Fuel economy?

[rgoot01]

I am aware that these bikes are gas guzzlers, but what would you say is average mpg?

[DGXSER]

Average for a decently tuned XS11 should be about low 30 MPG (thats a US gallon, not an imperial gallon.)

There are some who get upper 30s to low 40s depending on how heavy handed you get and how many highway miles you run, and how well tuned the carbs are.

[CatatonicBug]

It really depends on how you ride. If you like to gun the throttle and you do a lot of city riding, low 32-34 is normal. If you cruise at 55mph for a whole tank, expect somewhere closer to 38-40 on the same bike.

I added a dynojet kit, and the 55mph cruise increased to 42+mpg

As always on these kinds of things, YMMV.

[WMarshy]

I normally get 32 mpg riding locally around town and back roads. I recently went on a day trip and averaged 42 mpg for one tank and I was riding 65 - 70 most of the time.

[clcorbin]

I was getting around 32 mpg in my commute (some freeway, some city, some stop and go!). That has dropped to around 29 recently but I am "playing" with the carbs at this point to find what got messed up..

But I would consider 32 around town pretty much normal.

[geobiker]

Gas guzzler?

Sure my bike might get in the low 30s around town and upper 30s (at best) on the highway . . . but it still beats my 2000 Olds Intrigue. Okay . . . the Intrigue can haul more and it goes better through snow, but for exhiliration, the 1100 wins hands down! (I hope you realized I was kidding about the going through the snow part). Mileage is a relative thing!

Now that I think about it . . . when I was much younger, in my late teens, and more daring (translation "stupid"), I needed to get somewhere in March, and my parents car was not running (nor were they home, obviously). I took my Yamaha R-5 and managed to find a snow drift across the road, coming out of a turn . . . crazy time!

As long as your bike is getting fuel economy in the 30's, I would say that you're good!

[buggrin]

These old machines have been around long enough for many modifications. I think most of which have not been good for MPG. I've had mine since new and the only major change is the exhaust -- Jardine 4 into 2. I rarely if ever see MPG under 40 and most riding is 2up with a big fairing. Most times I check it's in the mid 40's. I probably run a little lean cause the headers are plenty blue, but after 55K miles it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

[WMarshy]

These old machines have been around long enough for many modifications. I think most of which have not been good for MPG. I've had mine since new and the only major change is the exhaust -- Jardine 4 into 2. I rarely if ever see MPG under 40 and most riding is 2up with a big fairing. Most times I check it's in the mid 40's. I probably run a little lean cause the headers are plenty blue, but after 55K miles it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

Hands down, biggest factor affecting mpg's is how far you twist your right wrist. My bike is stock and I rarely get 40 mpg's unless I'm cruising long distances. You start shifting 6500 rpm here and there and it drops fast.

[justme1100]

I average 34 mpg and I am pretty heavy on the throttle. It stays about the same with a passenger but I am lighter on the wick and have speed control when she is with, a punch in the side and an earful of "slow %#*%ing down!"

[rb240tuner]

I have noticed that as well. I get horrible gas mileage especially on the highway. I live in Fort Wayne, IN and I had to travel to Columbia City for work for a month and a half. I went through a tank of gas in three days. My house to the Advance Auto Parts there was 21 miles. I don't think I did too bad but it seemed to go through gas quite a bit.

[jetmechmarty]

I rode up A1A from Ormond Beach through and beyond Jacksonville. 40 MPH and 50 MPG!

[fredintoon]

Dunno about solo mileage because I've only used the bike to haul a sidecar.
My rig gets perhaps 30 mpg, both in city driving and on the highway.
In comparison, the family 3.8 liter V6 Buick gets 28mpg highway mileage.

[freak_leg]

On a bike run this year while ridding HARD! I got 28mpg but my carbs are a work in progress. During the first tank of fuel my throttle was more or less an "On / Off switch" Slow down into the corners and wide open around 5k rpm coming out, and there were a couple long straits where I had her running about 8k for a good 10 miles. Shifts were done around red line 90% of the time. For the bikes 1st trial by fire 28mpg wasn't good but it could be better. On the return trip I backed off the throttle and rode like a normal person. We filled up right before we turned around to head home. On the return trip I only use about 3/4 of a tank. I didn't clock the mpg on the return (broken speedo cable)

[natemoen]

Mine runs like crap but I still get about 30.

[ManagerMike]

My 78 runs like a raped purse snatcher, or gets about 40 mpg, but not both....