Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: SaturationDyes on May 17, 2017, 02:25:43 PM

Title: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on May 17, 2017, 02:25:43 PM
So I just rode my bike 900 miles over a two day span. I have never checked the mpgs because I haven't had the bike too long. But on this trip was getting roughly 25-30 mpgs varying each fill up. Now I will say most of these miles were riding in no mans land on Nevada at 80-100mph. I was expecting a little better mileage but also at those speeds not sure if that's pretty standard or not. 

What do you guys think
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: DC Concours on May 17, 2017, 02:49:04 PM
I get 38 in the city. Easy. Yours is not normal.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: tweeter55 on May 17, 2017, 03:23:58 PM
 I usually get 42 to 46 miles per gallon at sane speeds. Read that as 60 to 70 mile an hour.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on May 17, 2017, 03:27:30 PM
Hmm I wonder what my issue is then. It's has stick coils. Recently cleaned carbs(still need to check their sync). Main jets were 120 I believe. Anyone know where I should start to try and improve this. Bike seems to run great. Starts right up and purrs at idle. 
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Summit670 on May 17, 2017, 05:36:42 PM
If it were me, I would slow down and see what your mileage is. I believe once a person starts exceeding 70-75mph the mpgs go down pretty fast.

Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: tweeter55 on May 17, 2017, 06:03:23 PM
Anyone know where I should start to try and improve this.
No doubt if you slow down a little like Summit suggested, mileage will go up.
Here's another suggestion - https://sites.google.com/site/shoodabenengineering/home
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on May 17, 2017, 07:18:23 PM
Tweeter what are you referring to with shoodabeen. I did do probably 100-150 miles at a more reasonable rate and easy accelerating and that was when I got 30mpg. The carbs we filling rebuilt and cleaned not long ago.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: tweeter55 on May 17, 2017, 07:46:25 PM
Steve has basically "written the book" on the Concours, both the C10 and since 2008 the C14. At the very least check out his website and his videos to see what he has to offer. I'm sure others  will chime in also. His aftermarket work on the Concours is extensive.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on May 17, 2017, 07:56:09 PM
Thanks. I have checked out his site. I have been emailing with him about another issue.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Rick Hall on May 18, 2017, 01:29:19 AM
Steve is a straight shooter. He may recommend his paid for services, but he won't complain one iota if you just ask for his advice.

That said, and given I've been here since before Jesus had measles, MPG for the C-10 is generally in the 38-42 mpg range. Less if you have a binary right hand (on-off-on-off-on...).

Rick
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Cholla on May 19, 2017, 01:08:03 PM
I used to routinely get 47 mpg with bike completely OEM.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Steve in Sunny Fla on May 25, 2017, 01:37:35 PM
running 100 mph...I don't care, you're mileage is gonna suck. It's gonna suck even worse with a large shield. Steve
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Daytona_Mike on May 25, 2017, 08:58:43 PM
Normal riding I would get 42- 44 and my best ever mileage was 48.8 MPG
When I held my bike at WOT all day at 135mph (no saddle bags or trunk)   I got exactly 20mpg over and over again with the same bike.
Your bike sounds about right.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Mort Canard on May 26, 2017, 03:11:42 PM
Normally running between 70 & 85 I get between 38 & 43 mpg.  Faster speeds do result in lower mpg but I have never got below about 34 mpg.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Ron Dawg on May 26, 2017, 03:39:04 PM
I used to get 42-44 until one day it dropped to 32. Had a fouled plug because the well gasket was leaking and oil fouled the plug. Replaced the gasket and adjusted the valves and it went back up and stayed there. Lose 25% of your power and run the same speed, you get 75% of your gas mileage I guess.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on May 27, 2017, 09:30:18 AM
I'll check the plugs. Just did 2000miles round trip and got mostly 25-30 mpgs but most of that was at very fast speeds. I did manage to get one fill at 38mpg when I rode through a bunch of construction and towns.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: deuce72 on May 27, 2017, 11:46:28 AM
Ron Dawg I feel is on the right track. My previous bike was getting below normal MPG's and I'm easy on the throttle. Adjusted the valves and found one of them pretty stuck. After the adjustment, MPG's went up to what the bike normally is expected to get.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Ron Dawg on May 27, 2017, 12:52:15 PM
If you adjust the valves, sync the carbs, too afterward. The closer they are, the less she vibrates.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on June 01, 2017, 10:47:01 AM
I did the valves before I went on the trip. Should I check them again?  Still need to sync carbs tho.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Ron Dawg on June 01, 2017, 08:02:04 PM
Probably not. I'd bet you have a well gasket that slipped when reinstalling. They have a big loop that seals the valve cover and well joint and a little one that sits on a pin on the underside of the cover so they stay put while you're messing with putting the cover back on.


 I pinched one "just a little" one time and it leaked "just a little oil" in the plug well from a tiny tear or pinch that I could hardly see and it fouled that plug. After that, I never used the same well gaskets over but once. New ones were cheap insurance to me. But other people say they use them over and over. I'm ham fisted I guess.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: VirginiaJim on July 18, 2017, 08:38:27 PM
I usually get 42 to 46 miles per gallon at sane speeds. Read that as 60 to 70 mile an hour.

