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MPG & What octane gas do you use? - Take 2

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  • #16
    Mpg

    Fuel economy is awful, was 30 something to the big gallon.
    Use the cheapest 87 gas for both bikes. Sidecar on Yami uses even more fuel.
    Bikes in general have too much windage. Decent fairings would make a big difference.
    Unkle Crusty

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    • #17
      Saw an interesting bike/sidecar at Rice-O-Rama in Oxford MA a couple of weeks ago. Looked like it was made out of metal plating, the kind you walk on with the raised "dutchmen". Very well built and looked to be military grade.
      82 XJ1100 Maxim "hurricane"- DEKA EXT18L AGM battery , NGK BPR6EIX spark plugs, Green Dyna coils, Sylvania SilverStar Ultra H4 bulb, 139 dB Stebel Nautilus air horn, Home-made K&N air filter based on an original paper filter frame, new piston rings, Barnett Clutch Springs, SS braid/Teflon brake lines, TKAT fork brace, rebuilt calipers, master cylinders, new brakes, reupholstered seat, lotsa little things and so many answered questions here.

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      • #18
        My bike didn't seem to do any better on the higher octane either. I burned the 93 for the first few tanks when I got her last year because it seems like I read that I was supposed to on a sticker or something. However, after finding this site and switching to 87 octane, she runs just fine.
        If I ride it like I stole it, my mileage goes down a bit into the mid-high 30s.
        If I take it somewhat reasonable (is that possible with these bikes?) I average 40 MPG.
        I drive to work about 15 miles a day, averaging about 60 MPH, except for the 3.5 miles of gravel road that I have to travel. I limit myself to 25-30 on gravel roads, so that might come into play. Sometimes I do take the freeway home, which means that I drive about 75-80 for half my drive and then only 1 mile of gravel.

        All in all, over time my average stays pretty steady at 40 MPG.
        80 XS1100 SG "Iron Horse"

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        • #19
          Originally posted by donebysunday View Post
          Wonder why ? Works for me and not for you ?
          Hi Done,
          perhaps it's because you believe in snake oil and he don't?
          more likely it's because his winter temperatures make yours look like a mild day in autumn.
          Fred Hill, S'toon
          XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
          "The Flying Pumpkin"

          Comment


          • #20
            Originally posted by fredintoon View Post
            Hi Done,
            perhaps it's because you believe in snake oil and he don't?
            more likely it's because his winter temperatures make yours look like a mild day in autumn.
            It was - 2 this am so maybe you have hit on an explanation for the variables!
            2-79 XS1100 SF
            2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
            80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
            Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

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            • #21
              Octane/Ethanol

              I went to Bryson City Thursday of last week with a tank of regular ethanol gas in the tank. Got 36.5 mpg on that tank that day. Filled up with premium non- ethanol gas. Next days ride was similar and I got 40 mpg. There was a noticeable improvement in the bike's performance as well. So it was either the premium or the non-ethanol or both. But there was a big difference. Have not tried regular non-ethanol yet. I'm sold - no more ethanol for me in anything but cars.

              MP
              1981 XS1100H Venturer
              K&N Air Filter
              ACCT
              Custom Paint by Deitz
              Geezer Rectifier/Regulator
              Chacal Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
              Chrome Front Rotor & Caliper Covers
              Stebel Nautilus Horn
              EBC Front Rotors
              Limie Accent Moves On In 2015

              Mike

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              • #22
                Originally posted by MPittma100 View Post
                I'm sold - no more ethanol for me in anything but cars.

                MP
                Good luck finding pure gasoline in Roswell. The closest vendor to me is eight miles and it's 89 octane only. 93 octane is available in Suches and at Turners Corner. I have to go to Blairsville for 87. At a rally based in Townsend, TN three weeks ago, I was able to run pure gas all weekend.
                Marty (in Mississippi)
                XS1100SG
                XS650SK
                XS650SH
                XS650G
                XS6502F
                XS650E

                Comment


                • #23
                  On other bike forums, it is claimed that the ethanol gasolines can gum-up valves and make the stick open. I suppose this is plausible because of the cooler burning.
                  Skids (Sid Hansen)

                  Down to one 1978 E. Stock air box with K&N filter, 81H pipes and carbs, 8500 feet elevation.

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                  • #24
                    Something I find that doesn't make sense is I do get better gas mileage with the higher octane gas I get here in New England. What doesn't make sense is the XJ11 like all of our 1100s has a fairly low compression ratio so it doesn't require higher octane. And, none of the gas I can get is pure gas, it's all been adulterated with ethanol in my area of New England.

