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Gas mileage

5174 Views 29 Replies 21 Participants Last post by  VtypeV4, 
ciggstovapor
Just curious to see what kind of mpg ur getting... My 500 does about 105 miles before the reserve kicks on. Super gas is all I use. takes about 2.5 gallons to fill it up. So I'm around 45or so mpg. I travel mainly 50mph...



How bout u?
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Ohm
My GL, 4.5 gallon tank, did a little over 47mpg today on the highway and that was cruising at 70-75mph.
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Blindstitch
It ranges. At the moment i'm having a problem that should be solved this weekend but i'm getting 37. Feels like a big kick when I was getting 46-50.



Just so you know it's a waste to put anything more than 87 in the bike.
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brushdaddy500
I topped my GLI at about 4gal and i'm at a little over 200 miles still not on res.



Cheers Rob.
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Shep
When the bikes were first launched in the UK/Europe they had an advertised average mpg of 50 mpg UK gallon/41 US mpg.Anything around or above this is good.The GL500 Silverwings seem to be the best for economy and that is almost certainly down to the superb aerodynamic design of the Honda fairing.



I can get as low as 45 mpg UK but you wouldn't see me for long<grin>.Electric fan,tuned Harley exhausts,properly balanced carbs and low riding stance when required behind small Wind shield




My 10 penn'th
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King_Panther13
I usually get in the low 40s around town, mid 40s if I go on small jaunts during my work/school week. For some odd reason, I've been in the high 30s for the past 2-3 tanks. Pulling my plugs shows me running lean (very slight tan around the tips of the plugs, the rest are white, but they're iridium and may read differently, so I'm uncertain). I was going to start a troubleshooting thread, but I'm doing my valves this weekend, hoping that that may fix it as I've never even had the valve covers off since buying the bike.



What I love about this bike is that on trips I do around the mid to high 40s at least. I've hit the 50s in the past, all pending on my riding style, where I'm riding, and the traffic. If it's nonstop cruising around 70 MPH like on a highway or interstate without slowing down or speeding up at all, I've made in the low 50s.
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MikeCMP
Riding style definately plays a part. Depending on how agressive I am I get between 48-56 mpg.



Mileage lower than the mid 40's may indicate a problem - I started getting 38 mpg, turns out the lining in my gas tank had disolved out, and deposited in my carbs. Now that they are all fixed up bikes mileage is pretty good.



Properly inflated tires should not be underrate either -check your tires before you ride!



Mike
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seedy
I feel fortunate. I got the GL650I in January and been commuting to work the last three weeks. It's 145 mile round trip, with 125 of that on the interstate. I average 55 mpg. Can easily go 200+ miles before reserve. I haven't gotten any less than 52 mpg and twice I've hit 60 mpg. I keep my speed between 60 and 65 mph. Although it really likes 70+, the mileage drops to the lower end. With the distance I ride, every mpg counts. Last summer I rode my '82 CM450 every day. It gets 65/70 mpg all the time. But riding it that far every day was wearing me out. So I found the GL650I and am delighted with the mileage, ride, comfort, and handling. Not so happy about the weight.



TT
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Shep
Seedy said:
I feel fortunate. I got the GL650I in January and been commuting to work the last three weeks. It's 145 mile round trip, with 125 of that on the interstate. I average 55 mpg. Can easily go 200+ miles before reserve. I haven't gotten any less than 52 mpg and twice I've hit 60 mpg. I keep my speed between 60 and 65 mph. Although it really likes 70+, the mileage drops to the lower end. With the distance I ride, every mpg counts. Last summer I rode my '82 CM450 every day. It gets 65/70 mpg all the time. But riding it that far every day was wearing me out. So I found the GL650I and am delighted with the mileage, ride, comfort, and handling. Not so happy about the weight.



TT
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You have the more modern TAI ignition plus an electric fan and the fairing and slight lower gearing so I'm not surprised at the good results even with the smaller rear wheel
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Shep
Cramer said:
I usually get in the low 40s around town, mid 40s if I go on small jaunts during my work/school week. For some odd reason, I've been in the high 30s for the past 2-3 tanks. Pulling my plugs shows me running lean (very slight tan around the tips of the plugs, the rest are white, but they're iridium and may read differently, so I'm uncertain). I was going to start a troubleshooting thread, but I'm doing my valves this weekend, hoping that that may fix it as I've never even had the valve covers off since buying the bike.



