I consider myself a full-fledged Canadian having emigrated from the US in 1970, obtained Canadian citizenship, and even learned to understand temperature in degrees Celcius. (Want a good enough conversion, C. to F.? 0=freezing, 5=40, 10=50, 15=60, 20=70, 25=80, 30=85, 35=95, 40=105. Close enough for what to wear when riding.)
In 1970 temperature was still in Fahrenheit, distance was measured in miles, and gas in gallons, but IMPERIAL gallons (which were bigger: 1 Imperial gallon = 1.19 US gallon.) Lots of Canadians (and Americans) then couldn't understand why their gas mileage so suddenly dropped or improved when they crossed the border.
Then came the government imposed revolution somewhere before 1975; Celsius, kilometers, litres. Our nation converted to metric. For years questions such as "how cold did it get last night at your place" disappeared from small talk. Many of us didn't any longer speak the same language.
Canadians, over three decades later, have mainly adjusted to temperature in Celcius and distance in kilometers but mostly cannot talk sensibly about gas mileage with their American friends.
The government created the problem. Since our Canadian vehicles almost all measure distance in kilometers and we buy our gas in liters, you might think that new vehicle stickers, etc., would be in "KM/L" just as the Americans are "MPG." Wrong. The offical numbers on new vehicle stickers are "liters per 100 km:" far less useful since it requires yet another math exercise. Then they give MPG rating WHICH IS BASED UPON THE IMPERIAL GALLON. Anyone know if there is a country on this planet which still sells gas by the Imperial gallon?
So, Canadians, revolt! Set your trip odo to zero when you fill up. Get the receipt and write the trip distance. Do this a few times and the total distance divided by the total liters equals your average kilometer per liter. Multiply that number by 2.36 and you now have an accurate comparison with your friends south of the border when then they talk gas mileage.
I realize I'm raising other questions such as range, odometer accuracy which is generally good on the earlier K bikes, (other bikes?) even if their speedos aren't, and the question of riding a fuel injected bike so low in the tank that the fuel pump isn't covered with fuel for cooling reasons.
Whatever else, you Canadian members please respond to the plea that, at least in Canada, we discuss "mileage" as kilometers per liter. Then when we head south of the border, we can dig out out our little calculators, hit 2.36, and be speaking their language.
1
In 1970 temperature was still in Fahrenheit, distance was measured in miles, and gas in gallons, but IMPERIAL gallons (which were bigger: 1 Imperial gallon = 1.19 US gallon.) Lots of Canadians (and Americans) then couldn't understand why their gas mileage so suddenly dropped or improved when they crossed the border.
Then came the government imposed revolution somewhere before 1975; Celsius, kilometers, litres. Our nation converted to metric. For years questions such as "how cold did it get last night at your place" disappeared from small talk. Many of us didn't any longer speak the same language.
Canadians, over three decades later, have mainly adjusted to temperature in Celcius and distance in kilometers but mostly cannot talk sensibly about gas mileage with their American friends.
The government created the problem. Since our Canadian vehicles almost all measure distance in kilometers and we buy our gas in liters, you might think that new vehicle stickers, etc., would be in "KM/L" just as the Americans are "MPG." Wrong. The offical numbers on new vehicle stickers are "liters per 100 km:" far less useful since it requires yet another math exercise. Then they give MPG rating WHICH IS BASED UPON THE IMPERIAL GALLON. Anyone know if there is a country on this planet which still sells gas by the Imperial gallon?
So, Canadians, revolt! Set your trip odo to zero when you fill up. Get the receipt and write the trip distance. Do this a few times and the total distance divided by the total liters equals your average kilometer per liter. Multiply that number by 2.36 and you now have an accurate comparison with your friends south of the border when then they talk gas mileage.
I realize I'm raising other questions such as range, odometer accuracy which is generally good on the earlier K bikes, (other bikes?) even if their speedos aren't, and the question of riding a fuel injected bike so low in the tank that the fuel pump isn't covered with fuel for cooling reasons.
Whatever else, you Canadian members please respond to the plea that, at least in Canada, we discuss "mileage" as kilometers per liter. Then when we head south of the border, we can dig out out our little calculators, hit 2.36, and be speaking their language.
1
Oh you mean Km/h
