What's your MPG?

[metalistik]

Greetings fellow XS Eleveners and XJ folk.
Sorry to bore you but, I must tell you my little story/adventure I just had with my bike. Being an LA resident, I rely on my XS as a primary mode of transportation for obvious reasons (e.g. no traffic, awesome looks, great on gas, great performance etc...) I'm a mobile computer technician. This morning, I rolled out to a service call in Northridge (about 15mls away). I was running late, so rushing out the door I forgot my wallet. Since I had copies of my papers in the bike, I figured I was ok and didn't have to come back. But as soon as I take off, I come to realize that the bike is bone dry and I need gas ASAP. I pull into the nearest gas station and walk up to the counter as I realize that I only have $2 on me. Since in CA we're blessed with a 9.75% sales tax plus a plathera of well thought out, "green legislature" taxes, we're lucky to pay $3.10 a gallon of 87. So my $2 got me about .6gal of gas.
Having to go about 15mls I figured I was safe since I was getting paid cash for the call. After wobbling and swerving down the 405 due to it's insultingly deteriorated nature for a half hour or so I came to the conclusion that I must have missed the exit. I have driven about 20 miles since I filled up. But Murphy's Law kicked in and there was no exit for another 5mils.
After turning around and getting back on the road I was a little over 26mls. I took off assuming that I could stall out at any time.

And......

Made it there, no problem. 36 miles driven on .6 gal plus whatever fumes I had left over from the night before. I must say I love this bike a hella' lot.

This made me start to wonder what's the real MPG on this bike? What kind of economy have you been getting from your bikes?

Ride on. Ride safe.

Dan

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1979 XS1100 Special - daily rider


"Hey Sally... Remember when I told you I'd kill you last?.. I lied!"

[barberad]

I'll start off. Slipping clutch, no 1rst gear, 4-1 jardines, after market Air filters and no 750 FD mod. 30-35 MPG (depending on my throttle hand)

[rpgoerlich]

I've been getting 27-32mpg city/hwy on my 79XS11SF(4into1) stock jetting running 55mi/day.
Waiting to get it out on the hwy for a long run @ 65mph to see how it does.

[bikerphil]

My 79 Special gets 40-42 and my 79 Standard gets about 37.

[mxmikie]

my 78e with 750 fd and honda coils gets 42 but my 87 turbo sprint gets 62 and it has a/c

[dbeardslee]

If I'm running around on the back roads and twisting the throttle a lot I get 30-32. Cruising on the highway at a leisurely speed it's over 42. How you ride makes a big difference.

[DGXSER]

I average 35-37 MPG. I spend most of my miles just out running around the twistie back roads for fun. I tend to not be to shy on the throttle as can be attested to by some other members and a local LEO.

On a long ride of about 100 miles or so recently of which 70 were basically highway miles I did get up to about 41 MPG.

[DiverRay]

As I also use CA gas, I should be a little closer.....
The '79 standard with box and fairing, about 35MPG 'round town, and 37 highway. The '80 Midnight Special, almost 40 MPG all the time.

[Poprock]

80 SG, bags & fairing with XJ jugs, head and carbs, Sportster muffs and a 850 FD, 40-45 mpg riding the local twisties. Short trips, cold engine, big twist, 33 mpg.

[stoked]

I know this topic has been covered in many threads of old but gives me a chance to post a couple of interesting mpg experiences I've had lately.

1. 87 octane consistently gives me getter mpg than 91 or even 89. I used to run 91 cause I thought with the higher compression motor it needed it. I then decided to try 89 and see if I got any pinging or noticed any over heating. After success I went to 87 and it ran better than ever and I swear I could go 5 miles further. I have verified this several times over going back to 91.

2. I took the wind shield/fairing off at beginning of summer. Shortly after noticed I was getting 10 miles less out of each fill up. But being the smart guy I am did not make the connection. So all summer I cleaned carbs, re-saudered my coil connections, checked and rechecked rolling resistance in wheels and brakes, ect.... Recently put windshield/fairing back on and bam, 10 miles added back on to each tank. And I can really hear the motor working less at 75 mph. It's a national standard fairing that is really aerodynamically shaped and seems to do more than just block the wind from my body. It really helps the bike cut through it.

Overall with fairing back on and 87 octane I hit 36 mpg consistently.

[Crazcnuk]

With my 80G I usually get ~47-48mpg GOING and around 43-44mpg coming home....

I assume i am more impatient on the return trip! These are imp gallons.

It's funny when people actually do the research and find out what we have known about high octane fuel. It makes less power, therefore less mpg.

[red bandit]

Doesn't matter if i drive 60 or 85, I get 39mpg. Throttle twisting is another story.

[XScafe]

If I drive like a normal law abiding citizen my 80 pulls 40-50mpg. Since I'm not and am known for my 130+ mile an hour runs I get less than 20.

[Larrym]

Desert Run Stats.

40-44 Mpg checked at about 2K feet elevation using regular gas, sustained cruising at 60mph, in 90 degree heat, no passenger, no luggage, no fairing.

Verified Twice with speedo/odometer. (No Gps used to verify speedo/odometer.)

[CatatonicBug]

I went on a 127 mile run last weekend (one tank!) and managed 38 MPG for the first time EVER! I was going mostly over 50mph, and kept the RPMs up around 5k when not shifting. However, the next tank only got me 28 mpg, back on my normal, short trip, around town riding.

I usually average between 28-32mpg though. I was going to replace my needles/emulsion tubes, but decided I needed to spend my $ on a new rear tire instead. I'm hoping that when I manage to make that upgrade, my MPG will increase as well.