So I have had my 09 883l now for 6 days. I have put around 140 miles on it and I am getting an average of 35mpg! I do not live in the city and been riding it moderately. Today, I seen liquid, I imagine gasoline, coming out of the exhaust at first start. Any ideas? Should I wait until the break in maintenance before doing anything? The bike is bone stock.

 

35 mpg is on the low side but the motor isn't any where close to broken in if you're riding it moderately. Put your finger in the liquid coming out of the exhaust pipe and give it a smell, then you'll know whether it's just condensation (water moisture) or gas.

 

Is condensation normal in a exhaust system? I'll have to check next time I see it. From what I am reading, it looks like I can expect poor mileage during the break in .

 

The Liquid you see is most likely just condensation. I have seen that from mine on cool days or early in the morning. i bet your car does the same thing! What did it smell like?

 

Makes sense, I'll give it a taste next time. The bike does sit in an unheated garage.

 

At only 140 miles, I doubt that your mileage calculation is correct. My "full tank of gas" when I took delivery of my bike obviously wasn't FULL. That first tank didn't last long at all. But, even it the calculation is correct, the milage won't be very good for the first few hundred miles.

 

yep yep, give it time! Just ride it, and you will see the milage increase a bit.

 

ride it more

and the liquid is condensation, happens in your car but your not outside to see it. the people behind you will tell you all about it


if liquid gas is making it out of your tailpipes you have a REALLY serious problem going on!!

 

Another issue with your poor gas mileage is you might give it more
gas to get it going or keep it going since it is only an 883. Do a 1200
conversion mileage should increase. Dont worry about that water its normal
its condensation mine does it too, only at start up but not always.

 

if people like you keep giving bad advice like this than we will soon be screwed

its only break in, and a lower displacement engine of a bigger engine with everything else the same (as in 883 vs 1200 comparisons) will always get slightly BETTER mileage.

would you buy a 3.0L car over a 1.8 for the gas milage????? hell no!