nonsv content: gold wing poor gas mileage

[Randy Grein]

Yes. I topped off the tank this morning and it's not quite as bad as I  
thought - 30 mpg instead of 20, still terrible. But I took a ride with  
my wife (she loves the comfort, we could go places on this bike) and  
it seemed to do really well - until we hit the freeway. I set the  
cruise control just over 70 and you could watch the gas gauge drop.  
I'll try cruising around 60 or so for a tank and see if that helps.

Randy Grein, WMRRA #141

On Jun 11, 2010, at 9:57 PM, Ernest Montague wrote:

> Randy:
>
> Run a couple tanks before you get too invested in trusting the gas  
> gauge.
>
>
> On Jun 11, 2010, at 9:47 PM, Randy Grein wrote:
>
>> Thanks Jim, sounds like you have some history there too. I won't  
>> lie though - we weren't close at all, then there was a rough  
>> divorce and he was pretty consistently a jerk through the whole  
>> thing. Easier now that he doesn't remember a lot of that stuff, and  
>> as long as he's on his medications he's OK - just has big holes in  
>> his memory. But he needs some help getting a few possessions  
>> handled, or liquidated and nobody wants him riding. Or driving.
>>
>> I know what you mean about testing fuel economy, been doing it for  
>> years. I'm kind of a nut about it. But I've never had a streetbike  
>> get this kind of mileage and old reviews have it pegged at  
>> 40-45mpg. It's pretty nice other than that, if you like big, comfy  
>> couches when cruising down the road. I'm going to take the wife for  
>> a ride this weekend - this is one bike she can ride on without  
>> getting sore.
>>
>> Randy Grein
>>
>> On Jun 11, 2010, at 9:27 PM, Jim Stewart wrote:
>>
>>> Randy Grein wrote:
>>>> Yeah, I know - not an SV, but we have serious talent on the list,  
>>>> it's been too quiet, and I'm not sure where to start. See, my dad  
>>>> stored his gold wing 3 years ago when he started losing his memory.
>>>
>>> Randy, I know what it's like. Heartbreaking.  My best to you and  
>>> your family.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It's a 1992
>>>> with only 51,000 miles and he took pretty good care of it until  
>>>> then. Anyway, he gave it to me as I'm the only one in the family  
>>>> who rides and he didn't want to sell it. So I get a new battery  
>>>> and rear tire,  do a routine service and it runs - pretty well,  
>>>> too. Idles fine, starts right up, good power and no misses. But  
>>>> gas mileage is crap, 3/4 of a 6.5 gallon tank in 110 miles and I  
>>>> wasn't going that fast. Other than the cruise control light being  
>>>> on I can't think of anything that would cut gas milage in half  
>>>> without running like shit. Ideas?
>>>
>>>
>>> I wonder if it was ever right.
>>>
>>> I know I'm strange, but every "new" bike I've gotten in the last  
>>> couple of decades has been tested. One of the bench tests is to  
>>> fill it to the top, then drain it until it stops running in the  
>>> normal petcock position.
>>>
>>> Make a note.
>>>
>>> Then put the petcock on reserve. Repeat.
>>>
>>> Make another note.
>>>
>>> I've had some real surprises...
>>>
>>> -js
>>
>