Another fuel mileage question

1430 Views 21 Replies 16 Participants Last post by plskthompson, Nov 13, 2009

plskthompson

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2009

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I took a trip to a swap meet yesterday that was about 100 miles north of me. I pulled a small trailer on the interstate, speed limit 70mph. Now there is no way I was going that fast with an empty trailer behind me because everytime a good gust of wind hit that trailer I was all over the road.

My average speed was between 60 and 65, so I wasn't far off. My biggest thing was that on this trip, even riding just myself pulling the trailer, as best I can figure I was averaging between 30 and 38 mpg. According to this thread

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=4901&forum_id=4&highlight=gl1100+fuel+mileage

I should be getting closer to 50mpg being an 1100. I don't know the full maint. history or when the plugs or anything other than the oil was changed last. Should I be looking into changing the plugs and airfilter pretty soon to see if that boosts the mpg. I already plan on changing the timing belts this winter just because I don't know when it was done last.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Silicon Sam

· #2 · Aug 10, 2009

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When pulling a trailer, all mileage bets are off. The 50 mpg was best case scenario. Not pulling a trailer, riding one-up, 65 mph, no strong headwind.

My bike loses quite a bit of mileage pulling a trailer. To be expected. I would love to get 38 fully loaded pulling s trailer!

plskthompson

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 10, 2009

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I wasn't fully loaded. The trailer was empty. Completely empty. Just in case I found something nice that wouldn't fit in the trunk.

k1w1t1m

· #4 · Aug 10, 2009

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I have never managed to get 50 mpg out of mine. Two up and if I stick to the backroads and 55mph or less I'll get a best of 46.5mpg. At 65mph I seem to get 40 mpg and if I do 70/75 mileage goes down to about 37 mpg.

plskthompson

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 10, 2009

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So my math isn't wrong and there is nothing really to worry about. I am going to check on a set of plugs and an air filter pretty soon though. Mainly for the simple fact that I just don't know when it was done last.

Bagmaster

· #6 · Aug 10, 2009

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k1w1t1m wrote:

I have never managed to get 50 mpg out of mine. Two up and if I stick to the backroads and 55mph or less I'll get a best of 46.5mpg. At 65mph I seem to get 40 mpg and if I do 70/75 mileage goes down to about 37 mpg.

About the same for me until i installed a taller, full wrap-a-round windshield, then my mileage dropped by about 5 mpg. I'm gonna try installed some Vetter style vents in it to see if that helps bring the mileage back up. If the vent's don't help then i may put the stock shield back on for the rest of the riding season.

chris in va

· #7 · Aug 10, 2009

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30-38 with a trailer on an 1100 sounds about right. I get about 42 or so riding solo on my 83.

The bike is pretty underpowered as it is, so riding two up with a trailer really taxes the motor.

bamadave

· #8 · Aug 10, 2009

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plskthompson wrote:

I took a trip to a swap meet yesterday that was about 100 miles north of me. I pulled a small trailer on the interstate, speed limit 70mph. Now there is no way I was going that fast with an empty trailer behind me because everytime a good gust of wind hit that trailer I was all over the road.

My average speed was between 60 and 65, so I wasn't far off. My biggest thing was that on this trip, even riding just myself pulling the trailer, as best I can figure I was averaging between 30 and 38 mpg. According to this thread

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=4901&forum_id=4&highlight=gl1100+fuel+mileage

I should be getting closer to 50mpg being an 1100. I don't know the full maint. history or when the plugs or anything other than the oil was changed last. Should I be looking into changing the plugs and airfilter pretty soon to see if that boosts the mpg. I already plan on changing the timing belts this winter just because I don't know when it was done last.

First thing I did after I bought my '82 last week was changed the timing belts. $60.00 for the 2 belts from NAPA. Cheap insurance and piece of mind. My '06 Kawasaki 900 w/windshieldaveraged 50MPG, soif I can get 40+out of my Aspencade I will be happy. I am going to start checking and see what I get and post back.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

plskthompson

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 11, 2009

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Ok guys, I did the math again today. One up, no trailer, 70 mph on the interstate behind the "big rigs". From 4.25 gal of gas, I got 143 mile which averages out to 33.65 mpg. Does this really sound right for an 1100? I don't know unless I find out here. This is the best place for GW info I have found.

sandiegobrass

· #10 · Aug 11, 2009

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Its fine.. anyone getting 50mpg is going really slow... or has a broken calculator

k1w1t1m

· #11 · Aug 11, 2009

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Yeah, that sounds about right.

I prefer to tootle along in the right lane at about 65 mph/4000 rpm. Doing this I get about 40 mpg and it doesn't seem to matter whether it's one up or two up.

I'd go faster but I hate the frantic noises coming from the engine even though I know it should be able to handle it.

clarkjh

· #12 · Aug 11, 2009

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k1w1t1m wrote:

I'd go faster but I hate the frantic noises coming from the engine even though I know it should be able to handle it.

The 1100 does seem to need another gear for the highway.

