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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: acoder on January 05, 2005, 08:35:08 AM

Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: acoder on January 05, 2005, 08:35:08 AM
In another thread here (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14374&highlight=),
Roadstergal said :
Quote from: RoadstergalI've done 80 from Seattle to Portland and back on my GS, with some faster bits tossed in.  Perfectly happy, if a little fuel-inefficient.  75 down and back got me 70mpg.

I've got a stock 2004 GS500F, no mods (yet), and the best milage I've gotten was 54 mpg.  That tank was 90-95% highway speeds (75-80 mph).  Even though I'm happy with the 50+ mpg, I've seen others state that they get 60+mpg.  Any clues?:dunno:

Thanks,
Roy
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: CAN_Porn*Star on January 05, 2005, 09:02:47 AM
i guess it depends what RPM's you are using on the hwy.
if you just putted around at 3-5k gas milage is much improved over 6-10k
what RPM do you use on the hyw?
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: scratch on January 05, 2005, 09:05:11 AM
A steady throttle. Have you already completed break-in?
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Stephen072774 on January 05, 2005, 09:41:11 AM
I do mostly short trips, but I average in the high 40's.  Last week I got 47.5, which is very typical.  I have never got higher that 55 or so, and this is on a '01 with stock motor except cobra slipon with 5000 miles.

I'm with you, I don't see how they can 60's and 70's when I'm getting 45 - 50 on a newish stock bike. :dunno:
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: tdan553527 on January 05, 2005, 09:47:07 AM
I run an hour to and from work on my 04, running between 80-90MPH and my MPG is usually 60-65MPG. That's been the case since I bought in March. Will be rejetting here soon, got my new exhaust and filter, we'll see what happens to mpg after that.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: CAN_Porn*Star on January 05, 2005, 09:51:10 AM
im not shure what my mpg is but i get about 200-230 km per tank city (before reserve) and 250-300ish km hwy
what is evryone getting per tank?
i use 94 octane but i dont think that helps
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: treybrad on January 05, 2005, 11:41:22 AM
I get anywhere from 40-45mpg on mine w/ 27k doing short, spirited trips mostly. I've triple checked floats and all sorts of stuff. Only thing I can think of that's eating through my gas is my valves are a little tight..

trey
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Cal Price on January 05, 2005, 12:01:09 PM
I average about 56 to a UK gallon (20% more than US gallon) which with a lot of short hops I thing is pretty good / average. I keep my consumption and mileage on-going, don't know why, I just do and from time to time a get a freak high or low result. I think you need to take your mileage over say ten fill-ups and then average the lot to get anywhere near a real figure. A "full" tank is not an exact scientific measure, you would be surprised by how much more will go in after first hitting the top just by "jiggling" and rocking.

Take isolated readings as a guide (and with a pinch of salt) but if you are getting 70 to a US gallon, write a book it will be a best seller here where we are currently paying about a dollar sixty-four per litre.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Kerry on January 05, 2005, 12:11:23 PM
Quote from: Cal Pricea UK gallon (20% more than US gallon)
Isn't the UK gallon actually 25% more?  (That would make the US gallon 20% less.)
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: chinox22x on January 05, 2005, 12:29:46 PM
Quote from: Kerry
Quote from: Cal Pricea UK gallon (20% more than US gallon)
Isn't the UK gallon actually 25% more?  (That would make the US gallon 20% less.)

damn the metric system!  :x  :x  :x

:dunno:  :mrgreen:
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Roadstergal on January 05, 2005, 12:55:26 PM
70 was the best I ever got.  But I typically got mid-to-high 60s.  This is with the stock lean jetting.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Lars on January 05, 2005, 01:23:57 PM
Normally I get about 50 mpg. That's with a rejetted bike (#125 Mains)  It doesn't matter a lot if I ride very calm or race it a lot, it's always around that figure.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Cal Price on January 05, 2005, 02:07:27 PM
Kerry, yes, we have been here before, fluid onces and all that, you are quite correct the US Gallon is 20% smaller than the "Imperial" gallon.
128 fluid oz as opposed to 160 fl oz as we use a 20oz pint.

It's why I normally quote about 12.5 miles per litre and really mix systems.

This is where someone mentions Guiness.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: manofthefield on January 05, 2005, 02:23:23 PM
Quote from: Roadstergal70 was the best I ever got.  But I typically got mid-to-high 60s.  This is with the stock lean jetting.
Do you drive downhill with the wind to your back everywhere you go?

Mine is stock too; the very best I've seen was just a hair shy of 60 mpg, but usually 45 to 50 mpg
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: luksi on January 06, 2005, 09:24:20 AM
Stock 2002....I'm getting 55-58 mpg for last 6 months of evenly split freeway/city street commuting.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Mountaineer on January 06, 2005, 12:20:57 PM
75 mpg with stock 01, National Cycle Street Shield. Mostly hilly, curvy roads in WV and not doing anything except riding the damn thing.

