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Author Topic: CB550 gas mileage?  (Read 6546 times)

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Stumby

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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.

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Offline TwoTired

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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,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline SteveD CB500F

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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!
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Offline Chris Liston

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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
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Offline CrisPDuk

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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
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Stumby

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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?
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Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: CB550 gas mileage?
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2007, 08:26:54 AM »
Yes.

The 550F and 550K had different internals.

Details here
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Stumby

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

Thanks for the gold mine!
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DF

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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.
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Offline ieism

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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.

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Offline eurban

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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 »
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Offline purf_man

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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)
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Offline cafe75-550

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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...
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Offline Pinhead

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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.
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Offline mmtsquid

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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)
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