hitting reserve at 96 miles on the trip od

So I finally managed to get the kz on the road and running great about 3-4 weeks ago after having to replace throttle shaft seals, going back to the dyna green coils, applying some fuel resistant sealant behind the manifolds just to make sure I had 0 vacuum leaks, and removing old peeling liner and derusting the tank. So now I have found that I have to flip it over to reserve at 96 mi on the trip od. How far should I be going and how can I improve the mpg?

You don't mention what the bike is. When you get a minute, update your info to include the bike model.

If this is a KZ1000, 100 miles before reserve is about what I would average for trips on the back roads where I'm on and off the throttle a fair amount. On the highway cruising at 65mph, I would get better than this.

Depending whether you are on highways or back roads, you can change the gearing a little to give better economy. Slightly taller gearing will drop the rpm at cruising speed - and that helps a fair amount. You don't want to go too radical as it is tough on the clutch pulling away - esp. if you have a passenger on the back.

Jetting will also play a part in fuel mileage too. Being too rich will cause the MPG to drop.

Later, Doug

have always managed to slip to reserve in the mid 80s mile range but I don't fill my fuel tank completely to the top...1000cc stock jetting with stock air box and 4 into 2 stock exhaust

yes it's the 81 kz1000m1. I ask cause my 81 gs650g gets about 150-170 before I fill it. I just thought I should be closer to what the gs is getting. Good to know I'm in the higher end of the ballpark.

Quick question, has anyone used the colortune tool before and how well did you like that?

Well found out by my own stupidity I run out at 104 miles, kz1000A3 Stock airbox. I run really hot though, no grass grows under my tires for sure. One glass Sobe Bottle of gas will get me 3 miles though for sure, Next was a note to self, never start road trip on RES! :lol:

Since we're giving numbers...

79' KZ650-D2, 100% stock, gets me ~125 to reserve and 155mi to bone dry. Carried a spare gallon one day to test this... Only run non-ethanol fuel. YMMV...

60ratrod wrote: yes it's the 81 kz1000m1. I ask cause my 81 gs650g gets about 150-170 before I fill it. I just thought I should be closer to what the gs is getting. Good to know I'm in the higher end of the ballpark.

Quick question, has anyone used the colortune tool before and how well did you like that?

I have one but have not used it yet. I read on here somewhere that it works. I of course ordered the wrong size size spark plug :dry:

I have two colortune's that I use for each side of the engine at same time makes it really easy. I have a set of 26's with air screw that I just couldn't get ear tuned right. The colortune t helped me get my lean mixture rich .I set it a little too rich. But a lot of my problems I was having stopped. I knew I was running lean beforehand but the color tune help me see when the carburetor went from lean to rich I should have backed it back a screw to have it perfect but I wanted it a little rich

My kz750h4 gets about 111 miles in a tank. My res doesn't seem to work though :l

My 750 twin now goes about 105 miles when it hit the reserve in city riding. It was about 2.9 gallons so the mileage is about 36 mpg.

Well it's good to know I'm on par with the average then. I was expecting to be a little closer to what gs gets, but it is what it is. It also doesn't help that I tend to be enthusiastic with the throttle :whistle: