Gas Mileage?

This is for general posts and questions concerning only the Voyager XII (1200cc, Four-cylinder) Years 1986 thru 2003.

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DanVero
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Gas Mileage?

Post by DanVero »

OK ... The NEWBIE HERE ... Went for a ride to meet with the Sunshine State Voyagers to Carl Leo's NEW place in FL ... calculated my mileage and it came to 50 MPG! ... Also used a GPS and realized that my SPEEDO is ALMOST spot on! ... Some feedback here PLEASE! ... What's your GAS MILEAGE experience?

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Tom(North Alabama)
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by Tom(North Alabama) »

Hello, welcome to the forum...
I usually average about 44mpg 2 up and 47 1 up. The best I have ever gotten is 53mpg riding around the Colorado mountains and that was 2 up.
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by debron »

I average mostly 46-50. My low was 33 riding 80 mph from Winnemucca, Nv to Reno with hellacious head/cross winds that tried to blow me all over the freeway. On that same trip on the ride home from Reno I averaged 49 @ 65 mph. Best was 54 on the recent NorCal Voyagers Leaf Peeper ride, riding mostly 45-55 mph.
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by Mart656 »

what kind of gas do you guys use. I am a new owner of a voyager
am curious
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debron
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by debron »

Mart656 wrote:what kind of gas do you guys use. I am a new owner of a voyager
am curious
Regular (87 octane,) with 10% ethanol in my state. Name brand (Shell, Chevron, etc.) generally, sometimes Safeway or Costco, or TA or Pilot truck stop gas. I throw in some Sea Foam every now-and-again to keep things cleaned out.
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DanVero
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by DanVero »

I try to use NON-ETHANOL gas when ever POSSIBLE in ALL my bikes ... Takes a bit of PLANNING, but well worth the trouble ... Normally it's between 89-93 octane ... Try it if you can ... Search for NON-ETHANOL GAS in your AREA ... Click on LINK, search by state; http://pure-gas.org/
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by gearheadfla »

Regular 87 , I put seafoam in every 5th tank and it works great.
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by kjsett »

Ok, I have been running midgrade in my 1200, and the same in my wife's Vulcan 800, can I use Regular 87 in her bike?
Usually when we ride together, we fill both at the same time and pump, so I will keep paying the extra if her bike requires it.
I had a twin Suzuki in the early 80's (GS450xl) and it would actually buck and sputter going down the freeway (ran ok in town) with anything but Premium. I don't want her to have that issue, but there is a lot of difference between a 79 design (new 1980) and a 95 (new in 1997), an inline twin (dual carbs?) and a V-twin single carb.
We are going to Washington state leaving this weekend for Thanksgiving, and though I am game for taking the bikes, I think the 4x4 pickup is going to get the job this time. I have put some seafoam already in both bikes, but still have to hook up the battery tender, and then they will be good to sit for more than a week (I rode yesterday in freezing 73F weather). :gig:

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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by gearheadfla »

V-Twins don't like regular grade. mid to high in them, regular in your XII works fine.
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by HMB Don »

87 in the 1200, with mileage from 42 in town to 50 on the freeway. Speedo needle was 67 mph, rpm 2700 to 2800. When I was towing the timeout trailer I would fill with 89, but mileage was down to 38 to 42 at the same 67 mph.

My trip down to Tucson, last week I used 89 in the 1700. The sweet spot is 63 mph and 2300 rpm 47 to 49 mpg. I tried 87 for two tanks and my mileage dropped by three to four miles to gallon. At this speed I can ride up to 210 miles before fueling. Nothing like my 1200 where I would go 250 to 270 miles before fueling.

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DanVero
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by DanVero »

YEAH ... But it's the ETHANOL CRAP that I WORRY about ... 3 bikes, 1 OLD rider ... a couple are ALWAYS sitting longer than they should!
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by Okie34 »

38 mpg on mine as a daily rider in town. Highway generally goes up in mileage. Mid Grade fuel. SeaFoam once a month.

Best mileage was 42 mpg (hauling trailer) and worst mileage was 28 mpg (hauling a trailer in HILLS!)
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by NSASarge »

Depending no how much I twist the volume control, I get 45 to 50. I run only 93 premium. I also try to use pumps that have a separate hose for each grade of fuel. Shell is my preferred brand. I HATE single point fuel pumps. That is a pump that uses a single hose for all three grades. I've checked my mileage by actually doing the math at the pump and am surprised that the Kawasaki MPG meter is within 1-MPG from spot on. I can easily get better than 50 if I shift at 2500 RPM and ride "nice". My rear tire is a Michelin Commander II and is 165/70/16. Love the tire, hate the size. I'm going with an Elite 3 at 180/70/16 next time. I've got a bit over 10,000 miles on the Commander now and looks like it may last a good part of the season. Will probably replace it at 15-k. (on the tire.)
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by lockwoodjohn »

Welcome Dan,
I run 93 octane in my '95. I get any where between 42 to 48 mpg. Average is about 44 mpg. Really can't tell ya when I take on a passenger, Have not did a lot of ridding 2 up.

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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by starrider »

Can get to 54 MPG keeping it 55 MPH or under 1 up, Drops to 52 or so Two up. 65 to 70 MPH it drops to the mid 40's. Typically run 87 octane on the road, 91 at home because I can get non-ethanol.

Great machine. Have not seen much difference between grades of fuel.
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by lockwoodjohn »

Hi Everyone,
This past Tuesday I replaced the plugs in my Voyager , Today I put
135 miles crusing around. Some back road riding, Some hhighway
Riding. Filled up the tank in Sayre Pa. It took 2.6 gallons, Unless my math is off that is around 51.5 mpg, That is the best I got so far! That
Was riding around Ithaca and down into PA.
Not to shappy for the Ol Girl !!
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Re: Gas Mileage?

Post by Lucasind »

:thmup: best i've heard !
90% OF ANY JOB ...IS GETTING STARTED !
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