question regarding wheel rotating

[tcmalker]

I've been tracking my mpg for the last few months and I'm getting 34.3 mpg average, 137.3 miles between fuel ups. Best mpg 40.7, best between fuel ups 165 miles.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/tcmalker/fz6

Obviously not the best results. I've tried riding it less 'aggressive', but this is the best I can do. I'm thinking it may be something else. Maybe it's the rear wheel slowing me down.

My question is this: If I put the bike on the center stand and spin the back wheel. How freely should it spin? When I do it's there's pretty much friction and it won't go more than 1/8 of a revolution. It seems to me this would unnecessary slow down the bike. Is the brake or brake pad on too tight? Or is this normal.

 

[Lefty]

I average around 45 mpg with my bike, and I don't ride all that slowly most of the time. I read somewhere, but I can't remember on which forum, that your rear wheel should rotate 2 or 3 times when you spin it by hand. (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I noticed on my FZ that the rear brake was dragging a little bit so I took the caliper off and cleaned it and lubed the pistons. It made a big difference and doesn't drag at all anymore.

 

[tcmalker]

I average around 45 mpg with my bike, and I don't ride all that slowly most of the time. I read somewhere, but I can't remember on which forum, that your rear wheel should rotate 2 or 3 times when you spin it by hand. (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I noticed on my FZ that the rear brake was dragging a little bit so I took the caliper off and cleaned it and lubed the pistons. It made a big difference and doesn't drag at all anymore.

Are you kidding me? 2-3 times around? Can you or someone test this for me? Like I said mine doesn't make it to 1/4.

 

[Lefty]

I'll try it when I get home tonight..

 

[FB400]

Something is very wrong. I am averaging 50-52 mpg and I get on it about 40% of the time. Do what the prior post says, take off the rear caliber and lube the pistons

 

[tcmalker]

Something is very wrong. I am averaging 50-52 mpg and I get on it about 40% of the time. Do what the prior post says, take off the rear caliber and lube the pistons

I would but don't know where to start....
How many time does yours spin around?

 

[Jblk9695]

If I stand behind the bike and spin the tire with my foot(tennis shoe) I can get it to go 2 revs and I haven't had the bike out for over a week so I would say something is not right, check your chain tension and look for kinked links, do what was mentioned above with the brake caliper too. Check the torque on the axle nut just to be sure its not to tight. Have you removed the tire or did a shop do it? You might want to pull it yourself just to be sure everything is on correctly. Let us know what you find.

Jerry

 

[Sith Lord]

Just went out and cheked mine - I only get about 1 1/4 turns out of a spin. A 'spin' can be very subjective though. I'm only a little fella about 70kg.

Just did the math from km to miles and I consistently I get 49.98 mpg with standard gearing. I mainly commute so don't get too much opportunity to ring the neck out of it.

 

[tcmalker]

If I stand behind the bike and spin the tire with my foot(tennis shoe) I can get it to go 2 revs and I haven't had the bike out for over a week so I would say something is not right, check your chain tension and look for kinked links, do what was mentioned above with the brake caliper too. Check the torque on the axle nut just to be sure its not to tight. Have you removed the tire or did a shop do it? You might want to pull it yourself just to be sure everything is on correctly. Let us know what you find.

Jerry

I bought bike new last year and didn't have any real problems besides the two accidents I had. Oh wait, that might be serious. The tires have not been taken out.

I'll have to double check everything. I'm not mechanically inclined, although i did made that vow a while ago....Just need help starting.

 

[Lefty]

Do a search in the "Garage/mechanical help" forum and put in "brake caliper" in the search box.
You'll find quite a few helpful how-to's to get you going. Just take your time and be patient and you'll be surprised how mechanically included you'll become. :thumbup:

 

[tcmalker]

Do a search in the "Garage/mechanical help" forum and put in "brake caliper" in the search box.
You'll find quite a few helpful how-to's to get you going. Just take your time and be patient and you'll be surprised how mechanically included you'll become. :thumbup:

did the search and all I can find is http://www.600riders.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/33042-greasing-rear-brake-calipers.html

Seems like this guy may have the same problem as me, but I still need to know exactly how to do it. A link would be helpful or if someone would like to post a how-to.

 

[iSteve]

If it's cold out and you haven't run the bike the wheel will also spin less because oil in the engine is cold. Also a new O or X ring chain will slow it down especially when the lube in the chain is cold.

Before taking the caliper apart just yank a pad out and spin the wheel.

 

[FB400]

I would but don't know where to start....
How many time does yours spin around?

I will check it tomorrow morning and let you know

 

[Erci]

Subscribing to see where this goes.
My wheel also only goes around about 1/2 turn, but it's freezing right now and I suspect if the bike was warmed up (both engine and chain), it would spin better.

 

[Lefty]

O.K., I just got home and checked mine. I get 2 full turns using the RF (right foot) method.

 

[tcmalker]

There might be a correlation between mpg and how many revolutions the wheels rotate freely. We have to do this scientifically. So we'll go with the universally accepted right-foot method.

 

[Lefty]

There might be a correlation between mpg and how many revolutions the wheels rotate freely. We have to do this scientifically. So we'll go with the universally accepted right-foot method.

:rof: If we're going to be scientific we'll have to include the type of footwear, physical condition, and age of the tester....

 

[YamaSpeed]

:rof: If we're going to be scientific we'll have to include the type of footwear, physical condition, and age of the tester....

Forget science. What does the bible have to say about wheel rotation.

 

[Erci]

There might be a correlation between mpg and how many revolutions the wheels rotate freely. We have to do this scientifically. So we'll go with the universally accepted right-foot method.

LOL.. OK.. I get exactly 1 full turn using this approach.
P.S. I am almost super-human strong.

 

[Jblk9695]

LOL.. OK.. I get exactly 1 full turn using this approach.
P.S. I am almost super-human strong.

Whats that say about this old fart, I get 2 revs, must be the size 13 foot:BLAA:

Now back to the regularly scheduled program.
To the OP-have you always got lower mpg or did it just start?? or start after the accident? Maybe out of alignment too, here's one method to check the alignment--
SportRyder's Wheel Alignment Method

Jerry