New GL650 owner

General Discussion

New GL650 owner

MotorcycleCommuter 07-22-2008, 6:50 PM
Hi. I found your site a few days ago. Your combined knowledge of these bikes has helped me out a lot. About a month and a half ago I bought a GL650I. I was looking for a commuter bike since I travel 50 miles a day to work. My full size crew cab truck was killing me in fuel cost. Anyway, I went through the bike and inspected and adjusted everything I could after studying every thread on this site. One thing puzzles me though. When I took off the gas tank to sync the carbs gas flowed from the tank valve even though there was no vacuum. Do these vacuum actuated valves fail open? Also, I've put about 2000 miles on the bike in the month and a half I've had it and am consistently getting 45 MPG. I cruise at a steady 65 -70 MPH on the freeway 25 miles each way. I kind of expected more after reading on this site that most get 50 MPG.

1983 GL650i, 39,000 relatively trouble free miles

Re: New GL650 owner

DAVID 07-24-2008, 5:36 PM
Welcome. The previous owner may have moved the spring in the petcock to the other side of the diaphram so that it doesn't need vacuum to work (mine is this way). I get 47-49 in the summer, 43-45 in the winter. You're not too far off.

82 GL500
81 KDX175
If all else fails, read the instructions

Re: New GL650 owner

I'm going to GL 07-28-2008, 5:24 AM
Welcome, MotorcycleCommuter

As you can see, there's a lot of great people and info here, so jump on in!

Good luck and Ride SAFE!

1982 GL500 "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter S. Thompson

Re: New GL650 owner

Shep 07-28-2008, 9:10 AM
Can't help with the Vacuum Petcocks as they are not the norm here in the UK but a well tuned/serviced 650 should give you over 50 mpg under normal riding.They are better geared than the 500s and of course have an electric fan which increases the mileage.
Treat the bike like gold e.g change the oil and filter at 3,000/4,000 miles instead of the 7,500 service point and keep the tappets checked and set correctly as well as the Cam chain although I think it's an auto tensioner on there be aware if you get any unusual Cam chain rattle.If you do change it.

The parts for the 650s are not easy to come by as they made a lot less of them so it's case of prevention rather than cure.
Change coolant and brake fluid as well.Then you know you have freah service points to start from.

Some parts are interchangeable but not many and some parts like the 500s are stock parts.

New Global CX/GL Forum,
http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/

Re: New GL650 owner

RichNCT 07-28-2008, 10:28 AM
To get the best fuel economy (without sacrificing performance) check these things: new and properly gapped spark plugs, known good air filter, clean carburetor (especially the low speed jet areas), tire pressure high enough, no brake drag (little heat from brakes not used is good sign), leak free intake and exhaust systems, valves adjusted (and these don't need as frequent adjustment as some books say) and, you do know there is a fifth gear, right? Just kidding. If it doesn't have 100k miles on it, I wouldn't worry much about rings or cylinders. If you think you have all these areas covered, look at low speed jets in the carbs again. Temps running is the lower part of the fat bar?Sync'ng carbs is the final bit of improvement. Riding styles which include a lot of fast starts and braking will reduce economy, but we all know that, and ignore it some.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: New GL650 owner

mcreviver 07-28-2008, 8:24 PM
I think the GL-650 and the GL-650 Interstate will get different mileages. My GL-650 started out as a plain bike to which I added the Honda fairing, lowers and lowers extensions. I put the tall trunk on a Markland extender. I didn't get the saddlebags and just used a set of Hondaline fabric bags. I routinely got 55 mpg with mine. If you have a plain, unfaired bike, consider getting a Plexifairing for it. You will have less drag and better fuel economy, plus you can extend your riding season on both ends with the right cold weather clothing. I used to ride 25 miiles one way to work on a 78 CX500 with a Plexifairing in temps as low as 35 degrees. Now, it you're not getting 55 mpg on a GL-650 Interstate, what do you weigh? Heck, I'm getting 48 to 49 on my ST1100 and it has a plus 2" higher shield on it. When I put a sawed off short shield on it drops 5 mpg due to the increased drag.

Ron in PA

Re: New GL650 owner

MotorcycleCommuter 07-29-2008, 4:40 AM
My bike is the GL650i (Interstate) with the Hondaline fairing, bags and trunk with Markland extender. It does have an aftermarket oversized windshield. I don't think my size, 5'10" and 185 lbs, should negatively effect gas mileage. The bike runs excellent. Idle is dead solid at 1100 RPM. It accelerates smoothly and engine brakes with no popping. I've never had to touch the choke. I just bump the starter and ride away. However, it has been warm since I got it. About 70 in the morning and 85 in the afternoons. I've ridden it 2500 miles now and it's only returned 45 mpg each tank. I did start it in the garage this morning and noticed the exhaust smelled like it was running a little rich. The air filter and spark plugs are new and the plug caps measure 4.7k ohm. I hate to mess with anything since it runs so smoothly but an extra 10 mpg would really be nice. I guess I'm going to have to clean out/rebuild the carbs. Has anyone used the kits sold by Randakk's?

