SuzukiSavage.com - Terrible Gas Mileage

Kulisz YaBB Newbies Offline If it were you, we would never leave Posts: 30 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Terrible Gas Mileage 08/16/08 at 11:22:15 Hey all. I recently purchased a 97 ls650 and its only getting 30-35 mpg at the most. with the small fuel tank this leaves me filling up a LOT. does anyone know any reasonable simple fixes to this? Thanks!
Back to top	We don't expect kittens to fight wildcats and win, we merely expect them to try. KULISZ WALCZY IP Logged

Mtn. Man YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 16 Ft. Collins, CO Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #1 - 08/16/08 at 11:50:25 It sounds like the carb needs some adjusting. It's probably running too rich. I think I have seen similar posts on the site. Trying doing a search and see what comes up. Should give you an idea on what carb settings to try. Mark
Back to top	96' Savage - Lancer JetSet - HD Drag Bars - Cone Air Filter - Slashcut Muffler IP Logged

Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28851 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #2 - 08/16/08 at 12:19:51 Also check the vac line for gas, it runs from the right side of the carb up to the back of the petc0ck. Should be no gas at all in there.
Back to top	Ludicrous Speed !... ... ... IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #3 - 08/16/08 at 12:21:14 Check the oil. If its way full,,, might be a problem.
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

Kulisz YaBB Newbies Offline If it were you, we would never leave Posts: 30 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #4 - 08/16/08 at 12:41:02 thanks guys. =) i will investigate
Back to top	We don't expect kittens to fight wildcats and win, we merely expect them to try. KULISZ WALCZY IP Logged

drharveys - FSO Serious Thumper Offline Greetings from San Luis del Norte! Posts: 1776 St Louis MO Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #5 - 08/16/08 at 19:21:16 Oh yeah, make sure the brakes aren't binding.
Back to top	Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. Thomas Jefferson When I look fast, I'm not smooth and I am going slowly. And when I look slow, I am smooth and going fast. Alain Pros IP Logged

skrapiron -FSO

Serious Thumper

Offline

Instant Human....
Just add coffee..

Posts: 1456
Pittsburgh, Pa
Gender: male

Re: Terrible Gas Mileage
Reply #6 - 08/16/08 at 19:45:02

Can be caused by all sorts of reasons.

Is the bike stock? Probably not. If the PO was like most Savage owners, he tweaked it for power, not economy.

Start at the air box. Is it even still there? If there's a cone filter on, then likely, no. He had to rejet the carb to compensate. What about the exhaust? Is it loud? Does it sound like a motorcycle or is it quiet, like a swarm of bees. It's proably aftermarket as well and can cause economy issues.

Any chance you can post a pic of the bike?

Back to top

Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.

IP Logged

1st2know

Senior Member

Offline

Currently between
Savages

Posts: 295
Seattle, WA
Gender: male

Re: Terrible Gas Mileage
Reply #7 - 08/16/08 at 19:58:07

Gas milage is your best indicator of when it's time to open the tool box. It can be a number of things. Did you say "Recently Purchased"? Congrats!. A full tune up would rule out a lot of the easy things, and, considering the year (97) the vac line is suspect and easy to rule out. Let's assume the previous owner performed zero maintenance for the last 3 years.

Change the oil & filter, set the valve lash, change the spark plug, air filter, fill the battery, decomp solinoid check , fill the tires to the correct pressure(check for rot) and check the brake pad thickness. These are things that you will do at least once a season anyway.

Become one with the motorcycle, sleep with the Clymers manual and make suzukisavage.com your home page

Back to top

Kaw VN1700, V-Strom 650, Coal powered Chevy Spark.

IP Logged

Oldfeller--FSO Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Hobby is now "concentrated neuropany" Posts: 12678 Fayetteville, NC Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #8 - 08/17/08 at 07:06:16 35 mph? Grab hold of your rear brake rod nut and turn it out 4-5 turns and run it that way for a tank of gas -- many of us found out the hard way we rest our toes on the brake pedal and cause dragging which kills gas mileage and robs open road power.
Back to top	Former Savage Owner IP Logged

Kulisz

YaBB Newbies

Offline

If it were you, we
would never leave

Posts: 30
San Antonio, Texas
Gender: male

Re: Terrible Gas Mileage
Reply #9 - 08/17/08 at 08:08:42

Alrighty so I took a couple pics. You mentioned that the guy before me probably hadnt done anything with it for years and that much i would say is true. i got it for just over $1000 but i had to go through and re-tighten or replace almost every bolt on the body. the muffler he had wasnt baffled so i bought a harley muffler on ebay and put that on. i also put straight handlebars but those are the only real changes ive made.

Back to top

« Last Edit: 08/30/08 at 19:33:26 by Kulisz »

We don't expect kittens to fight wildcats and win, we merely expect them to try.

KULISZ WALCZY

IP Logged

Kulisz YaBB Newbies Offline If it were you, we would never leave Posts: 30 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #10 - 08/17/08 at 08:11:02 1st2know wrote on 08/16/08 at 19:58:07: Become one with the motorcycle, sleep with the Clymers manual and make suzukisavage.com your home page Yeah My Clymers Guide has a good worn look to it already. Best Book Ever.
Back to top	We don't expect kittens to fight wildcats and win, we merely expect them to try. KULISZ WALCZY IP Logged

drharveys - FSO Serious Thumper Offline Greetings from San Luis del Norte! Posts: 1776 St Louis MO Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #11 - 08/17/08 at 11:23:41 Oh yeah -- time to disassemble, clean and rebuild that carbie. "Nut Brown" is the correct color for ale, not Mikunis! Oh yeah, great idea for a self-portrait! P.S. Reduce the size of the photos and they'll fit on the board.
Back to top	Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. Thomas Jefferson When I look fast, I'm not smooth and I am going slowly. And when I look slow, I am smooth and going fast. Alain Pros IP Logged

ero4444 Full Member Offline weekender Posts: 176	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #12 - 08/26/08 at 19:46:08 I have to ask if you are pushing in the choke after the bike is warmed up?
Back to top	c2001, 3800miles, 3rd owner, adjusted idle, raised seat, Tkat brace, Raptor petcock, cleaned carb, replaced some jets, Dyna muffler, Fiamm horns, Shinkos, future Ed L. forward controls, fork boots. IP Logged

Kulisz YaBB Newbies Offline If it were you, we would never leave Posts: 30 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Terrible Gas Mileage Reply #13 - 08/26/08 at 20:21:31 yeah the choke is back in where it should be. I plan on rebuilding the carb when i get a chance but between school and work its never a good time to render the bike useless. thank all very much for your help
Back to top	We don't expect kittens to fight wildcats and win, we merely expect them to try. KULISZ WALCZY IP Logged

Phelonius

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 1897

Re: Terrible Gas Mileage
Reply #14 - 08/27/08 at 10:24:54

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 08/17/08 at 07:06:16:

35 mph? Grab hold of your rear brake rod nut and turn it out 4-5 turns and run it that way for a tank of gas -- many of us found out the hard way we rest our toes on the brake pedal and cause dragging which kills gas mileage and robs open road power.

It will also ruin the rear wheel hub and brake.
I loaned a 650 Yamaha to a girlfriend and she did this so much the heat dried out the bearings and the brake hub was wiped out too. She says she didn't do it but what caught my attention to the matter was the brake light always on when she rode.
I had to buy a new hub and have the rim laced onto it.

Phelonius

Back to top

Phelonius

IP Logged