I just bought a new 04 GS500 and ran out of gas on the way from the dealer flipped it to the reserve and finished the ride. Fillled it up the next day with only about 3 gallons of gas. This surprised me since I thought the main take was 5g (CA model). But, figured the tanks full so what the heck. Drive 227 miles (from the trip) and fill up again. This time it took 2.856 gallons.  This works out to 79 MPG. Buying the bike, I was expecting more like 50-55. How likely is the chance that I'm on crack and simply recorded the fuel wrong? (My wife filled her car first, but we both remember the same number of gallons going into hers and the receipt tells me the total).

On a related note, is the tank 5g? If so, any reason why its not draining on the main tank? Both times, I saw fuel at the bottom of the tank before filling up, but the bike wouldn't turn over unless on the reserve tank.

BTW, if you hadn't guessed, this would be my first bike.

You can still see gas in the tank when you're on reserve...  The "Reserve" is basically the gallon at bottom of the tank...

As for the 80 MPG...  I'd go with the "crack" diagnosis...  I get about 48-50 MPG...  A little shy of 4 gallons when I hit the reserve...  4 gallons usually gets me about 200 miles.

Quote from: RVertigoYou can still see gas in the tank when you're on reserve...  The "Reserve" is basically the gallon at bottom of the tank...

Yeah, however why would the bike choke when 3g fills it up? I know it was only 3.2g to fill it the first time, since that's all I filled up. I guess what I should have said is "quite a bit visable" more than what looked like a gallon.

Quote from: RVertigoAs for the 80 MPG...  I'd go with the "crack" diagnosis...  I get about 48-50 MPG...  A little shy of 4 gallons when I hit the reserve...  4 gallons usually gets me about 200 miles.

Yeah, I figured I was smoking something.... I guess I'll know for sure in a few days. The only possible explanation I could guess at (which I didn't buy) was that since I'm still breaking it in, I'm cruising at around 4.5k, rather than 6k+. But I'm more likely to accept a little stupidity on my part than that.

I actually just checked my trip for the 1st time this week. On a full tank, I got 286km before switching to reserve

I hit my reserve at 185 miles last time...  It looked like there was still a lot of gas in the tank, but I managed to get 4 gallons in...

As for the mileage... I have no idea how a 500 could get 85 MPG...  A 90cc gets about 80...  :dunno:

As for the 3.2 gallons...  Are you filling all the way?  There's a "Maximum Fill Technique" from Kerry around here somewhere........

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13040

Quote from: RVertigoAs for the 3.2 gallons...  Are you filling all the way?  There's a "Maximum Fill Technique" from Kerry around here somewhere........

Probably this
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=105452#105452

So I'm just not filling it all the way. Makes sense, thanks. Time to go ride.

this should help. (or really confuse you)

my post has a picture.   neener neener neener.  

I'm getting 75mpg on a 2001 with 8500 miles. I think your riding style has a whole lot to do with it, also stock jets, muffler. Lots of people posting in this group seem to be into hard acceleration, high revs, and carb mods.

68MPG on a 96 with 6800 mioles on it, I think it is stock, but my plugs aren't white... mostly brown with very little white on them... so something must have been done.

Damn...  My GS is dead stock...  I get about 50...  Combo of freeway and street driving.

Maybe I'm more aggressive than some, but I doubt it...

I get about 60MPG riding mostly 2 up and fairly conservatively.  I go about 200 miles before filling up with about 3.3 gals.

There seems to be a LOT of variation here...

I'm on a "00 with 12064 miles. Only get 46.6 miles per gallon. Do you think that cruising at an "indicated" 80-90 mph might have anything to do with it?

I'd say that your 46+ is closer to the norm than the 60+ reports.

But yeah - the higher speeds might have something to do with it....  

Moght altitude above sea level affect  the fuel economy of the GS?

Is 80-90 "Higher" speeds? :dunno:

I figured since all the cagers love to fly at 80-90 on the highways, then that's about average right?

Well, my bike is still being broken in so it's reached a speedy 65MPH... So 80-90 probably be higher speeds..

Last time I checked on my bone stock '05 with 1,500 Mi.

Started with @ 5 gal.
Pumped in 4.41 gal.

I had hit reserve at 211 Mi. and refilled at 227 Mi.

Works out to about 49MPG

City, Highway, most shifts between 5K to 9.5K RPM.  Throw in about 5 to 8 warm-ups while gearing up (about 4 minutes)
Probibally TMI :dunno:

Actually... I bet warm-ups make a noticeable different in over-all gas mileage...

I only ride 15 miles, about 9 freeway miles, each direction...

According to sites I've found, the GS is supposed to get 60 MPG, but I'm assuming that's about 5K RPM in 6th.

I'd love to get 80 MPG...  But, I don't want to ride a 90cc.