James

oldtoys1961

· #13 · Aug 12, 2009

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I'm getting 45 solo. Will check this weekend with the trailer. I'll be happy if I get 38-40 mpg. I won't be loaded way down,toting the small 3 man dome but more cooking utensils and odd and ends than last time.

MDKramer

· #14 · Aug 12, 2009

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plskthompson wrote:

Ok guys, I did the math again today. One up, no trailer, 70 mph on the interstate behind the "big rigs". From 4.25 gal of gas, I got 143 mile which averages out to 33.65 mpg. Does this really sound right for an 1100? I don't know unless I find out here. This is the best place for GW info I have found.

This will be my 20th year owning my 80' 1100, and I can say this.

I have NEVER seen 40mpg. Not once. The bike isn't geared for it, nor are 81', or 82'.

If you're averaging between 30 and 35, it's right.

The trailer, no matter how small, will add wind drag, wind drag will eat mileage.

Windshields alone will cause a difference in mileage on an 1100. Standard height windshield, I get around 34 (as long as I keep my big ole' feet off the highway pegs), tall windshield cuts me to 31, extra tall wrap-around cuts me below 28.

Did I mention the highway pegs? Put my feet out on them, and not only do I have to twist more throttle to maintain speed, but I'll lose 2mpg in the process.

'83 is geared higher in 4th and 5th. Those bikes will see 40+

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peterbilt

· #15 · Aug 13, 2009

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if you look at your rpm guage at 65 - 70 mph on a 1100 your pulling around 4000 to 4500 rpms depending on the load your carring, head wind, grade ect...

with 4 foward and one overdrive at speeds under 55 with not stopping or anything i pull at the most 44mpg i cannot do any better than that ive tried everything through town i get around 32 to 35mpg depending on how easy i am on the throttle between stop lights

on the interstate average 70mph you get worse fuel milage almost like driving through town the engine is at HIGH rpms another gear would do the trick but not on an 1100 thats what 1500's are for a friend of mine has a 1200 and its basically the same trans and he gets the same milage as me no more or less but your not gonna get 50mpg from a 1500

Keno

· #16 · Aug 14, 2009

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Oh man the throttle response in the lower gears!, feels good to down shift, crack the throttle, swing out and move on down the road. Hmmmm nice smooth road no traffic to speak of and this baby just purrs at 75 & 80. Boy if you stick your arm out to wave the wind sure is stout at 70 +. Remember being about blowed away in my younger days hugging the tank and peeking around the headlight at 60on the old Harley and Indians. Sure is nice to sit up see everthing while riding. Toying with the throttle in town 28 to 32mpg.....Just riding around 32 to 35 avg.mpg. On the road enjoying the ride and sight seeing at50 to 65, approx. 38 mpg. Need to go somewhere and git back 55to85 mostly around 75 gives me about35mpg. Usally buy gas at 120 to 150 miles of short runs and errands. 4to 4.5gallons.:bat::action:Keno

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The Lake

· #17 · Aug 14, 2009

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With my 83 I get about 44 on the highway running about 65; 42-43 at 70. Pulling the trailer at 60mph I can get 39-40.

The best I have done is 50mpg, that was driving between 55 and 60.

In town driving I get about 41.

Curiously when we went to Colorado two weeks ago I was getting 46-50 while driving 2up at altititude.

Chuck

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bamadave

· #18 · Aug 20, 2009

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I am right there with you guys-
44 MPG @ 60-65 first check
43 MPG @ 60-65 second check
Going to check air pressure and increase if low as I just bought the bike and check again.

NiceRider0001

· #19 · Nov 13, 2009

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I recently bought a 1983 GL1100 Interstate a few months ago. I just changed my oil less than 200 miles ago. And I have been experimenting with the different fuel grades to see if that has any effect on my MPG. I average about 33 MPG, but I am mostly either driving around in the city, or doing in excess of 70 MPH on the freeways. Riding mostly one-up, but don't even see much drop in MPG if riding two-up. The most MPG I've gotten so far is about 37 MPG.

I think that I'm going to stick with the low grade fuel (87 octane here in Cali). There doesn't seem to be much difference, and they guy I bought it from said to run the 87 octane.

However, I also have the large highway pegs, and do use them whenever I can. Also, I have two large lights (one on each side) that are mounted on the front crash bars (I'm not exactly sure what these are called). I'm not sure about my windshield size, but I don't think that it is very long...seems about average height (it measures almost exactly 5 feet from the top of the windshield to the floor).

I'm sure that with the highway pegs, the extra lights, and my 70+ speeds, that they all factor in to how much MPG's I am getting. Although, I'm not even sure how much it is supposed to get. The guy I bought it from said that the bike will get 40 MPG's on the highway (I'm guessing that this is probably at 55 MPH, without having your feet on the highway pegs).

But, one thing I do know is that I LOVE my first and new (to me) GL1100 Goldwing!

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AspectOne

· #20 · Nov 13, 2009

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PLK how bout a pic of your bike and trailer bro????????

BTW my 1100 get 45 riding solo and staying under 65 while short shifting... it is the BEST I can get... If I flog it on a ride with Dave and Andy it drops to 35 or less .... quick!

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