Joined Apr 2017
244 Posts | 1+
California
!Exacto! Riding style is everything!
Just completed 1400 mile, 4 day ride throughout Sierra and Deserts. Running fast on highway our group averaged 90 mph to 100 mph. I hit 128 mph indicated on the Strada
... too afraid to go any faster but it had more left! In the twisties we used LOTS of wide open throttle to keep up with the big GS's, KTM 1190's, 1290's. Most all riders faster than I. Reserve light came on around 90 miles riding in those conditions.
I learned a lot about my Strada on this ride. One run down highway 395 at elevation 3K to 6K ft., (1K to 2K meters) we average speed only
65 to 75 mph.
Amazingly ... on this run the reserve light finally came on at 151 miles! WOW!!
Regards range on reserve ... I've not had time to do my usual range test (carry 1 gal. jug on back and note odo numbers when you run dry) ... so have yet to run reserve dry ... but got 40 mi. once and 45 mi. on another ride ... so I know I can go at least that far and this riding "normal" which is pretty aggressive.
So I knew I had at least 40 mile reserve range ... but then I realized that it's ALL ABOUT how HARD or how SOFT you ride on this bike! Riding around my local back roads, my reserve light comes on around 95 to 110 miles. But if you just cruise softly on highway you can go MUCH further.
I'm guessing if your light comes on at the typical time ... 100 miles ... if you go very easy from there on ... I'm guessing you could do 70 to 80 miles on reserve. Heavy throttle DRINKS Gas ... light throttle sips it! Obvious no?
My DR650 seems to get between 45 to 50 MPG no matter how I ride.
Last point: HyperStrada Speedo is WAY WAY optimistic. Most Japanese bikes are roughly 5% to 7% optimistic. I think the Ducati is about 9% to 10% optimistic. I did not have time to do definitive testing but did compare to buddies GPS readings when riding together.
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Not legal, but many highways have very little trafic and we can basically open the gas all the way. Vary few cops, but if you get caught you,ll get a ticket.
Joined Jan 2017
135 Posts | 4+
Phoenix
I was wondering more along the lines of, which parts of Mexico have pavement good enough to go that fast.
I've taken the Hyperstrada to the blessing of the helmets in Parras de la Fuente this past January. Crossed through Juarez, down to Chihuahua, Jimenez, Durango/Torreon, then Parras. We tried to avoid toll highways but we took some anyway and there were spots where the pavement seemed good enough but I wasn't sure about pushing it that fast.
Joined Jun 2017
123 Posts | 4+
Merced CA
According to my gps the faster you go on the strada the farther off the speedo gets. At an indicated 50 it's accurate. At 65 my gps says 61, at 70 gps says 65 at 80 gps says 72, at 90 gps says 80.
I've found you can also increase your mpg by a good 10-15% by not using sport mode. Of course it's all mostly dependant on how ham fisted you are with the throttle and if you keep the engine up near the limiter all the time. I've found my gas light comes on around 110 with normal spirited riding in sport mode. Still haven't tested how far I'll get on reserve though, farthest I've gone is about 15-20 miles.
You can easily go 150 or top speed in many mexican toll roads. Monterrey to Saltillo when there are few cars you can reach top speed, there is great pavement. I have a couple Friends with sport bikes hiting 160 miles per hour or more in those roads, of course, just for couple minutes.
Joined Mar 2013
3K Posts | 161+
Naples, IT
Speed/ throttle certainly affects MPG. I average 40 MPG around town; usually fuel at 130 miles. All highway (65-75 MPH constant), the MPG calculator stays in the mid- 50's for MPG and I don't even sweat fuel until 150 miles on the trip meter.
Something else about sustained high speed on this bike is drag. Not sure if you had your panniers on, but those really suck above 85 MPH. Bags or no bags, this bike is scary above 100. Have you felt how light the bars get? If I breathe on mine above that speed they move half an inch. Couple that with not really being able to tuck under the screen keeps me out of triple digit speeds. The wind blast really fatigues me above 80 over longer trips, too.
Something else about sustained high speed on this bike is drag. Not sure if you had your panniers on, but those really suck above 85 MPH. Bags or no bags, this bike is scary above 100. Have you felt how light the bars get? If I breathe on mine above that speed they move half an inch. Couple that with not really being able to tuck under the screen keeps me out of triple digit speeds. The wind blast really fatigues me above 80 over longer trips, too.
Joined Feb 2017
232 Posts | 0+
Washington, DC
I took the stock windscreen off and am running the small carbon headlight fairing. Good grief at 60mph I have a turbine blowing in my chest.
Unless there is a headwind the drag has never really bothered me, but it does a number on fuel economy. At 6'3" I have a lot of surface area. If I'm on the highway I enjoy cruising at 80 - 90mph as long as the wind is calm, all I'm doing is eating up miles on the way to something fun anyway. Depending on how liberal I am with the throttle I'll have the fuel light come on anywhere from 90 - 130 or so.
While I haven't modified the suspension, I did have it setup and that made a huge difference. I've had the bike WOT with the speedo showing 130 (seems that is about as fast as it can haul my *** around) and the bike was perfectly stable.
While I haven't modified the suspension, I did have it setup and that made a huge difference. I've had the bike WOT with the speedo showing 130 (seems that is about as fast as it can haul my *** around) and the bike was perfectly stable.
Yes - with full baggage (cases and a rear duffle) I'm not going over 80mph. Wish it wasn't so.
Joined Apr 2017
244 Posts | 1+
California
Everything felt perfectly stable with lightly loaded panniers on. We cruised routinely at 90 to 110 mph indicated (which is much lower actual mph) But good stability and this not on straight, flat roads.
We were carving through the Sierra mtn. roads leaned over pretty good at 90 mph indicated. I ride with some crazy talented riders ...can barely keep up. But on the Strada much easier than my previous Tiger or DR650! Hit 128 mph indicated ... still more to go.
The big GS's will top out at around 130 actual and the KTM's ... GONE ... up to 150 mph. No worries ... it's what the bike does best IMO. No wind to speak of ... and that can screw handling up.
I could never handle it with the Ducati touring screen that came on the bike. I've got an aftermarket tinted one that is FABULOUS!
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