What kind of MPG should i be getting? What are you getting?

[GS1150Pilot]

My 1150 averages 38 in town.

 

[GSX1000E]

To answer your question, both of my GS1000G's get between 42-48mpg with spirited riding.

My (sold) GS850 could only muster a pitiful 38-40 with less power and less fun under the same riding conditions thus why it is SOLD.
All of my 1100 4-valve engines get 44-54mpg under the same conditions.

 

[Guest]

I generally get 58mpg, once I got 62mpg of 850L or the 1100L both exactly the same, shame though iv to buy my fuel in litres @ ?1.40 per Litre, expensive fuel, oop's did I forget to mention that was UK gallons LOL, 1.2009 US gallons, works out 48 and 51mpg

 

[Steve]

Steve, what kinda mpg do you get on your 850s?

Wife's bike has run the gamut from 28 to 59 mpg, reflecting a WIDE variety of riding. The two tanks of 28 and 29 were running at 75-80 mph into a 15-20 mph headwind. Later on that same trip, with NO adjustments, we were cruising at 55-60 mph, up and down the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, got three consecutive tanks over 55 mpg, with the highest at about 58.9.

My 850 only has about 7000 miles in my control, but we have still put it to a bit of a workout. Riding around New England with Lurch, we were riding 2-up, with all our "stuff" in the saddlebags and trunk, going up and down the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains in New Hampshire at a decently brisk pace. Finished up that weekend with a run through the Catskills and back to the starting point in Glens Falls. Average for the trip was 40.9 mpg. I don't check every tank's mileage, but I have seen it in the mid-30s and also up about 43, which suits me just fine.

Just for the record, that's about the same mileage range for my Wing, too.

.

 

[Guest]

Wife's bike has run the gamut from 28 to 59 mpg, reflecting a WIDE variety of riding. The two tanks of 28 and 29 were running at 75-80 mph into a 15-20 mph headwind. Later on that same trip, with NO adjustments, we were cruising at 55-60 mph, up and down the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, got three consecutive tanks over 55 mpg, with the highest at about 58.9.

Sounds like I need my bikes tuned properly, you ever about these parts ?

 

[Steve]

Sounds like I need my bikes tuned properly, you ever about these parts ?

No, but I know a great forum where there are a bunch of guys that can teach youl. :-\\\

.

 

[Revjoel]

If I may chime in here, on my 550L, I'm only getting mid 20's even driving like granny. I just replaced the right-side pipe as the old one was severely rusted out. Sounds better and runs beautifully, but only getting 20 now.

I do have a K&N on it as the stock filters couldn't be found anywhere. After doing some reading, I did cover about 50% of the K&N with tape to see if that made a difference. I'm now on my first full tank with the new exhaust to see what happens...

Right now, I'm thinking I may need to adjust the carbs but I've never done that before. Any advice?

 

[Steve]

If I may chime in here, on my 550L, I'm only getting mid 20's even driving like granny. ... Any advice?

Yes.

Stop driving like a granny and wring its pea-pickin' little neck. The smaller engines THRIVE on RPM.

That bike should be living most of its life in the 4-8000 RPM range.

Have you done all the required maintenance? Valve adjustment? Carb cleaning? Electrical checks?

Rather than apply Band-Aids (taping over your pods), why not fix the problem and jet the carbs properly?

.

 

[Revjoel]

Thanks for your advice, Steve. I guess I will roll the throttle a little harder.

I am in that range most of the time. As for maintenance, I have changed oil and filter about 2000 miles back and carbs were recently cleaned and balanced (prior to the exhaust replacement). I haven't adjusted valves but probably should go buy a manual and figure out how to do it.

The jets are part of the question here, really. Everything on this bike is stock (even the jets per my mechanic) so should I have to rejet after replacing a stock pipe with another stock pipe?

 

[Steve]

As for maintenance, I have changed oil and filter about 2000 miles back ...

Some will say that you are now due for another oil change. Actually there are some fanatics that think you are OVERdue for one, but they can waste their own money.

I haven't adjusted valves but probably should go buy a manual and figure out how to do it.

