Fuel economy

[DGXSER]

I have seen several post from folks claiming some very high fuel efficiency numbers and I honestly always considered them inflated. I once before got over 40mpg out of an XS. But today I calculated over 42 on one tank, and dang close to 48 on the next. This was on a special.

Today was a group ride of the SWOXS group. (SouthWest Ohio XS riders). So alot of those miles were non stop and pretty consistent cruising speed.

So, the point of the post, and my conclusion is, it takes a bunch of extra fuel to warm up these engines.

[BA80]

When I went to the "Lost in Minnesota" rally last weekend I was getting 35-38 MPG most of the time, but when we followed Bob Falter back to Ely from Winona both Harry and I got 42-43 MPG . We were riding much slower than usual keeping the tach around 4K.

Best mileage I've ever gotten.

[bikerphil]

I've got 50 mpg once on the way down to the Keys with a tail wind doing 50 mph. That was days before using side gap spark plugs, probably be better now. YMMV

[WMarshy]

I figured out that the more times I shift in a tank of fuel, the worse my mpg's. Traveling to work and back (12 miles one way) generally gives me lower to mid 30's but, get out and on the highway and I get on average 10 more mpg's... just my experience...

[fredintoon]

The sidecar's extra weight & drag + the 125/85-16 rear tire brings my XS11 rig's fuel consumption down to ~28mpg.
Punching into a raging headwind going to the Biggar rally dropped the mileage down to ~22mpg.
Topped up the tank in Biggar before the 40 mile lunch ride to Ruthelda (population 6. Gas station closed in 1953. Pub still open but the pub owner is in his '80s.)
Topping up in Biggar left my 2 gallon Jerrycan still full and available for the optimist who'd hoped the Ruthelda gas station was still in operation.
"Pay it forward" I said. "Rather pay you" he said, and gave me a $20.

[ManitoulinLad]

I rev around 4000 rpm

I'm at the above at 100km/yr to work & very steady at that speed for 45km's one way - just 1 stop sign on the hwy ride & I get around 44 mpg all the time. No other slow downs. So I agree with the stop & go & shifting etc mileage is decreased. I think I'm pretty much at the max with mileage due to the bore out kit I have in it. - Dan

[jwhughes3]

I was sweating it...

Coming back from Houston Sunday - I skipped where I SHOULD have stopped only to realize I may not make the next town as I was already on Reserve -

I hopped off the highway onto some tiny back road and putted along at 40-45 till I made it to gas - if I stayed on at 80+ I would have burned it up too soon!

I need to put that little can back in a fork bag for an extra pint of gas.

Staying well above the posted speed limit I only averaged about 22mpg on this trip.... but it was FUN


John

[DGXSER]

Interesting fact of the trip is that both tankfuls were on back country roads cruising around soem curvy roads with plenty of stops and starts and plenty of slowing for tight curves and winding back out.

First tank was 42 MPG, Second tank was almost 48 MPG. Second tank had alot more higher speed running and some of my return trip from the ride which was about 20 miles of the 93 flat out 65-70 or better riding. So it had less stops, but then it had plenty of them in the first 70. And it had much higher speeds really.

That was why I had isloated it to the warmup period of the engine. But interesting to see what others have experienced as variants of their fuel economy.

[TopCatGr58]

I'm running an 81 Special, little big bore kit, hi output coils, 4-1 pipes, Indy filters, had it loaded with luggage across back seat, trunk/saddlebags, windscreen, and cruising at just 5-10 mph above the posted limits of 60 to 70 last year on trip to Pennsylvannia, same scenario running to rally in Western Virginia this year, and only got ~30 mpg! I only weight 220, could have had 50-100 lbs of luggage/stuff !? This was with hundreds of miles and several consecutive fillups with engine nice and warm!

But running solo IN the rally mountain roads, mostly speeds of 40-60 and less at times in the tighter twisties, no windscreen, but saddlebags still loaded with tools/emergency repairs supplies, and saw ~35 mpgs!?

T.C.

[foreda]

fuel economy

I honestly don't think I have ever checked fuel mileage on any of my 11's. I suppose since I am not a long distance rider, it's never been a factor?

[LoHo]

I have always found stop/start driving to be more costly than speed. Then again, fear of the CHP has kept me at sane speed levels. It seems logical that giving up speed by braking, then paying in gas to get back up to speed would cut down on MPG. And I do a lot of two-up, which costs a bit as well.

[jeffe]

Around town 30 MPG
Freeway 32 to 33 MPG
Two lane relaxed rideing 35 to 38
It's a 78E with full Vetter outfit.

[cywelchjr]

I've found that getting the engine fully warmed up and then keeping it their makes for significantly better mileage than heat up and cool down all the time. At the same time, the less often I have to stop, the better. That said, going up and down a few gears doesn't seem to hurt too much, it's the coming all the way to a stop. And I've also found that accelerating too slow is just as bad as doing it too fast, they both waste gas.

If I do a lot of short trips where the bike cools off between trips, mileage stays around 29 or so. It jumps right up to 37 with continuous operation though, and goes even higher with trips where it's pretty much non-stop, as long as the speed doesn't get too high, then wind resistance starts to play a part.

[xsroadrunner]

Dont forget the ethanol factor here as well. Ethanol sucks ...it robs an engine of HP and its fuel efficiency... mileage decreases...but most people dont know what they're actually missing until they try just 1 tank of ethanol-free gas. i have... and its a world of difference...here in NC its available in select locations...I found ethanol free gas using this website...
http://www.pure-gas.org/

[Bellerophon]

These XS/XJ1100s certainly aren't gas misers. All three of the ones I have owned run in the low 30s commuting, and high 30s highway MPG. Conversely my fuel injected FJR, that has a lot more power and is much heavier gets low 40s commuting, and I have had tanks over 50 MPG on road trips.

I don't know about you guys, but I did not buy my XS to set fuel mileage records.