GS650G range

[Steve]

I thought all GS's had fuel gauges, shows what I know......I learn something here everyday.

Nope, not all of them had fuel gauges, but I think that virtually all of them had gear position indicators.

THAT was rather unique in its day. In fact, even my 2000 GoldWing does not have a gear indicator.

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[tkent02]

Nope, not all of them had fuel gauges, but I think that virtually all of them had gear position indicators.

THAT was rather unique in its day. In fact, even my 2000 GoldWing does not have a gear indicator.

.

The big ones didn't have gear indicators, the 1000s and I think the 1100s.
I think you were supposed to know how to ride before you got a 1000 back in the day.

[Skateguy50]

I seem to remember that Ryonker's '78 700L (750?) didn't have a fuel gauge either. My '80 850L came with a gauge also, but earlier than '82 the L tanks were only 3.2 gal, so full to empty, bone dry is about 120 miles on them (no reserve on the screwdriver operated petcock).

Mine is an 83 so has the reserve, but its set to about 1 gallon of the 3.2 so I gave up on that... 90-100 miles and having to switch is no fun. I think the idea of a reserve is you plan to fill up before it his but just incase you got some left. That would mean I would have to gas up around 80 miles to not risk cutting out... did that once on the highway and never again.

I run with the tank set to on and just watch the miles. I easily have done 120-130 miles with about .5 gallons left in it. I average 45-50 mpg driving mostly highways at 85 mph average and no windscreen. Typically I gas up at 100 miles and put in 2 to 2.2 gallons so I know I got a decent amount left if needed but rather not fiddle with the petcock 3 lanes over to the left with cagers going 90+ around me.

[Hammered]

Not sure if this helps, but Im 6-4 and about 265. Im kinda harder on the throttle due to riding in the DC area. I have the 2.2 gal. tank and get between 50 to almost 60 miles to the gallon here. I travel roughly 22 miles in HOV and about 12 miles through Arlington with stop lights/signs everywhere. If youre looking for more range, I believe the 1982/82 GS850 4 gallon tank mates up pretty damn close with almost no modding. And what little fudging you do need to do can be done with a uni-bit with a simple hand drill. Its my next mod after I figure why Im not charging like I should.

[1_v8_merc]

The 82 650g's definitely have a fuel gauge.
Mine is very accurate too, works better than some of my previous cars/trucks have, lol.

I've never clocked my MPG, I just put gas in it once it gets lower than Half.
I usually only dump $3-5 in once a week, depending how much I drive.
Usually I just use the bike to zip around town and some work commutes or car shows which are around 30 miles one way.

I just wish the 650 had a damn 6th gear!!!
It just bothers me all the time when I'm doing 65 and the bike sounds like it's ready for 6th! Lol
And the most messed up part is that the 82 650g's HAVE a number "6" in the gear indicator panel!
If you put a flashlight right up to the right of the gear panel, you can see the "6" in there, lol.
But i guess being at highway speed in 5th puts you at optimum power RPM's, so the second you pull the throttle at 60-65, she pulls hard and fast.
So it does have an advantage I guess.....

But I don't think the 650 was designed to be a cruiser.
It was more of a sportbike/touring bike, great balance of Leaning into corners and enough Power to get you out of a bad situation, and still feeling stable on the highways as well.

[themess]

My suggestion: Gas up at no more than 130 miles until you have some experience with it. Use the trip meter to tell you when to fuel up. The tank is advertised to hold 4.2 gallons, but I never got more than 4.05 in mine. (Never ran it dry to find out for sure) and usually only 3 3/4.

I have several magazine reviews of the 1981 GS650G. A photo of the instrument cluster shows no fuel gauge, and the text's description of the instrument cluster does not include a fuel gauge. My 1982 GS650G had a fuel gauge.

My 650G never got less than 40 mpg, city or highway. For most of the miles I rode it, I got 42 to 44 mpg. At about 7K miles, mileage jumped (in a single tank) to 55 or so mpg, and stayed there for 6K miles. I think that it took that long for the rings to seat completely. Later, I had to store the bike for several years. I had a Suzuki dealer take care of it, and he basically poured oil in everything, as far as I can tell. After it came out of storage, it never got above 47 mpg again. Power was still there, but not the high mileage.