[GlenC]

Ok finally got around to checking my mileage. I have a 1999 Shadow ACE 1100 with 13,000 miles. Stock as far as I know except straight pipes. It looks like I am getting just over 35mpg. Now this is a mixture of some in town and open road. But my drive to work is only 10 miles. And I am a big guy weighing in at 350lbs. This should be about right?

I also posted a while back about the "ticking" coming from the engine once the bike is warmed up. what I have found is that it starts after I am riding it for about 2 minutes. It is a tick not a knock. The strange part is once I get to work and if I let it sit and idle for just a bit the tick will go away? The bike runs really good with not hesitation or loss of power from what I can tell. It does have a very small oil leak that I can not track down.

 

[NM Shadowman]

does your bike have fuel injection? It could be the injectors ticking. I know they do in my SUV but it does not affect anything. Try some FI cleaner every now and then.

 

[GlenC]

No its carb. I wish it was fuel injected lol

 

[Big B]

You have what's known as the "tick" A lot of 1100's have had this. Luckily, mine never developed it.
Here is some info on it
VT1100 Engine Noise

more searches, happy reading
sabre tick - Google Search

 

[NJCJOE]

Here is some great information on the issue.

The Sabre Group Tech & Mods

 

[SeaFox]

Could simply need the valves adjusted.

 

[Big B]

Could simply need the valves adjusted.

no adjustment on those. one of the nice things about the newer 1100's.

 

[Nehalem Dave]

Do you have solid lifters or hydraulic?

If solid, on our Hondas the tickety-tick PLUS declining mpg is an indication that our valves need tweaking. If hydraulic and hi miles, could be shim or Rotela or Amsoil time.

 

[GlenC]

Do you have solid lifters or hydraulic?

If solid, on our Hondas the tickety-tick PLUS declining mpg is an indication that our valves need tweaking.

Pretty sure the 99 has hydraulic.

 

[Dauntae]

I've read many times over changing the brand of oil you use sometimes helps when the ticking starts. I have just under 30K on mine and don't have the tick yet. But for whatever reason the different oil seems to help a lot with that issue. Not sure what brand would be best since i don't have the issue yet.

Dauntae

 

[metalguy]

The tick you describe is common on the later 1100 shadows. My '98 ACE T has it, and it comes and goes with no rhyme or reason. I routinely get around 45 MPG mostly freeway. It has 52,000 miles so far. -------Metalguy

 

[Capt]

25,000 on my '99 1100 ACE and I get from the high 40s to the low 50s depending on where I'm riding. I'm about 220 or so. Mine also ticks and it too comes and goes.