Recently I purchased a '98 GL1500 and have been riding quire a bit lately. I am getting betweeen 38-40 mpg. I was hoping for the mid 40 range. What are some of you other riders getting?

2nd question, At what speeds are you getting your best mileage?

note: U.S. gallons

normal mpg for me is 44 with a high of 51 and low of 38

38 to 40 is about normal, once you run over 70 MPH your MPG's will drop way off, run about 60 MPH and you will see them increase.

38 to 40 is about normal, once you run over 70 MPH your MPG's will drop way off, run about 60 MPH and you will see them increase.


I just did my milage I did 117 miles and used 4.65 gallons thats 25.16:eek: that sounds poor....mostly city driving short trips.....and i just tuned her up ??????? any ideas or susjestions

Your about where I was with my 98 GL1500 SE when I had it. Speeds over 70mph usually resulted in mpg around 25-28. My 09 GL1800 seems to be getting better mileage, probably from EFI..

But my riding was mostly city driving short trips under 40 mph just cruising

You didn't mention your avg.cruise speed,but my '94SE will get me 34mpg at 80-85mph. If at 70 or below i'm sure it would be over 40.

City MPG is always the worst for any vehicle. Remember the new car store with highway/city MPG sticker on the window. Most things get the best rated mpg at 55-60 constant mph on flat ground, cooler (not cold) outside temps, and no wind. Everytime one of these varibles is broken, not that I would do that of course, MPG suffers.
But wasn't that the real reason for buying a bike anyway?

Around town the bike has to constanly pull itself from a dead stop to speed. Out on the open road it doesnt require near as much fuel. On all my GL's from 1000cc to 1500cc I always get the best mpg at 55-60. Once you cross that 70mph mark they become gas sucking pigs. Loaded up (heavy) and runing down the Interstate at 80mph (to keep from getting run over) I average +-25mpg depending on the wind. I rode my 1500 aspencade back from VA and got 41mpg (one up but still 360lbs) keeping it at 55-60 and 25-45 through towns. Thats not too bad in my book as the best I could ever squeeze out of any of my three Valkyries was 37mpg. The 1800's Ive ridden knocked off almost 50 mpg with a 500+ load out on the 55mph back roads.

My old CB-750 1975 on the hiway is about 29MPG.
And my GW 1100 1982 A is about the same. but it sure beets my Motorhome at 4MPG, so now that the kids are gone, you know what we travel with. Motorhome is a 32ft with 400 chrysler. this spring it is headed for the bone yard.
WA9FWT Phil