A word about mpg. YMMV :)

[Xcess11]

Reading old magazine road test of XS1100's I could never understand how they got reported mpg in the low 40's. I have had my 81 LH for 2 years and have always gotten about 33-34 mpg. Last week I went on a 150 mile ride in the twisties with a buddy on his GS450 Suzuki. Since our ride was in an area with few gas stations and his GS gets much better mileage I was a little worried that I might not have the mileage range to make it.
So I rode my XS11 much easier than I had ever road it before. Reasonable acceleration and mostly not taking the engine over about 5500 rpm. Anyway to make a long story short I got an amazing for me 43mpg! So it turns out that my issues with low mpg were entirely self inflicted. My right wrist was the problem all along. Cheers.

[dbeardslee]

Riding style has a huge impact on mpg's. If I'm running around twisting the throttle from stoplight to stoplight, I get about 30. On the highway with very little throttle twisting I'm up around 44. Funny thing is, once I got 44 and knew everything was acting like it was supposed to, I promptly quit worrying about it .

[cywelchjr]

Also, having an 80 XS400 that I have had since about 85, and now my XS1100 and having ridden the 400 recently and having paid attention to the gas mileage, the 400 used to get around 53 MPH back in 85 and it gets around 45 on a good day on todays gas. I'm figuring that my 11 which gets around 37 on road trips and around 30 around town comes out about the same, it would have gotten around 38-45 MPG back in 85. And yes, I find the same thing, if I keep really good control over my right wrist, I get better mileage, but I don't have as enjoyable of a ride either, so I figure I'll put up with the lower miles per gallon in trade for the higher smiles per gallon most of the time (especially knowing I can raise the mileage by how I ride if I need to).

[CatatonicBug]

I used to be unable to get more than about 32mpg, no matter how I rode. I recently installed a Dynojet kit, and immediately saw a 12mpg increase. It seems the worn moving parts in the carbs/engine may play a big part in how fuel efficient these bikes are.

[cywelchjr]

I used to be unable to get more than about 32mpg, no matter how I rode. I recently installed a Dynojet kit, and immediately saw a 12mpg increase. It seems the worn moving parts in the carbs/engine may play a big part in how fuel efficient these bikes are.

You know, I hadn't really thought about that factor. I know my 400 has just over 50,000 on it, which is actually pretty high considering it's all original, and brutus has almost 100k on him, so it could be that the emulsion tubes and needles are a bit worn on both bikes carbs (they share almost identical carbs).

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Mpg

30 MPG, hair on fire fun, sounds cheap

[daveyg]

Funny, my xj650 with 25k on the clock, used to get about 35-38mpg, then I sync'd the carbs, did an oil change, and replaced the (probably original) paper filter with a UNI oiled foam filter (in stock airbox) and found that I had plenty more smiles per gallon, and got 50-52mpg, running it to the redline at every shift, all the time... :-)

[crazy steve]

These things never have got what I would consider 'good' gas mileage; SWMBO's econobox gets roughly the same or slightly less than what my XS gets. Of course, the 0-60 times are a bit different...

Mine has never done better than 41 mpg (and it only did that once), usually the mid to high 30s and it's been like that since new, so don't tell me it's out of tune. Then again, few of the roads I travel are either straight or flat, so I'm sure that has something to do with it also. Too much 'enthusiasm' nets me low 30s...

'78E original owner

[Kronk]

Could always be worse

Ha ha I like the "It was my wrist the whole time!"
And hey it could always be worse, my XJ11 is my first bike, and I have never had a car... only big loud smelly pickups... I just picked up a new one, and it has my best mileage yet... 12MPG!!
(and no, I can't physically get a car due to the roads up here, and I would look goofy being 6'7'' in anything smaller than a 1/2ton pick up... imagine me in a prius )

[cywelchjr]

These things never have got what I would consider 'good' gas mileage; SWMBO's econobox gets roughly the same or slightly less than what my XS gets. Of course, the 0-60 times are a bit different...

Mine has never done better than 41 mpg (and it only did that once), usually the mid to high 30s and it's been like that since new, so don't tell me it's out of tune. Then again, few of the roads I travel are either straight or flat, so I'm sure that has something to do with it also. Too much 'enthusiasm' nets me low 30s...

'78E original owner

I'm not sure you have the same junk gas up there we have down here. Up in Tacoma was where my 400 used to get 53, down here it's high 40's. When we go up there to visit family we get a good percentage higher mileage once out of Kalifornia, so not only is the cost of living higher here, and the air quality is worse, and gas prices higher, but it doesn't go as far either.

[yamtom]

34 mpg

Hi,

I just checked mine over a couple of tankfuls, and I dont ride hard at all, 34 mpg is all I got. The bike is used for a fair amount of short trips though. The carbs are just completely rebuilt though, but not with new needles and mixers, they are original with 22000 on them. I am using pods and the harley shorties two into one exhausts. Totally stock jetting on the MNS.