No need to buy one, just download it from our library. There are also tutorials that show how to do the work.

The jets are part of the question here, really. Everything on this bike is stock (even the jets per my mechanic) so should I have to rejet after replacing a stock pipe with another stock pipe?

You mentioned "K&N filter" in your last post. Is that a K&N insert in the stock airbox or individual pod filters? :-k

If it is individual pod fiters, they will have a bigger impact on jetting needs than an exhaust pipe replacement.

If it is an insert in the stock airbox, you may not need to re-jet at all.

.

 

[Missile99]

My bike was consistently in the 44-47 range, never below 5k rpm's unless in my neighborhood.

 

[cowboyup3371]

The stock filters are still available for purchase from your local dealer - if they say otherwise then they are not worth your time. If need be, contact Parts Outlaw in Florida and they'll get it for you.

And like Steve said, wind her up...I get between 43 in town and about 48 on my 81 550T if I'm really playing out in the twisties

 

[Revjoel]

Great advice here. Thanks, y'all! As you can tell, I'm a newbie to riding. Just passed my MSF in January and got the bike later that month.

So far, I've put about 6k on her (my girls call her Suzi Suzuki) riding to and from work and various jaunts around the ATL.

It rides so much better with the replacement pipe on the right side. No more exhaust leaks and much more power. Just need to get the MPGs right.

EDIT: and to answer Steve's question about the air filter, stock box, just the K&N filter. Looks like this: http://www.powersportsplace.com/parts/knn-su-5500?seid=pspse1&gclid=COm8hoXwz8ECFTMQ7AodencAqA

 

[Spyder]

I get an average of 42 MPG from my 1100T, and I ride it like I stole it as often as I can. If it isn't exhilarating, then what's the point?

 

[Steve]

EDIT: and to answer Steve's question about the air filter, stock box, just the K&N filter. Looks like this: http://www.powersportsplace.com/parts/knn-su-5500?seid=pspse1&gclid=COm8hoXwz8ECFTMQ7AodencAqA

Take the tape off the filter, you are choking it. The stock airbox will limit the amount of air that can get through, that will be enough regulation for the intake system.

Any chance that critters have taken up residence in your left muffler? An "Italian tune-up" will help you find out.

You should probably have stock main jets, maybe one size larger. Stock pilot jets. Might help to shim the needle just a little, but that is not so easy for a newbie to determine.

All of this assumes that the carbs are properly cleaned, adjusted and synchronized.

.

 

[Brendan W]

If I may chime in here, on my 550L, I'm only getting mid 20's even driving like granny. I just replaced the right-side pipe as the old one was severely rusted out. Sounds better and runs beautifully, but only getting 20 now.

I do have a K&N on it as the stock filters couldn't be found anywhere. After doing some reading, I did cover about 50% of the K&N with tape to see if that made a difference. I'm now on my first full tank with the new exhaust to see what happens...

Right now, I'm thinking I may need to adjust the carbs but I've never done that before. Any advice?

If I might make a suggestion. Check out the supply voltage to the coil and the resistance of both coil windings. Weak or late sparks will increase fuel consumption. What do your plugs look like ?

 

[Trinnypig]

I think i have figured it out, i put the pilot jet in that came with my carb kit. I tried them before and the bike would not start. i don't think it had enough vacuum to pull the fuel, so i fixed that and now they work. i got to 50 miles on about a gallon and a half before my speedo stopped working. so i think i am ok. ill fix it and do a MPG test.

 

[tom203]

Sounds low ( I get about 45-50 mpg in hilly terrain in 50 mph range). Maybe your odometer is messed up- borrow your wife's gps , tape it to gas tank and double check your odometer

 

[Revjoel]

Of course, I do have a small carb leak that could cause some mileage drop. I'm going to take her in to the shop and have the leak repaired and the carbs checked again... More money...

 

[Kerry]

Of course, I do have a small carb leak that could cause some mileage drop. I'm going to take her in to the shop and have the leak repaired and the carbs checked again... More money...

I can tell you that I regularly get 4.5 l/100km or better on The Flame! (which is about 52 miles per US gallon). I can get that to under 4l/100km if I'm backroads cruising.