GL 1500 gas mileage

1490 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Mack45, Aug 16, 2009

Mack45

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2009

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I just bought an 88 GL 1500. What kind of gas mileage is considered normal.

I checked my first tank and am getting 33 MPG. Is this good, bad or normal?

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Ferrarimx5

· #2 · Aug 13, 2009

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Normal for your first tank. I will bet you have been running it up to 5,000 rpm and playing in traffic, but as you mello out and start shifting at 2,750 rpm and cruzing at 60MPH you will find your gas mileage approaching 40. Soon you will be experimenting and taking longer trips which will lead you towards the 45 MPG mark. If you can get 45 consistantly you are doing better than the best of the 1500 crowd!

If you consistantly get 33 MPG then you will should do the basic maintanance (Filters, Syncing the Carbs, Seafoam, Bleeding Brakes)

Jluvs2dive

· #3 · Aug 13, 2009

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What kind of riding? On the highway below 70 MPH you can expect around 40, some get a little higher. With a lot of city riding or on the highway above 70 probably between 35-40. 33 might be a bit low but it really depends on the riding.

For example, on our trip to NASSIR 1 last September/October, I was averaging around 40 mpgat speeds between 65-70. On one stretch of highway, in Wyoming I believe, we were averaging speeds between 80-85, and had a strong head wind. I think I got 29 mpg on that leg. When we rode up to the Dragon from Calhoun, we averaged around 40-45 mph and it was mostly low speed highways, and got nearly 50 mpg.

John

AZgl1800

· #4 · Aug 13, 2009

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I say that is perfectly normal for daily riding in to/from work type traffic.

34 mpg is the best I ever got in two years of riding a 1500 to/from work. Miles round trip is 38, all but 5 of that is freeway driving with crowded lanes. Average speed to stay with the crowd is 75 mph.

Worst I ever got was 25 mpg with a horrible side wind on I-8 at 85 mph.

Best I ever got was 37 mpg with my speed at or less than 55 mph.

I am not one of those who thinks he has to get 40 mpg or better to feel happy. I got the bike to enjoy, and enjoy it I did. I rode it like it was a 250cc Yamaha DT which I used to own, or was it the Yamaha XS650 which I also used to own. All three of those bikes always drug the pegs on corners, nearly every corner I went around.

I have had my gl1500 bottom out on the dip from the main road turning onto the side road going to my house. Scraped the frame on dry pavement.

It simply depends on how you ride them, and where you keep the tach at or under.

Me? The tach stayed above 3,000 all the time, I didn't shift until it hit 4,500 or more. I rode it hard and followed the crotch rockets and stayed with them, just to show them that a geezerglider can keep up with them.

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fenry

· #5 · Aug 13, 2009

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I pull a consistent 42mpg running legal speeds with a city/country balance of mileage. I also dump Seafoam in about once a month.

If I start the 70- 90mph thing it'll pull down to 34-39mpg.

....and I refuse to use E-10 in it...

G

· #6 · Aug 14, 2009

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I average an easy 40 mpg with everyday riding.

96aspencade

· #7 · Aug 14, 2009

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40mpg + below 3000 rpm should doable. :waving:

hoopdc

· #8 · Aug 14, 2009

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Yikes !! I had a 2000 Gold Wing Aspencade for 9 years and about 67,000 miles.

I averaged 44 mpg religiously.

Dennis

hoopdc

· #9 · Aug 14, 2009

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fenry wrote:

I pull a consistent 42mpg running legal speeds with a city/country balance of mileage. I also dump Seafoam in about once a month.

If I start the 70- 90mph thing it'll pull down to 34-39mpg.

....and I refuse to use E-10 in it...

What is Seafoam ??

AZgl1800

· #10 · Aug 14, 2009

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I should have mentioned that ethanol gas is the only thing in town, and that guarantees me at least 10% worse mileage than real gasoline can provide.

fenry

· #11 · Aug 15, 2009

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hoopdc wrote:

What is Seafoam ??

:shock: Heresy!Heresy!:dude:

http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment/index.html

Seafoam is to gasoline as Pledge is to everything else!!:dude:

Some folks run Seafoam all the time, put it in their crankcase, use it on their salad

etc. I just use it in the fuel tank to help stabilize the fuel and keep my carbs clean during the running season.

After all, the medical folks say we all have to keep an eye on our carbs...:cheeky1:

...forgot to mention that you can find Seafoam at most automotive parts stores and WalMart used to carry it, but lately it hasn't been in the WalMarts around here. About $6-7 bux a pint can.

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deradler1

· #12 · Aug 15, 2009

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I just filled up yesterday and using BP 93 Octane I got 48 mpg for a full tank. That is for a combination of city and highway miles.

AZgl1800

· #13 · Aug 15, 2009

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fenry wrote:

hoopdc wrote:

What is Seafoam ??

Click to expand...

:shock: Heresy!Heresy!:dude:
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment/index.html
Seafoam is to gasoline as Pledge is to everything else!!:dude:

Some folks run Seafoam all the time, put it in their crankcase, use it on their saladAfter all, the medical folks say we all have to keep an eye on our carbs...:cheeky1:

WalMart used to carry it, but lately it hasn't been in the WalMarts around here. About $6-7 bux a pint can.

Oh Yes! Sea Foam..... ah sea foam, I use that as a salad treatment all the time. Good for what ails you :cooldevil: :cooldevil: :cooldevil: that's why I am so cranky :cheeky1: :cheeky1: zoom zoom.....

Walmart's price has gone up to $8.6ish a can now. Plenty of it on our store shelves here.

Mack45

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 15, 2009

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I got 36 on this last tank. I haven't done the seafoam thing to this one yet. I am going to pick up a can this morning. I will also replace the plugs when I do the timing belts too.

rgbeard

· #15 · Aug 15, 2009

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Sorry - but can someone explain some foreign terms to me???

The ones that got me are: "Under 70mph" and "legal speeds".

I'm tryin' to catch-on.

G

· #16 · Aug 15, 2009

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RGBEARD
Id tell you but then id have to kill you.
LMAO
Let me knoe when you figure it out

hoopdc

· #17 · Aug 15, 2009

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http://www.lucasoil.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=26&catid=2

Thanks !! I had never heard of Seafoam. I'm gonna try it. I have been using this stuff for years. But, I haven't tried it on salad yet.

It seems you can add Seafoam into just about any part of the engine that has an opening.

Dennis

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Mack45

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 16, 2009

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hoopdc, you might try mixing the seafoam half and half with vinegar for the salad dressing!
I just bought a can and have put some of it in the tank. I'll see what happens.

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