,where the rollers/sliders fan out enough to make the rpms more efficient (taller gearing in a shifting machine).

I'll just have to find more highways or get my speed over 40 mph sooner if I want better mpgs.

The last time I changed my belt I ran the bike with the covers off on the center stand. It looked like at 60MPH the belt was at the outter most location. So I usually travel at 60, hoping that is the sweet spot. Only get 50MPG.

Yep, my 03 gets 48 to 50 mpg. presently. I will see if mods will change that but I am not real hopefull. It is a fun very predictable machine however.

my sw-t400 uses 52 mpg US on mostly flat ground and 47 in the mountains mostly with 2 persons.
my 460cc piaggio engine in the Spidermax was mostly in the 47 and below area, a Burgman 400 k2 in the same riding area but no CVT mod and much lighter was around 55 and a Pegaso 650 identical to the BMW 650 enduro was around 36.
All up and down the mountains and 75 mph on the highway

let’s revive an old old thread that will ALWAYS be relevant. especially now with us gas avg 3.50 a gallon for the past year plus. i know that’s still cheaper than gas in the UK area but…… mileage seems to be consistent across the board as far a silverwings go. mine is an 06- blue. love it. I have put 22,000 miles on it since i’ve owned it and the gas mileage is very predictable. mid 45-46 mpgs at 75 mph gps( 80 indicated). during the warmer months.
41 mpgs at 75mph on the gps in the COLD temps.
now, to the most common conclusion here for swing owners…. 50 mpgs MOST of the time.
as a daily commuter in mix (city and country rds) i get 50 miles per gallon. the low fuel bar will begin to flash at 148-155 miles on the odo. like clockwork.
these are very dependable and predictable and quite cost effective scooters. …. Dave.

"an 06- blue ... 22,000 miles ... 45-46 mpgs at 75 mph. during warmer months.
41 mpgs at 75mph ... in COLD temps."

I have an '04 silver Silver Wing with 22,300 miles. New belt, plugs, new Malossi clutch and exhaust, good tires, air and CVT filters new or recently cleaned. No obvious reason my mpg's are below average, but ....

I've gotten 44 mpg's for the last two tanks. Driving conditions are hot, flat, lots of stop lights, good quality gas. In the same conditions, my BMW C 650 GT maxi-scooter gets 51.0 mpg (it is a 2019, which helps the mpg's).

Fuelly shows 52.3 for the Silver Wing from 2010 so I'm below average on the Honda. It shows 47.3 for the BMW from 2020 above so I'm above average there. I ride both exactly the same. Go figure.

Below is a copy & paste posting I made in September 2021 regarding "Gas Mileage On a Full Tank of Fuel" thread.

I decided to add onto this thread instead of starting a new one as this topic has been widely discussed.  I'm planning to take several longer tours (over 8,000 km./5,000 mi.) over the next couple of riding seasons and wanted to know, with more certainty, what kind of gas mileage and maximum tank range I might expect on my fairly new-to-me 2009 SWing.

Since this 2009 scoot is fairly new to me I wanted to establish a fuel performance baseline. One clear trend I observed was the fuel mileage got better the more I rode the scoot this season. Prior to my ownership, it was ridden sporadically (or I assume so given the low 4900 km. on it when I bought it in Aug 2020).

For my study, I tracked my mileage, by 1/8 of a tank (corresponding to the fuel bar indicator), for the past 18 tanks of fuel and below are the average of the data collected.  The remaining km. in tank number comes from calculating how much fuel I put in when I filled up then making an arithmetic adjustment based on my average fuel consumption per kilometer up until that point for the tank maximum capacity of 16 liters.

The roads I travelled were overwhelmingly flat roads consisting of roughly 5% superhighway, 65% secondary - two lane highway (up to 100 kph indicated ) and 30% city riding.

The mileage is converted to American mpg's ... not Imperial mpg's which of course would convert to different numbers based on the larger Imp. gallon.  

Fuel Level / Kilometers Travelled (mi.) / Kilometers remaining (mi.)

Full Tank / 0 km. (0 mi.) travelled  / 377 km. (235 mi.) Max. range of tank
7/8 Tank / 92 km. (57 mi.)  travelled  / 281 km. (175 mi.) remaining in tank
6/8 Tank / 118 km. (73 mi.)  travelled  / 243 km. (151 mi.) remaining in tank
5/8 Tank / 149 km. (93 mi.)  travelled  / 212 km. (132 mi.) remaining in tank

4/8 Tank / 181 km. (112 mi.)  travelled  / 181 km. (112 mi.) remaining in tank
3/8 Tank / 212 km. (132 mi.)  travelled  / 149 km. (93 mi.) remaining in tank
2/8 Tank / 242 km. (150 mi.)  travelled  / 118 km. (73 mi.) remaining in tank
1/8 Flash / 281 km. (176 mi.)  travelled  / 92 km. (57 mi.) remaining in tank until bone dry

I did a little rounding (by one or two kilometrers here and there) to smooth out the per 1/8 consumption numbers but what you see is pretty close to the averages I recorded during my study.  I was able to draw a number of conclusions from my little data collection experiment.

1) Not each 1/8 bar of the fuel tank gauge represents an equal amount of fuel consumed.  The first and last eighth I made almost double the mileage of any of the other 1/8 tank increments.
2) My maximum tank range averaged 377 km. over 18 tankfuls.  This ranged from a worst tankful of 341 km to a best of 404 kilometers.
3) I achieved just over 400 kms. per tank 3 times during my 18 tank sample study.
4) My overall mileage improved the more I rode my scooter this season.
5) I achieved a 4.23L/100 km. consumption average (55 U.S. mpg) over my study
6) My 2009 SWing used for this study made about 10% better fuel mileage than my previous 2005 SWing which I only tracked for the final 6 tanks of my ownership.  I was surprised and pleased with the 2009's better results.

Now I ride with confidence knowing that when the final 1/8 bar flashes, I have about 90 km (55 mi.) of fuel/distance remaining and I can safely ride for about another 50 km. (30 mi.) before filling up if I have to.  

I realize that draining the fuel tank to near empty so often runs the risk of picking up crud from the bottom but I was pretty diligent about monitoring this and the bottom of my tank appeared to be pretty clean throughout my study as it is now.  

I hope my study and data helps others. Your mileage may differ! lol

cool report… mine is much simpler. 50 miles to drop the first bar, then 50 miles left when last bar starts flashing at 150 miles. like clockwork on a normal work week for me. but…. i have ran out 2x…. once at 204 miles and once at 181 miles. but the 181 miles was during the winter on an interstate trip.

I'm frightened to log my MPG because it would give me nightmares! I measure my consumption by the number of times I have to get fuel. I know I'm not getting that much MPG, particularly when loaded up, but my SW is almost 22yrs old so I 'gotta cut her some slack'.