Poor gas mileage issues? YAMAHA V-Star 650.?

Question

I'm sorry, I keep having stupid problems with this bike. I bought the correct plugs and made sure they were gapped to spec. ANYWAYS this motorcycle is rated for 49mpg. Which isn't too bad. I can squeeze several MPG over the highway rating in either an 09 VW Rabbit or a '12 Buick Regal. Why am I getting 39-41 mpg on my bike on its best day? This going anywhere from 35-55 mph roads. My trips to work are generally 20-25 minutes going almost 20 miles....also. The Hardlines digital Tach/Hour meter is reading lower rpms on start up....850-->1100 but sounds nothing like a Harley. Doesn't sound that low....BUT once the engine is hot after some riding it hovers around 1150-1200 rpm (where I set it at after a long ride) OEM spec is 1150-1250. I'm just trying to figure out what the heck is wrong. Soon I'm just gonna buy a jet kit and a V&H Cruzers exhaust and be done with this annoying crap. The dealer is honestly a group of idiots. They just act like the bike is perfectly fine. I'm not taking it to them for a third time so they can keep it over a month again...

Answer 1

Your mileage does seem a bit low. Here are some averages: http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/yamaha/vstar_650_classic



That usually has more to do with your driving style, where you ride and the tune your bike is in. All can have an effect on mileage.



If you do a lot of stop and go riding, if you don't keep your tires inflated properly, if you don't maintain your chain or your bike, if you like to accelerate quickly and drive faster than the speed limits, if you do a lot of short trips, then your mileage won't be up to the normal for the bike.



If you go to aftermarket pipes, you will need to rejet your carb (upload a new tune for fuel injection).

Answer 2

I don't even know what the rated mileage is on my bike, but I do know that out on the highway, riding two-up, using cruise control, I get about 42mpg without any trouble. By myself it increases all the way to 43mpg...



Most of my riding is not on the highway using cruise control, so in the city with stop and go traffic it's down to the low-mid 30's. Group riding, even over a long distance, also only gets high 30's, since I can't use the cruise in the middle of a pack of bikes.



Terrain, acceleration, stop and go, how fast you go, how slow you go, tire pressure, tuning, wind, windshield/fairing or not, and a bunch of other stuff all make a difference. I rode with a guy that had a V-Star 1100 with windshield, he wasn't getting even 30mpg. Slowed the whole pack down because he didn't have crap for range compared to the rest of us.

Answer 3

I got 45 mpg on 1985 Yamaha Virago 700.

o Check the engine oil level. If there's too much oil in there, let some out until the level is at the upper fill line.

o Air filter. A clean air filter might get you more mpg.

o Tire pressure.

Answer 4

Guessing it has some type of aftermarket exhaust?!? ('sounds nothing like a Harley').



You need to add more details to the question, guessing over the internet is hard enough but lack of any info is like ' Is Han Solo an Alien?'.



Adding any type of freer flowing exhaust system will decrease MPG,

Answer 5

When was it serviced? (plugs, oil etc...)



Has it got aftermarket pipes/filter? It may need setting up properly to accommodate these mods



Are the tyre pressures adjusted to suit you?



Are the chain and sprockets adjusted and lubricated properly? (I'm unsure if this bike is chain, shaft or belt driven)



If all that is fine, it'll just be down to your riding style.

Answer 6

thats actually pretty good MPG there son.