[Jbomb831]

So i have a 94vt1100 for the past 3 years I have been getting lower then expected mpg, I average 33mpg according to my fuelly Shadow (Honda VT1100C Shadow) | Fuelly
I have been keeping up with oil/filter changes,
tried a k&n air filter got lower mpg so went back to stock.
Keep tires properly inflated.
Tried sea-foam no noticeable change.
New spark plugs no noticeable change.
Going to take it in for a full tune up at a real shop and wanted to know if there is any specific services i should ask for?
Thanks guys

 

[desmodus]

Came here wanting to post a similar question. My VT1100 from 1999 is extremely thirsty. I drive it mostly in town, so I can expect a bit lower MPG, but I am on par with a LandRover now.
VT1100 (Honda VT1100C Shadow Spirit) | Fuelly

Did the seafoam thing, changed spark plugs, checked air filter, took apart and cleaned the carbs.

Does your bike also pop when releasing the gas at times? Mine tends to do it more on rainy days.

 

[Ramie]

Looks like your millage is a little low, it depends a lot on how you drive and what type of driving. Does the bike seem to run well, any problems, do you have after market pipes on it? What octane of fuel are you running in it? I normally get anywhere from 40 to 50 miles a gallon, it depends a lot on if it's stop and go driving or open road.

 

[Brolo]

Its a 94....not EFI, and its a fatty vt1100...sounds normal to me. 35 is my average in town. on the highway cruising 5th @70+ I cant expect it to be any higher

 

[tobimaru]

Sounds like you've already done everything a shop would for a basic "full tune up". They're going to check the air filter, change the oil, spark plugs, fluids, and then they'll start checking/syncing/adjusting the carbs.

Assuming there is no air leak or anything drastic, I would imagine they will tell you your carbs are dirty and need to be cleaned and rebuilt. 33MPG does seem low. Do you notice it running very rich, or popping a lot?

Its a 94....not EFI, and its a fatty vt1100...sounds normal to me. 35 is my average in town. on the highway cruising 5th @70+ I cant expect it to be any higher

Wow, had no idea the older 1100's were 30-40MPG range. I've yet to get less than 50MPG out of my 750. Weight plays a big factor!

 

[adlowe]

tried a k&n air filter got lower mpg so went back to stock.

Carbs are probably set too lean. Easy to adjust.

I drive it mostly in town, so I can expect a bit lower MPG...

Actually, you can do quite well for in-town MPG. It's speeds over 70 MPH that kills the MPG on VT1100s that are well tuned. 45 MPH seems to be the sweet spot for mine.

Looks like your millage is a little low, it depends a lot on how you drive and what type of driving.

Yup. Number one variable in MPG is how the right wrist is employed.

Wow, had no idea the older 1100's were 30-40MPG range. I've yet to get less than 50MPG out of my 750. Weight plays a big factor!

It's all in the riders. Check this out. 20% of us are getting 45 MPG or better. Almost 40% of us are getting better than 41 MPG.

 

[tobimaru]

Link does not work for me? Makes sense that at higher speeds the MPG goes down. Over 80 on my bike is pretty gusty. I've not had any other motorcycles, I think I'd be happy with anything over 30MPG on a fun bike.

 

[adlowe]

Link does not work for me?

Fixed it. Scroll up after the page opens to see the survey results.

 

[Jordan1070]

I am in same boat as you guys. 96 1100 getting about 30 on the interstate. Let us know if you figure it out

 

[adlowe]

96 1100 getting about 30 on the interstate.

Wow. We've basically got the same bike. Except for the 70+ miles between home and crossing the Maumee River down by Toledo, I generally avoid e-ways as much as I can. I get about 33 - 35 MPG on that stretch and typically average over 75 MPH. Still do pretty well overall. (I've actually done better than the best shown on Fuelly but I haven't found the written records from way back when. Got 60-something MPG while trying to get best possible mileage from a tank as an exercise. It was an awful -- but eye-opening -- ride.)

 

[Brolo]

Sounds like you've already done everything a shop would for a basic "full tune up". They're going to check the air filter, change the oil, spark plugs, fluids, and then they'll start checking/syncing/adjusting the carbs.

Assuming there is no air leak or anything drastic, I would imagine they will tell you your carbs are dirty and need to be cleaned and rebuilt. 33MPG does seem low. Do you notice it running very rich, or popping a lot?



Wow, had no idea the older 1100's were 30-40MPG range. I've yet to get less than 50MPG out of my 750. Weight plays a big factor!

No joke. All my buddys with their 750s brag about how I should be getting an awesome 50 on the highway...LOL nope! I probably could do more tuning up on it

 

[Eagle7840]

So i have a 94vt1100 for the past 3 years I have been getting lower then expected mpg, I average 33mpg according to my fuelly Shadow (Honda VT1100C Shadow) | Fuelly
I have been keeping up with oil/filter changes,
tried a k&n air filter got lower mpg so went back to stock.
Keep tires properly inflated.
Tried sea-foam no noticeable change.
New spark plugs no noticeable change.
Going to take it in for a full tune up at a real shop and wanted to know if there is any specific services i should ask for?
Thanks guys

I don't think our Vt1100C's mpg average get too much higher than that with overall driving. I expected more like you did when I bought my 96 VT1100C and tune-ups didn't change my overall mpg in the 30's. If you've changed rear tire size during a replacement or it's worn it may skew the odometer reading a bit. Our bikes get the best mpg out on the road cruising, not in stop and go traffic or city driving.

