I have a 2001 that I ride like I stole it, I never tuck and I have a fragged chain and I get right at 50mpg, using the stock odo.

High speed is a killer on gas mileage.  It's no different with a car.  The bike has to fight the wind resistance, your throttle mostly open, and the engine is giving close to the 40 HP it's got.

I've also noticed that everybody claims different gas consumption.  That's got to tell you that there are a lot of factors at work.  The only way to really compare is for two bikes to be set the same and take the same trip.

My guess is mid-40's to low-50's should be what a stock, late-model GS500 would expect for 100 miles at 80-85 MPH.  If it's been rejetted and running rich, then you're lower.  How much lower is dependent on the carburetor settings, air & exhaust restrictions.

The best I've had with my 16T Front sprocket on is 69 MPG going 50-60 MPH.  In town I get low 50's.  In the spring/fall, short trips and warmup, I get high 40's.  I think I'm normal. (Don't ask anybody that knows me to support that last statement.)  

Quote from: AlphaFire X5On the off chance, RG, do you remember your jetting numbers?

I upsized the mains only by one size (132.5).  I put it at the end of my Wileyco Thread.  

Quote from: xtalman

Quote from: SoaringI know it's probably kind of too general, but what kind of tuneup can help? I am getting ~37mpg

I have new air filter, new plugs and cleaned the carbs about 3 months ago. plan to adjust the valves, but not there yet. What else?

Carb synch maybe.  Check your tire pressures and chain also.

thanks xtalman! I'll look into carb synch. tires pres. and chain look fine.

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: AlphaFire X5On the off chance, RG, do you remember your jetting numbers?

I upsized the mains only by one size (132.5).  I put it at the end of my Wileyco Thread.  

Hmm. From the dyno run I saw on here from a stock bike, the top end was rich. Why did you bump the mains? Your Wileyco thread doesn't exist either. From the air/fuel ratio graph on the stock dyno run bike it was lean in the bottom and rich in the top.

03 GS stock. large  windscreen. back givi box.
I used to get around 55 mpg. after going to 17 t sprocket I get around 58 mpg.
backroads with 40-60 mph and about 20% city driving.

I keep records of the consumption and drive all year round, except when very cold or snow... so far 6000 miles (9000+ kms)

My bad - I deleted one of the numbers when I deleted the highlight.  The link works now.

I get between 50-55

When it was still on the road I was getting close to 60 mpg.

RG, you don't remember which one is the air/fuel? Bummer

I get about 72 miles per Imperial gallon which translates to 60 miles per U.S. gallon.  2004 GS500F with no mods.

I tend to cruise at about 60 mph.  Going 85 mph will definitely nuke your mileage, in/on any vehicle.

If I remember correctly, wind resistance increases by the square of the speed.... that is, if you go twice as fast you'll have four times the resistance.

(Please correct me if I am wrong!)

Quote from: Scorpio65Whats a good average for gas mileage? I think i should be getting better than i am. I drive mostly highways back and forth from work, 100 miles round trip. I average 80 to 85 mph. I have a 2001 GS500 29,000 miles and a V&H exhaust. I'm getting around 38 to 40 mpg. Is this normal? :dunno:

With my 05 500F, I get 65-70mpg. Bout half interstate and half city driving. Interstate I usually am between 75-95. I calculated my mileage by filling up and running the tank til it was completely out of gas and divided it by the amount of gallons it took to fill the tank. btw, I only did this because of the 1.1 gallon reserve pocket. Anyways, with that in mind, I did get on the bike a few times but other than that, I was fairly nice to it.

And I almost forgot... It's a bone stock GS500F with about 1,300 miles on it. I'm 5'8" and 150lbs.

I get close to 60 MPG on a stock 2001.

Beat this: 31 miles per gallon.  :lol:

Pretty much all city, mostly short trips 2-3 miles, lots of traffic lights that don't cooperate with me.  Pilot jets are also slightly rich, enough so that I never need the choke--not even to start.  This is good for short trips since the bike never really get a chance to warm up before I arrive.

Cheers,
e.

Quote from: thirdmanIf I remember correctly, wind resistance increases by the square of the speed.... that is, if you go twice as fast you'll have four times the resistance.

(Please correct me if I am wrong!)

I haven't searched extensively and it's not clear to me either, but links like this one analyzing bicycle resistances versus power & speed lead me to believe the wind resistance relationship is to the cube of the speed.