mpg serious decrease...whats my problem?

[dadsafrantic]

also have been pouring in the oil as well.  a pint in the last 2200 miles.  i have gone from 52-54 or more mpg to 47 on the last tank.  yikes.  i might as well ride a chevy with that kind of mileage.

[KasbeKZ]

how many miles are on your bike? sounds like it might just be worn out!

or you left the e-brake on. check that!

[Bridger]

no e brake on a gs man.

[Toogoofy317]

Yeah without more info about the bike it is hard to tell. I mean how long between oil changes, valve check, how's the petcock. Lots and lots of possibilities!

Mary

[jrains89]

you realize that 47mpg is still really good in town right? that's right where a gs should be.

[redhenracing2]

uumm dude I wish i got half the mileage that you did.

look down there

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        ------
        ------
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    --------------
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         -----
           -

[average]

Red, if that's your true mileage than you have some serious issues going on with your gs. 

[jrains89]

so i just re-read this and realized that you never said anything about that being in town, for all i know it could be highway. and if it's all highway, that sucks, i get 65mpg highway.

[KasbeKZ]

yeah the e-brake was a big joke! just ribbin'!

what is all this about appropriate mileage? ever since i've been on here all i've heard about was 50-70 depending on age and how you drove. even with extensive mods i've  never heard of a gs getting below high 40's, and he doesn't seem to be modded. let's not forget that the bad mileage and the oil burning/leaking started at the same time. there must be something actually wrong, because drastic changes like that should not be happening out of no where.

[joshr08]

is it leaking or burning the oil?  trick question because every motor in the world gs500 or not burns oil......most motors just make enough condinsation to compinsate for the burnt oil.  but really with not much info to go on here theres not much anyone could really tell you on your poor fuel mileage other then a few things to check unless you give some more info.

things to check

sticking caliper
sticking float
running to rich
stuck choke
chain slack
slipping clutch

[Skeets]

I get 40 mpg...town..shifting at 9k

[dadsafrantic]

ok, more information.

i have 42.5k on the bike.  more riding is about 65 miles per day freeway and 7 or so miles city.  the oils does not leak out.  i have a fresh chain (the mpg was fine for the first 1500 miles and the slack is right so i don't think it is the chain) and the calipers do not rub.

the throttle response seems the same so i don'tm think the floats are sticking.

the clutch may be an issue because the bike did a strange slip thing going onto the freeway the other day.

uh, the valves have been about 20k since the last adjustment.

[joshr08]

have you noticed higher rpm's for same speed if so you may need an adjustment or new clutch also your way over on valve check atleast.

[DoD#i]

Someone last year had a mysterious milage decrease which turned out to be a valve way out of whack.

So check those.

Red hen must have some major issues - my 4,900cc 6000lb truck gets those kind of numbers...

[sledge]

S**t in your air-filter!
Not suggesting you actually defecate in there, just check it and make sure its not blocked.

[KasbeKZ]

20k is a pretty long time to go without checking those valves. it would be a good idea.

[redhenracing2]

Red, if that's your true mileage than you have some serious issues going on with your gs. 

Yeah my left cylinder doesnt fire below 6k rpms . . . .

[average]

Low compression, bad coil?

[redhenracing2]

Low compression, bad coil?

I replaced the coils a while back and it didnt change anything. I swapped the cables back and forth too and it stayed with the left cylinder. It's probably a compression issue but I haven't had it checked, mainly because I am a cheapass and the shop wants 30 bucks to do it.

[KasbeKZ]

you can get your own gauge for less than that.