Q re economy...

I recently bought an 04 XTR which is virtually standard tuning but has some good extras for luggage etc. Lots of varied bike experience and moving "down" for big BM's such as GS's...

My only bugbear at the mo is the mpg side of things. I had done my homework and mentions of 60-70+ were quite common. I have mainly been in the low or mid 50�s up until now with one trip in the low 60's. I hoped you wouldn�t have to drive like a saint to get this and honestly don�t thrash it (well not too often ).

It is often pretty windy in Shetland which may affect lower power bikes more, especially at higher speeds?

The 04�s with original 00 ECU�s (recently uprated TPS) don�t cut it for economy??

You have to ride like a saint to get the big mpg?

The bike is fully serviced, on a paper filter with standard cans and no snorkel (PO removed this and didn�t come with the bike). It runs pretty well but has the odd injection moments but no more that other brands. The plug is fine and there is no excess carbon on the silencer pipes. XT�s in general seem to be well thought out and reliable singles which is why I bought one

My experience of tuning different bikes is that it can release power but usually at the expense of economy. Perhaps the XT bucks the trend and a �KevMod� would make it more useable?

I am also going to stick a Q in the �Ask Kev� section

Ta

The XT engine is a strange beast, big on torque and not so high on power, so your have to play with its strengths and flick gears or keep the momentum going. Ive seen 78mpg on my 06 XTR when fully loaded and did a non stop 70mph on the motorway with a 3 tooth lower rear sprocket (stg1 and 2 filter, CCC cans and kev mod) before this the best i had seen was around 70-75mpg.

It really does all depend on what way you drive and the conditions. I would first check with kev if your ECU is not one of the unlucky few which need changed under warrenty, then possibly fit a stg2 and kev mod, this should open up a bit more power but more importantly allow the engine to breath, which the XT range has a problem with. As its designed for off road a snorkle is fitted under the seat and its baiscally suffercating the engine from breathing proper and making the most of the fuel its burning

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Plough on

You will find with a stage 2 air filter & a fuel mod your bike will get better fuel ecomoy, it will have better power to weight ratio. You will need less throttle opening to maintain the same speed.

You should see around the 55 to 60 mpg.

Info on ECU's

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=8546

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Mods that I have done to my XTX's

My 04 XTX
Stage 1 & 2 DNA filters / Kev fuel mod / snorkel mod / Drilled air box mod / Engine breather mod / Fork Spacer mod / 15w fork oil /
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My 07 XTX
Raptor 700 cylinder 102mm / Modified Crank Case to take a 105mm Raptor Cylinder / 11:1 102mm JE Raptor piston / Stage 1 Raptor Hot Cam / Ported head / Colder Spark Plug / +2mm Throttle body / DNA stage 1 & 2 filters / Modified Air Box / Snorkel removed / Worry Brothers stage 2 filter cover / 6mm & 8mm Bolts Replaced with Titanium Bolts / Recovered seat in Black / O2 Eliminator /

My 09 XTX
59HP at the rear wheel / Stage 2 Raptor Hot Cam / DNA stage 3 Air Box / Carbon Can Exhausts / Modified Exhaust Link Pipes / PCIII With Custom Fuel Map / Wideband Commander O2 Data logger / LCD100 Dyno Jet display & fuel adjuster / 2500 OHM HT lead instead of a 10K OHM XT lead / Extra Coolant Cooler / Protaper Fat Bars / Tail Tidy With LED Tail Light / OKE Protection Knobs / LED indicators / AIS blocked / Modified rear sprocket rubbers / Rear Foot Pegs removed / 09 ECU With 02 Sensor Changed To A 06 ECU / Complete wiring harnes Changed from 09 to 04 / Home made LED resistor flasher / Hole drilled in the fuel tank filler neck to allow quicker filling / Modified Bar End Weights / Progressive front fork springs, 15W fork oil, forks lowered 25mm, used XTR rear links lowering the rear 20mm, rear spring one click stiffer / Changed front & rear guards from blue to black / 47T rear sprocket / Speedo Healer V4.0 / Kev throttle cam mod / Throttle grip mod / The new 2010 O2 sensor mod is out, works a treat, The new 2012 O2 Controller is out, PM me for details

Now ride a 2018 MT09SP ABS + TCS

My KTM 990 SMR Mod book. http://www.ktmsmt.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4946

I've got K&N and fuel mod. Commute 60miles/day and get 60mpg. I sit on the motorway at 80 in the mornings and thrash 30 miles home in the evenings on back lanes.
Could it be your journeys aren't long enough too?
Cheers
Rob

Cheers all! It is a not paint spotted 00 ECU which seems to be one of the 1st batch. Poor mapping could contribute to poor economy. Guess that is a Q for The Oracle, Kev...

Also i get the power to weight argument and also the warming up bit as Shetland is a bit cooler and my old K11 BM's didn't warm the oil enough unless you did 30 miles+.

longer run "sooth" next week and possibly a couple of small mods

The fuel mod costs about 60p and takes about an hour from scratch. Highly recommended.
Good luck. I'd imagine you feel a bit liberated after the big BMs? Though a lot more pained on the motorway.

Cheers
Rob