What I love about this bike is that on trips I do around the mid to high 40s at least. I've hit the 50s in the past, all pending on my riding style, where I'm riding, and the traffic. If it's nonstop cruising around 70 MPH like on a highway or interstate without slowing down or speeding up at all, I've made in the low 50s.
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Iridiums should diagnose exactly the same as any other plugs.You want a Tan colour or Grey plug.Err on the side of too rich rather than too lean.As Per Mike's post always keep tyres inflated correctly.Even a couple of pounds down will affect MPG more on a bike than a car as we only have the two wheels






Ignore reference to electronic tacho,just use idle speed 1100 +/- 10%.



Also check carb balance.
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gopher
Shep said:
The GL500 Silverwings seem to be the best for economy and that is almost certainly down to the superb aerodynamic design of the Honda fairing.
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My 81 faired Silverwing Interstate consistently gets 63 mpg Imp = 50.4 mpg US. in flat country, at a steady 63 mph, and with a gentle throttle hand.
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B
Seedy said:
I feel fortunate. I got the GL650I in January and been commuting to work the last three weeks. It's 145 mile round trip, with 125 of that on the interstate. I average 55 mpg. Can easily go 200+ miles before reserve. I haven't gotten any less than 52 mpg and twice I've hit 60 mpg. I keep my speed between 60 and 65 mph. Although it really likes 70+, the mileage drops to the lower end. With the distance I ride, every mpg counts. Last summer I rode my '82 CM450 every day. It gets 65/70 mpg all the time. But riding it that far every day was wearing me out. So I found the GL650I and am delighted with the mileage, ride, comfort, and handling. Not so happy about the weight.



TT
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Hello from Lake Zurich, IL

I am responding because I see you are not too far from Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio. I am leaving soon for a trip to Maine and wonder if you have any suggestions for interesting routes or camping going around lake Erie and Ontario. I am planning on sticking to the interstate until I get to NY unless I can find a more interesting route.



I have an 82 GL500I and get from 45 to 55 MPG depending on speed and wind as the greatest factor.

rgb
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Bisbobble
I was just wondering about fuel economy. I just got the bike a few weeks ago. First tank was 23 mpg. I also get some high pitched ping under acceleration. Now I know something is wrong with the fuel system. Carbs here I come.
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A
Well I've only put 1000 miles on my bike so far but I've kept detailed gas logs. I'm averaging 48mpg. I ride typically 60mph on the hwy, 25 - 35 mph in the city and on the gravel back roads.

peace

Owen
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Shep
Bisbobble said:
I was just wondering about fuel economy. I just got the bike a few weeks ago. First tank was 23 mpg. I also get some high pitched ping under acceleration. Now I know something is wrong with the fuel system. Carbs here I come.
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That is bad.What state are the plugs?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Plugs.htm
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chicagorandy
Using the 10% ethanol fuels (the only ones available around these parts) and burning the 89 octane I will typically get 40-45mpg or there abouts. Once I get out of the constant stop and go traffic of the city it naturally improves to better numbers.



With all the gas stations in my riding area, I have actually never needed to switch to reserve on any of my cycles nor run out of gas in any vehicle. Most all my cycle riding is recreational (other than the daily 17 mile commute to work when the weather is nice)so there is little need to pass up a gas stop. I typically have nowhere specific to go and all day to get there - LOL
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Shep
chicagorandy said:
I typically have nowhere specific to go and all day to get there - LOL
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I love going there.It's a great place
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kingston73
chicagorandy said:
Using the 10% ethanol fuels (the only ones available around these parts) and burning the 89 octane I will typically get 40-45mpg or there abouts. Once I get out of the constant stop and go traffic of the city it naturally improves to better numbers.
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This is my experience as well. It's basically the opposite of cars, my truck gets much better highway mileage than city, but the cx is the other way around. I'd say anything lower than 35 mpg and you've got some problems somewhere, my truck almost gets 20 mpg.
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bandit
Shep said:
I love going there.It's a great place
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i get 50 plus out of mine,up to 56mpg.

not that it matters,its cheaper to take the berlingo diesel to work than the bike.....the way fuel prices are here
...diesel is way cheaper



no where specific to go,all day to do it...i love it






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VtypeV4
Shep said:
I love going there.It's a great place
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​



Brilliant, I love that! I went for a run yesterday around dinner time to see my friend but he wasn't in. Of course I always have to take the long way there and the long way back! 40 mile round trip but it was lovely sunny. Later we went to the cafe on the A41 and had a spot of tea. There's a bike meet up there on a Thurs and as ever my CX drew the usual comments "I haven't seen one that clean for years", "What did you pay for that, mate" and my favourite "I/my dad/brother/uncle/cousin/friend USED to have one of these!"



Sorry, I'm waffling!




Anyway I clocked 123 miles yesterday but haven't clocked the consumption yet.



The best I got was a few weeks back where I clocked 66 mpg (UK) on sweeping A roads averaging about 55-60 mph..
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