The engine seems to be very well balanced carb-wise. The plugs are almost white, just a shade of tan near the tips. It takes a minute or 2 to warm up, but fine after a couple of blocks.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: RedShift on January 06, 2005, 04:40:37 PM
The best I've been able to get is 69 Miles/USGal for a ~90 mile run, averaging 50-60 mph at ~65F on flat roads.  Typically I get low 60's highway, and low- to mid-50's in city / short trips.

I'm rather curious to know what style of riding get's mid-70 MPG's out of a stock GS500.  Gotta come out of riding in a tuck position, hugging the tank and minimizing wind exposure for long distances.

Though my bike has a flyscreen, I like the feel of wind (summer temperatures) at rural road speeds.  I can't say I'm very aerodynamic, but getting mid-60 MPG's is not difficult.

Question: Anybody have any data that to show if fuel economy gets better with age?  I'm curious if there is measurable change between your bike at, say, 1000 miles versus 10,000 miles on the clock?

Roy...
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Kerry on January 06, 2005, 04:51:16 PM
Quote from: RedShiftQuestion: Anybody have any data that to show if fuel economy gets better with age?  I'm curious if there is measurable change between your bike at, say, 1000 miles versus 10,000 miles on the clock?
I should have most of my annotated gas receipts from 3,000 to 33,000 miles around here ... somewhere.  :roll:
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: Roadstergal on January 06, 2005, 05:41:30 PM
Quote from: RedShiftI'm rather curious to know what style of riding get's mid-70 MPG's out of a stock GS500.  Gotta come out of riding in a tuck position, hugging the tank and minimizing wind exposure for long distances.

Long freeway trips I do tucked.  But 'round town for the mid-to-high 60s mileage I did upright.  Huh.  FWIW, I owned the bike from about 2K miles to about 6K, and noticed no change through that stint.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: treybrad on January 06, 2005, 05:52:11 PM
Wow. I need to check my valves. You guys are all getting better mileage than me... The absolute BEST I ever got was about 51mpg, and that was ALL hwy, 60mph, very relaxed. I'm light too... so something's gotta give. Time to find some smaller feeler guages and take some stuff apart....

FWIW, I used to get 98mpg regularly on a stock 2001 Honda Rebel 250cc.. that sure was nice. Of course, I couldn't get over 70mph.. that wasn't so nice...

trey
Title: Re: Mileage
Post by: lumpoffire on January 07, 2005, 07:47:54 AM
Helps to keep tire pressure up to spec also.  I get high 50's to low 60's from my stock-jetted '91.

Dan
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: RedShift on January 08, 2005, 06:58:18 AM
Quote from: Kerry
Quote from: RedShiftQuestion: Anybody have any data that to show if fuel economy gets better with age?  I'm curious if there is measurable change between your bike at, say, 1000 miles versus 10,000 miles on the clock?
I should have most of my annotated gas receipts from 3,000 to 33,000 miles around here ... somewhere.  :roll:
Kerry. you keep too much stuff!!  Write it down in a little book and be called a "Wacko" like me...  :lol:
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: RedShift on January 08, 2005, 07:01:58 AM
Quote from: Roadstergal
Quote from: RedShiftI'm rather curious to know what style of riding get's mid-70 MPG's out of a stock GS500.  Gotta come out of riding in a tuck position, hugging the tank and minimizing wind exposure for long distances.

Long freeway trips I do tucked.  But 'round town for the mid-to-high 60s mileage I did upright.  ...
Guess I need to get a tank bag have my chest cozy with it to break the 70 MPG barrier.  :)
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: ballyhoo on January 09, 2005, 08:41:32 PM
Getting 75mpg on a 2001, stock, 7500 miles, National Cycle street shield.

My riding style is not a style. I just ride it. I don't "accelerate like I'm being chased," or "brake like the wind," or any of that crap. I just use the gears, try to keep in mind the bike's longevity (as well as my own), usually shift to neutral and coast with the brake instead of engine braking in city traffic, try to keep from getting killed, enjoy the scenery.

Once in a while on a 4-lane with little traffic, I'll punch it up to 70+ but rarely.

In comparison, my former bike, a GS400x, got around 50mpg with the same"style."

I think the bike I have is exceptionally well-tuned. Not my doing, but the previous owner and/or Two Jacks cycles in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I plan to do nothing to this current settup except maybe check the valve clearances this spring.
Title: Gas Milage question
Post by: quinnbozz on January 09, 2005, 10:58:53 PM
:o  :o ................. :?  what am i doing! best i ever got was 45mpg  man ..... :bs:
not fair :lol:

:cheers: all