The fuel mileage on my 2004 GL1800 with an Escort sidecar attached at highway speeds of around 70-75 mph is averaging 26 mpg. I have been told that I should expect between 32-36 with the sidecar. I have replaced the air filter, changed spark plus, oil, filter and am at a loss. Any thouhgts on how to improve the fuel mileage with the sidecar or is this typical.
Yea, I could solve your problem, but I'll get blastedby some folks in this forum, I'll keep to myself thank you.
Good Luck,
Dave
(the guy that gets between 85-140mpg)
"If Rudolf Diesel's engine is good enough for a Railroad Locomotive, it's good enough for my Scoot!" Rudolf, you did good my man, maybe my Dad, Rudolf, Clessie and I can ride together someday on our next plane of existence, miss ya Dad.
Your milage sounds a little low but not all that bad! A sidecar about doubles the wind drag and at higher speeds it can become significant. You might look closely at tire wear. You've a heavy bike and light car; if it is set up with too much tow in/out compensated by bike lean (in/out)your tires could be scrubbing and creating extra drag. At 75 mph my K bike gets about 30 mpg, if I back off to 65 mph it jumps to near 36 mpg. I get just a touch better milage with the R bike (no windshield on the car) but the same variance with speed.
Danny
K1100LT/EZS
R1100GS/Ural
I have a GL-1800 with a large Hannigan sidecar, which I drive around town, on back-roads and cross-country. At Interstate speeds of 70-75+ I get about 26-27 mpg at best. Around town I get 30-32 mpg. If I am on back-county roads doing 45-50 mph without many stops I can get right at 35 mpg. Having been in the sports-racing car building business at one time (I know first-hand about drag...), I can assure you that the speed you travel will make more difference to your actual milage than anything else (except really obvious things...). Whether I have nothing in the sidecar and am riding alone, or have the sidecar full, with wife on-board, and pulling a trailer, nothing makes as much difference as the speed at which I am traveling. Time vs. $$$ your choice =)
Danny,
Thanks for the info. I bought this unit last year and the previous owner said that he was getting 32-36 mpg with the sidecar at speeds of 65-75. Nothing regarding the alignment has been changed, however you make an interesting observation. If going around corners, curves creates scuffing resulting in extra drag then maybe I need to locate a dealer who can check the tow in/out. The I may try to keep lower speeds, but with the limits (on the hwy) being 70+, it can be a little risky.
Glenn
The toe-in,toe-out condition causes tire scrubbing anytime the rig is in motion regardless of the direction of travel, turning or straight ahead.
The previous owner may have been giving you the best possible mileage scenario to hone your interest.
10 MPH can sometimes equate to 25% less fuel mileage.
Lonnie
I just returned from a 400 mile trip up into British Columbia, CA and with a empty chair, averaged 34 and a half mpg. This was in the mountains with slow speeds, lots of curves and about half 60 mph two lane. Normally with my wife and little dog along, and on 65 mph or so roads I get about 28-30 so that might give you some idea how a GL1500 w/Champion Escort is.
25-28 GL1500/FRENDSHIP III depend of load and speed. Pushins lot of air.
Originally written by RocketMan on 7/26/2007 11:24 AM
I have a GL-1800 with a large Hannigan sidecar, which I drive around town, on back-roads and cross-country. At Interstate speeds of 70-75+ I get about 26-27 mpg at best. Around town I get 30-32 mpg. If I am on back-county roads doing 45-50 mph without many stops I can get right at 35 mpg. Having been in the sports-racing car building business at one time (I know first-hand about drag...), I can assure you that the speed you travel will make more difference to your actual milage than anything else (except really obvious things...). Whether I have nothing in the sidecar and am riding alone, or have the sidecar full, with wife on-board, and pulling a trailer, nothing makes as much difference as the speed at which I am traveling. Time vs. $$$ your choice =)
I concur. I also have a GL1800 w/ a Hannigan. I am 850 miles into a trip to Alaska as I type this. Nearly all on California route 101 (freeway sometomes, 2 lane sometimes). I usually ride 10 over the speed limit, so often 70-80.
Getting 25-maybe 30 mpg. Probably avaeaging 27-28. Extended freeway riding will drop to 25.
I get the same mileage on my Suzuki VStrom/Ural SC. Speed is everything, how I accelerate, weight, etc is secondary.
I have a Valk/ Spyder rig. Generally get about 28. Pushing hard on the interstate (75-80) with a cross wind about 25.
Slower speed about 37 at 45-50mph.
The only way that I get good mileage is to lie about it.
Originally written by solo1 on 7/27/2007 3:45 PM
I have a Valk/ Spyder rig. Generally get about 28. Pushing hard on the interstate (75-80) with a cross wind about 25.
Slower speed about 37 at 45-50mph.
The only way that I get good mileage is to lie about it.
LOL, somehow, I think you have company.
I have a 95 electraglide and and old CS friendship 1. Just returned from a 400 mile round trip on fairly straight, not very hilly main roads, (no interstates), and averaged around 40 mpg.No passenger but about 150 lbs of cargo.
I'll keep my old beat up harley in-efficent v-twin thank you. Don't want no stinkin diesel.
Everything else being equal, the less cylinders the better gas mileage.
I've owned singles, twins, fours, and three six cylinders. My single got around 60 mpg. My Valkyrie got 33 mpg before sidecar. I did have a V4 (ST1100) that consistently got48mpg but the body was a very slippery design.
Equating the number of cylinders to efficiency is something that I'll leave to the experts. "Nuff said"
Yesterday we were on N route 101 in Oregon/Washington. Due to heavy traffic we drove slow, probably averaging 45-50 mph. Rode 250 miles, and averaged 37 mpg, at least 7 mpg better than we have ever done. Unfortunately, I would never go that slow on purpose.
Yep, I agree Greg. If I were to drive the rig at 30 mph steady speed, in 5th gear, with a tail wind, I would probably not have to lie about my excellent gas mileage.
The less work performed, the less usage of fuel. However, in the real world where I expect reasonably getup and go, it doesn't work that way plus I'd be in danger of getting run over.
I remember as a kid, I'd fire up my U control model with a Rocket model airplane engine in it and jump on my bicycle. Once I pedaled up to speed, the Rocket would keep me going (sorta). Imagine the fantastic fuel mileage but completely impractical!
