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SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Erny on August 31, 2019, 08:25:25 AM

Title: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Erny on August 31, 2019, 08:25:25 AM: I want to xcheck, what's your normal fuel consumption on 550K (K1)?

After weekend spent with 550 I can say I can do 125 miled per 10 liters of gasoline.
That gives 5L/100km.

Was riding alone with light luggage on rear seat
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: flatfour on August 31, 2019, 08:44:34 AM: Mine always returned around 45 mpg ridden normally, i.e. upward changes through the gearbox at around 6,000 rpm and cruising at legal limits (usually 5,000 rpm on the open road). This figure hasn't varied over some 14 years in my ownership.

Strangely enough, my CB750 K2 returns the same mpg at the same speeds, although both upward changes and cruise rpm are lower, as you might expect.

Perhaps even more odd is that my BMW K1300GT returns over 50 mpg under the same conditions, usually ridden two - up.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: peterengland on August 31, 2019, 09:03:56 AM: I get about 58 mpg from mine but shift well before 6,000 rpm
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: philward on August 31, 2019, 09:12:31 AM: Erny, approx 4.5 litres to our gallon so you can convert/compare - as posts quote in 'mpg' means miles per gallon.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: davefirestorm on August 31, 2019, 09:29:24 AM: My 550 F2 was thirsty at times getting as low as 27mpg!! Two up loaded with camping gear and thrashing it,can’t remember exactly but around 45 mpg could be achieved in contrast my mate had a 550 K3 with the lean burn carbs fitted and he’d record 65 +mpg,both bikes were new 1977 models
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Erny on August 31, 2019, 09:34:53 AM: Then I'm fine, it looks to be 56.5 mpg
And yes, my K7 750 consumers practically the same (we were together doing the same 900km route). And my GS1200LC also!
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Nurse Julie on August 31, 2019, 09:41:36 AM: I rarely ride mine 'sensibly' as I'm usually racing with Trig and still get mid 40's mpg. I would expect low to mid 50 mpg if I just rode normally.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: hairygit on August 31, 2019, 12:10:27 PM: I honestly believe "smiles per gallon" is far more important than miles per gallon! Unfair to compare these old bikes to modern multi valve ultra lean running stuff, and fuel injection on some big bikes can make ours look like eco disasters. But if you were worried about mpg you'd ride a Honda 90 (180-220 mpg) or even drive an eco friendly car! :o
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on August 31, 2019, 12:15:12 PM: Beat me to it Hairy.

When asked about mpg my usual answer is “I don’t care”

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: deltarider on August 31, 2019, 12:33:07 PM: My 500 17 km on 1 liter.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: mike the bike on August 31, 2019, 01:44:40 PM: Don't know, don't care. It's cheaper to run than the car by a long way.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Erny on August 31, 2019, 04:03:57 PM: Quote from: SteveD CB500K0 on August 31, 2019, 12:15:12 PM
Beat me to it Hairy.

When asked about mpg my usual answer is “I don’t care”

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just to make it very clear, normally i don't care too! When I ride I enjoy, if I want to race I do either I go just to enjoy wind.. Never cared about cons, except I havre almost empty tank and petrol station is far away

I just asked to verify carb settings (mixture) is +/-
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: deltarider on August 31, 2019, 04:09:55 PM: Oh... there's a simple trick. When tank is empty, almost lie down your bike to the left side. A lot of petrol will take the hurdle in the middle of the tank and flow over to the left side. Enough to do another 10km. I have done this a couple of times and it always worked.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Erny on August 31, 2019, 06:30:45 PM: Heh, this trick I know pretty well, saved me with my 750 K7 twice, but trird time did not helped, petrol was barely for 2km only and I ended up in the middle of the highway bridge in Bratislava, right at morning peak traffic, creating big traffic jam
Fortunaty my collegue coming by saved me after I called him to bring bottle of gasoline,
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Trigger on August 31, 2019, 07:54:36 PM: What is normal when it comes to fuel consumption ::)

All you have to do is every time you fill up, turn the clock back to 0 and then when you get to 100 miles, fill up again and 0 the clock. You will then never run out of fuel ;) ;)
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: Erny on September 01, 2019, 12:09:14 AM: Have the same rule now, knowing each time I fill the tank, I ride ~125 miles I switch to reserve, so at 100 miles I should look at petrol station
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: matthewmosse on September 01, 2019, 09:10:02 AM: Funny, same here and mine always had a sidecar and lived in the hills so should have more of a thirst. The 550k3 was better for economy, but that was most noticeable on motorways where it seemed to run off fresh air. On A roads it used almost exactly the same amount as my mates 250 superdream, to the penny at fuel stops. My ntv 650 is definitely more economical. I found smaller bikes eg Suzuki fz50 and gs125 were phenomenally frugal transport, appart from on hilly routes. As far as I could tell my ntv 650 would rank as my most economical bike ever living out in the hills of mid Wales. It could be a thirsty beast if thrashed, hard braking and acceleration etc but you could just as well go pretty fast but ride smoothly and get great economy.
Title: Re: Normal fuel consumption for 550K1
Post by: philward on September 01, 2019, 12:30:15 PM: Quote from: Trigger on August 31, 2019, 07:54:36 PM
What is normal when it comes to fuel consumption ::)

All you have to do is every time you fill up, turn the clock back to 0 and then when you get to 100 miles, fill up again and 0 the clock. You will then never run out of fuel ;) ;)
Been my system since starting biking!