Bad 31 mpg 79 gs1000

[stevehendo34]

Seem to get only about 31 mpg, 79 gs1000. I've only had bike for a couple years and it has 32K on it.

Seams to run like a top.
Would you take carbs off and clean them.
It would be big hassle to take off Vetter faring.
Could a great running bike need carbs syn?

It still gets close to
0-100 km/h 4.8 seconds
0-60 mph 4.6 seconds
5+ tenths short or so, but it is getting pretty old

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.wise.caracceleration&hl=en

[tom203]

Might even run better (more efficient) withcarb clean/sync; one carb/cylinder could be not pulling its share- but maybe you ride aggressively.

[hjfisk]

Yes clean the carbs may help but riding style and the vetter fairing are going to affect the fuel mileage. Without fairing on my 80 1000G i can get between 40- 48 mpg depending how I decide to ride it. With the fairing I drop into the 30's

[twotimeGSr]

I've heard/read a fairing gives better mileage because it helps reduce drag.

[OldVet66]

Thirty one MPG is not normal. I have pipes pods and a stage 3 jet kit and regularly get 44 MPG, high30's low 40's when I'm really flogging it. I have a S model fairing with a taller sport touring windshield. The pilot fuel circuit is most likely messed up and will definitely affect mileage. A carburetor rebuild and sync is most likely in order, however the Vetter fairing is a heavy beast.

[tkent02]

There are litterally hundreds of factors that have an effect on mileage. Everything from tire pressure and brake drag, wheel bearings, chain wear, cam timing, vacuum leaks, carburetor synchronization, fairing or lack of fairing, exhaust leaks, back pressure, cam timing, ignition dwell, idle mixture, float height, and a lot more, everything has some effect. The list goes on and on. It is much easier to tune for power and throttle response than it is to fine tune for efficiency.

How many of these things have you adjusted perfectly?

[Nessism]

Have you kept up with the valve adjustments? If not, they may be burning and the resulting compression drop will also reduce mileage.

[stevehendo34]

valve adjustments?

Compression is equal across all 4.

I guess I need to take off Vetter faring to check everything--hard.
I can also drive it then without and trunk to check.
I don't have an extra head light though.

[alke46]

You say you have only had the bike a couple of years but you fail to mention what you have done to it. It can not be stressed strongly enough that you simply CAN NOT trust what a PO has done to it........
Get that thing checked for proper valve clearances before doing anything else. How can you possibly know what you have until this is checked?

[Nessism]

valve adjustments?

Compression is equal across all 4.

.

Equally crappy than?

[Steve]

It would be big hassle to take off Vetter faring.

I guess I need to take off Vetter faring to check everything--hard.

I don't think anything would be that much different, but I have not needed to remove a fairing (Vetter or Pacifico) to do a valve adjustment on my 850G or my son's 1000G.
Yes, it's a little more awkward to reach around the back corners of the fairing, but you don't have to remove it.

valve adjustments?

You ask this like it's something NEW?

Yes, valve adjustments are scheduled for every 4,000 miles. Should be done when you get your 'new' bike, because you have NO idea when it was last done, then every 4,000 or so miles after that.

Could a great running bike need carbs syn?

YES. I have worked on bikes for several members over the last few years. Some of them insisted they "did not need any work", but after a carb clean, valve adjustment and a carb sync, they were really impressed with the improvement.

.

[OldVet66]

The valves on these bikes get tighter not looser with wear, so you should listen to the good advise you are getting and learn the basics before you trash your bike.

[850 Combat]

I've heard/read a fairing gives better mileage because it helps reduce drag.

Not a barn door fairing

[stevehendo34]

"The valves on these bikes get tighter not looser with wear, so you should listen to the good advise you are getting and learn the basics before you trash your bike."

Ok but I did want to know if the gas millage was normal for Vetter fairing and trunk. I know how to check and change valve shims in a motorcycle if need be. It is pretty hard to do anything with that big thing on the front including removing gas tank. Valve train is also not noisy like I've herd on bikes in the past, but I agree from all that I must now check.

[tkent02]

No your mileage sucks. No valve noise means they are too tight. To take the fairing off requires the removal of four bolts.