1983 GL650i, 39,000 relatively trouble free miles

Re: New GL650 owner

Shep 07-29-2008, 4:59 AM

MotorcycleCommuter wrote:
My bike is the GL650i (Interstate) with the Hondaline fairing, bags and trunk with Markland extender. It does have an aftermarket oversized windshield. I don't think my size, 5'10" and 185 lbs, should negatively effect gas mileage. The bike runs excellent. Idle is dead solid at 1100 RPM. It accelerates smoothly and engine brakes with no popping. I've never had to touch the choke. I just bump the starter and ride away. However, it has been warm since I got it. About 70 in the morning and 85 in the afternoons. I've ridden it 2500 miles now and it's only returned 45 mpg each tank. I did start it in the garage this morning and noticed the exhaust smelled like it was running a little rich. The air filter and spark plugs are new and the plug caps measure 4.7k ohm. I hate to mess with anything since it runs so smoothly but an extra 10 mpg would really be nice. I guess I'm going to have to clean out/rebuild the carbs. Has anyone used the kits sold by Randakk's?

I'm a big advocate of servicing carbs as I've done a lot of work on them but with provisos.If you have never done one it can be very very frustrating getting it right.If the bike is running well I wouldn't bother but I would check the Carb's synchronization as this does not require the carbs being removed and all other apsects like new plugs etc.

New Global CX/GL Forum,
http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/

Re: New GL650 owner

RichNCT 07-29-2008, 9:27 AM

"I've never had to touch the choke. I just bump the starter and ride away. However, it has been warm since I got it. About 70 in the morning and 85 in the afternoons."

A cold engine at 70° f should need some choke to start and run for a short time. I think you're carbs are set a little rich.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: New GL650 owner

Randall-in-Mpls 07-29-2008, 10:38 AM
Check your choke linkage. It may not be fully opening.

R

'78 CX500 - The Black Maggot

CX500 Factory Service Manual
1978 CX500 Parts Manual

Re: New GL650 owner

mcreviver 07-29-2008, 1:13 PM
Try running straight premium gasoline without any ethanol in it. You will get less mileage with tainted fuel.

Ron in PA

Re: New GL650 owner

RAT 07-29-2008, 3:57 PM

mcreviver wrote:
Try running straight premium gasoline without any ethanol in it. You will get less mileage with tainted fuel.

I'm also new to these bikes.

At the risk of causing trouble ... why Premium?

'83 CX 650 E ... 'Nuther Rat'
'80 GL 1100 ... 'The Fat Rat'
'77 GL 1000 ... 'Rodwing'

Re: New GL650 owner

hakko808 07-29-2008, 5:31 PM
Morce octane means more power per gallon so slightly less fuel needed for acceleration. Long trips is debateable on a vechile with carb since speed directly relates to airflow and air/fuel is set.

Re: New GL650 owner

Randall-in-Mpls 08-01-2008, 8:57 PM

hakko808 wrote:
More octane means more power per gallon so slightly less fuel needed for acceleration. Long trips is debateable on a vechile with carb since speed directly relates to airflow and air/fuel is set.

No, higher octane means a lower flash point, which reduces the incidence of pre-ignition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating Octane boosters introduce less combustible material into the mix (that's what the lead was for in leaded gas), so there's actually slightly less energy per gallon. Unless you've got engine knock, you don't gain anything running higher-octane fuels.

The previous poster recommended premium because it's less likely to be mixed with ethanol. Ethanol contains less energy that gasoline, so you'll get fewer miles per gallon using ethanol fuel.

R

'78 CX500 - The Black Maggot

CX500 Factory Service Manual
1978 CX500 Parts Manual

Re: New GL650 owner

Timothy_D 08-02-2008, 2:37 AM
I get 43 mpg regularly out of my GL650 interstate.
If you're getting 45mpg, you're doing well.

No flippin' way you're going to get 55 mpg U.S. gallons out of a loaded factory interstate unless you're going down hill, both ways.
You might get it out of a naked silverwing. I get pretty close on my CX650 when I keep my wrist off the throttle.

Two CX500 Turbos, GL650I, CX650C, CX650E.

Why do I own five bikes? Because I'm not married. DUH! (and I haven't taken a vacation in two years. . . . )

Re: New GL650 owner

RichNCT 08-04-2008, 9:38 AM
This year I'm riding my 3rd GL650I, this one with about 42k miles, and it delivers well above 50 mp(US)g. The last tank, of mixed local and commuting interstate travel, returned 54 mpg. The speedo is not calibrated. My last GL650I had a 4k mile engine and it returned 50-55 mpg, regularly. Before that it had an engine on which the stator quit at 45k miles, and it too always gave me 50-55 mpg. On that bike the speedo was correct, as I had an accessory calibrated cyclometer on board. I am not known to be a slowpoke rider, and enjoy the high rpms of quick acceleration frequently. I always use regular (US 87 octane) fuel. I weigh in at 210lbs, and when touring the bike is loaded up pretty good. Then it's mostly Interstate miles, and also get 54-55 mpg. I think the key is good spark plugs, air filter, and most of all carbs that are clean and dialed in good. I keep tires toward the high side on pressure, but not maxed out. Most of my riding is below 1500 ft above sea level. All my GL650s have been good for at least 110 mph top speed.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: New GL650 owner

Anonymous 08-04-2008, 11:33 AM
Hmmmm. I have to look at something then.
There shouldn't be an 8 mpg difference between mine and yours.
Carbs were rebuilt and tuned, spark plugs are brand new.
I'll have to check into the filter and see if my brakes are dragging a little.
-Tim

Re: New GL650 owner

Anonymous 08-04-2008, 11:45 AM
    Rich
       I also get 50 to 55 mpg on my 650 GLI .
      86000 miles.See you at the ralley.
       Dave in Slippery Rock

Re: New GL650 owner

RichNCT 08-04-2008, 8:11 PM
I'll be looking forward to seeing you again Dave, but I won't be riding my GL650I.

Born to be relatively wild