                    I mentioned I've gotten 43 MPG (42.97 MPG) with my XJ11 but it was with around 91-92 octane (I mix 93 & 87 octane, it's cheaper than buying 91 octane). I've never gotten those high mileages with 87 octane; all my high MPG is with higher octane than the minimum.
                    82 XJ1100 Maxim "hurricane"- DEKA EXT18L AGM battery , NGK BPR6EIX spark plugs, Green Dyna coils, Sylvania SilverStar Ultra H4 bulb, 139 dB Stebel Nautilus air horn, Home-made K&N air filter based on an original paper filter frame, new piston rings, Barnett Clutch Springs, SS braid/Teflon brake lines, TKAT fork brace, rebuilt calipers, master cylinders, new brakes, reupholstered seat, lotsa little things and so many answered questions here.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Originally posted by KA1J View Post
                      all my high MPG is with higher octane than the minimum.
                      You can tune for high octane. High octane fuel will tolerate more spark advance than regular.
                      Marty (in Mississippi)
                      XS1100SG
                      XS650SK
                      XS650SH
                      XS650G
                      XS6502F
                      XS650E

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by jetmechmarty View Post
                        You can tune for high octane. High octane fuel will tolerate more spark advance than regular.
                        I've heard that but I haven't done anything to the ignition except dynacoils, 8mm wires, zero ohm mod to the plug caps & Iridium plugs. I've never touched the advance, I don't know how to with these bikes. Maybe a PO did that in the past and it now runs better with higher octane? No pinging with 87 octane though.

                        Yet another mystery I'll never know the answer to.
                        82 XJ1100 Maxim "hurricane"- DEKA EXT18L AGM battery , NGK BPR6EIX spark plugs, Green Dyna coils, Sylvania SilverStar Ultra H4 bulb, 139 dB Stebel Nautilus air horn, Home-made K&N air filter based on an original paper filter frame, new piston rings, Barnett Clutch Springs, SS braid/Teflon brake lines, TKAT fork brace, rebuilt calipers, master cylinders, new brakes, reupholstered seat, lotsa little things and so many answered questions here.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Mpg

                          Hi, Y'all,
                          I live and work south of Houston, and ride 27 miles to work, doing around 11,000 miles/year, just riding to work. I have two 11's (SH and a Venturer), that are basically stock, with IV Vetters. Both needed carb and brake work when acquired. Carbs were gone through once and bench synced, only. The floats were set by fuel level sight tubes, also on the bench. The SH has 60,000 plus, and the H has near 10,000 since the carbs were set. So far both run spot on, no falters and easy starting.
                          Now to the gas mileage. I run cheap gas with ethanol, and a couple oz. of seafoam in each full tank. If I run the p___ out of it, MPG is 33-35. If I old lady it, MPG is 30-32. This improvement seems to relate to higher rpm, rather than ultimate speed. There are many lights and cager passes on my route, so there are a lot high rpm takeoffs and dodging traffic. Some weeks the traffic gets wadded up, and I can't blast around properly (old lady days), the MPG suffers. Both bikes are geared to run 70 mph at 4 grand, so the only difference in MPG, seems to come from higher twisting between 1st and 4th gear.

                          More variables to consider.

                          ExcessiveBiker
                          81 SH
                          81 H

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                          • #28
                            Don't know how you get 70 mph at 4k, stock setup with the standards 4k is 60 and for the special it is about 4.5k for 60.
                            Nathan
                            KD9ARL

                            μολὼν λαβέ

                            1978 XS1100E
                            K&N Filter
                            #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                            OEM Exhaust
                            ATK Fork Brace
                            LED Dash lights
                            Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                            Green Monster Coils
                            SS Brake Lines
                            Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                            In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                            Theodore Roosevelt

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                            • #29
                              Originally posted by natemoen View Post
                              Don't know how you get 70 mph at 4k, stock setup with the standards 4k is 60 and for the special it is about 4.5k for 60.
                              It could be the tach. My first one had 55 mph at 3500 rpm. I found one with a better face and it shows nearly 4000 rpm @ 55 mph. The current one seems to stop at 6K, so I'll be changing it again. I always suspected the first one to be spot on because my XS650 with stock sprocket sizes turns the exact same RPM at speeds. So, maybe he has a slow tack and/or a GL1000 gearbox.
                              Marty (in Mississippi)
                              XS1100SG
                              XS650SK
                              XS650SH
                              XS650G
                              XS6502F
                              XS650E

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                              • #30
                                I've never paid much attention to rpm ranges except one number: 80mph= 5200rpm on my bike.
                                1979 XS1100F
                                2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.

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