What kind of mileage do ya get?

Willy, the ZL9 I gave to Shawn drains the tank at 50 miles! His tank is a bit small due to some bondo work by PO,
I tuned the carbs, set the valves, went through the wiring, re-cleaned the carbs, re-tuned the carbs, the bike is just plain thirsty! Trying to keep up with my ZL1 around town he hits reserve as low as 34 miles!
I rebuilt the petcock so at least he has reserve now!
I told him he would get good gas mileage with a smaller street bike and he just laughed at me!
 
I ran 132 mains with pods forever and could squeeze out 38-42 mpg pretty regularly. I added the advancer - 3 or 4 degrees, adjustable, can't remember which - and my mileage dropped to somewhere around 32-36 maybe 38 mpg - didn't pay that much attention to it before I started making changes again. I just upped the carbs to 136 mains and have not gone through a full tank yet as the weather here has suuucked big time. I've got 40 miles on this tank so far and I'm not real sure that I had it completely topped off and full - so I'm probably about to hit reserve. Later.
 
Finally got through a tank with the 136 mains. Not completely sure it was topped up to the same spot but I went 59.3 miles, gassed up and put in 1.782 gallons. That's 33.277 mpg - right? I'm going to put a mark on the hump inside the tank so I can make sure I fill up to the same spot in the future. Later.
 
THE FUEL MILEAGE: These results were obtained with steady cruising at a mostly constant speed. I wish this thing had a 6th gear that was made for cruising not racing.
72mph=29.6mpg
62mph=34.0mpg
53mph=35.5mpg
48mph=36.0mpg

6TH GEAR SPEED:
6000RPM=75MPH (that's a stupid waste of gas)

SPEEDO: My bikes speedo and mileage counter are very close to what my Garmin GPS shows.
 
gds said:
I wish this thing had a 6th gear that was made for cruising not racing.

6TH GEAR SPEED:
6000RPM=75MPH (that's a stupid waste of gas)
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ZL's aren't particularly practical -

this is, but it's not a ZL . . .

Puch%20Moped.jpg
 
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Just got back from a long trip of around 1700 miles averaged around 40 for the trip riding 2 up with camping gear. Alot of the roads were in the mountains so average speed wasn't real high but it was hard riding just ask my gf about her boot :laughing7:

(Bike is mostly stock just running a K&N)
 
lilschmied said:
Just got back from a long trip of around 1700 miles averaged around 40 for the trip riding 2 up with camping gear. Alot of the roads were in the mountains so average speed wasn't real high but it was hard riding just ask my gf about her boot :laughing7:

(Bike is mostly stock just running a K&N)
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Thats a hell of a trip to take riding 2-up on a zl900!!! With camping gear??? I can't picture this,,,,, speaking of pics...where are they?
 
Someone had asked me what RPM I was running on my 9 when I am in 6th gear at 60 MPH.....Tach is running about 4800 RPM in 6th at 60 MPH...

Willy

How does someone ride 2 up with camping gear and average around 40 when I ride 1 up, taking it easy and get 23-25 mpg...My 9 is stock....Soon to have a K&N in place of the paper filter...Stock air box, stock exhaust...carbs are basically stock....
 
WillyD said:
Someone had asked me what RPM I was running on my 9 when I am in 6th gear at 60 MPH.....Tach is running about 4800 RPM in 6th at 60 MPH...

Willy

How does someone ride 2 up with camping gear and average around 40 when I ride 1 up, taking it easy and get 23-25 mpg...My 9 is stock....Soon to have a K&N in place of the paper filter...Stock air box, stock exhaust...carbs are basically stock....
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It has to be pretty dang rich or it leaks. That's all I got for ya mine can be in the upwards of 45 if I take it easy.
 
zlMark said:
On the hump???,,lol........... I fill mine to the filler neck
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I only fill up that far if I'm immediately going to do some riding. Just running back and forth to work, I don't fill all the way up as I don't like letting the bike sit, outside, in the sun, leaned over with the tank all the way topped off. Probably the reason I only put 1.782 gallons back in. Just one of my "quirks" I guess - hahaha. Later.
 
Got in a 130 mile cruise around southern WV. Averaged 32.5mpg from an average speed of 50mph while having fun in the twisties. Stayed in 5th and 6th gear most of trip.
3 separate mileage readings (comparing bike's tripometer to GPS device):
bike's trip said 54.3 miles, GPS said 54.6 miles
bike's trip said 56.2 miles, GPS said 56.6 miles
bike's trip said 22.7 miles, GPS said 22.8 miles
This bike's mileage counter is pretty darn accurate.
Can't remember exactly but my front tire size is a size bigger than stock.
 
Hey Willy, When I read where you wrote that when your speedo reads 60, that your tach read 4800 that got my attention so this afternoon I went for a ride to check my readings and on my 900 when my speedo reads 60, my tach reads
4000. Interesting huh? I hope that some other members will check theirs and chime in.
 
rkerg said:
Hey Willy, When I read where you wrote that when your speedo reads 60, that your tach read 4800 that got my attention so this afternoon I went for a ride to check my readings and on my 900 when my speedo reads 60, my tach reads
4000. Interesting huh? I hope that some other members will check theirs and chime in.
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Just checked mine -

50 mph = 3300 rpm
60 mph = 4000 rpm
70 mph = 4700 rpm

This is indicated speed - I don't have a fancy GPS.
Usually get 34-35 mpg. Worst 32, best 40.
ZL1000 with stock airbox and jetting.
Use only premium, non-ethonol gasoline.
 
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I know for fact I turn 4700rpm at 70. what size tire kawboy? mine's a 170/80-15 K555 dunlop
 
zlMark said:
I know for fact I turn 4700rpm at 70. what size tire kawboy? mine's a 170/80-15 K555 dunlop
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170/80-15 Dunlop CruiseMax. It's a bit flat in the center of the tread, though :laughing7:
 
kawboy said:
Just checked mine -

50 mph = 3300 rpm
60 mph = 4000 rpm
70 mph = 4700 rpm

This is indicated speed - I don't have a fancy GPS.
Usually get 34-35 mpg. Worst 32, best 40.
ZL1000 with stock airbox and jetting.
Use only premium, non-ethonol gasoline.
Click to expand...

That tracks pretty close to my 900.
At 5000 rpm's my speedo is reading about 72-73

And this afternoons ride, I got 37 mpg.
I only use Chevron premium, BTW, it was $2.99 today.
 
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