Help! gas is at 6 US dollars per gallon!

[jsamaniego]

Hi everybody! I hope I do not flamed for this: here in Italy, the price of gas is about 5,95 USD per gallon. Although I get an average mileage on my 2003 GS500 (according to all messages I've found), i would like to improve it.
I am doing my best to be conservative in terms of riding (about 32 miles commuting on hilly backroads), switching gears around 4000-5000 rpm.

... but, I would be willing to give up some horse power in exchange to better mileage (augh! )

How would you adjust the carb to make it eat less?
... is that possible?

given the fact that all carb tuning I've read is about to get more power, there you are.. a challenge for the experts  

regards to you all from Florence, Italy!

[scottpA_GS]

I know that the Brits have to use HP restrictor plates.. I think it knocks the GS down to like 34HP or something???

I would guess that that would increase your MPG a bit  

But I dont know.. its just a guess  :mrgreen:  We will see what others say  

[scratch]

I'll start with a steady throttle hand! Since most of our jetting requirements are to cure an already lean condition, that causes long warm-ups and poor carburetion, I would say keep the bike stock. That said, the only other thing I can think of is to keep a steady throttle to save gas. Why? Why does a vehicle get better fuel economy on the freeway? It maintains a steady speed for a long time! The longer I can go slower, the more gas I can save! Although, combine this with today's rat race mentality, can be dangerous!

[Bluebellylint]

I have heard someone using a 17 tooth front sprocket to get better gas mileage. it's probably on here somewhere do a search.

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[Cal Price]

I don't think the restrictors used for some categories of beginners have a noticeable affect on MPG. I have not had the experience but asked a mate who is nearing the end of his two-year restriction and he does not think so.

The best way to get MPG is to accelerate and brake as smoothly and gently as possible and the old "Be thrifty - max fifty" but it ain't a lot of fun.

PS: I wish I could buy gas for six dollars a gallon so it's all relative.

[DwightAustin]

You might consider a replacement performance air filter.  It'll give you a little extra power for the same amount of fuel.  So instead of cruising down the highway at 4000 rpms, you will be doing the same speed at 3900 rpms.

Of course the mileage depends on you being able to resist using the boost in horsepower.

[stefman722]

Change ur front sprocket to a 17 tooth.  

[nisus1]

i second the larger sprocket...

[The Buddha]

Steady throttle actually makes very little difference in a carbureted bike ... sudden hard acceleration and hard braking is bad ... but steady throttle ... it really affects mileage on cars that have sensors in every hole ... they will turn the mix down to where it just barely stays ahead of knocking ... when accelerating or sporty driving they have to run it richer for more power and to have flexibility ... In a carbed bike ... at the same throttle setting the bike will sorat have a few Rpm gain ... if you hold it steady ... else it wont ... that's all your gain ... under 1% ... Having said that ... steady acceleration and staying off brakes = the best situation for mileage ... Whacking open the gas = wasted fuel due to incomplete combustion ... braking - obvious loss ... speed into heat ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[mjm]

You might consider a replacement performance air filter.  It'll give you a little extra power for the same amount of fuel.  So instead of cruising down the highway at 4000 rpms, you will be doing the same speed at 3900 rpms.

Of course the milage depends on you being able to resist using the boost in horsepower.

Changing the air filter will have no effect on rpm at a given speed in a given gear at all -

[RedShift]

If you have a properly operating GS500, the correct inflation in tyres, then the only way to get more distance from your fuel is to make the engine run slower for the same speed (or load).

Therefore, the front sprocket needs more teeth (than the stock 16), or the rear sprocket needs fewer (than the stock 39).  You should be able to change one tooth on one sprocket without having to change the chain.

Lots of places to get new chain wheels from, Renthal being a popular one in your area of the world.

I also remember the recent post that Bluebellylint mentioned.  It was written by someone in Spain.  He said it dropped his RPM by 1000 in 6th gear.  He never said what it did for fuel consumption.

If you do it, please let us know.    (I may just do it myself -- I am tired of having to upshift to 4th while riding in town.)

[Caffeine]

Date skinny women.    

[stefman722]

Date skinny women.    

i second this.

[calamari]

stay within 5200rpm and you'll get some 220-230 miles per tank (including reserve).

[RedShift]

Good point.  I forgot to mention that reducing wind resistance is another thing to get good mileage.  

I have found the best fuel efficiency by going 80-100 KPH in 6th gear.  Going faster tends to be counter productive as wind resistance and engine speed starts consuming fuel.

[Rema1000]

Plug-up the float needle in one carburetor, and replace the spark plug on that side with a PCV valve.  Then you would have a 250cc single-cylinder motorcycle.  Then change the front gear to a 14 tooth sprocket.  You would cruise at 6000 to 7000 rpm instead of 5250-6125 rpm.

But you would probably only save a little money.  Even a 250cc single-cylinder motorcycle will only have maybe 1/3 better gas mileage, than a 500cc two-cylinder.  An SUV or truck driver can save much money, by driving a car instead.  And a car driver can save some money by riding a motorcycle instead.  A motorcycle rider can save a little money by riding a scooter... but maybe only a few cents:

[milo]

Plug-up the float needle in one carburetor, and replace the spark plug on that side with a PCV valve.  Then you would have a 250cc single-cylinder motorcycle.

Loving this idea.

[jsamaniego]

Thanks to you all guys!  I loved your skinny dates and scooter recommendations... but I'll keep my GS500!
I'll do a test with the 17-tooth sproket, though, and I'll keep you posted on the result!

[Great_Dane]

I don't wanna sound like an a**... But I pay about 7 $ pr. gallon, and have been doing it for a while... + my gs cost just around 10.700 $ as new... You pay to play!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...  

[jsamaniego]

I don't wanna sound like an a**... But I pay about 7 $ pr. gallon, and have been doing it for a while... + my gs cost just around 10.700 $ as new... You pay to play!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...  

You are perfectly right, Great Dane & Rema1000, but in my case my bike is not only to play, but my commuter workhorse.
May be I should approach this differently, but I do not want to give up the possibility of weekend trips and the like, while trying to optimize the consumption... uh? :dunno:
At least I'll try...