gas mileage?

Hey guys. I'm a pretty new xj650 owner...as can be seen in my post in the hangout section.
This has probably been covered a million times...but

How many miles do you other 650 owners usually get out of a tank of gas? I realize that the tank is pretty small...and I'm used to my old shadow 1100...but I've had to switch to reserve twice in the 2 weeks I've had the bike...just trying to see what everyone else is getting, so i can set my trip odometer after a fill up and know when I'm about to need gas!!

Thanks!

 

A few details are needed. Which model and year of XJ650 do you have?
Add it to your signature.

 

what are you getting for mileage?

 

'86 XJ700. I get ABOUT 80 miles before I need to switch to reserve tank. Though last time it snuck up on me and was closer to 75 before I started to feel the power dip. Im kind of a nub when it comes to filling up so it may just be me not squeezing in a 'full' tank. Only been riding the Maxim for a few weeks so trying to learn and work out the quirks. Hope this helps!

 

you have 2 choices when filling your tank on the side stand or on the center stand then fill to the bottom of the filler neck.
as long as you do it the same way you will be able to qualify your results.

 

Yeah, I totally hear you. Trying to figure out the best way to fill without getting splash. The second time I filled my tank I splashed gas ALL over it . I tend to like filling when on the side stand rather than when I'm on the bike (or the center stand), but I may switch as I get more comfortable.

 

Filling while on the bike is dangerous... if off the bike, gas spills on the bike. If on the bike, gas is ALL OVER YOUR JUNK N STUFF!!! Believe you me, it's NOT supposed to burn down there!!!!!!!

 

you use a bandanna around the nozzel and to wipe up any splash then hang it on your handle bars to dry.

 

I love everything about this forum !

The bandanna trick is actually a great idea! i would probably just hang it off the rear seat bar so its not flapping in my face. Ill give that a shot next time I fill up.

 

or if interrested in a Matti style trip, stuff the gas soaked rag inside your helmet! Don't think there is a breathalyser test for that...
"Why yes, Officer, I do have license and insurance, just let me get rid of this rag first!"

 

With my 83 XJ550J Maxim I get around 40-45 mpg typically. With the 2.5 gallon tank, I have to switch to reserve between 80-90 miles. Slightly more miles when over the road, but haven't had it very far out of town in years.

 

You should have almost a 4 gallon (U.S.) tank unless you're running something that's non-stock.

 

Absolute stock XJ550K Maxim (sorry, said it was a "J" model above). Owned it since the dealer sold it to me new. 2.5 gallon tank on these models.

 

parts look up says same tank for 81 to 83 maxim 3.4 gal with 1 gal as reserve have you ever put the tank on res?

I am getting 51 mpg 87 octane

 

A little bit off topic, but I think it fits this thread. When I bought my 86 Maxim 700, I used only premium gas as this is what the previous owner suggested. Plus, I always feel like premium gas makes engines happier. Well, I finally got around to reading through the owners manual and I noticed that they recommend REGULAR gas... so I decided to try it.

I'm only one tank in, but I think regular gas gives me a HUGE increase in mileage! Sorry if this was brought up before, I haven't been super thorough in reading through all of the threads.

I fill my tank on the side stand till the gas is right at the base of the tank cap (leaving a tiny bit of room for expansion).

When I put premium in I would hit about 75-80 miles and would have to either switch to reserve or just fill up in expectation. I would typically need to put in about 2.5 gallons.

When I put in regular this weekend I had ridden about 75-79 miles before I realized 'Oh crap, Im getting low on gas! I should fill up.' I pulled off to a gas station at about 82 or so miles and when I filled up, I had ONLY put in about 1.7 gallons.

My riding circumstances were a little bit different this weekend and I probably had about 9/10ths of a gallon of premium still in the tank, but I'm definitely going to try and do a few weeks on regular and see how the bike performs and how my mileage varies.

Just thought I would share.

Any of you guys have similar experiences? Any reasons to NOT use regular gas?

 

I'd put the better mileage down to the riding conditions and the weather (wind speed and direction matters). The change in octane made no difference in the amount of energy stored in the tank. Octane is a measurement of the resistance a fuel has to detonation, nothing more. Using a lower octane fuel did reduce your cost per mile ratio though.

 

my side cover says regular gas but states all testing done with 91 oct

 

Yeah, I probably got a bit overexcited, per usual. But the savings were real, the performance the same and it definitely made me question using the better stuff. I'll report back after several weeks and let you guys know if it was a fluke or not.

What do you fill up with?

 

citgo regular. 87 octane
high test is just an ego thing , we do not have what are considered high compresion motors which is what high test is for

 

The low octane. Which pump octane number that is varies by what altitude I'm buying gas at.

 

could you expand on the alt. thing ? I notice a differance in the way my bike runs when i am running the valley floor compared to the mountain range

 

That is the way it is with carbs. They are set up for an average altitude. If you look at a re-jetting guide, they always list different jets based on altitude as well as mods. It has to do with less dense air the higher you go.

 

From my reading the higher the octane, the lower the energy content of gasoline at 'standard' pressures. Gains are only achieved from high octane if you have an engine with enough compression to warrant it. More losses from ethanol as it has a lower energy content than gasoline. I run strictly Shell 91 octane in my XJ650J as it seems to be the only (or close to the only) pump around Ontario that has 0% ethanol.

Maybe it was all in my head, but I put some 'off-brand' premium in my bike the other day because I was on a long trip with no Shell on the way and it seemed not to run right until I refilled with Shell.

I do not work for Shell or affiliates (I work in the solar industry as it happens).

 

Hi I realise this is an old topic, though still relevant, I'm seriously thinking of buying a 1981 XJ750 Trike (though the frame looks very much like a 1984 XJ900). The current owner recons he gets about 25 - 30 miles to the gallon and thats an imperial gallon (I'm English) so about 20 -25 to the US gallon. Is this normal or pretty rubbish? The lowest octane available here is 95. Although its a trike its pretty much a std bike with a back axle (from an old british Reliant) and a four into one exhaust from a GSX 750 I think (its got Suzuki stamped on it).
To go slightly off piste, I'm supprised how many ratings of petrol you have in the US, I hired a car when my son and I came over to the IMSA meeting at Road America last year and the choice was quite baffling

Cheers

 

25 to 30 for Imp gallon is kind of low.
how much does the machine weight?

what are you running for tire size?

you should check the frame vin and motor vin to ID them both properly
this link explains how in detail or you can just use the link.
TECH TOPIC: Model ID and VIN's

do you regicter your bikes from motor vin or frame vin?

 

Extra drag from the car diff and extra wheel, also them being wider rubber. It's still pretty rubbish, though. A friend triked an XS1100 and still managed high 30s mpg, more if he tried harder.
I can average 29mpg from the GS if I wring its neck around the back roads, but it's not kind to the old brute. The worst mpg ever was about 20mpg over a weekend spent just horsing around locally giving it handfuls every yard. That same engine could do 60mpg at a steady 60mph.