What kind of MPG should i be getting? What are you getting?

[Steve]

I was gonna agree with you but first page it's an 81 gs1000g

I don't understand the "first page" comment, but yeah, I caught the bike in my first reply (post #6), but forgot it by the time he mentioned all the mods to the bike.

It's still a hint to put your bike in your sig, so us old forgetful farts don't have to keep scrolling back to the top of the page or look up a posting history to see if it is ever mentioned. Also nice to update your location.

Oh, yeah, ... "first page" means that you still have the default setting of 10 posts per page. Update your preferences, you can show up to 40 per page, making it MUCH easier to read longer threads.

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[81GS850]

I don't understand the "first page" comment, but yeah, I caught the bike in my first reply (post #6), but forgot it by the time he mentioned all the mods to the bike.

It's still a hint to put your bike in your sig, so us old forgetful farts don't have to keep scrolling back to the top of the page or look up a posting history to see if it is ever mentioned. Also nice to update your location.

Oh, yeah, ... "first page" means that you still have the default setting of 10 posts per page. Update your preferences, you can show up to 40 per page, making it MUCH easier to read longer threads.

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Haha doh! Updated my location, thought I did that.... and I see, yep my comment wouldn't make sense then! haha. Steve, what kinda mpg do you get on your 850s? Mines completely stock, 2.5turns out and I'm only getting about 33-35 at best. 60K miles and i shift minimum 4k-5k...

[Wingsconsin]

Just to add data to the MPG question.
On MY GS850 - used mostly for commuting at 45-50 MPH - hauling MY 300# carcass around.
Windscreen and small saddlebags (holds lunch, thermos, & some misc)
13 miles at a time - twice daily. Sometimes more and a few quick joy rides.
Throttle use is reserved and I shift around 4000 ...
I get 42-44 MPG ever time I refill. Usually it is in the 42-42.5 range.
Just my experience this year over about 2500 miles.

[wymple]

My GS850 , ridden like the older guy I am, turns 40-45 mpg, depending on headwinds, etc. Minimum 40.

[Grimly]

My GS850, ridden like the 17 year old I still am in my head, regularly returns 36~38mpg, but I have a whole lot of fun doing it.
At the moment, I'm more-or-less finalising the jetting, so doing a couple of tankfuls of reasonably steady, sedate riding to see how good it can get. Over the autumn, with lots of fallen leaves and the colder weather to come, with occasionally slippy roads, I'll be turning in some better economy figures anyway.

[GS1150Pilot]

My 1150 averages 38 in town.

[GSX1000E]

To answer your question, both of my GS1000G's get between 42-48mpg with spirited riding.

My (sold) GS850 could only muster a pitiful 38-40 with less power and less fun under the same riding conditions thus why it is SOLD.
All of my 1100 4-valve engines get 44-54mpg under the same conditions.

[Chromedome]

I generally get 58mpg, once I got 62mpg of 850L or the 1100L both exactly the same, shame though iv to buy my fuel in litres @ £1.40 per Litre, expensive fuel, oop's did I forget to mention that was UK gallons LOL, 1.2009 US gallons, works out 48 and 51mpg

[Steve]

Steve, what kinda mpg do you get on your 850s?

Wife's bike has run the gamut from 28 to 59 mpg, reflecting a WIDE variety of riding. The two tanks of 28 and 29 were running at 75-80 mph into a 15-20 mph headwind. Later on that same trip, with NO adjustments, we were cruising at 55-60 mph, up and down the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, got three consecutive tanks over 55 mpg, with the highest at about 58.9.

My 850 only has about 7000 miles in my control, but we have still put it to a bit of a workout. Riding around New England with Lurch, we were riding 2-up, with all our "stuff" in the saddlebags and trunk, going up and down the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains in New Hampshire at a decently brisk pace. Finished up that weekend with a run through the Catskills and back to the starting point in Glens Falls. Average for the trip was 40.9 mpg. I don't check every tank's mileage, but I have seen it in the mid-30s and also up about 43, which suits me just fine.

Just for the record, that's about the same mileage range for my Wing, too.

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[Chromedome]

Wife's bike has run the gamut from 28 to 59 mpg, reflecting a WIDE variety of riding. The two tanks of 28 and 29 were running at 75-80 mph into a 15-20 mph headwind. Later on that same trip, with NO adjustments, we were cruising at 55-60 mph, up and down the hills of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, got three consecutive tanks over 55 mpg, with the highest at about 58.9.

Sounds like I need my bikes tuned properly, you ever about these parts ?

[Steve]

Sounds like I need my bikes tuned properly, you ever about these parts ?

No, but I know a great forum where there are a bunch of guys that can teach youl.

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[Revjoel]

If I may chime in here, on my 550L, I'm only getting mid 20's even driving like granny. I just replaced the right-side pipe as the old one was severely rusted out. Sounds better and runs beautifully, but only getting 20 now.

I do have a K&N on it as the stock filters couldn't be found anywhere. After doing some reading, I did cover about 50% of the K&N with tape to see if that made a difference. I'm now on my first full tank with the new exhaust to see what happens...

Right now, I'm thinking I may need to adjust the carbs but I've never done that before. Any advice?

[Steve]

If I may chime in here, on my 550L, I'm only getting mid 20's even driving like granny. ... Any advice?

Yes.

Stop driving like a granny and wring its pea-pickin' little neck. The smaller engines THRIVE on RPM.

That bike should be living most of its life in the 4-8000 RPM range.

Have you done all the required maintenance? Valve adjustment? Carb cleaning? Electrical checks?

Rather than apply Band-Aids (taping over your pods), why not fix the problem and jet the carbs properly?

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[Revjoel]

Thanks for your advice, Steve. I guess I will roll the throttle a little harder.

I am in that range most of the time. As for maintenance, I have changed oil and filter about 2000 miles back and carbs were recently cleaned and balanced (prior to the exhaust replacement). I haven't adjusted valves but probably should go buy a manual and figure out how to do it.

The jets are part of the question here, really. Everything on this bike is stock (even the jets per my mechanic) so should I have to rejet after replacing a stock pipe with another stock pipe?

[Steve]

As for maintenance, I have changed oil and filter about 2000 miles back ...

Some will say that you are now due for another oil change. Actually there are some fanatics that think you are OVERdue for one, but they can waste their own money.

I haven't adjusted valves but probably should go buy a manual and figure out how to do it.

No need to buy one, just download it from our library. There are also tutorials that show how to do the work.

The jets are part of the question here, really. Everything on this bike is stock (even the jets per my mechanic) so should I have to rejet after replacing a stock pipe with another stock pipe?

You mentioned "K&N filter" in your last post. Is that a K&N insert in the stock airbox or individual pod filters?

If it is individual pod fiters, they will have a bigger impact on jetting needs than an exhaust pipe replacement.

If it is an insert in the stock airbox, you may not need to re-jet at all.

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