[Lestat]

Hello everyone!
I recently bought a VN800 Classic (2004 model) and I have been riding it for almost 2000 Km (1250 Miles) in about three weeks.
The bike works very well, but I am quite concerned about fuel consumption, which is way too high!!!

I have seen on many websites that this bike does about 50 miles per gallon, which should be 3.7 liters of petrol every 80 kilometers (sorry about all this conversion stuff, but I live in Italy and this is much easier for me), or 21 Km every liter of petrol.

Now, my bike consumes 1 liter for just about 11 Km (which is about 25 miles per gallon) inside a city, and 1 liter for 14 Km (33 miles per gallon) on the highway at an average speed of 120 Km/h (75 mpr).

I must say that where I live the weather is quite cold in this season, with temperatures ranging from -2 to 10 degrees Celsius (28 to 50 F) and that I most often run the bike for short distances at the time (10 – 20 Km at the most) and that after about 1 hour in the cold I must use the choke for a couple of minutes before the engine behave correctly.

Does my bike have some problem (in the carburator, I guess), or is this normal?

Thanks to all!

P.S. Excuse me for my English and all this conversion stuff, I tried to be as clear as possible for everyone.

 

[2WheelFun]

Welcome Lestat!

First I would say that your bike is still in the "engine break in stage". Also....if your riding alot in the city....you must be doing alot of shifting and the rpms of the engine are constantly up and down which means a loss of fuel economoy. If you were to take your bike out for a long steady ride on a freeway / highway with no stop n go....I'm sure you would see an improvement in mpg's.

Have you done any modifications to the bike? A new exhaust system perhaps and re-jetting of carb? If not.....I would refer you back to the aforementioned information. Try taking your bike out on a long ride....no stop n go and see what kind of mileage you get. If it's still showing low mpg's....then you might want to look at the spark plugs for fouling. Letting an engine idle for too long will cause plug fouling which in turn can affect your fuel economy.

Finally....be sure to check your tire pressure and keep the tires full.

 

[Lestat]

Hi Whistle Clean, thanks for the welcome!
As I have said in my previous post, I did notice an improvement running on the highway, but even so the consumption is quite high (33 miles per gallon at 75 mpr).
And that was on a trip of about 375 miles in one day...

The bike doesn't have any mods (yet ).

I will check the spark plugs and post any news I may have!
Thanks again!

 

[2WheelFun]

Your welcome!

It's possible that the carb needle is set to rich....which obviously would be a reason for higher fuel consumption. Also...be sure to check your tire pressure.

 

[2WheelFun]

Lestat....Here is another discussion about the 800 fuel economy:

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5644&page=1

 

[Lestat]

Doh, I didn't look at that thread before because I thought it meant "women" and I didn't bother (I can just go out for a walk for that... I live in Italy, need I say more? )
Anyway... It seems that my bike is using so much petrol because I use the choke for quite a long time... Problem is, I must use it because of the cold, or else the engine will work like ****...

I'll try using it less and note the difference... Hopefully things will improve.
Thanks for pointing that out!!!!

 

[woodchucks800]

First off welcome aboard lestat . Your milage is a little low. Give it another 1000 miles to break in . I'm getting 50 to 52 when cruising at 60 to 65 mph, around 36 in town. Milage goes to sh*t when above 70 mph. that's when the 800 start's getting above 4000 rpms. the 800 is cold hearted an jetted lean from the factory that's why you need the choke. The only thing you might be able to adjust on the carb is the air/fuel mixture screw, but you'll have to drill out the plug covering the screw. You won't accomplish much since the bike is still stock. I've done the intake an pipe's an don't even use the choke anymore, except when starting in extremely cold weather. The 800's also like the low octane fuel (they tend to carbon up with higher octane fuel's). If you have any other question's just ask . There's plenty of guy's around this site to help.

 

[Kenny]

Whistle clean,Hey man how are ya? fine i hope! Me and you ride a 03 vulcan 1500 classic! (even the same color!!).At fill up,about what is your normal mileage you get before you fill up again? Our tanks are 4.5 gallons,Right? I usually cruise at 60 mph,but do a lot of stop and go Too.But i have to gas back up at after i run about 140 miles! Don't sound good ,does it? There was a recall on these 2003 1500's with a accelerator pump diapham problem. I now wonder if mine might be one that was'nt fixed! Talk to me!! See ya, Kenny in North Carolina......

 

[2WheelFun]

Whistle clean,Hey man how are ya? fine i hope! Me and you ride a 03 vulcan 1500 classic! (even the same color!!).At fill up,about what is your normal mileage you get before you fill up again? Our tanks are 4.5 gallons,Right? I usually cruise at 60 mph,but do a lot of stop and go Too.But i have to gas back up at after i run about 140 miles! Don't sound good ,does it? There was a recall on these 2003 1500's with a accelerator pump diapham problem. I now wonder if mine might be one that was'nt fixed! Talk to me!! See ya, Kenny in North Carolina......

Hey Kenny,

Yea...it's a small world when it comes to having the same color. I didn't realize that many others would have picked this color....in fact I didn't even consider it when I saw the bike I bought.....because I simply fell in love with at first sight.....and said yep.....that's the one.

My bike had Hard Krome pipes on it when I bought it and the owner told me he also had the carb jetted. I failed to ask him more about that....I suppose cause I wasn't to worried about it. It does seem to run a little rich and I'm sure when and if I look into that I could see an imporvement in fuel econmoy....but it runs really well so it's not a concern at this time.

I'd say the mileage is about the same on mine as yours. I tend to ride between 65 - 70 mph so I'm sure that'll bring it down a little. I'm also still running on the stock Bridgestones (Stones) and will be changing them out before summer arrives. I've increased my front and rear tire pressure to 40 lbs after reading about alot of guys who did so and said they saw a nice performance increase in handling and longer tire wear as well. I noticed it also after increasing the pressure and the handling improved also.

I park my bike in the garage (not heated) but attached to the house so it doesn't freeze so when I do ride in cold weather and take it out to start it I never leave it idling for longer than 2 minutes before climbing on and driving the first 10 miles or so somewhat easier than I normally ride. I'm getting my leathers on when it's idling and then head straight out after that.

I also have a windshiled which will decrease mileage a little....nothing to worry about when you consider a rock in the face is not worth a little lost mileage due to a windshield that protects you somewhat. I do wear two different styles of helmets....one is a half and the other is full face with flip up visor.....and in the cold winter days here the full face is very comfortable...otherwise I ride with the half helmet when it's warm out.

Ok Kenny....your turn.

 

[centerpunch]

My mileage went up about 7 mpg when I added a windshield and lowers. I am a fairly big guy and it was like a sail in the wind without one. The bike was new and barely broken in at the time. I was amazed at the difference. 35 mpg - 42 mpg on highway and town mixed. after adding an 18 tooth front sproket the best I got on the highway at about 70 was 52 mpg. I bet I averaged about 42mpg.

 

[bikeaholic]

re

i did'nt see you mention the terrain you ride in - mountains?
my mileage suffers a little whenever i ride in that kind of area

 

[2WheelFun]

bikeaholic....I'm not sure if your asking me or centerpunch what kind of terrain we ride in? Around here it's flat and hilly.....wheat fields and rolling hills....never just flat though.


Kenny.....I wasn't aware of an accelerator pump diaphragm problem? I knew about the oil filter recall and took the bike in and had that changed out. Did you get a notice from Kawasaki about the diaphragm problem?

Anyone else know anything about this?

 

[Lestat]

Bikeaholic, if it was for me, I ride on streets that are quite good and smooth, mostly inside the city!