Fuel use observation/issue?
 

So, I have had my new to me 09 for long enough to figure out something, I think, is wrong. It has around 4000km, jetted with FMF slipon-the louder one. I am completely baffled. I get 100km (60miles) per tank before I go on reserve. Maybe 103, maybe 98, but no variance above 7. And my riding does not matter. It could be commuting to work ( 4 lane highway, 100 kmh, 15 minutes each way) or only trail riding (under 60kmh the complete time, except for a brief paved spurt to reach a gas station) There are no fuel leaks, I sleep with my hand on the gas cap so no one is siphoning it out and it is not evaporating. I put the same amount of fuel in every time as well, a bit over 5 litres.
Am I missing something, am I whacked in the head, or do I just live with it?

Seems to me it should take more than 5 litres?

All you can do is run it out once. carry some fuel with you, run it till its empty or drain the tank on reserve and see how much it takes to fill it. IF it has 3 liters on reserve and you want less, cut the height of the main pick up down. Mine takes 1.5 gallons (five point something liters) when I switch to reserve, but that is at 90 miles and I get 60 - 63 miles per gallon. So far box stock 250SF

David

could it be the mods? mine is bone stock and i get to 130kms before i make the switch to reserve (Maybe 138kms)

I have a 2009 with pretty much the same set-up. I usually get about 160-170km out of a tank before I hit reserve and then it takes around 6 liters.

While I've never looked at my standpipe height, nor compared the KLX250S standpipe heights with others, I've noticed on the others petcocks that I've replaced/repaired/moved to a new tank, that there is a big variability in heights of the standpipe (or, straw). Changing that height is a relatively common thing to do with something called the "Hurricane Mod" on the KLR650 vacuum-operated petcock.

The thing I find worth commenting upon is that you have such a repeatable fuel consumption, no matter what riding you are doing!

Ahh, so I'm not as crazy as I thought I was. My 2010 model I get around the 110-115km mark and I hit reserve. Similar to you, it doesn't seem to matter whether that is my daily commute to work, or out on a trail. Only thing I can figure is that my right hand operates pretty much the same in both conditions, which is why there isn't much variation on how far I go on a tank.

110km's is a painfully low mileage I must say. I hope IMS sort out the bigger tank for us soon as I really could do with one.

I have been riding the stock 250sf lately and at 85miles or so it hits reserve about every time. Takes 1.4gallons.
On my 330s I get 60miles and it takes 1.5gallons

So I woudl say yes the mods are makeing diff in fuel consumption and therefore power.
Cheers Jim

Mine is an '03, FCR33 carb, Nijima skip on, not sure what other mods the previous owner did.
Anyway, I get 25km/l usually fill up when I hit reserve around 150km (approx 6l).
I ran completely dry yesterday, by chance outside a gas station:D
Squeezed in 7.7l.

I'm not sure what the differences are between the years, and I'm not a small rider either, 6' 1, 220lbs. So I'm happy with the fuel consumption.

If you have a tank venting problem it can run appear to run onto reserve earlier or later depending on fill and outside temp.