KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: moburki on May 12, 2008, 10:06:23 AM

Title: Fuel mileage?
Post by: moburki on May 12, 2008, 10:06:23 AM: Just wondering what you guys are getting for fuel mileage? i ran my big IMS tank, and barely got 60-70 miles (I think the tank is 4 gallons!) My 7.3 liter diesel can do better than that.

I am working out some jetting issues, which will obviously help. But, if I can't do 100 miles on 4 gallons, I gotta' finally think about moving on for a more fuel efficient bike, if I want to do the killer rides with my bro's (Utah has unbelievable rides :))

I've owned the bike for 7 years. Its a '95 I just re-built from the bottom up. It didn't used to be such a gas pig, I don't think.
New cyl plate, piston, rings, reeds (as far as the motor), minor port mods (as shown above "top end rebuild", no port timing alteration).

I appreciate ya'all
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: moburki on May 13, 2008, 04:09:29 AM: Nobody has an idea for how many miles you get out of your tanks? :? I know this thread isn't about how much power, or how fast, but it is relavent to riding our KX's...
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: tharden on May 13, 2008, 04:27:50 AM: It really depends on how and where you are riding. I am sure in the desert you are able to run the bike harder and use fuel quicker. I ride on trails in the South Eastern United States and I use about a tank to a tank in a half in a days time. I average about 25mph on the trails I ride on.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: Danger4u2 on May 13, 2008, 04:28:47 AM: My 04 K5 sucks the fuel. Don't really have a mileage for you but 1- 1 & half hours of run time I want to be close to the gas can.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: Hillclimb#42 on May 13, 2008, 04:38:34 AM: I think I can get 30-40 miles on wooded trails. No way would I get that from sand riding. (stock tank) I don't see getting 50 on flat ground, maybe downhill riding, :lol:, think of making the plunge to a 4-stroker. or we have stashed gas cans at accessible point b4. Now it seems that I am ready for a break, when she needs a drink. I must be getting old.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: Danger4u2 on May 13, 2008, 06:18:13 AM: Quote from: Danger4u2 on May 13, 2008, 04:28:47 AM
My 04 K5 sucks the fuel. Don't really have a mileage for you but 1- 1 & half hours of run time I want to be close to the gas can.

I forgot to say the gas can sits next to the ice chest.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: KXcam22 on May 13, 2008, 06:29:56 AM: If you ride on rough ground I have found that it helps the mileage to run your float level a bit low. On my K5 I tested it and was losing a surprising amount of fuel out of the carb bowl overflow while I rode. When I did it it made a rough 25% improvement. That was for rough slow singletrack, it may not make as much diff in other types or riding/terrain. Cam.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: moburki on May 13, 2008, 11:17:53 AM: Thanks for the input.

Seems as though we are fuel limited :-(

I'm definitely going to try the float bowl height adjustment to the low side. I'll also jet safely lean. I'll let you know how this helps.

The riding we're doing the big rides on (southern Utah) combines washes, whoops, tight single trk, fast single, hill climbs (both technical rocky, and open loose), and ultra technical rock crawling.

So, four and a half gallons, 65 miles (the ride was 89!) bummer..

Surely Destry Abott wringed some mileage out of these things? Dunno what to do. I just dropped a small fortune into this machine :cry:
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: The Flyin Hawaiian on May 13, 2008, 01:13:52 PM: I would get about 45 miles out of my 88 with a stock tank. I did hit 50 at times but that was pushing it.
Title: Re: Fuel mileage?
Post by: js on May 13, 2008, 01:53:48 PM: 309 miles on 1 tank sunday and 25% of that was over 100. New RED Kaw My old 91k5 got 12-15 mpg.