[crazy steve]

I'm not sure you have the same junk gas up there we have down here. Up in Tacoma was where my 400 used to get 53, down here it's high 40's. When we go up there to visit family we get a good percentage higher mileage once out of Kalifornia, so not only is the cost of living higher here, and the air quality is worse, and gas prices higher, but it doesn't go as far either.

I've rarely had to suffer through any '10% ethanol' fuel as I live far enough away from Seattle/Tacoma that air quality is seldom an issue and emission testing isn't required. Ethanol was popular in the early '80s, but we have too much humidity here and the contamination that spawned in the gas station's tanks caused too many complaints and it faded away. It's been years since I've seen any for sale locally, although I understand you still see it sometimes in the urban areas.

I really only had two beefs with my 11 from day one; the poor fuel economy, and the strange handling from the shaft drive. Of course, mine is a '78, which is the most powerful of all the models (so I guess it should be the least economical), but I never saw the mileage numbers that were reported in the road tests. One pleasant surprise when I bought my 1200 Sportster was the mileage; it got a consistant 59-61 when stock, and even after hopping it up it I still get around 50 mpg. Considering I nearly doubled the RWHP, remarkable results.

Compared to more modern bikes, the XS's handling/braking is now even less impressive, but in it's day...

'78E original owner

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Qtr

I've rarely had to suffer through any '10% ethanol' fuel as I live far enough away from Seattle/Tacoma that air quality is seldom an issue and emission testing isn't required. Ethanol was popular in the early '80s, but we have too much humidity here and the contamination that spawned in the gas station's tanks caused too many complaints and it faded away. It's been years since I've seen any for sale locally, although I understand you still see it sometimes in the urban areas.

I really only had two beefs with my 11 from day one; the poor fuel economy, and the strange handling from the shaft drive. Of course, mine is a '78, which is the most powerful of all the models (so I guess it should be the least economical), but I never saw the mileage numbers that were reported in the road tests. One pleasant surprise when I bought my 1200 Sportster was the mileage; it got a consistant 59-61 when stock, and even after hopping it up it I still get around 50 mpg. Considering I nearly doubled the RWHP, remarkable results.

Compared to more modern bikes, the XS's handling/braking is now even less impressive, but in it's day...

'78E original owner

"Of course, mine is a '78, which is the most powerful of all the models "

How does your 32 year newer HD stack up to your 32 year old Yamaha's mid 11 sec QTR mile? After three decades, i am guessing they could catch up

[crazy steve]

...How does your 32 year newer HD stack up to your 32 year old Yamaha's mid 11 sec QTR mile? After three decades, i am guessing they could catch up

I don't own anything that new.... my 'new' bike is a '93, so the difference is only 15 years.

Performance comparison? Well, they're two very different bikes, but the Sporty would give a good account; at 85 RWHP and 75 lbs less weight, I'm pretty sure my 'leaned-on' Sportster would take the XS up to about 110 or so, but there's a whole lot more noise/vibration involved. I've had the front wheel come up on the 3-4 shift more than a few times. But the Sporty is a piss-poor high-speed cruiser; get above about 65 mph for any extended time and it'll beat you to death. But in town or in the twisties, the lighter weight and much more nimble handling make the Sportster my favorite there.

Can you buy a showroom stock Harley that et's as well as a XS? With the exception of the V-rod, no. But the potential power that's there can be amazing... all it takes is $$$.

'78E original owner

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Hd

I don't own anything that new.... my 'new' bike is a '93, so the difference is only 15 years.

Performance comparison? Well, they're two very different bikes, but the Sporty would give a good account; at 85 RWHP and 75 lbs less weight, I'm pretty sure my 'leaned-on' Sportster would take the XS up to about 110 or so, but there's a whole lot more noise/vibration involved. I've had the front wheel come up on the 3-4 shift more than a few times. But the Sporty is a piss-poor high-speed cruiser; get above about 65 mph for any extended time and it'll beat you to death. But in town or in the twisties, the lighter weight and much more nimble handling make the Sportster my favorite there.

Can you buy a showroom stock Harley that et's as well as a XS? With the exception of the V-rod, no. But the potential power that's there can be amazing... all it takes is $$$.

'78E original owner

Just so I understand, your HD is slower in excel. in every way, your HD is a vibro monster at most all speed (and I know the girls like that). The V rod can hang with an antique XS on a good day, but not with a new V Max? I am sorry, what is your point about HD, must be the "girls like the vib thing"? And as far as "potential power" The XS1100 race mod. set a new all time QTR recored of 6.7 sec QTR way back when HD was putting cardboard under their showroom bikes back in th 70's (LOL)