 

[Jbomb831]

Interesting it seems the consensus is high speed on the freeway isnt to good for mpg for the vt1100. I normally take the freeway everyday to and from work at about 70-85mph. So on my next fuel up i will try only city/city speeds route for the whole tank and report back if there is a mileage boost

Thanks for all the feedback guys

 

[swifty2014]

One big factor is if you DRIVE FOR ECONOMY !
Most of us don't, but when you want to check how much mileage you CAN get you have to concentrate on just that.

Back many years ago they use to conduct Mobile economy runs with the new cars in the 1960's. And the drivers were especially good at squeezing MPG out of a gallon of fuel.
Articles I read said they would drive barefoot , and various other tricks. They would accelerate "like you have an egg under your foot", and brake "like you have a baby on the back seat".

Of course the regular guy who bought those cars never could get that kind of mileage.

 

[adlowe]

One big factor is if you DRIVE FOR ECONOMY !
Most of us don't, but when you want to check how much mileage you CAN get you have to concentrate on just that.

Back many years ago they use to conduct Mobile economy runs with the new cars in the 1960's. And the drivers were especially good at squeezing MPG out of a gallon of fuel.
Articles I read said they would drive barefoot , and various other tricks. They would accelerate "like you have an egg under your foot", and brake "like you have a baby on the back seat".

Of course the regular guy who bought those cars never could get that kind of mileage.

And here I thought I was the last person left who remembered anything about those commercials!

My max-MPG (over 60 MPG) ride was a feeble attempt at something like that. I chose secondary roads without traffic lights. Max speed was 45 MPH. I pulled away from stop signs as if I was twisting one end of an egg with the other end fixed to the handlebar. Most unpleasant! And very uncomfortable pushing in when my odometer crossed 165 miles. I was afraid my petcock had failed because I hadn't reached reserve. One tankful is not really enough to go on but it was more than I could take with that "sedate" riding. (Not even a tankful.) But I did learn a lot about what a VT1100 can do. Now I occasionally come close (mid 50s for MPG) when I ride long stretches on the BRP.

 

[swifty2014]

I used to work for Nissan and at a class one time the instructor was talking about emissions and mileage. He said the Tokyo taxi cab drivers got some of the best mileage in the world, because they are paid a commission for the gas savings.
'They would take off from a light and be in high gear by the next intersection.
- I can't do that !

 

[Coop]

Have them properly set the engine idle speed(warm bike temp, not cold). it is extremely important that it is set to factory specs. the shadow spirit 750 we had ran ok, I got the idle rpm set properly and gained 5 mpg! The factory setting for my vtx seems fast, it is faster than what sounds cool, but, it is the right setting and better mpg normally comes when its right. But the slow loping sound we want to hear, is not the most fuel efficient. Before I pit fairing on my bike I always got 50 mpg on normal riding combos, not interstate because I despise sla riding. But the fairing knocked it down to mid 40's if I am a good boy. I count on 40 now and refill the tank accordingly.
Good luck

 

[Jordan1070]

Wow. We've basically got the same bike. Except for the 70+ miles between home and crossing the Maumee River down by Toledo, I generally avoid e-ways as much as I can. I get about 33 - 35 MPG on that stretch and typically average over 75 MPH. Still do pretty well overall. (I've actually done better than the best shown on Fuelly but I haven't found the written records from way back when. Got 60-something MPG while trying to get best possible mileage from a tank as an exercise. It was an awful -- but eye-opening -- ride.)

My best ride has been 34. That was riding fun or some back rode...most of it between 35 and 50. For my commute which is 30 mins of 75 mph. Im barely hitting 30mpg. Gonna tinker but it sounds like im on par for what it should be getting.

 

[adlowe]

Im barely hitting 30mpg. Gonna tinker but it sounds like im on par for what it should be getting.

Don't know where you get that from. We've basically got the same bike and I run 65+ miles at 75+ MPH and get 33 to 35 MPG -- 20+% BETTER than what you're getting. Your best is 34 in conditions similar to where I get 56+.

Unless you pull away from EVERY stop with WOT then you are NOT on par. Go check out those survey results. Less than 4% of responders report numbers in your range. (We've all got tanks that hold 3.2 gallons before reserve. 30 MPG = hitting reserve at less than 100 miles.) Over 96% report their average is at least 10% better than yours. Know anything about bell curves and where your numbers would put you when mixed in with those survey responders?

 

[Eagle7840]

My best ride has been 34. That was riding fun or some back rode...most of it between 35 and 50. For my commute which is 30 mins of 75 mph. Im barely hitting 30mpg. Gonna tinker but it sounds like im on par for what it should be getting.

Try your daily commute at 65 mph instead of 75 mph and see if your gas mileage increases to the mid 30's. If you're a heavy weight and pushing a big windshield not adjusted correctly your mileage will drop. So will the type of terrain, hilly vs flat out freeway driving.