« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: CB550 gas mileage?  (Read 6544 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Stumby

  • Guest
CB550 gas mileage?
« on: July 17, 2007, 06:15:59 PM »
What kind of gas mileage are you guys getting with the CB550? I've finally got mine put back together, seems reliable, I went on a 300 mile ride, but I'm only getting 23 mpg and a range of around 100 miles.

Logged

Offline TwoTired

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 21,805
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2007, 07:11:50 PM »
35-55 MPG depending on the bike and how much time is spent in lower gears.  At speeds above 50 the wind resistance gets ever higher.  More air drag = more fuel.

23 MPG sucks.  Either discover that you have 4th and 5th gear, keep it below 80 MPH, or fix what's been changed since the showroom released it.

Cheers,
Logged
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline SteveD CB500F

  • Global Moderator
  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,553
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • TVAM
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2007, 07:42:50 PM »
I was getting 100 mile tanks on my 500 before I stripped the carbs and cleared up my seriously rich running.

Easy to start though!
Logged
SOHC4 Member #2393
2015 Tiger 800 XRT
1971 CB500K0 (US Model)

Offline Chris Liston

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 942
    • http://christopherliston.com
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2007, 08:16:24 PM »
I went about 123 miles over the weekend when I had to flip to reserve.  Speeds 40-50mph occasional 60+ through back roads and twisties.  76 550
Logged
2008 Triumph Speed Triple Black and NASTY
1976 CB550F Cafe in progress
http://christopherliston.com
http://gallery.sohc4.net/main.php?g2_itemId=2402

Offline CrisPDuk

  • Christ on a bike! Me, an
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,115
  • Oh happy day! 3rd December 2005
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2007, 09:47:30 PM »
Mine averages 125-130 miles before I have to flip to reserve.

My best has been 140, on a cruise. My worst 95 and that was using it hard ;D
Logged
Education: Elitist activity. Cost ineffective. Unpopular with Grey Suits. Now largely replaced by Training."


1978 CB550 K3
1985 H100S

Stumby

  • Guest
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2007, 06:43:18 AM »
Thanks for the replies...

I have a feeling I might have the wrong size needles in my carbs. I can't remember off hand what they are now, It's been a while since I put them in. I'm thinking the main jet may have the # "40" stamped on it? Anyone know if there are different carb guts for the f bikes vs the k bikes; since they have different exhaust systems?
Logged

Offline SteveD CB500F

  • Global Moderator
  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,553
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • TVAM
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2007, 08:26:54 AM »
Yes.

The 550F and 550K had different internals.

Details here
Logged
SOHC4 Member #2393
2015 Tiger 800 XRT
1971 CB500K0 (US Model)

Stumby

  • Guest
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2007, 08:43:31 AM »
Cool!~

Thanks for the gold mine!
Logged

DF

  • Guest
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2007, 11:55:47 AM »
Just figured my 74 CB550 milage out - 35mpg (which includes the carb floats sticking and puking fuel all over the place a coule of times).  This was strictly city driving - no highway runs on that tank.
Logged

Offline ieism

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 832
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2007, 01:54:44 PM »
I can barely make 100 miles on a tank before switching to reserve ('76 550F). That's at 80mph on the highway.

Logged
---cb550---

Offline eurban

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,625
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2007, 03:16:02 PM »
Not to brag but  ;D I just checked the mileage on my 836cc  78 "750"K and I got 45mpg combined city (mostly) and highway. How's that for 300ccs more? Five gallon tank too!  Lazy gearing and the late carbs with the accel pump really seem to net good MPG!
« Last Edit: July 18, 2007, 03:43:49 PM by eurban »
Logged

Offline purf_man

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 196
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2007, 03:21:49 PM »
haven't rode my 550 more than 50 miles and that was over a year ago.....

but my 250 ninja gets about 55-60 with me riding it kinda hard (80mph cruising)
Logged
1975 CB550
1978 RD400

Offline cafe75-550

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 352
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2007, 09:31:38 PM »
My 550 was getting around 40 mpg on highway/mountain road trips with an average speed around 55-60 mph, and it was running fairly rich based on the black spark plugs and inside of my exhaust. 23 mpg is definitely a problem...
Logged
New bike!
'07 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
Never enough projects!
'75 CB550 "Cafe", '76 CB550 parts bike
'64 Norton Atlas featherbed/'71 Triumph 750 Triple (Triton project)
'68 BSA Thunderbolt (frame and cases, project in the wings)
'57 Triumph Thunderbird (frame and mostly complete engine)

Offline Pinhead

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,818
  • 1979 CB652-ST
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2007, 10:43:46 PM »
With the 550 being smaller and slightly lighter I figured it'd get better than that... My '79 CB650 gets 53mpg at 70 + mph and about 65mpg driving around town.
Logged
Doug

Click --> Cheap Regulator/Rectifier for any of Honda's 3-phase charging systems (all SOHC4's).

GM HEI Ignition Conversion

Quote from: TwoTired
By the way, I'm going for the tinfoil pants...so they can't read my private thoughts.
:D

Offline mmtsquid

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 393
Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2007, 05:37:10 AM »
Just made my milage calculation this morning - getting 51 mpg!
Most of that is highway miles, 70 mph (77 cb550k)
Logged
77 CB550K4
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »