Terrible fuel mpg

Hi there, Please help. I have a 82 XJ650 Maxim and I am only getting around 30-35mpg. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Well, whens the last time carbs were clean?
What do your plug reads tell you.
Last time carbs were synced.
Air filter condition.
Heck, hows your tire pressure.

More info = a better diagnosis.

 

I was told that after breaking down the carbs and cleaning them out it takes a while before it "breaks back in" and "it will get terrible milage for a while" Not sure how true it is but I found my first tank after that just dissappeared but its been getting better since. Think Im around 40-45 mpg now

 

It might be that the Bike is just performing better, now that you have the Carbs cleaned.

Sometimes, when the carbs are clogged-up a little bit ... you run Leaner and lack performance ... but, still go.

Then, when the Carbs are Cleaned and the Fuel is flowing as it should, the "Economy" drops but the performance is much better.

All the Jets are "Fixed Jets" ... the only adjustment is the Pilot Mixture.
Check your Plugs and make sure you aren't running too Rich and wasting Fuel.

 

you are talking about the carbs cleaned; well I did just put some Seafoam in the tank. Does anyone think that is the problem?

 

Also, where is the air filter??????

 

Seafoam doesn't clean Carbs. Seafoam loosens what needs to be cleaned-out. Gasoline residue and micro-rust particulate that gets loosened-up by Seafoam parks right in the Pilot Jet and Starter Jet's Fuel Bowl Metering Jets and clogs them.

To get the Carbs cleaned ... you need to open them and flush that foreign matter out and away from anything that comes into contact with it.

If you still have a Fuel Delivery issue ... you have to disassemble the Carbs and get inside and Clean them out!

There really isn't a product that dissolves the stuff and makes it disappear.
The products dissolve the stuff and let you flush it out, wipe it off or brush it away.

As soon as particulate in the Fuel tries to pass through the Pilot Jet ... its time to pull the Pilot Jet's and blow them out with Carb Cleaner.

 

thanks rickomatic and all the xj riders :!:

 

This is good to hear.
My first tank after the carb cleaning, as you say "just disappeared".
I bet I got less then 30 mpg.
I'm currently tracking the MPG on this tank full.
I think I'm running rich as the bike takes little to no choke to start.
(then again I thought it was supposed to be setup on the rich side)
As far as plug reads, tan is what you want.
So would black be to rich and white be to lean?
I ordered my XJ disc but I'm having a problem not asking questions while I wait.

 

Black is rich, white is lean.

The air filter can be accessed from under the seat and under the cover your fuses are mounted to. It is very easy to get to.

Also, 35 MPG isn't that bad if you have a heavy wrist and like to stretch the legs of your motor frequently or are doing a lot of stop and go driving.