That's about what I got on my C10 at those speeds.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: thechief86 on August 03, 2017, 05:44:35 AM
After my Moto Guzzi 750 and my KLR 650, my Concours seems to be a gas guzzler as well. I regularly got 55-60 mpg with those smaller engines, and it seems like I'm filling up a lot more often. Riding 2 up, (which I know is going to use more fuel) I got exactly 180 miles before hitting reserve, 160 of which were at 65-70 mph, and the last 20 at between 85-90.
I always got 200-250 miles per tank riding 2 up on the guzzi, (5 gallon tank)  but I almost never went over 80 with 2 riders on that one.
Never rode 2 up on the klr, but with its 6 gallon tank, I always got 250 miles per tank no matter how fast or slow, on road or off. I miss that...
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: jettawreck on August 03, 2017, 06:17:25 AM
My last C10, the 2005, consistently got 45-48 mpg before and after valve adjustment, SISF carb spa/mods and exhaust sprocket.
The first C10, the 2002, always got a little better and 48-50 mpg was typical. Never did any carb work or mods to it and appeared to be stock from prior owner, although no proof either way.
Kept log books on both bikes and recorded every fill up.
Conclusion: Silver gets better mileage.  ::)
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: jacksdad on January 23, 2018, 10:51:59 PM
When you guys say "one gallon", I assume you mean a USA gallon.
Every country on the planet now use litres as standard...even us in the UK 😱
The correct volume of a gallon is 8 pints, or 4.54 litres. My Gtr1000 will do 50 mpg if I keep the revs down,  but if I start upping the revs, this drops to 40 mpg (that's 8 pints of course!) 👍
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: mikeyw64 on January 24, 2018, 12:54:03 AM
When you guys say "one gallon", I assume you mean a USA gallon.
Every country on the planet now use litres as standard...even us in the UK 😱
The correct volume of a gallon is 8 pints, or 4.54 litres. My Gtr1000 will do 50 mpg if I keep the revs down,  but if I start upping the revs, this drops to 40 mpg (that's 8 pints of course!) 👍

An American Gallon is alos 8 Pints , it's just that they are smaller than UK Pints due to the US Gallon only being 3.78 litres /liters

WHich I think means if you drink 6 Pints in the US it's the equivalent of drinking 5 pints in the UK
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: buzzcut on February 06, 2018, 11:07:38 PM
I have an 86.  I get 42-44 in the city and 48 at 90 mph (150kmh)
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: SaturationDyes on September 23, 2018, 10:47:59 PM
Ok ill check the vally gasket. Which gasket is that exactly.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: route66tc on September 24, 2018, 07:47:15 AM
When you pull the valve cover and turn it upside down, you will find the gaskets that seal the spark plug holes.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: RFH87_Connie on September 26, 2018, 12:12:47 PM
... got mostly 25-30 mpgs but most of that was at very fast speeds. I did manage to get one fill at 38mpg when I rode through a bunch of construction and towns.

This would be about a normal for most C-10s.  Maybe a little low at the slower speeds but you said you went thru towns so you probably had some stop and go.  My "normal" city commute is about 27-28 mpg always - AKA, drive it like you stole it - shifting at 6-7k.  With the wife on the back and driving sanely, I can get about 42-44 sometimes.  Over 70 mph seems to be the break-point.  This bike will drink A LOT of gas if you let it.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Nosmo on October 02, 2018, 10:46:12 PM
An American Gallon is alos 8 Pints , it's just that they are smaller than UK Pints due to the US Gallon only being 3.78 litres /liters

WHich I think means if you drink 6 Pints in the US it's the equivalent of drinking 5 pints in the UK

I know if I drink 6 pints I'll go faster and my mileage will suffer...................for A VERY SHORT WHILE. :'(   ;)
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: deuce72 on October 08, 2018, 07:00:04 PM
I average 45MPG at 60-70MPH. That is 70/30% Highway/City. I use 91 Non-oxy.

I would check your valves. Especially exhaust valves.
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: Daytona_Mike on October 09, 2018, 02:28:39 PM
My best mileage was 48.8 but that was trying- 55mph in a group. Normal riding 42 to 44mph but if I held the bike wide open near redline (5th gear)  the bike got exactly 20mpg  all day - and I have held it WOT all day at 135mph  maxed out with many pit stops
(1050 kit - dyno'd at 100HP)
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: katata1100 on December 11, 2018, 04:00:13 PM
Op was getting bad mpg doing 100mph. As a NV resident, heed my advice and slow down! NHP does exist and I have been stung by them.
Btw, the NHP still has a few C14 bikes in use, so watch it!
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: connie_rider on December 11, 2018, 04:56:21 PM
I don't worry much about MPG's.
I do {sorta/kinda} look at what mileage I'm getting, But,,
   I ride because I enjoy it, and I enjoy twisting the throttle and playing in the twisties.

When it needs gas, I buy some, when it doesn't, I ride it.
E'nuf sed..

Ride safe, Ted
Title: Re: MPG's.
Post by: VirginiaJim on December 16, 2018, 07:45:10 PM
Exactly.  Although just recently I appeared to be getting about 45mpg on the C14.